I love that today's featured couple � Aaron & Darby (umm LOVE that name!) � skipped the tradition of exchanging gifts on their wedding day and instead wrote letters to each other which they had their attendants deliver just before the ceremony. How special is that? As Darby said �getting a message from each other was better than any physical gift we could have purchased.� I couldn't agree more. A big thank you to MELISSA GLYNN for sending this beautiful Texas summery wedding our way! Love the bridesmaids pretty coral dresses� and so fun that they all helped put together all the bouquets and flowers for the day. Be sure to read the sweet proposal story below too!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: Aaron's proposal was the shock of my life! He was about to leave for a 4 month sailing trip, and a few of us were throwing him a send-off brunch. When I arrived at the send-off, he insisted that we jump on bikes to check out a "washed out part" of the Town Lake Trail before joining the brunch. Once on the trail, I saw a tandem bike covered in roses with a sign that said, "You're my favorite one." I immediately assumed the set up was for someone else, and I felt pretty perturbed that 'they' also had our special phrase�what were the chances?! Aaron said we should check it out, but I was thinking, "No, we can't just walk into the middle of someone else's set up�we might ruin whatever they have planned!" Despite my confusion, he did guide me over to the bike, and you can see the rest of what happened here. My parents and a few friends were there hiding and popped up cheering after I (reportedly) said yes � I couldn't remember any of it afterwards! After a brief celebration of hugs and squeals (I could barely stand up or form intelligible words!), we took off on the tandem bike for a lap around the lake. We came to the spot of our engagement on 2 bikes and rode away together on one. The symbolism of it all didn't occur to me for many months, but Aaron assures me that he planned it that way all along.
TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR WEDDING DRESS: I really enjoyed looking for a wedding dress � there are so many gorgeous gowns out there! Austin has several boutiques with incredible customer service, which made it easy for me to relax and soak up this once in a lifetime experience. I'd already tried on numerous gowns, and had several front-runners. I have helped friends find their wedding dresses in the past, and tears unfailingly filled my eyes when they tried on the dress. I didn't know if I would experience the same thing for myself, but I couldn't help hoping my tear-omometer would kick in at some point to make my decision a little easier! I almost didn't try on my dress because it looked limp and lifeless on the hanger in comparison to the other voluminous and structured gowns. I went ahead and set it aside, and when the consultant asked which dress I wanted to try on first, I said, "I guess I'll get this one out of the way because I know I won't like it." Ha! The moment I put it on, I gasped and tears filled my eyes. I felt like myself! The other dresses were so beautiful, but I felt like I was playing pretend in those dresses, as if they were wearing me instead of vice versa. I loved this dress's unique but timeless look, so relaxed and romantic.
FAVOURITE DETAIL OF THE DAY: I loved the ceremony under the trees, perfect weather, setting sun, and being surrounded by friends and family. Aaron and I wrote our own vows and heard them for the first time as we read them to each other. It was incredible.
WHAT ADVISE WOULD YOU GIVE OUT TO A COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING? Make it personal! My brother flew in from South Korea to officiate, and rather than giving an impersonal, formal speech, he essentially told the story of my and Aaron's relationship. Many people in the audience only knew one of us, so they enjoyed getting to hear what brought us to that moment rather than platitudes about love.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? That's a tough one. I loved watching guests arrive from an upstairs window of the ranch house, being prayed over by my mom and bridesmaids, and the sea of loving faces that greeted me as my dad walked me down the aisle. I especially loved seeing Aaron for our first glance before the ceremony�all things that I'll never forget.
Aaron's last name is Bell, so we were excited to discover an old plantation bell on the ranch property. When we were presented as Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Bell at the end of the ceremony, a friend ducked around the corner and rang the bell 7 times. Then, when our arrival to the reception was announced, the wedding party formed a "runway" and rang small glass bells that my mom and I had been collecting.
Photographer MELISSA GLYNN / Florist sourced from FIFTY FLOWERS, arranged by the bride and friends / Stationery HANDMADE BY THE BRIDE / Venue INSPIRING OAKS RANCH / Dress Designer SAISON BLANCE / Shoes LAUREN CONRAD / Hair RACHEL MULLIN / Grooms Attire MENS WAREHOUSE / Planner RACHEL POWER / Caterer TEXAS PIE COMPANY & TRADER JOES
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