Red Corral Ranch /// #kissinlogs /// Jessie + Taylor, the full film

What we truly love about Jess and Taylor is the way they appreciate sweet, intimate moments - quality time spent together going to the dog park with their pups and simply catching up with one another on the couch at the end of the day. They spent time on little details for the wedding day as well, from handmade road signs directing guests to different locations to the lovingly handwritten letters that they wrote to their wedding party.

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/174827211[/vimeo]

You’re as sweet as Tennessee Whiskey.

When asked about musical preferences and genres they would like represented in their final film, Jessica and Taylor didn’t hesitate in their response: anything similar to Chris Stapleton. A musician known for his deep voice and highly relatable songs referencing the simple things in life like whiskey and love, we can see why Jess and Taylor enjoy his music so much. For their edit, we chose music by Matt McCloskey and Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. Drew Holcomb is a well known Nashville artist who often sings duets with his beautiful wife, Ellie Holcomb. Their style is lilting, simple, and pure country.

Red Corral Ranch in Wimberley is like an oasis in the desert - filled with rolling hills, lush greenery, spectacular views, and twinkling lights that would make the night sky jealous. It was here that Jess and Taylor chose to say “I do” amongst their closest family and friends.

The sunset filled ceremony was punctuated with a visit by some local peacocks who only squawked at some pretty perfectly timed moments—as if they were cheering in agreement with Jess and Taylor being announced husband and wife! Afterwards, guests gathered at the big red barn to eat dinner. They were surprised to find they had to compete against other tables of guests and sing for their supper—in order to be released to the buffet, they had to serenade the bride and groom with a song about love. Their fun songs and animated performances only served to prove that Jess and Taylor are surrounded by a whole cloud of joyous friends who reflect their own humor and love for life.

Jessica and Taylor,

We hope your film helps you re-live these moments with joy and delight, and that the memory of this moment when you shared your vows will continue to stir your affections and strengthen you for all of your future days together.

love,

the Mason Jar Team

Ceremony/Reception: Red Corral Ranch ||  || @redcorral Planner: Westcott Weddings ||  || @westcottweddings Photographer: Mint Photography ||  || @lovemintphotography Florist: Bristol Lane ||  ||@bristollane Caterer: Gourmet Gals || || @gourmetgalscatering Ceremony Music: Better Halves || Tables/Chairs: Premiere ||  || @premiereeventsaustin Napkins: Marquee ||  || @marqueeatx Vintage Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals ||  || @lootvintage Makeup: LoLa ||  || @lolabeautyatx DJ: Altared Weddings ||  || @altared_weddings Cake: Sweet Treats ||  || @sweettreetsbakery

Rhode Island Kay Chapel Wedding /// To the Moon and Back /// Kristel + Austin, the full film

"I love you to the moon and back"

Taken from the words of her favorite childhood book, Kristel and Austin felt that this phrase was the best theme for their wedding as a way to express to all of their friends and family the depths of their love.  Austin met Kristel while he was rooming with her twin brother in college.  While he quickly won her heart, their  love was tested through 6 years of long distance relating.  Throughout the wedding weekend, we heard their friends and family repeat a familiar theme as they spoke about Austin and Kristel-- what tied them together through that long journey of courtship was the strength of their love for each other and their love for making the lives of their friends and families better.   As Kristel's brother so poignantly said: finding love isn't like finding $20 on the ground--it takes a thousand acts of bravery and and a thousand victories over the course of time.

Now, that is worth celebrating.   Enjoy their full film below!

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/106278942[/vimeo] musical soundtrack licensed through The Music Bed or Creative Commons: "Devote" by Monako Davis "Border Blaster (Instrumental)" by Josh Woodward "Love You Strongly" by Amy Stroup "That Kid..." by Chris Zabriskie "Walk in Season" by Kelly Latimore

For this Texan filmmaker, traveling to Rhode Island in the middle of the flaming hot Texas summer was like a ticket to paradise--every blade of grass in Newport was the most vivid shade of green, bunnies roamed unafraid across the lawns of the mansions on Bellevue Avenue, and the quiet roar of the ocean  was so calming as the waves gently kissed the shore and yachts gracefully made their way in and out of the port each morning.  Newport is certainly a perfect location to gather for a celebration!

Both the rehearsal dinner and reception were held at Castle Hill Inn which faces the sunset.  On the wedding day, #teamrago (lead by Michelle Rago) were out early preparing the reception site, while Kristel and her bridesmaids prepped in an upstairs cottage overlooking both the reception lawn and the harbor.

With yellow and navy as the guiding colors, a gorgeous and very fragrant assortment of florals graced each table and surface--daisies, sunflowers, hydrangeas, and more!

Ringbearer and bridesmaid--joking around just before the ceremony.  The bridesmaids wore classic, navy tea-length a-line dresses with pearls and a beautiful variety of repurposed antique earrings.

The reception began on the lawn with fruit-infused specialty lemonade varieties and "dark and stormy" signature Newport cocktails.  Guests were able to play rounds of lawn games like corn hole and croquet, wander to a canopied cigar lounge, sit and listen to a string quartet, and watch the boats as they slid silently across the water.

Kristel and Austin,

Congratulations on this next step in your journey through life together.  You are truly beautiful people with an inspiring story, and we can't wait to see more of the wonderful things you bring to the world with the light of your love.  Here's to many thousands of victories in your future!

love, Mason Jar

Planning & Design: Michelle Rago Destinations Confections & Cake:  Marie Soliday Decor: Stone Kelly Events Music & Entertainers: Vali Entertainment Venue: Castle Hill Inn Wedding Photographer: Brian Dorsey Studios Transportation: Rockstar Limo Wedding Videographer: Mason Jar Films Hotel:  Hotel Viking

Escondido Horseshoe Bay || #JustHooked || Kailey + Travis, the full film

Driving out to Horseshoe Bay, the developments around the city of Austin begin to fade away to untouched hill country densely covered in trees and low shrubs. There, amidst the deer and the armadillos, the sleepy retreat of Horseshoe Bay emerges as the road rises to meet the lake.   It was in this beautiful hidden garden area of Texas that Kailey and Travis chose to spend their wedding weekend with family and friends.   Pulling away from distractions, focusing on the ones they loved dearly, they gathered at Escondido, which is spanish for "hidden," where they could share their hearts and their love in a joyous celebration.  Enjoy their full film:

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/105481475[/vimeo]

Soundtrack licensed through The Music Bed "Oh My My" by Act As If "Love On The Run" by Kerry Muzzey "Little Bit" by Perrin Lamb "Celeste" by Les Enfants "Just You" by Amy Stroup "Still Here" by Kerry Muzzey

Kailey wore her sister's wedding veil for the ceremony. The classic getaway car belongs to Kailey's grandfather and was outfitted with a special backplate for the occasion that read "Just Hooked!"

We owe a big thank you to many people -- to Kailey and Travis for allowing us to create this heirloom film for them, to Kailey's father for allowing us to film him while he worked on something as important as his wedding speech, to Kailey's mother for telling us where he had hidden himself to write the speech, to Cristen Meehan and the entire design team and vendors who worked with Kennedy Weddings for creating such a gorgeous setting.  Lastly, we want to thank Kailey and Travis' family and friends for opening your hearts and letting your joy overflow--these are the moments and images that will stand as testimony to the beauty of Kailey and Travis' love --not just through our film, but through your love and support toward them as they journey through the rest of their days together.  We wish you all much joy and many great games of golf.

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Escondido Golf & Lake Club Event Design, & Consulting: Kennedy Weddings, Cristen Meehan Venue, Catering & Beverage: Kelly Aldridge Wedding Photographer:  Don Dickson Photography Lighting: Ilios, Wade Ratliff Reception Band: Ice House Lounge/Decor & Florist: Events In Bloom, Rob Smith Bakery: Simon Lee Bakery

Musical track licensed through The Music Bed

Horseshoe Bay Resort Wedding //// Best. Wedding. Ever. ...Ever. ...Ever. //// Astrid + Darren, the full film

Astrid & Darren have had a beautiful, whirl-wind kind of romance, and in planning their wedding, Astrid told us that she wanted her wedding video to capture all the joy of both of their families and how much fun their community can be.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/111578896[/vimeo]

Musical Tracks Licensed through The Music Bed "Always Been You (Cinematic Version)" by Marie Hines "Oh Clara" by Riley & The Roxies

At the ceremony, we could tell the love Astrid had described was truly present in both families--from the way her sisters doted on her to the moments that Darren's mother wrapped her own great-grandfather's pocket watch around the clasp of the bridal bouquet (a family tradition).  In fact, we were told that Astrid would be the 9th bride to carry that watch down the aisle.   What a lovely way to incorporate a "something old" into your wedding!

Astrid also told us to look for all the fun that would be going on with her nephews and nieces at the reception.  By the time La Hora Loca had begun, the dance floor was packed with guests rocking out to the Spazmatics and having fun in the open-area photo booth.

Clink Events designed a beautiful setting for Astrid and Darren.  The ceremony was filled with only white-based bouquets filled with dusty miller and many textures of white flowers, including white larkspur, dahlias, lilies, orchids, and white majolica roses.

In contrast, the cocktail hour added pops of deep lilac, purples and smoky grey to the color palette.  As guests chatted under khaki umbrellas, they found relief from the Texas summer heat with beautiful wooden hand-held fans and cool beverages.  In addition to the bar, guests were treated to lemonade and tea in apothecary style jars, and water bottles rested in ice baths in galvanized buckets.

Astrid & Darren chose a very unique way to commemorate the concept of a guestbook at their wedding.  They selected their favorite wines to open on  each milestone anniversary, and asked guests to sign their names to the bottles so that as they celebrated their marriage in the future, they could reflect back on all of the people who have loved and supported them throughout their lives.

At the reception, Ice chiavari chairs surrounded each guest table, while the head banquet table was a lucite table with a mirror top, mirror and silver finished chargers, ghost lucite chairs, and beautiful floating candles in glass vases.

In lieu of a cake, Astrid & Darren chose to have a dessert buffet loaded high with single-serving delicacies.

How could you pick just one?  :)

We are so happy to have joined Astrid and Darren for this day of celebration and love--with a crowd of friends and family who can dance into the wee hours of the night, we're sure it's always  a good time wherever their smiles are present!  Many thanks also go out to Jessica and Katie at Clink Events who kept the day going so smoothly.

Ceremony Venue: St. Paul the Apostle Chapel Wedding Coordinator:  CLINK Events Reception Venue: Horsehoe Bay Resort - Yacht Club Ballroom Catering: Horseshoe Bay Resort Bakery: Barbara Garza Rentals/Linens:  Premiere Lighting: Ilios Lighting Hair/Makeup:  Rosa Riviera Ceremony Music:  Barton Strings Cocktail Music: Mark Cruz Reception Music:  Spazmatics Reception DJ:  DJ Kit Ketterman Officiant:  Marcelo Aravena Florist: Prive Photographer: Cory Ryan Photography Videographer: Mason Jar Films Transportation: Transportation Consultants Photo Booth:  Le Photo Booth

Rhode Island Castle Hill Inn /// To the Moon and Back /// Kristel + Austin, the intro

"I love you to the moon and back"

Taken from the words of her favorite childhood book, Kristel and Austin felt that this phrase was the best theme for their wedding as a way to express to all of their friends and family the depths of their love.  The night of the rehearsal dinner, as their guests gathered on the edge of the ocean where Castle Hill Inn sits nestled on the hills, they watched the sunset, cheered on the traditional clambake reveal, and listened to the story of Austin and Kristel.

Sometimes, the story of how a couple meets is just an introduction to the story of how they learned to love one another.   These love birds have been pursuing one another's hearts for the past 6 years, and their wedding weekend was truly a celebration of their joy.  Every detail was a reflection of their love: home-made banners featuring hand-drawn cards from Kristel's students to signature Newport-themed cocktails (the "dark and stormy").  Even Kristel's toenail polish was "clambake red!" :)

Enjoy this introduction to their full film, which is in the works as we speak:

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/101669150[/vimeo] musical soundtrack by: Monako Davis and licensed through The Music Bed

Rather than have the wedding in one of their hometowns, Kristel and Austin decided to plane their event in a location where the guests'  sole focus for could be spending time together to celebrate.  The city of Newport, Rhode Island is a coastal town with plenty to keep one entertained.  There's a bustling downtown area with some of Kristel & Austin's favorite coffee shops and seafood spots.  One could also explore Bellevue Avenue and tour any of the mansions seen there.

Both the rehearsal dinner and reception were held at Castle Hill Inn, which faces the sunset.  At the rehearsal dinner, Michelle Rago's powerhouse team (affectionately called #teamrago) had set up the lawn with stunning buffets of treats, adirondack chairs, outdoor lounges, and a s'mores station for later in the night.  A wandering minstrel from Vali Entertainment softly crooned as the families dug into a delicious lobster dinner under the twinkling strands of lights strung from the large oak trees.

Kristel and Austin, congratulations on this next step in your journey through life together.  You are truly beautiful people with an inspiring story, and we can't wait to see more of the wonderful things you bring to the world with the light of your love.  

Planning & Design: Michelle Rago Destinations Confections & Cake:  Marie Soliday Decor: Stone Kelly Events Music & Entertainers: Vali Entertainment Venue: Castle Hill Inn Wedding Photographer: Brian Dorsey Studios Transportation: Rockstar Limo Wedding Videographer: Mason Jar Films Hotel:  Hotel Viking