Bobbi + Rich: A Texas Ranch Wedding for Midwesterners
Chicago Advertising Executives Bobbi and Rich know how to create an experience for their clients as part of their jobs, so when they were planning their wedding, it was no small task to try to do the same thing for their closest friends and family. Austin Makeup & More beautified the ladies at a local AirBnb.
Bobbi is a Texas Native who wanted Rich (a Midwesterner) and out of state guests, to get a true sense of the Lone Star State. This started from the beginning with meat-heavy barbecue rehearsal dinner from Micklethwait Craft Meats at Lustre Pearl, a popular bar frequented by locals on Austin's trendy Rainy Street. To help with the laid back feel of the wedding weekend, the guests were given a dress code of “Casual Jeans and Jorts.”
On the wedding day, guests were transported from downtown Austin to Dripping Springs at the Prospect House by School Bus (Durham School Services), another touch to make the event casual and fun.
There were touches of unique home décor you would normally see in upscale Texas ranch homes. The ceremony was simple and elegant with a cow hide rug serving as a pop of décor, and the rolling hill country providing the main backdrop for the nuptials.
The overall feel was minimalistic chic, with the reception tables decorated with handmade leather runners that were stained and branded by the Father of the Bride with their wedding hashtag. Some were even branded with a newly registered brand Bobbi's Dad got for the newlyweds. Floral was kept very simple with bunches store-bought at Austin Flower Company and divided up (some single stem, some with a collection of different floral) in each of the vases the bride had collected during her engagement. They were placed on the table next to the handmade candle holders Bobbi's dad put together with reclaimed driftwood.
Another item made by Bobbi's Dad were the leather keychains with table numbers branded in them as the escort cards guests could also keep as well. However the main décor piece was handmade by the bride: A Disco Saddle! It was placed in the center of the room and was an actual 40 pound saddle that Bobbie glued mirror tiles on to create some added night life to the dancing.
The bride wore a gorgeously simple BHLDN dress, which was only the third she tried on after popping in the store on a whim without an appointment. The strapless, crochet-inspired dress met her requirements of not being “fluffy” but pretty and not gaudy. It was a sleek, fitted silhouette, yet she could still dance the whole night away.
The ceremony took place in front of a large modern white square box, accented with a cowhide rug and candles. The bride's dog Sue even made a cameo during the ceremony as an honorary flower-dog!
Catering came from Tacos and Tequila, giving the guests their requisite TexMex while they were in Texas. A brilliant touch came when the couple was announced during cocktail hour. The Bride and Groom were led into the festivities by a Mariachi Band (Mariachi Amor) and two Beer Burros (Texas Hill Country Events), with a server carrying cold shots of Patron (complete with a lime and salt)!
No Southern Wedding could be complete without a groom's cake, and the epitome of all Southern Groom's Cake would be the Red Velvet Armadillo from Steel Magnolias, which was the centerpiece of the dessert table! Kelly's Cakes recreated the iconic cake for Rich's dessert.
The couple's priority for the evening was dancing, which was definitely accomplished with The Drywater Band, who played everything from country, to Miley Cyrus. There was Top 40, R&B and a full dance floor. It’s hard to say the highlight of the reception, but it is probably a toss up between the multiple crowd-surfing jumps (including the Mother and Father of the Bride!) and when Rich took center stage and rocked the stage to a standing ovation!
Photographer Mekina Saylor captured images that day and even had a slide show ready for everyone to see by the end of the night!
With any late night in Texas, there was a Whataburger run at the end of the night while the band was in their last set, complete with 100 Junior Cheeseburgers, 75 Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits and 50 orders of Chicken Strips.
For those who had never been to Texas before, Bobbi and Rich's wedding absolutely gave them a well-rounded experience of a fun weekend!
Vendors: Eclipse Event Co. | Prospect House | The Drywater Band | Mariachi Amor | Austin Flower Co. | Kelly's Cakes | Larissa's Cakes | Specs | Mekina Saylor Weddings | Tacos And Tequila (TNT) | Monarch Event Rentals | Durham School Services | Austin Makeup and More | Mojo Staging | BHLDN | Badgley Mischka | Minted | Texas Hill Country Events | Whataburger |
