If you missed it, find part one of Dana and Ian’s wedding here!

Dana is the first of my siblings to get married, and while I knew her wedding would be a wonderful day, I didn’t realize what an absolute blast it would be to enjoy all the “action” of a family wedding without the stress of being the bride! As her sister, her matron of honor, and just a guest, it was a joy to see all of their details come to life in such a lovely way. Dana planned most of the wedding while Ian was deployed and they moved to Missouri just a few weeks later, so their wedding clearly marked the close of one chapter and the start of another for them. As a result, I think, they truly soaked in every moment of this very special and much-anticipated day. Perfectly captured by Jen Dillender, their reception and all that it entailed was every bit as fun as it was beautiful!

P.S. Can we please talk about how Dana and Ian have the BEST smiles?! I can’t help but grin ear-to-ear myself at their expressions all throughout these photos!

Did you do a cocktail hour? What was it like? Our cocktail hour was on the front lawn and porch of the mansion of our venue. We were the first people to ever do this at our venue! People were greeted by the bar with two signature cocktails (moscow mule for Ian, spicy margarita for me), local beer from our favorite brewery, and wine. Our passed hor d’oeuvres were bacon-wrapped quail bites, crab and avocado mini tostada, and sausage and cheese kolaches.
Tell us about the design inspiration for your celebration. How did you bring that to life through the details? I wanted greenery on the beams of our garden ballroom to bring some of the nature inside, since I wasn’t going to have huge centerpieces and to define part of the space. It was one of my favorite decisions and worth every penny! We also really wanted to use wood as an accent throughout our decor because Ian is passionate about woodworking and he made me a bookshelf a month after we met–it was what sealed the deal for me! He made the tray for our cards and all the easels for the signs. Lettered by Valerie did a stunning job making our menus, seating chart, and the “you are my forever” sign…all of which are now displayed in our home! Tell us about your first dance. Our first dance was to “Tenerife Sea” by Ed Sheeran. It was the song that was playing when Ian said “I love you” for the first time. The song that opened the dance floor, though, was my favorite dance—we did a two-step to our favorite song by one of our favorite bands, “Make a Little” by Midland. What was the most memorable or touching moment of the day? The speeches! We have some good ugly cry photos from during the speeches by my matron and maid of honor. What were some of your favorite moments from your reception? Dancing the whole night with all of my best friends. Ian surprising me (and himself) with a lip sync to Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher.” The food. The food was so good!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? A few days after our wedding, we went on the most relaxing and fun honeymoon to Belize and then had a week to pack and move to the middle of nowhere in Missouri. Now, we’re hanging out in Missouri and getting really into the craft beer scene. We’ve spent a lot of time traveling for weddings this year. We’re not sure what’s next for us, but are excited for new opportunities and adventures together!

Love you so much, Dana and Ian! Thank you for letting me share your joy on Something Pretty!!

Photographer: Jen Dillender Photography | Videographer: PhotoHouse Films | Ceremony venue: St. Mary Cathedral | Reception venue and coordination: The Winfield Inn | Florist: Petals, Ink. | DJ: Made from Skratch | Bride’s Dress: “Austin” by Elizabeth Dye | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Michka | Bride’s Earrings: Zoe Comings | Bridesmaid Dresses: Gal Meets Glam Collection | Hair and Makeup: Jessica Roop | Paper Goods: Minted | Map: Watercolor ATX | Calligraphy: Lettered by Valerie