Julia Collins And Graves Peeler Unite In Marriage
By Lance Avery Morgan Photography by Sergio Sandona
When adventure calls, as they say, answer it. It was an elaborate adventure indeed when Julia Tate Collins, daughter of Cynthia and Everett Collins, married Graves Bowen Peeler, son of Marianna and Jason Peeler, all of San Antonio, in a Mexico City wedding, where the couple and their families have a deep connection.
The couple, who grew up two blocks from each other and met in middle school, began dating their senior year of high school until they were recently married. As a surprise, the groom asked for his intended bride’s hand in marriage while the future bride was planning a party for her sister’s surprise engagement party. So, Julia, still in her pajamas, was shocked when Graves popped the question, with just the two of them in the living room of her childhood home. “I was most attracted to Graves because of his quirky personality and incredible mind,” shared Julia Peeler. “He is always one step ahead of me and knows every answer to any question I ask.” As Graves Peeler enthused, “Besides being beautiful, Julia has an amazing characteristic of seeing the world in such a happy and fun way. She’s kind to everyone she meets and is so adventurous.”
The wedding ceremony occurred in Mexico City’s Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia Catholic Church in Roma Norte. Mariachis welcomed the 250 attendees as they entered the church, and an orchestra performed for the ceremony. The festive reception followed at Proyecto Publico Prim, where a Marimba band serenaded the guests. The bride looked sensational in her wedding dress designed by Romona Keveza, jacket by Carolina Herrera, and veil by Oscar de la Renta, all from Casa de Novia in Houston. The beautiful sapphire and diamond studs she wore were a gift from her bridesmaids, and the diamond in the center of her engagement ring was her grandmother’s, Marilyn Eldridge, and the groom and his mother designed an incredible ring around it. Julia chose her sister, Chloe Collins, as her Maid of Honor, and she had 22 attendants, while Graves selected his brothers to be his Best Men, Luke Peeler and Ben Peeler, along with 18 attendants and Ring Bearer Hardy Clark.
Shades of pink, red, orange, green, and white were chosen for the festivities, which occurred on a full moon weekend, with the wedding planned by Marcela Borro. The floral design was created by Essenza’s Mariana Buendia and included the woven hanging lanterns made by artisans from the Sierra de Guerrero area. The 700 garlands of carnations (2,800 in total) were installed, along with 2000 Oaxacan-style candles that were all handmade in Mexico City with the craftsmen’s ancestral techniques. Guests, who were greeted by Oaxacan masked greeters, dined on a sumptuous buffet dinner. They later enjoyed experiencing a 3-D Photo Booth, piñatas filled with Fireball shots, a champagne tower, dancers, fire throwers, a fortune teller, a hookah lounge, a Beatles cover band, tunes spun by D.J. Men-yo, and a Lucha Libre performance that lasted until 5 a.m.
Julia, who received her master’s degree in education from Texas Christian University works for interior designer Lila Malone. Graves, who also graduated from Texas Christian University and the University of Houston Law School, is an associate attorney at Uhl Fitzsimmons law firm. The couple spent their honeymoon in Rome, Florence, and Tuscany, Italy, and now make their home in San Antonio.
