Lost Mission /// One Less Fish In The Sea /// Lindsey + Cooper, The Heirloom Film

Fate has a funny way of showing itself - especially when you attend an event where you meet your future wife after your mother says “Find a nice, German girl at the festival.” It could be fate, or it could be mother’s intuition. Whatever it is, Lindsey and Cooper were destined to meet that day 12 years ago and “Prost!” their way to a long and happy life together.

Surrounded by their closest friends and family, Lindsey and Cooper became husband and wife on the most perfect spring day at Lost Mission in Spring Branch. Lindsey wore a stunning heirloom ring that had been passed down from her Great-Grandmother and worn by 6 other members of her family.

It was clear that Lindsey and Cooper put much of themselves and their personalities into the decor - from the fish and coastal themed cakes showcasing their love of fishing together to the wine barrel bearing their new names and displaying their love of all things wine and Napa!

One of their closest friends owns a winery in the Napa valley and was the most perfect officiant for Lindsey and Cooper’s ceremony: telling anecdotes and jokes that wonderfully represented Lindsey and Cooper’s relationship and love for life.

Wine flowed and dancing commenced and lasted all night long! Lindsey’s parents gushed over their daughter and new son. Larry Taylor, Lindsey’s father, even mentioned how Cooper knew exactly when to ask for his daughter’s hand: during a fishing trip when the fish were biting extremely well!

Lindsey shared the proposal story with us:

Cooper made us dinner reservations for a nice dinner on a Monday at 5:00pm. I thought that 5pm was a little early to have dinner but I was not going to say anything because I knew this restaurant was popular and hard to get into. Earlier that day he told me that he read on a private scuba diving blog that there was a hammerhead shark spotted at Smith Cove. Needless to say all day Monday he was talking about how he wanted to go to Smith Cove and look for the shark. Ironically, I had just read an article about a hammerhead shark spotted near shore, but the article I read the shark was in Florida. Cooper said that I stumped him when I told him that, so he was scrambling to get the ins and outs of his story to make me still believe him. As we were driving to dinner he asked if we could stop into Smith Cove. We get out of the car and I notice there are tons of swimmers and snorkelers. We are walking around the beach at Smith Cove and Cooper tells me that he wants to get a closer look and wants to walk out on the limestone coral rocks to better see the water. He takes off and turns around and notices that I am still on the beach. He asked me to follow him and I told him I could not walk on the rocks because I had wedge shoes on and I would break my ankle! He tries to convince me, but I am rather stubborn. When I noticed his frustration and him talking between his teeth I took my shoes off and walked out on the sharp rocks. We stood over the water looking for this shark, I turned to look back at the beach and when I turned back to Cooper, he was on one knee!

Lindsey + Cooper,

Once again, getting to know y’all and hearing stories about your amazing adventures was incredibly special to us! We were moved watching you both interact with your family and friends, clearly seeing the love you all share for one another. You’ve truly found your one fish in the sea.

XOXO,

The Mason Jar Films Team

Ceremony/Reception Venue: Lost Mission || https://www.instagram.com/lostmission/

Event Planner: Amber Ehrlich  || https://www.instagram.com/keepers_interiors/

Photographer: Benjamin Garrett Photography  || https://www.instagram.com/benjamingarrett/

Florist: Sam Ehrlich || https://www.instagram.com/keepers_interiors/

Caterer: Don Strange || https://www.instagram.com/donstrangeoftx/

DJ: Bach Sound Productions

South Congress Hotel /// Hindu Fusion Wedding /// Shonu + Julio, the extended Heirloom Film

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing

There is a field. I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass

The world is too full to talk about.”

-Rumi

Gina Whittington, the talented designer and planner behind The Whitt Experience, called us early last year and informed us that she had a client that looking for something special for their wedding film. Shonu and Julio are a sweet, funny, and community-focused couple that met and fell in love along the course of a campaign trail. Because they had so many people coming in from all over the world, they didn't want their wedding film to feel like a music video--they wanted it to truly reflect the personalities and interactions they would share with family and friends over the course of the weekend. We crafted this custom, extended length wedding video for them - focusing on documentary style moments that highlight the joy, the goofiness, and the sweet moments celebrated in the finest locations in Austin's arts district. With events at Hotel Saint Cecilia, Sway, and South Congress Hotel, the Austin vibe was just as strong as the couple's devotion to their South Indian and Mexican heritages.

Friday evening, the families gathered for the Sangeet at Shonu and Julio’s favorite local restaurant - Sway. As guests arrived, they were greeted by beautiful visuals of greenery draped across low hanging chandeliers presiding over large family style tables. They were served an exquisite array of appetizers and foods, including pineapple miange, satay grilled eggplant, and tom aha gai. Dinner included green curry with tofu, pad thai jay, miso sweet mash, and charred asparagus with harissa. The night was full of many delightful moments, heartfelt speeches from the Bride’s relatives and a surprise dance performance in honor of Shonu and Julio.

The wedding day was cheery and bright, and as cars busily bustled by past the South Congress Hotel, Julio, accompanied by his baraat (wedding party), arrived to the ceremony on a scooter for the traditional Milni. Greeted by the bride’s “sisters,” Shonu’s dearest friends and female cousins escorted Julio carrying pots on their heads and Julio’s family was greeted ceremoniously by Shonu’s family. The Hindu ceremony was often conducted in the sacred language of Sanskrit (along with English), linking Shonu and Julio to one another and reinforcing their connection to their families, ancestors, friends, nature, the planets, and the creative forces of the universe. The ritual stage (Mandap) represents the universe, and Shonu and Julio's was designed with beautiful white drawn curtains laced with a garland filled with vibrant purple, blue, and fuchsia flowers. During the Mala Vinimaya, Shonu and Julio exchanged garlands as a form of deep and mutual respect.

Mayor John Destefano (at whose campaign the couple met) gave a moving welcome to the gathering, and later that evening, he treated the crowd to a hilarious toast that recounted the political and romantic journey of the couple.  Their Hindu ceremony was conducted both in the sacred language of Sanskrit and English for the attending crowd. The Mandap was decorated with beautiful garlands and stood tall throughout the entire evening - a reminder of the ceremony that linked Shonu and Julio to one another.

As guests entered the reception, they walked through a psychedelic video wall that featuring Julio’s spirit animal, a wolf. The groom’s cake was that of a large snake, based off of a traditional South American artifact that Julio had seen - and connected with - in a museum on his travels. Guests heard more beautiful speeches from the couple’s family, and our favorite highlight of the evening was watching Shonu and Julio cheerfully dance to “Me and Julio down by the school yard” in front of their family and friends.

Witnessing such pure moments of joy, love, and celebration in the lives of others is one of the biggest perks of this job, and we are privileged to be reminded weekly of the best parts of humanity.

Shonu and Julio,

Your family's delight at your union is so apparent as they speak of you with respect and with joy.  We hope you always continue to enjoy life's journey together, and we join the Mayor in wishing you a life of love for forever and 100 years.

Xoxo,

The Mason Jar Team

Event Planner + Designer:  The Whitt Experience @thewhittexperience Photographer: Q Weddings @qweddingsphotography Kurant Events  @kurantevents Wedding Venue:  South Congress Hotel @southcongresshotel Sangeet Venue: Sway @swaythai Mendhi and brunch venue:  Hotel St. Cecilia @hotelsaintcecilia DJ Chino Casino @scullytime Band: Sauce  @wearesauce Bakery:  The Cake Plate  @cakeplateaustin Photo Booth: Capture Photo Booth  @thecapturephotobooth Late night desserts:  Voodoo Donuts  @voodoodoughnutaustin Lighting: Ilios @ilios_lighting Henna artists:  Nisha Henna Arts Rentals:  Loot Rentals BBJ Linens Premiere Marquee Birch and Brass Flowers:  Margot Blair Florals