A Surprise Wedding Singer at Omni Barton Creek

A Winter Wedding at Omni Barton Creek in Austin

Leigh and Collin did not spend months touring venues.

They already knew where they wanted to get married.

“Collin plays golf at Barton Creek every weekend and watched the venue be built from the ground up,” Leigh said. “He always had his eye on it and showed it to me one day. We didn’t even look anywhere else. It was a no brainer.”

For a couple whose life in Austin includes plenty of time outdoors, weekends on the lake, dinners with friends and more than a few rounds of golf, Omni Barton Creek already felt familiar.

Their January wedding brought together the parts of Austin they love most with a polished winter setting, thoughtful color, great food and a reception centered around celebrating with their people.

Designing Around Their Favorite Things

Leigh described the decor as “a mix of our favorite things.”

“From flowers to color to food, it was just US!”

The palette included green, rose pink, navy and white, with mood lighting throughout the evening. The overall feeling was polished, warm and very Austin.

There were nods to the Hill Country setting, but the wedding still felt personal rather than themed.

Leigh and Collin both love being outside, especially near the water. They spend time boating, surfing, hiking and meeting friends for dinner around town. Their favorite places include Matt’s El Rancho, Clark’s, Red Ash, Lin and Uchi, so creating an evening centered around good food, music and a packed dance floor made perfect sense.

The reception was the part of the day they were most excited about.

More specifically, celebrating with family and friends. And dancing.

Leigh’s Two Wedding Dresses

Leigh wore two dresses during the wedding.

Her ceremony gown was by Calla Blanche and was purchased at Blue Bridal Boutique in Austin. Later in the evening, she changed into a reception dress by Made With Love Bridal.

Her accessories included gold Stuart Weitzman booties, earrings from her father and her great-grandmother’s diamond bracelet.

Her bridesmaids wore navy dresses by Birdy Grey, while Collin and the groomsmen wore black tuxedos.

Collin wore a Hugo Boss suit with a Brackish feather bow tie, which worked especially well with the winter setting and darker color palette.

A Ceremony Without a First Look

Leigh and Collin chose not to do a first look before the ceremony.

Instead, one of Leigh’s favorite moments happened just before she walked down the aisle.

“Standing inside with my dad behind a column, being able to see my handsome soon-to-be husband at the end of the aisle,” she said. “I got to see his reaction to all of our best friends and family walk down the aisle. Then I got to walk out and see his reaction fully of his first look at me.”

There is something very different about waiting until the ceremony to see each other.

The anticipation builds all day, and when the moment finally happens, everyone they love is right there with them.

For Leigh, getting to watch Collin before he saw her made it even better.

Their Favorite Wedding Photograph

When I asked Leigh to choose a favorite image, she picked the photograph of the two of them walking back down the aisle after the ceremony.

It makes sense.

The ceremony is over. They are married. Everyone around them is cheering.

There is no need to create energy in a moment like that. It is already there.

Why They Chose Jenny DeMarco Photography

Leigh and Collin were originally introduced to my work through their planner, Gina.

“We of course fell in love with her and were beyond pleased with her work and relationship.”

For me, the relationship part of that answer matters just as much as the photographs.

Wedding photography is personal. I spend a lot of the day close to my couples, their families and the people they care about most. My job is to know when to give direction, when to move quickly and when to stay out of the way.

Leigh and Collin wanted their day to feel relaxed, joyful and centered around their guests.

The photographs needed to reflect the same thing.

A Wedding Team They Loved

When asked if anyone on the vendor team went above and beyond, Leigh’s answer was easy.

“All of them!!! I literally could not have been happier with our team!”

A good wedding team changes the entire experience.

When everyone knows their role and works well together, the couple gets to spend far less time thinking about logistics and far more time enjoying the wedding they planned.

Leigh and Collin certainly did.

A Little More About Leigh and Collin

The two met through a mutual friend while meeting for drinks on Rainey Street in 2016.

A few years later, Collin proposed on Lake Austin near the 360 Bridge.

The lake had already been an important part of their relationship. They spent a lot of time there when they first started dating and continued going back over the years.

After the proposal, Collin brought Leigh back to his family’s lake house, where both families were waiting.

Leigh had no idea her family was even in town.

“We had a great time being alone during the proposal, we both cried, and then celebrating with the people we love.”

That same rhythm carried into the wedding.

A meaningful moment together, followed by a very good party with everyone they love.

The Vendor Team

Venue: Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa
Planner: The Whitt Experience, (now WhittRoss)
Florist: Melony Rodwell
Ceremony Dress: Calla Blanche
Bridal Boutique: Blue Bridal Boutique
Reception Dress: Made With Love Bridal
Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss
Groom’s Bow Tie: Brackish
Bridesmaid Dresses: Birdy Grey
Entertainment: Blind Date Austin
Band: Randy Rogers Band
Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals
Cake: Simon Lee Bakery
Makeup: Denise Vasquez Makeup
Videography: Crescent Videos
Stationery: K. Laine Designs
Ceremony Music: Barton Strings Music Performance