Devyn and Marc’s meet-cute is straight out of a movie. They began as coworkers, a friendship formed, and then one night at a rooftop bar in downtown Los Angeles, he finally found the courage to admit he had a crush on her. One their first official date they visited one of her favorite spots: The Last Bookstore. That beloved spot would become the location of another big moment in their relationship when they visited one more time before moving to Australia. Under the store’s famous tunnel of books, Marc popped the question.
With an international move on the horizon, and planning a destination wedding from out-of-state, the couple came to me to plan their wedding. The kicker was that they wanted it to take place just six weeks later.
Wanting to create the perfect Texas getaway for their guests, I got to work locating a venue that would cater to their needs: lots of outdoor space, room for a tent to hold their 150 guests, availability for the multi-day installation, on-site lodging for out of towners, and befitting the fusion of elegant and laid-back we were going for.
Rest Yourself River Ranch was a mid-century ranch that had opened as a venue just months prior and it was perfect. With a lodge, cabins, and guest suites, there was space to accommodate over 90 guests for the weekend. The courtyard was the perfect fit for the tent. And it had some charm and history—John Wayne and other notable Western movie stars used to play cards on the patio where the rehearsal dinner took place.
That first event was a more casual celebration. We brought in four food trucks (tacos, BBQ, donuts, and drinks), had the Texas Country Band play everything from Hank Williams to Randy Rodgers to Prince, and celebrated the setting with a Western theme. Café lights and picnic tables mixed with geometric table linens and photos of the venue dating back to the 1950s to create décor that was just right.
The next morning, we kicked things off with an Australian-themed brunch in honor of Marc’s roots. Since food was a key part of the weekend, we tapped Tastefully Yours to customize the menus. The added bonus was their chef is a fellow Aussie, so authentic meat pies and sausage rolls abound.
Later that day it was time for the main event, which took place atop a 150-foot cliff overlooking a bend in the Brazos River. Thirty feet of flowers flanked the aisle and more blooms enrobed the tree and dripped down from the overhanging branch anchoring the ceremony. In a straight-out-of-Hollywood moment and as a surprise to guests, a singer and horns player performed “All You Need Is Love” as the couple recessed up the aisle.
Inspired by the venue’s architecture, I created a reception space that felt like part of the location while also staying true to the couple’s desire for a refined look. We erected a clear tent dressed in soft chiffon, echoing the natural light they get (and love) in their home. As a surprise, we installed twinkle lights to transform the space (which also featured a floral installation over the dancefloor) come nightfall. I kept thinking of the song we sing here in Texas, “The stars at night are big and bright clap clap clap clap deep in the heart of Texas.”
Devyn was drawn to dark yellow tones and black accents, so we took those darker colors, added lots of texture, and the end result was a unique twist on a typical fall color palette. In addition to the colors, the bespoke monogram appeared on several elements throughout the day. The bride’s love of books was honored in the look of the menus but also in the favors given to each guest (a custom-wrapped copy of the bride’s favorite book complete with a leather book mark) that doubled as escort cards.
The night was filled with a series of genuine speeches, but the groom’s was perhaps the most memorable, as this was when the couple announced they were pregnant. With another reason to celebrate added to the night, the couple walked through their petal send-off which led everyone to the outdoor after-party.
Before everyone headed home, a second brunch meant one more gathering. This time, it was Mexican-themed for the bride’s heritage. Grab-and-go burritos were on hand, as were Bloody Mary’s to help with any hangovers from the previous evening. The Best Man had called me just a few days prior to discuss the groom’s love of espresso, and asked if it was possible to play that up. I called one of my favorite mobile coffee companies and they were confirmed within 24 hours.
This wedding was a true delight to work on. Even with the super tight time frame—I had less than a week to design everything so it could then go into production—I’m so happy how many layers we were able to fold in to showcase the couple. It was a one-of-a-kind wedding weekend here in Texas that I’ll never forget.
Photographer: Stephanie Brazzle Photography
Venue: Rest Yourself River Ranch
Planner & Designer: Shannon Rose Events
Flowers: Wedfully Yours
Videography: BSR Wedding Films
Catering: Tastefully Yours Catering
China Rentals: POSH Couture Rentals
Linen Rentals: Nuage Linens
Chair & Chandeliers: Party Dallas
Furniture Rentals: Perch Decor
Cake: Creme De La Creme
Band: In10City Band
Makeup: Brittany Jones Hair & Makeup
Dress Boutique:
Paper: Brown Fox Creative