Young and in Love at Omni Barton Creek with Verve Events
Claire Lilley and Hunter Williams gathered their family and friends in Austin for a black-tie celebration at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, with planning by Verve Events.
The setting made sense for a couple who both consider Texas home, even though neither spent their entire childhood in one place. 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.
For their October celebration, Omni Barton Creek gave them the Hill Country setting they wanted while keeping everyone close to Austin.
An Omni Barton Creek Wedding in the Hill Country
Claire and Hunter chose the lawn at Omni Barton Creek for an outdoor Episcopal ceremony overlooking the hills.
Guests were seated theater-style facing the view, with a raised platform for the couple and their officiant. Castle Hill String Quartet provided the music.
They decided not to have a first look, so the ceremony was the first time they saw each other that day.
Claire and Hunter also wanted portraits with the Hill Country behind them, including time around sunset, but they were clear that photography should not take them away from the celebration for long.
Their request before the day was simple. They wanted a smooth evening and great photographs “without too much intrusion.”
Planning by Verve Events
The scale and production of the evening called for careful coordination, and Verve Events managed the celebration with Barbara Shorts and Sarah Surprise involved in the planning.
The day included an outdoor ceremony, extensive family photographs, a reception reveal, custom projections, live entertainment, floral installations, and a pyrotechnic exit.
With that many moving parts, good planning mattered.
Verve Events coordinated the schedule and vendor team so Claire and Hunter could move through the evening without having to manage the logistics themselves.
That became especially important once guests transitioned into the Pavilion and the reception production came to life.
It Started in an NYU Writing Class
Claire and Hunter first crossed paths as students at NYU in 2014.
Hunter was always ready to participate in class. Claire was usually arriving ten minutes late with coffee.
They knew of each other, but didn’t really talk until the following year when a mutual friend cast them in the same student film. The scene required them to kiss with chocolate all over their faces on a freezing February afternoon.
As Claire put it, “It was art school, don’t ask.”
They started talking that day, went for coffee the following week, and have been together ever since.
Their careers stayed firmly in the creative world. Claire became an actress and Hunter works as a technical director in film.
That background made some of their decisions surrounding lighting, atmosphere, music, and production especially fitting.
An Enaura Gown With Plenty of Sparkle
Claire wore the Beau gown by Enaura Bridal, purchased at Kleinfeld in New York.
The A-line gown featured a V-neck, beading, a train, and plenty of sparkle. Her matching Enaura veil had beading along the edges and a pattern designed to sit against the gown.
She finished the look with pearl-covered Stuart Weitzman block heels.
Her bridesmaids wore floor-length Amsale Sophia gowns in French Blue. Hunter and his groomsmen wore black Vera Wang tuxedos.
The deep navy, black tie, beading, and blue and purple floral palette worked particularly well once everyone moved into the Pavilion.
Inside the Omni Barton Creek Pavilion
Claire described the reception concept as “whimsical and magical,” but much of its impact came through production and scale.
David Kurio Designs filled the Pavilion with blue, purple, and white floral arrangements. Greenery hung overhead alongside white draping, while a silver dance floor and mirrored stage gave the room a more polished edge.
Custom projections moved across the stone walls and ceiling, creating an atmospheric woodland-inspired effect.
Instead of simply opening the reception doors, Claire and Hunter planned a full reveal.
Guests entered as the lighting, projections, suspended floral elements, and music came together at once.
For a couple who both work in film, the sense of theater felt particularly appropriate.
Family Was at the Center of the Day
One of the things Claire and Hunter were most excited about was having so many of their people together again.
Their 2022 celebration followed several years when seeing far-flung friends and relatives had been difficult.
Claire’s bridal party reflected friendships and family relationships built across many different chapters of her life. Her sister Alexis served as maid of honor alongside cousins, childhood friends, college friends, and family members who traveled in for the weekend.
Several older relatives were especially important to the couple. Claire described Marjorie and Ash Pipkin as cousins who had essentially been grandparents to her and her sister. Hunter’s grandparents, Papi, Abuela, and Granny Jane, were also among the people they especially wanted photographed.
Those relationships were just as important to preserve as the reception design.
Dinner, Live Music and a Packed Dance Floor
After dinner and cake, Matchmaker Band took over.
Claire had described the evening almost perfectly beforehand: a beautiful setting that would eventually turn into a really fun dance party.
There were first dances and parent dances before the wedding party joined everyone on the floor.
Hunter had admitted that the first dance was one of the few things making him nervous. Claire was more concerned about logistics.
Once the party started, both concerns seemed to disappear.
At the end of the night, Claire and Hunter walked through rows of sparkling fountain pyrotechnics by Big Dog Pyro.
Coffee, Queso and the Ordinary Stuff
For all of the production involved in their Omni Barton Creek wedding, some of the best things about Claire and Hunter are much simpler.
They love movies, Broadway shows, trying restaurants, cooking at home, competitive ping-pong, and convincing each other to try new activities.
Claire cooks. Hunter says his vegetable intake has increased considerably since they started dating.
They both take coffee seriously.
And then there is Queso, their goldendoodle, whom they described as “the light of our lives” and “a giant goober.”
When I asked what they loved most about each other, they gave essentially the same answer.
They have fun together during the big things and the ordinary everyday things.
“We think we are a good team.”
That might be the best description of them.
Vendor Team
Venue and Catering: Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa
Planning: Verve Events
Floral Design: David Kurio Designs
Cake and Desserts: Polkadots Cupcake Factory
Ceremony Music: Castle Hill String Quartet
Reception Music: Matchmaker Band
Hair and Makeup: Jessi Pagel
Stationery: Kelsey Laine
Videography: Crescent Films
Pyrotechnics: Big Dog Pyro
