Winter White In the Hill Country

February 4, 2021
bridesmaids laughing while getting ready
bridesmaid helping bride zip up her lace wedding dress
mother of the bride putting on the bride's gorgeous engagement ring for her
Bride putting on her lace wedding dress and bride's sapphire and diamond engagement ring
Bride's nude embellished heels and her white calla lilly bouquet
Groom putting on his cufflinks in the mirror
groom and groomsmen toasting before the wedding
bridesmaids admiring brides engagement ring
father of the bride ecstatic as he sees the bride in her dress for the first time
father of the bride hugging the bride
father of the bride crying while he looks at his daughter in her wedding dress
bride reading a special note from the groom in her lace wedding dress
groom seeing the bride for the first time in her wedding dress
bride and groom hugging and bride wiping tears off of the grooms face
bride and groom first look
bride and groom walking away holding hands and bride smiling while the groom kisses her cheek
Omni Barton Creek outside wedding reception
Omni Barton Creek outside wedding reception
Wedding details of the envelope wall and dinner menu
take a shot or take your seat shot bar sign and glasses
bar menu and beautiful white lace tablecloths for the reception
wedding ceremony with white flower and greenery alter and chandelier
mother of the groom talking with the bride before she walks down the aisle
the groom walking his mother and grandmother down the aisle
the flower girls walking down the aisle in white dresses
the bride and her dad waving and smiling before walking down the aisle
the bride about to walk down the aisle with all of the guests standing
the father of the bride walking his daughter down the aisle
the groom crying as he sees his bride walking down the aisle
the father of the bride hugging the groom before giving his daughter away
the bride and groom holding hands at the alter
the bride looking lovingly at her groom
the father and mother of the bride smiling while the father of the bride snaps a photo with his phone
the bride and the groom laughing at the alter
bride and groom kissing at the end of the ceremony!
bride and groom walking down the aisle as husband and wife
father and other of the bride walking down the aisle and celebrating
beautiful table setting
reception dinner table settings with beautiful white flower bouquets
bride and groom walking into the reception smiling as all the guests clap
groom kissing bride on the cheek
father of the bride kissing his daughter on the forehead
bride and groom crying as their friends and family toast to them
first dance as husband and wife
groom twirling his bride on the dance floor
father of the bride dancing with his daughter at the wedding reception
mother of the groom dancing with her son at the wedding reception
father of the bride making faces as the groom dances with his wife
bride smiling as she hugs one of her friends
guests dancing a the wedding reception
bride and groom dancing a the wedding reception
bride and groom dancing and pointing at the wedding reception
bride hugging the flower girls
bride getting low on the dance floor with her friends
eight layer wedding cake with beautiful flower details on the side
groom shoving cake on the brides face while she laughs
star wars themed grooms cake with the signature cocktails of the night
Dj both with silver balloons and color changing lights
the planners in santa costumes handing out fun Christmas themed headbands, sunglasses and props
guests dancing at the wedding reception with fun sunglasses on
guests dancing at the wedding reception with fun sunglasses on
father of the bride dancing at the wedding reception with a candy cane stick and red light sunglasses
a guest in full Christmas attire that lights up
the band enjoying the reception
the bride and groom dancing on stage with the band
the groom hugging the bride at the end of their wedding night

Q. What are your day jobs?

He is a Chief of Staff at the Texas Legislature and she is an attorney at Jackson Walker LLP.

Q. Where did you both grow up?

McAllen, Texas. But didn’t know each other even though it’s a relatively small town and our parents knew each other. Also went to rival high schools!

Q. How did you meet?

We worked in the same senate office at the Capitol. He had been working in that office for several years, it was her first job out of college. We got off to a rocky start! He swears he always liked her, she was convinced that he did not. We became friends slowly, after a few months of working together. At some point we became best friends. After over a year, she was getting ready to leave her job at the Capitol to start law school, and on her last day of work he let her know how he felt. The rest is history! 

Q. Tell me about the proposal?

We were in New York City. We were in town to see Hamilton (my favorite!), and it was also my 5-year college reunion at Columbia. It was his first time in the city and I was so excited to show him around. My family – my mom, dad, sister, and brother – also made the trip with us. One evening, we all had plans to go to the top of the Rockefeller Center to see the view and have some drinks before going out to dinner. But he told me to be ready a few hours earlier and said that he and I were going someplace to have a drink before we met up with my family for our evening plans. We took a cab to Rockefeller Plaza and he led us to an unmarked building.

Once inside, we were led into an elevator and two guys took us up to the top floor – by this point, I knew something was up because everyone was acting really weird and he wouldn’t even look at me. When we got to the top, the elevator opened up to this beautiful private rooftop garden. It looked like something out of a movie (and as I later found out, it was quite literally out of a movie – lots of popular movies had been filmed there). Anyway, we had it all to ourselves. As we stepped out further, I noticed a solo violinist and a giant bouquet of roses and white lilies.

In the middle of bustling Midtown, we had this quiet, private, rooftop. It felt like we were the only two people in the city even though we were surrounded by skyscrapers, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and 5th avenue. He escorted me to the center of the garden, right up to this beautiful pond, and began to say words (what words, I couldn’t tell you). I just remember that I couldn’t stop smiling and crying.

He eventually dropped down to one knee and popped the question and opened the ring box. The ring box was upside down and the ring almost fell out (everything was going TOO perfect, so it was only fitting that something went a little wrong). I was saying yes even before I saw the ring.  We hugged and kissed and laughed, and when I turned around, I realized there was a photographer capturing every moment. A few minutes later, my family showed up and joined us in our celebration. We took pictures, listened to violin, laughed, and cried.

We then went up to the top of Rockefeller Center for dinner, and then went bar hopping around the city the rest of the night. It was a night I will remember forever!

Q. Any pets? Tell me about them!

Yes! We have an English Cream Goldendoodle named Moose and a black Mini Schnauzer named Bear. Bear is 3 and a half and Moose is 2 and a half. Bear is the protector. He is very small but very feisty. We think he thinks he’s a lion, or something big and scary. He loves to nap (his favorite spot is Larissa’s lap) and plays tug-o-war over socks and underwear with his brother Moose. 

If Bear is the fighter, Moose is the lover. Moose has never met a stranger. He is the sweetest, friendliest, most loving dog. He loves chasing birds and squirrels and loves to play fetch and chew on sticks. He’s really goofy and not that coordinated, and he definitely thinks he is a lot smaller than he is – he’s 70 lbs but will sit on you as if he’s 10 lbs. He also likes to pick on Bear when he is feeling brave – in the winter, Bear wears little sweaters, and Moose will pick Bear up by his sweater and carry him around in his mouth. 

A special thanks to the vendor team:

Venue: Omni Barton Creek

Planner: Brock + Co. Events

Cake: Simon Lee Bakery

Florist: Stems

Rentals: Marquee

Lighting: FILO Productions

Music: Matchmaker Band, Hill Country Strings and Mariachi Los Gallos

Hair: Ladda Phommavong and Callie Driskill

Makeup: Denise Vasquez

DJ: Texas Pro