April Showers Houston Wedding

They say that rain on a wedding day is good luck, and I’d like to believe it’s true – if only because it adds such a romantic element to the couple’s photos. Annie and Andrew’s Houston wedding was threatened by a good bit of rain and thunderstorms, but they refused to let it get in the way of a good time with friends and family. Thanks to Tessa J for sharing these images with us!

From the bride, Annie: I imagined the wedding being very natural and organic but also laid back and personal. The reception was originally planned to take place in the backyard of the house I grew up in and even though it got moved to the park, I think we definitely stuck with that garden/home-y feel. To put it simply, I just wanted it to be pretty and fun! I wanted it to look very clean and natural so we chose all white flowers and lots of greenery. We used a lot of my mom’s tables and different cotton/linen table cloths we collected to create the home-y and comfortable feeling. The flowers were all in a series of glass bottles and cement and mango wood planters which definitely added to the organic look I was going for.

I did the invites, programs and chalkboards and while they were somewhat arduous projects, I loved working on them. Ashley Morris, the mother of the grumpy ring bearer (Finn, who is not grumpy in real life), and wife to the pastor who married us, made 500 feet of gold flags on her sewing machine for us for the tent. They were so beautiful! Paige Willingham, the mom of the other ring bearer and the twin flower girls, made the girls dresses with her own two hands (and sewing machine)! They are both very talented and I was so glad that their craft and sewing expertise could be involved in making our day so special.

Looking back, every memory is a favorite one, even the rain! It all felt like a dream and was so special for Andrew and I. Since there were severe thunderstorms all day, the whole night felt very dark and cozy and there were frequent lightning flashes. Despite the crazy weather and people loosing power all around us, all of our guests were so genuinely thrilled to be there and having a blast which I think is my favorite memory. Also, my sister had the drum line from the high school she teaches at come in and play for a birthday surprise, since our wedding day was also my birthday. That was amazing and unexpected, and the kids stayed and danced with us the rest of the night! The surprise barbie birthday cake was also hilarious–our mom always got those (much smaller versions) for my sister and I growing up.

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? I think my wedding is the perfect example of the fact that not everything can or will go as planned. Some parts of our day were straight out of wedding nightmares I probably actually had (i.e flooding and lightning, vendors not being able to show up, etc.) It’s way easier said than done, but you have to let go of trying to control every detail. I didn’t believe anyone when they said this to me beforehand, but in the end you really won’t notice or care that much about the things that don’t go exactly as you’d imagined, and often those mishaps will make it all the more memorable and special! It will be so meaningful and happy no matter what.

See Also

A Tuscan Inspired Wedding with Pastel Hues at California’s Filoli Gardens

Wedding Music:
Processional: We had two of our close friends sing during the ceremony for the processional. They sung a hymn that was written recently to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. It’s so beautiful and was moving to hear them sing it together. We were actually supposed to have a gospel choir sing old hymns like Amazing Grace before the processional and Oh Happy Day for the recessional, but they couldn’t make it because of the storms. We improvised!
First Dance: “You Send Me,” Sam Cooke. We both have always liked it a lot and felt it fit-its a classic! Coincidentally, it was actually the first song on a CD that Andrew gave me the night he told me he loved me for the first time. I don’t think that’s why we picked it but is sweet, and dorky, to look back on.

Wedding Location: Houston, TX / Photographer: Tessa J / Second Shooter: Zach McNair / Wedding Coordinator: Nancy Cameron / Florist and Decor: Bergner & Johnson Design / Ceremony Venue: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church / Reception Venue: Hermann Park / Wedding Dress: Reem Acra / Groom’s Suit: J. Crew / Flower Girls’ Dresses: The Spotted Fawn / Wedding Caterer: Abuso Catering Co. / Cupcakes: Ooh La La / Food Trucks: Good Dog Food and Fork in the Road / Band: Klockwork / DJ: Latane Hughes / Videographer: Peter Hutcheson / Photobooth: Smilebooth / Wedding Invitations: Bride, anniebee design