Young and in Love at the Omni Barton Creek

February 15, 2023
Left: Bride and groom look at each other outside before their rehearsal dinner. Right: A close up of the bride's baby blue heels with a tulle bow on the back.
Left: The couple's welcome sign at the rehearsal dinner. Flowers adorn the side. Right: Guests toast to the bride and groom at the rehearsal dinner.
The bride and groom laugh during a rehearsal dinner speech.
Left: The couple's invitation suite and wedding details including the bride's jewelry and blue, purple, and white flowers. Right: A close up of the wedding invitation with golden script
The bride's sister and mother button her dress and touch up her hair and makeup.
Left: The bride's mother and sister button up her dress. Right: A close up portrait of the bride sitting in front of a window.
Two bridesmaids fluff the veil and help secure it in the bride's hair
The bride is ready for the day and smiles in her dress and veil
After the bridesmaid reveal, the bride embraces her friends, smiling.
Left: A close up portrait of the bride with her bouquet. Right: A full shot of the bride's dress. She holds her bouquet and looks over her shoulder
Left: The bride laughs, holding her bouquet. Right: A close up shot of the bouquet from the side. It's small with wispy white flowers.
The groom and his brother tie their bowties in the mirror and laugh together.
The groom's brother adjusts the grooms bow tie.
Groomsmen help each other with their bowties in the getting ready suite.
The groom smiles and looks out the window
The groomsmen surround the groom and hype him up before the wedding.
An aerial shot of the altar and seats at Omni Barton Creek
A shiny, acrylic aisle sits between rows of chairs and leads to an alter covered in white flowers.
Left: The altar is covered in white flowers and greenery. Right: A flower arrangement at the start of the aisle with big white flowers and greenery
The wedding programs with the ceremony schedule and wedding party. They are white with blue text and a blue ribbon down the seam
A guest book with blue flowers embroidered on the cover waiting for guests to sign
Left: The bride walks down the aisle, escorted by her father. Right: The bride and groom hold hands at the altar and smile at each other.
The bride and groom stand at the aisle as all of their guests watch
Left: The bride and groom kiss at the altar. Right: The bride and groom laugh and hold hands after the ceremony
The bride and groom walk down the aisle together after the ceremony, dancing and laughing
The bride and groom smile and laugh together as they walk away from the ceremony, freshly married.
Left: The bride and groom stand together at the aisle, covered in white flowers. Right: The bride stands at the aisle, covered in white flowers
The bride and groom walk through a path on the golf course
The bride and groom hold hands and walk on the Omni Barton Creek golf course together
Left: The couple holds hands and walks along the golf course. Right: The couple embraces on the golf course
Left: The bride and groom smile at the camera on the golf course. Right: The bride and groom and hold hands and smile on the golf course
Left: The bride and groom hug and laugh on the golf course during their portraits
Left: The bride and groom embrace and smile. Right: The groom holds the bride as the sun sets in the background
An aerial shot of the bride and groom on a bridge over a lush, green creek.
An aerial shot of the venue as guests gather for the reception.
Guests sit at the rental furniture arrangements and laugh together.
The bar and beautiful blue and purple flower arrangements outside before the reception
Left: A well-dressed couple grabs some wine and champagne during cocktail hour. A guest smiles as he socializes during cocktail hour.
A close-up shot of the outdoor bar and large blue, purple, and pink flower arrangements
Left: Blue velvet chair and couch rentals sit outside the reception. Right: A close up of the large outdoor flower arrangements full of blue, purple, and pink flowers
Guests mingle outside the reception venue
A wide shot of the reception room, set with blue linens and tall flower arrangements on each table.
Beautiful blue, purple, and pink flower arrangements on the dinner tables at the reception.
Left: A blue and white menu sits on a crystal plate at the reception dinner table. Right: A details shot of the table numbers and flowers at each table.
Beautiful blue, purple, and pink flower arrangements and glassware on the dinner tables at the reception.
Left: The 5-tier wedding cake with white flowers sits on a table, surrounded by lush florals at the base of the table. Right: A tall flower arrangement in a glass vase sits in the middle of a reception dinner table.
Guests head into the reception as the sun goes down.
The bride and groom enter the reception, holding their hands in the air in celebration.
The bride and groom make their way through the tables of guests, greeting friends and family.
A shot of the reception details in the blue mood lighting. Greenery hanging from the chandeliers, sheets of tulle draped across the ceiling, large flower arrangements, sparkling dinnerware, and blue table linens decorate the room.
The 5-tier wedding cake with white flowers sits on a table, surrounded by lush florals at the base of the table.
The bride and groom make their way to the shining, reflective dance floor for their first dance.
The groom spins the bride during their first dance on the reflective dance floor.
The groom holds the bride in his arms as they spin during their first dance.
Another angle of guests eating dinner and having good conversation in the elaborate reception area.
Guests enjoying their dinner and mingling as the sun goes down.
The bride smiles and laughs, dancing with her husband and their guests.
Guests sit at the velvet furniture rentals and chat outside during the reception.
The bride and groom cut into the 5-tier wedding cake, decorated with white flowers.
The bride and groom exit the reception as their guests surround them and cheer.
The bride and groom exit the wedding through a tunnel of pyrotechnic sparklers. The bride smiles and pumps her fist in the air in excitement.

Q. Where did you both grow up?

Hunter and Claire grew up moving around quite a bit, although both consider Texas home. Hunter is from Fort Worth, and Claire is from Austin. Hunter was born in New Orleans and lived in Alaska, Houston, Dallas, Malaysia, and Fort Worth. Claire was born in Atlanta and grew up in Germany, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts. 

Q. What are your chosen professions?

Hunter is a technical director for film and Claire is an actress.

Q. How did you meet?

We met first in a writing class our second semester of college at NYU in 2014. Hunter was always ready to go and participated in class and Claire was usually 10 minutes late with a coffee in hand. We knew of each other but never really spoke.  A year later we worked on the same short film together through a mutual friend and had to kiss with chocolate all over our faces (it was art school don’t ask haha) on a cold February afternoon. We got to talking that day and realized we had a lot in common.  We got coffee the next week and have been together ever since.

Q. Tell me about the proposal?

We got engaged in October of 2020 in Santa Monica. It was during the height of both the pandemic and the CA wildfires. The three of us (Claire, Hunter, and our dog Queso) were riding it out in our studio apartment. Hunter told me that we were going to the beach to take some nice pictures for his Grandmother so we got dressed up and walked towards the beach. As we walked, it got foggier and foggier. It sort of looked and felt like we got engaged during the apocalypse. But it was a really sweet moment. We had a lovely dinner and face-timed friends and family to share the news. 

Q. What are a few places that are special to you. This could be a vacation, a local hiking spot, where you met, something you enjoy doing together locally, etc. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; just someplace you have made memories together.

We have made a lot of memories together in different places. First, in NYC during college. Every Sunday we would walk around and try to find a new place to eat brunch every weekend.  We had a few places where we were regulars together and would often sit at the same table. When Hunter was working in Boston, I would visit on the weekends and we would take Queso and go on hikes through the nature reserves. Many memories revolve around food, the Ukrainian diner in the East Village, dumpling house in Needham, and tacos in the West Village. 

Q. When you can do anything you want to do, what do you do? i.e. what are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your leisure time, what makes you happy when you are spending time together?

We love taking care of our dog Queso and spending time with family. Claire loves to cook and is always experimenting with new recipes. We like trying new things together, be it tennis, video games, or a swing dancing class. We also love seeing movies together, going to broadway shows, swapping favorite TV shows and just enjoying spending time together. And occasionally getting into very competitive ping-pong games.

Q. What is your favorite music and/or songs that mean the most to you as a couple? Any special concerts you attended together? A playlist of sorts would be great! And any stories are great too!

We have had a lot of fun concert experiences together: Shania Twain in Dallas, Maren Morris in NYC, and several others. 

Q. What are your favorite foods/restaurants? Are either of you into cooking at home?

Claire loves to cook at home and Hunter likes to watch, although sometimes he gets in there. We love Mexican food, Italian food, and Thai. Claire is vegetarian and Hunter is not, but his vegetable intake has increased throughout the relationship. 

Q. What are you the most proud of about your partner? Brag about them to me!

Hunter: Her resiliency during auditions, not being too discouraged during the lows and always nailing it when getting the opportunity. She really shows up for everything she does.  And for becoming a dog person 🙂

Claire: I am most proud of his positivity, ability to make the best of any situation and I really admire his work ethic and how he always continues to grow in his work. 

Q. Any kids or pets? Tell me about them!

We have a 2-year-old golden doodle named Queso. He is the light of our lives and we love him. He is a giant goober and hilarious. 

Q. What do you love most about your partner?

Both: I love how much fun we have together during the big things and the ordinary everyday things. We think we are a good team 🙂

Q. What are each of your favorite drinks when you are celebrating? Craft beer, wines, cocktails, bubbly, or a mocktail?

Hunter: Margarita with salt

Claire: Either a spicy margarita or Moscow mule

Q. What are your favorites drinks for Sunday mornings? Special herbal teas? Love a particular coffee? Bloody Marys?

Both: COFFEE We love espresso. 

A special thanks to the vendor team:

Venue: Omni Barton Creek

Planner: Verve Events (Barbara Shorts & Sarah Surprise)

Florist: David Kurio Designs

Cake/Desserts: Polkadots Cupcake Factory

Catering: Omni Barton Creek

Ceremony Music: Castle Hill String Quartet

Reception Music: Matchmaker Band

Hair & Makeup: Jessi Pagel

Stationery: Kelsey Laine