The Nuptials Of Clara Kelleher and John Ostrander In San Antonio

By Jake Gaines         Photography by Sarah Kate Photography  

The vibrant theme for the wedding of Clara Patricia Kelleher and John Blake Ostrander was a garden party with San Antonio flair, in shades of green, pink, and white, complete with Mexican star lanterns. The bride and groom are both San Antonio natives. Clara Kelleher is the daughter of Lisa and John Michael Kelleher, and John Ostrander is the son of Miriam and Ron Malek, and Chris Ostrander. The bride attended Texas Christian University, while the groom attended Texas Tech University and earned his degree from San Angelo State University. They had a five-year courtship and were married after an eleven-month engagement. “John popped the question on a hike in Jackson Hole, Wyoming,” mused the bride, Clara Ostrander. “We hiked to the highest point at Teton Village. So it was just the two of us when he proposed at the top of the mountain with the most beautiful view.”

The rehearsal dinner, honoring the couple at Club Giraud, included a performance by their favorite artist, Rob Baird, whom they discovered in Luckenbach. The following day, the wedding ceremony was at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church. The bride wore a Monique Lhuillier gown of 3D-embroidered lace appliqué and tulle from Julian Gold Bridal, San Antonio. The A-line silhouette, a godet skirt with grosgrain bow at waist, was showcased with a ruffle illusion V-neck. Clara wore a custom veil of the embroidered lace appliqué that matched her gown and the ensemble was adorned with earrings loaned by her mother.

Sara Fay Egan and Ashley Freeman of Sara Fay Egan Events of Dallas helmed the planning of the wedding, while Danny Cuellar of Trinity Flowers created the festive floral décor. The flowers were sophisticated and classic creating a contemporary elegance that was simply pretty in all shades of pink. The Maid of Honor was Caroline Swan Kelleher, while the Matron of Honor serving the bride was Maddie Kellum Allen. She was attended by 16 bridesmaids and attendants. The groom’s best man was Andrew Markette Allen, with ten groomsmen attending him.

The reception, which followed the nuptials, was at The Argyle for the 620 guests. The seated buffet had plenty of food stations, including The Argyle’s famous nachos, potato puffs with caviar, seafood paella, lobster rolls, pepper bomb beef tenderloin, and fried quail, to name a few. The occasion’s libations contained a floral-filled champagne ice bar, espresso martinis adorned with the likeness of Eloise, the couple’s French Bulldog, on the drink stirrers, and the groom’s favorite, a traditional Margarita. About the groom, the bride shared, “When we met, I thought John was the funniest guy I had ever known. He is still the life of the party, and I love that life will always be entertaining with him. Plus, he has the kindest heart.”

The couple resides in San Antonio, where the bride is the jewelry buyer for Julian Gold, and the groom is the co-founder of Bexar Capital, a real estate investment firm. They visited South Africa for their honeymoon, and in their leisure hours, they love attending concerts around the Texas Hill Country and spending time at the bride’s family’s ranch.