AN ELEGANT EVENING AT THE GROVE

Callie Clemons and Randy Burns were married on October 26, 2019, in a celebration that felt unmistakably Austin and deeply connected to Callie’s family.

The ceremony took place at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, a place Callie had known for years. She grew up in the neighborhood and attended services there during both high school and law school, so choosing the church felt personal rather than simply practical.

For the evening celebration, Callie had a very specific list in mind. She wanted to stay close to downtown, avoid a traditional ballroom, host more than 300 guests, serve genuinely good food, and choose a place with meaning behind it.

The Grove was the natural answer.

The restaurant was part of Callie’s family history and already held a special place in Austin. Even though it had not previously hosted a reception of this scale, its layout turned out to be ideal. Guests could move easily throughout the restaurant, gather at the bars, sit together inside, or step outdoors. With 350 people attending, that flexibility kept the evening social and relaxed.

Working With the Space

Instead of transforming The Grove into something it wasn’t, Callie and her team worked with what was already there.

Westbank Flower Market added flowers and greenery throughout the restaurant, with candlelight softening the existing interiors. Much of The Grove’s own furniture stayed in place, including its chairs, banquettes, and bars. Whim Hospitality supplemented the setup with additional furniture, linens, and the dance floor.

The result still felt like The Grove, just dressed for the occasion.

A Carolina Herrera Gown and Family Jewelry

Callie wore a Carolina Herrera gown purchased at the Saks bridal salon in New York.

The dress itself was kept a secret before the big day, with only her mother and sister knowing what she had chosen.

She paired it with white Alexandre Birman Vicky sandals. A substantial heel was intentional. Callie wanted shoes she could actually dance in for the rest of the night.

Her jewelry carried even more personal history. She wore her mother’s earrings, her grandmother’s watch, a bracelet her parents had given her for her 30th birthday, and a gold family signet ring. Her grandmother had given the same style of ring to each grandchild on their 18th birthday.

Rather than a full bridal party, Callie asked her sister Florence to serve as maid of honor. Florence chose a one-shoulder light purple Badgley Mischka dress that felt more like eveningwear than a traditional bridesmaid dress.

Randy wore a tuxedo he already owned and finished the look with vintage gold Tiffany knot cufflinks and studs, a gift from Callie.

A Surprise at Good Shepherd

One of the most memorable parts of the ceremony came through the music.

The couple surprised their guests with the Gospel Stars, who performed “Oh Happy Day” and “This Little Light of Mine.” It brought an unexpected burst of energy into the church and immediately set the tone for what followed.

Before the ceremony, Callie and Randy also chose to see each other privately outside Good Shepherd.

One of Callie’s favorite photographs was made during that time, as the two walked through the church garden looking at each other. She later used the image for their first Christmas card.

Dinner, Dancing, and Frito Pie

After the ceremony, everyone headed downtown to The Grove.

Camille Ross and the team at Elsie Event Co. kept the logistics moving while Memphis Soul filled the restaurant with music. Guests moved through food stations, gathered in the different rooms, and packed the dance floor later in the evening.

Callie and Randy made one particularly smart decision during the reception. They slipped away for a few minutes and had dinner together privately.

For a celebration with 350 guests, it gave them a rare chance to sit down, catch up, and actually eat.

Callie later joked that otherwise she might have missed the Frito pie.

Dessert included carrot cake from Lady Quackenbush, along with cookies from Tiny Boxwoods.

And the night still wasn’t finished.

After the reception, guests in black-tie attire made their way to the Texas Chili Parlor for an after-party. Callie ranked that spontaneous final stop as a very close second among her favorite parts of the day.

In Callie’s Words

When I asked Callie why she chose me to photograph the day, her answer was one of my favorite kinds of compliments:

“I had seen your photos from friends’ weddings and loved them! You did such a good job at capturing the small, unchoreographed moments.”

After receiving her gallery, she sent another note that still makes me smile:

“I love them!!!… it was still a BIG surprise to click the link and see them.”

That is always the goal. The polished portraits matter, but so do the expressions, reactions, and small interactions that no one planned.

Callie’s Advice

Looking back, Callie’s biggest piece of advice was simple: the reception goes incredibly fast.

Take a little time during it to stop and soak everything in.

Sit down together. Look around the room. Notice the people who came to celebrate with you. And, in Callie and Randy’s case, make sure you don’t miss the Frito pie.

Vendor Team

Planning: Elsie Event Co. / Camille Ross
Ceremony: The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
Reception: The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen, Downtown Austin
Floral: Westbank Flower Market
Rentals: Whim Hospitality
Ceremony Music: Gospel Stars
Reception Music: Memphis Soul
Cake: Lady Quackenbush
Cookies: Tiny Boxwoods
Hair: Propaganda Hair Group
Makeup: Denise Vasquez
Transportation: Austin Charter