If you are dreaming of something intimate and romantic, you will fall for this restaurant courtyard wedding captured by Lori Blythe Photography. This couple chose to have a cocktail reception with close family and friends at a local restaurant with the dreamiest courtyard, with their outdoor fireplace as the perfect altar.
Tanner and I both live in Lubbock,Texas, but originally I’m from Kerrvile,Texas, which is located in a region known as the Hill Country. I knew I wanted to get married somewhere close to home, and so we chose a venue in Frederickburg, a small, picturesque town only 15 minutes from where I grew up. We were confident our friends and family would make the 5 plus hour drive from Lubbock to stay in Fredericksburg, as it boasts of over 15 vineyards to visit, as well a plethora of cozy and quaint B&B’s for a romantic weekend getaway. (Tanner and I had stayed the weekend in Fredericksburg at a B&B called Baron’s Creekside a year before, which is where Tanner proposed!) We knew we wanted our guests to experience the same ambience.
Tanner’s Aunt Brenda (now my Aunt Brenda!) arranged ALL our florals as a gift to us. I told her I liked white and elegant. She arranged our centerpieces, my bouquet, the entry, all the corsages and boutonnieres, and a lovely, eye-catching piece that sat on the fountain in our courtyard.
My father passed when I was 18. I inherited the diamond wedding ring he gave my mom, which is a stunning, pear shaped 2-carat diamond. Tanner surprised me when he proposed by resetting it in white gold, and adding two more pear shaped diamonds to the band. We also left an empty chair at our ceremony to commemorate my father’s presence there. When I walked down the aisle, both my brother’s, my sister (MOH), and I all placed a flower in his seat.
Lori, our photographer, was funny and friendly, and truly so talented. Even our bride and groom session after the ceremony was memorable, as Lori orchestrated and captured our first moments as husband and wife. You can see in our pictures that we’ve been smiling and laughing and truly enjoying the moment!
We’re both simple people. We enjoy good food, good wine, and good friends, and wanted to incorporate a sense of “us” into our wedding. We knew we wanted a small and intimate crowd of just immediate family and longtime friends who would enjoy conversing and dining together. Because our guests were mainly in their late 20’s and early 30’s, we decided on an elegant “cocktail party theme”, that way the girls could enjoy dressing up, and the guys could feel like they were on a date. We passed hor d’oeuvres in the courtyard before the ceremony, the guests stood with cocktails for a short service while we got married, and then we all sat down for a four course meal, followed by our cake cutting. The culinary experience Vaudeville created was equally as beautiful as it was delicious. Friends still tell me it was the best meal they’ve had.
We used my grandparent’s cake cutter, which was engraved on their wedding day and the date of their 50th wedding anniversary. We have since engraved our wedding date.
Vaudeville really went above and beyond to create the elegant, candle-lit aesthetic we desired. Gathering with our friends and family in such a gorgeous place, and being able to relax and converse without having to adhere to the traditional wedding schedule was my favorite part. I laughed so much with so many people—it was truly a fantastic night!
Photography | Lori Blythe Photography | Venue & Catering | Vaudeville | Florals | Brenda Bates | Cake | Sophie’s Bakery Inc | Invitations | PaperRoute Collective | Dress | Mori Lee by Madeline Gardner from Mayfair Bridal | Hair & Makeup | DivineWeddings Hair & Makeup by Tammie | Jewelry | Kendra Scott and Thacker Jewelry
