Ceremony on the porch at Mattie's Austin

A Flower-Filled Spring Wedding at Mattie’s at Green Pastures

Sara and Shaw’s spring wedding at Mattie’s at Green Pastures was filled with color, flowers, and a full weekend of Austin celebrations. The weekend included a bridal luncheon at Elizabeth Street Cafe, a rehearsal dinner at UMLAUF Sculpture Garden, and an outdoor ceremony beneath the oaks at Mattie’s.

A Bridal Luncheon at Elizabeth Street Cafe

Sara’s wedding weekend began with a bridal luncheon in the Croissant Room at Elizabeth Street Cafe.
She wore Erdem’s Bow-Strap Tiered Fit & Flare Midi Dress, a white cotton poplin style with blue painterly florals and long self-tie straps at the shoulders.
The luncheon was relaxed and bright, with family and friends gathered around the table for drinks, conversation, and toasts before the rest of the weekend began.

  • Exterior of Elizabeth Street Cafe in Austin before Sara’s bridal luncheon.
  • Sara posing outside Elizabeth Street Cafe in a white and blue floral dress before her bridal luncheon.
  • Detail of Sara’s blue and green floral dress at her bridal luncheon in Austin.
  • Sara with family members during her bridal luncheon at Elizabeth Street Cafe.
  • Sara laughing with a guest during her bridal luncheon in the Croissant Room at Elizabeth Street Cafe.
  • Guests raising colorful cocktails during Sara’s bridal luncheon at Elizabeth Street Cafe.

Rehearsal Dinner at UMLAUF Sculpture Garden

Friday evening, family and close friends gathered at UMLAUF Sculpture Garden for the rehearsal dinner.
One of the night’s biggest surprises was a visit from Bevo. Shaw’s family had a personal connection to the group that cares for Bevo dating back to his college years, which made the appearance especially meaningful for them.
The garden setting gave the evening a completely different feel from the wedding day at Mattie’s, while still keeping the weekend rooted in Austin.

A Spring Ceremony Beneath the Oaks

Sara and Shaw kept the ceremony simple, with no wedding party standing at the altar.
Sara walked down the aisle with her father in a Monique Lhuillier gown with lace and floral appliqués. The dress picked up the floral theme without competing with the ceremony setting.
“I wanted to lean fully into the romantic spring feel,” Sara said.
One of her clearest memories came during the vows.
“Two moments stand out the most: getting teary-eyed trying to get my vows out, and spending the rest of the night tearing up the dance floor surrounded by everyone we love.”

Sara’s Spring Florals by Wild Bunches

Wild Bunches filled the ceremony with flowers in shades of pink, coral, purple, blue, and green. Arrangements lined the aisle beneath the oak trees and framed the entrance to Mattie’s.
The aisle flowers were one of the details Sara had been picturing well before the wedding.
“I had envisioned bright, lush florals lining the aisle, so seeing that vision brought to life as I walked down felt completely surreal and turned out even better than I imagined.”
Inside the reception, green botanical linens were paired with vivid pink florals. The mix of pattern and color stood out against the wood and greenery already present at Green Pastures.

  • Father seeing his daughter in her wedding dress at Mattie’s at Green Pastures in Austin
  • Bride smiling with young flower girls and a ring bearer outside Mattie’s at Green Pastures in Austin
  • Ceremony on the porch at Mattie's Austin

The Moments Happening Around the Ceremony

Some of my favorite photographs came from what was happening around Sara and Shaw during the ceremony.
Two flower girls leaned toward each other near the aisle. Another child stretched across a chair a few rows back. Guests turned as Sara walked in with her father.
Those small interactions were happening at the same time as the vows and made the ceremony feel busy, personal, and very real.

A Relaxed Reception at Mattie’s

After the ceremony, Sara and Shaw spent the evening with their guests at Mattie’s.
The reception design continued the botanical linens and bright floral palette, with rentals from BBJ La Tavola, Bee Lavish, Table Manners, and Monarch. Austin Event Lighting handled the lighting, and Mike’s Dance Floor created the dance floor for the reception.
Once The Night Owls started playing, Sara and Shaw were right in the middle of the dance floor with their friends and family.
Later in the evening, guests were served individually wrapped P. Terry’s cheeseburgers from the Barton Springs location.
Sara and Shaw left the reception in Betty the Wedding Bronco before heading to The Driskill.

Sara’s Advice for Couples Planning Their Wedding

When asked what she would tell other couples planning a wedding, Sara kept it simple.
“Truly enjoy the journey. The entire process and the day itself fly by so quickly, so take moments along the way to soak it all in.”
A few months after the wedding, Sara and Shaw traveled to Kenya and Tanzania for their honeymoon. One of the highlights was watching a herd of about 30 elephants cross a river directly outside their tent.

Creative Team

Planning: Pearl Events Austin, Courtney Davis
Venue: Mattie’s at Green Pastures
Photography: Jenny DeMarco Photography
Floral Design: Wild Bunches
Cake: Quack’s Bakery
Rentals: BBJ La Tavola, Bee Lavish, Table Manners, Monarch
Dance Floor: Mike’s Dance Floor
Hair & Makeup: Adore
Music: The Night Owls
Lighting: Austin Event Lighting
Videography: Crescent Films
Stationery: MESH by Alex
Getaway Car: Betty the Wedding Bronco
Bride’s Gown: Monique Lhuillier
Bridal Luncheon Dress: Erdem, Bow-Strap Tiered Fit & Flare Midi Dress

More Austin Weddings

For another Austin celebration planned by Pearl Events, see A Pink and Emerald Green Wedding at Four Seasons Austin.

More from the Journal