A Woodbine Mansion Wedding with Classic Details and a Very Good Party

Megan knows weddings.

As a wedding coordinator, she had worked at plenty of venues before planning her own. So when it came time to choose where she and Alex would get married, one thing mattered immediately.

“As a wedding coordinator, it was important to me to not get married at a venue I worked at. Woodbine was brand new so it was perfect,” Megan said. “Actually, it was perfect because it was perfect! It is such a beautiful venue with so much history and character.”

Woodbine Mansion gave them the character Megan wanted without feeling overly familiar. It also became the backdrop for a wedding designed around a simple idea: make it beautiful, make it personal, and make sure everyone has a really good time.

Neutrals, Classic Details and a Party in the Back

Megan did not begin planning with a fully formed design concept.

“I didn’t know anything about what I wanted until I started planning and, as I do in my attire and home decor, I gravitate to neutrals!”

The wedding took shape around soft, neutral tones and a classic look. But Megan and Alex never wanted the evening to feel too formal.

Alex had a much better description for it.

“He would always say our wedding was like a mullet, business/fancy in the front, and then a party in the back,” Megan said. “Which is exactly what we wanted! Beautiful but relaxed!”

Honestly, hard to improve on that description.

The setting was polished. The details were thoughtful. And once the reception started, the priority was being with their people and enjoying it.

Megan’s Made With Love Gown

Megan wore a gown by Australian designer Made With Love, purchased at Blue Bridal Boutique in Austin.

She had a great experience shopping there and kept the rest of her look simple.

After watching plenty of brides suffer through uncomfortable wedding shoes, she made a practical decision.

“I wanted something comfortable and affordable!”

Her shoes came from Nordstrom, and she paired them with a necklace and earrings she found on Etsy.

The necklace was especially good with her ponytail because it dropped down the back of her gown.

Megan knew exactly where she wanted the attention.

A Meaningful Detail in Alex’s Look

Alex wore a custom tuxedo from SuitSupply.

While shopping for the wedding tux, he also had a custom suit made for their Friday night event, which gave him two looks for the weekend.

But the most important part of his wedding-day attire was not new.

Alex wore his father’s Rolex watch. His dad had passed away a few years earlier, making the watch an especially personal piece to have with him on the wedding day.

Getting Ready Together Without a First Look

Megan and Alex skipped the traditional first look.

But they also did not spend half the wedding day avoiding each other.

Instead, they got dressed together.

“Seeing Alex throughout the day was the best thing we could do,” Megan said. “I know how busy wedding days get, and so we wanted to spend as much time together as we possibly could.”

It was a choice that suited them much better than following a tradition simply because it was expected.

They shared the morning, spent time together before the ceremony, had a private meal, and stayed together throughout the reception.

“The entire reception and dancing time with everyone, and again, Alex and I stayed together the entire night and it was so much fun being around everyone we love.”

The Ceremony Moments Megan Loved Most

The vows were one of Megan’s favorite parts of the day.

And when I asked her to choose a favorite photograph, she immediately protested.

“I can’t pick. Don’t make me pick. All of them!!! SERIOUSLY.”

Fair enough.

But when pushed, she chose two images surrounding the ceremony.

One was photographed during their kiss, taken from behind Megan and Alex so their families’ reactions could be seen in the background.

The other was a photograph of the two of them immediately after the ceremony.

Then she added the cake cutting, dancing, getting dressed, family photos and details to the list.

So yes, basically all of them.

Why Megan and Alex Chose Jenny and Stacy

Because Megan works in the wedding industry, she had already seen Jenny and Stacy work many times before her own wedding.

Comfort was a big part of her decision.

“We are extremely comfortable with y’all since we are friends, and I know how important that is in photos,” she said.

But she also knew exactly what she wanted photographically.

“The real and raw moments that you capture are EVERYTHING.”

And, as a planner, she appreciated something couples may not always notice while looking through portfolios.

“I know you keep things on time and moving, and you both are wonderful about ‘fixing’ things when they need to be fixed.”

Her example was wonderfully specific.

“Making sure I didn’t have a double chin when I was looking down at my bouquet for photos was so important!”

Megan loves natural photographs, but she also wanted to know someone was paying attention.

“I love natural photos, but it is also the best thing to have some tweaks to ensure the photos of yourself turn out how you felt that day.”

That balance is important.

Real moments do not have to mean ignoring flattering light, posture, timing or small adjustments. Good documentary photography still requires experience and attention.

“Hire the Best and Step Aside”

As a wedding planner getting married herself, Megan came into the day with a perspective most brides do not have.

She knew how much planning matters.

She also knew when planning needs to stop.

“Please do what works for you. It is your wedding day!” she said. “I know tradition is important to some, but if it doesn’t work for you or your family, do not force things.”

Her biggest piece of advice was even simpler.

“Hire the best and step aside.”

Megan trusted the team she had hired, let go of the small things and enjoyed herself.

“I had the BEST time and trusted the experts. I would do it exactly the same over and over again.”

For someone who spends her career managing wedding days, that might be the best endorsement of all.

The Vendor Team

Venue: Woodbine Mansion
Planner: Lexie Perez, Pearl Events
Florist: Bouquets of Austin
Ceremony Music: Barton Strings
Hair: Brooke Michie, Lyric Salon
Makeup: Colleen Briggs
Lounge: Loot Rentals