Weddings 2023 Archives - Society Texas

A WORLD OF LOVE

by societytexas | Dec 28, 2022 | 2023 January February, Weddings 2023

Alexis Williams & Alex Barry Exchange Nuptials

By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Remi Dupac

It is a classic story of modern-day Texas. Two people move from places outside of Texas to Austin, one of the most desired cities in the world. The two initially connect via the dating app, Bumble, yet the fellow instinctively knows that the lass is the one for him. Instead of waiting for her to reply, he heads to another well-known app, Instagram, to direct message her, and, as they say in all great love stories, the rest is history. Thus begins the love story of Alexis Williams, the daughter of Amber Williams and Kurt Williams of Portland, Oregon, and Alex Barry, the son of Mary and Tom Barry of Dublin, Ireland.

Once together, the adventurous couple was immediately drawn to one another. “I knew that we would get along. Even if things don’t go to plan, we are always a good team,” recalls the groom, Alex Barry, upon first meeting his future bride. Meanwhile, Alexis was drawn to their shared interests and beliefs. “I chose Alex because our values and beliefs align. He is kind, loyal, and genuine. Plus, we have so much fun together,” mused the bride.

The couple, who share a love of sports and the outdoors had dated for three and a half years when the groom popped the question on a hike in Austin. “It was right after the 100-year ice storm in February 2021,” recalls Alexis Barry. “We went on our hike with a beautiful overlook. He got down on one knee and popped the question with the sweetest speech. My dream man in my dream city. I was over the moon happy.”

The bride and groom were engaged for 18 months, and during that time, the couple decided France was the place they wanted to marry. After touring nine different wedding venues around the country, they found the perfect spot at Chateau de la Napoule, a 14th-century castle on the Mediterranean Sea in Cannes. The wedding was a two-day affair, which is traditional with Irish weddings. The first day featured the wedding itself, held al fresco on the grounds of the chateau. The shades of pink color palette created a bright and whimsical balance to the Medieval architecture of the venue. Âme Luxury Events planned the wedding festivities. The couple’s first dance was the most memorable part of the day. The bride and groom had hired a dance instructor to teach them a routine, which was performed to an acoustic version of the song, Cinema. After a few choruses, the music transitioned into a faster, electronic version to get the party started.

Keeping with the Irish wedding customs, the second day of the celebration featured a more casual party than the wedding day itself. Friends and family donned their finest summer white ensembles for a Sunset Beach Party at the Riviera Beach Club in Cannes. “There is nothing chicer than being in all white at a beach club on the French Riviera,” mused the bride. The fun continued at the beach club until about 1:00 AM, when a large part of the group headed to one of the hottest clubs in Cannes, Baoli, to dance the night away, capping off two days of pure love and joy.

The couple, already in their favorite country in the world, stayed in France for their honeymoon for an additional week by spending time in the Provence countryside. They live in Austin, where the bride is an interior designer, and the groom works in finance.

LOVE UNDER THE SUN

by societytexas | Dec 28, 2022 | Weddings 2023, 2023 January February

Annie Daugherty & Spencer Lewis Share Nuptials

By Leanne Raesener Photography by Kristen Kilpatrick Photography

Anne (Annie) Elizabeth Daugherty, the daughter of Minnie Martin Baird and John Andrew Daugherty, Jr., of Houston, and stepdaughter of Raleigh William “Will” Baird III and Richard Spencer “Spencer” Lewis II, the son of Susan Helen Lewis and Steven “Steve” Charles Lewis of San Antonio, were wed in a festive affair themed South of the Border.

The couple started dating in the summer of 2019. Annie and Spencer’s third date was over a long weekend at Annie’s mother’s home in San Miguel de Allende with her family. It was there that they realized they had something special. Spencer and Annie enjoy hunting and fishing at their respective ranches. So fittingly, Spencer surprised Annie with a formal proposal, down on one knee, overlooking the beautiful countryside on his ranch. She excitedly said, “yes.” The couple then drove back to the ranch house, where their respective families were to surprise and celebrate the wonderful occasion. They were engaged in 2021, and both knew they wanted to have the wedding where they fell in love. And they made it happen a little over a year later. Next stop, San Miguel de Allende.

The rehearsal dinner was held on Thursday night at the Instituto Allende. It was spectacular, with cocktails surrounding a huge fountain covered in blue and white flowers. The bride wore a wedding gown by Oscar De La Renta, with the train removed. She wore a Monique Lhuillier wedding dress for the wedding and reception, both from Casa De Novia in Houston. Since the rehearsal dinner was on Thursday, several guests hosted a casual fiesta and guayaberas Welcome Party on Friday night at the Plaza de Toros (the bullfighting arena). There were 3,000+ candles in the stands and giant pinatas of the bride and groom.

The magnificent wedding and reception, with approximately 330 guests, were held at the Hacienda San Luis Gonzaga. There were 70,000+ flowers in shades of pink at both events. A deliciously prepared a muy especial San Miguel dinner was served at the reception. The Penzi team designed and created the wedding cakes, the bride’s vanilla cake with fresh sliced strawberries between the layers, and the groom’s cake, German chocolate with a duck blind, and Spencer’s English Cocker Spaniel Finley seated atop. The wedding planners, Guadalupe Alvarez, Meengan Cárdenas, and the Penzi Team were all from San Miguel de Allende. They also worked with Angelica Solache Florist to make the arrangements and arches for all three parties.

The couple both attended Texas Christian University yet did not meet until after college. They honeymooned in Anguilla and Saint Barth’s. The bride worked at The PR Boutique in Houston, and the groom started a real estate position in San Antonio, where he is also on many boards. The couple resides in San Antonio.

SOUTHERN TRADITION

by societytexas | Dec 28, 2022 | Weddings 2023, 2023 January February

Hannah Claire Gibson and Michael Houseman Gresham Unite In Marriage

By Alexandra Del Lago Photography by John Cain Photography

It was a secretly planned engagement for Hannah Claire Gibson of San Antonio, the daughter of Jenny and Jay Gibson, by Michael Houseman Gresham of Indianola, Mississippi, the son of Louise and Tom Gresham, who were wed in San Antonio. The groom assembled his future wife’s family, as well as his parents, in town by surprise from Mississippi, who would join the festivities once the bride said yes to his proposal. “There were margaritas and maracas in hand, cheering and toasting to the surprise that had been pulled off,” enthused Hannah Gresham. “Within the hour, all of our siblings and a few of my closest San Antonio girlfriends joined in the celebration, and a parade of mariachis topped off the occasion.”

The three-and-a-half-year courtship led to the wedding at Christ Episcopal Church, where the bride grew up attending and was also confirmed. It was the ideal venue for the ceremony for the 550 invited guests, as The Reverend Justin Lindstrom officiated. The couple each had 15 attendants. The bride wore a silk white trumpet-style gown of organza lace set with intricate flowers by Carolina Herrera from Julian Gold Bridal.. She paired the gown with an heirloom veil from the groom’s family, framed with Alençon lace. She also wore a custom pearl choker necklace with an opal brooch center made from her great grandmother’s opal ring and a matching earring set, all designed by Fannie Thomas Jewelry.

Since the wedding occurred right after Easter and Fiesta, the duo wanted to celebrate their reception at The Argyle with family and friends by fully embracing the pleasant springtime weather and by dancing under the open sky as the entire venue was set up as an indoor parlor brought outdoors. Its array of beautiful porches, storied rooms, charming sections like the Coates Garden, and extensive lawns proved perfect for the occasion. During the cocktail hour, guests mingled among a string quartet and enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres, a magnum champagne station, and a sushi station, with multiple custom bars that carried specialty cocktails of an Espresso Martini and Aperol Spritz. A dinner was served in various custom-trimmed candelabra and flower-flanked tents that featured multiple food options from the bride and groom’s backgrounds from San Antonio and Mississippi, with trays featuring “Taste of Mississippi” and “Taste of Texas”. The guests danced the night away to the sounds of the Drywater Band on a custom dance floor designed by Katherine Moore, one of the bridesmaids, of Katherine Jezek Designs and executed by Illusions Tent and Events. The afterparty music was provided by a DF from Cutting Edge Entertainment. The rehearsal dinner the evening before was held at the Briscoe Western Art Museum.

The bride is a graduate of Texas Christian University and owns Hannah Vista Photography. The groom graduated from the University of Mississippi and from Southern Methodist University graduate school and is the vice president at the private equity real estate fund, Velocis. The couple honeymooned in Hermitage Bay, Antigua. They now reside in Dallas and love exploring new places in their travels, skiing in Colorado, tennis, and neighborhood strolls with their dog Hazel.

AN EVERGREEN LOVE

by societytexas | Dec 28, 2022 | 2023 January February, Weddings 2023

The Nuptials Of Milla Brusenhan And Carter DeWalch

By Jake Gaines Photography by Caroline Lima

It was the most perfect day when Milla Brusenhan, of San Antonio, the daughter of Alicia and Harry J. Brusenhan, and Carter DeWalch of Houston, the son of Julia and Mark DeWalch, were married at the Christ Episcopal Church in San Antonio. After a courtship of three years, the groom proposed to his intended bride at Mattie’s Green Pastures in Austin. The duo has celebrated many landmark occasions in their relationship at this venue. “When we first met, I loved Carter’s kind and gentle personality as well as his love for travel and adventure,” shared Milla DeWalch. “I loved Milla’s infectious, happy personality and adventurous spirit when I first got to know her,” said Carter DeWalch. “She is an incredibly loyal, loving, and the most supportive and kind wife.”

The nine-month engagement led to their stunning wedding day at Christ Episcopal Church, where the church sacraments were exchanged, followed by a reception at Club Giraud and Southwest School of Art. The intimate wedding ceremony and reception was elegantly sublime with springtime colors of organic, free-form flowers, chosen to capture the essence of the newlyweds. The bride wore a gown designed by Oscar de la Renta accented with the Parker Veil, a family heirloom on her mother’s side of the family, that has been passed down for generations. Milla’s grandmother’s earrings crowned the ensemble.

The wedding event planning dream team was the collaborative expertise of Katherine Lopez of Sweet August Events, who realized the bride’s ideas and brought them to life, along with Danny Cuellar of Trinity Flowers and Jessica Huisman of Freesia Designs, who defined and refined the exquisite floral design. A delicious dinner was served by Club Giraud and also highlighted Milla’s favorite drink, a spicy Ranch Water and Carter’s Old Fashioned. The band, Love and Happiness, from Austin, surprised the couple with a fun and fantastic blues-inspired “Front Line” performance as the newly married couple arrived at the reception. Milla and Carter then surprised everyone with a disco ball, hidden by a ceiling of flowers, that was lowered down above the dance floor, mid-way through the celebration.

The rehearsal dinner at The Argyle, hosted by the groom’s parents, Julia and Mark DeWalch, began the wedding weekend on the highest and happiest note, reconnecting and tying together both families and dear friends. This ever-special and beautiful evening was capped off with a super fun Post Toast given by precious friends from Houston.

The bride is a Texas Christian University graduate and completed her Masters of Occupational Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. She is working as an occupational therapist at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation. The groom graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and is a development manager at Hillwood Communities. The couple enjoyed a whirlwind honeymoon in Italy, where they visited Lake Como, Florence, Montepulciano, and Rome. They now make Austin their residence, where they love spending time together at home, enjoying the outdoors with their dogs, fly fishing, cooking, and trying new restaurants.

TWO OF HEARTS

by societytexas | Dec 28, 2022 | 2023 January February, Weddings 2023

The Marriage Of Leslie Ticku And Michael Shulman

By Alexandra Del Lago Photography by Matthew Alvarado, Hey Beloved

It was meant to be. While working in New York City, this couple met through friends who spent summers in the Hamptons and winter ski trips to Colorado together. For Leslie Ticku, the daughter of Beth and Forrester Smith III, and the late Dr. Raj Ticku, of San Antonio, and Michael Shulman, the son of Kristine and Dr. Jay Shulman of Dallas, romance blossomed quickly. After dating for three years, the couple was engaged for six months while planning their San Antonio wedding.

“He surprised me on my 30th birthday when we were surrounded by friends,” enthused Leslie Shulman about how the groom popped the question. “I had a wine-tasting birthday party, and Michael proposed toward the end of the night when it was time to bring out the cake.” The groom, Michael Shulman, shared, “When I first met Leslie, it was her sweet smile that drew me in. We quickly found ourselves puzzling and cracking little jokes. My crush only grew from there. Now, her humor, work ethic, and intelligence are her most impressive traits.”

The nuptials, which occurred on the lawn of The Argyle witnessed by over 200 guests, was a memorable and elegant celebration. A color palette of gorgeous shades of blues, greens, pinks, and oranges was implemented for the sunny occasion. The bride wore a gown designed by Lela Rose, and the couple was each supported by their 17 attendants. Reverend Allie Hayes Shulman, the groom’s sister-in-law, was the officiant, which made the day very special, surrounded by their family and friends.

The reception, a seated dinner, followed at The Argyle. The couple’s favorite dinner selection of Pepper Bomb Filet and Mesquite Red Snapper was served while the tequila flowed, and plenty of Espresso Martinis were enjoyed throughout the evening. The event planner was Katherine Lopez of Sweet August Events, while Danny Cuellar of Trinity Flowers created the lively floral décor. The band, Drywater, played to the guests’ enjoyment. The rehearsal dinner, a Welcome Fiesta, was held in the courtyard at Hotel Emma, and the reception’s after party was there, as well.

The bride is a University of Texas at Austin graduate with a degree from the School of Communications and is the director of marketing at a technology company, Out Of Office. The groom graduated from Southern Methodist University and is now vice president of Asset Management. They reside in Dallas and honeymooned in Tuscany’s Maremma region of Italy. The couple are wanderlust travelers and love an adventurous road trip with their Goldendoodle, Ollie, as well as finding great new restaurants wherever their travel journeys take them.

ROAD TO ROMANCE

by societytexas | Dec 28, 2022 | Weddings 2023, 2023 January February

The Nuptials Of Kate Fuller & Rick Leeper, Jr.

By Jake Gaines Photography by Natalie Probst

When Kate Fuller and Rick Leeper,Jr, met at a party through mutual college friends, they were immediately drawn to each other. The bride, the daughter of Margery and Charles Fuller of Winnetka, Illinois, and the groom, the son of Sherry and Rick Leeper, Sr. of San Antonio, were recently married in Chicago. “Having all of the people we love the most in one room to celebrate our long relationship and everlasting love actually happened after two years of planning and re-planning with the pandemic,” shared the bride, Kate Fuller, about their engagement that occurred after a four-year courtship. “Knowing that it is nearly impossible to surprise Kate, I popped the question at our apartment on a Wednesday night,” recalled Rick Leeper. “She walked into a beautiful assortment of candles and hydrangeas thinking it was in celebration of a new job.”

When planning resumed after the engagement and pandemic, the Langham Hotel was chosen as the venue for the duo’s rehearsal dinner. The wedding ceremony and reception were held at the Chicago History Museum. The bride wore a gown designed by Martina Liana as she walked down the aisle among the 150 invited guests. Her long-sleeved dress was similar to the dress worn by her mother at her own wedding. The bride’s mother-in-law chose the earrings to be worn with it. At the reception, which followed a seated dinner, the couple sipped champagne out of a silver chalice silver chalice, engraved with the names of Kate’s family members and their spouses, to which the newly married duo’s names had been added prior to the wedding ceremony.

The classic black and white floor tile of the historic venue influenced the wedding’s black and white theme, which was accentuated with rich green velvet details. The wedding planner was Erica Vanco with Estera Events, while the floral décor was created by Life In Bloom. The reception’s guests loved dancing the night away to the band, The Chicago Catz, and also enjoyed Devils River Whiskey, Rick’s family’s whiskey brand. Special touches included cocktail napkins imprinted with the image of the couple’s beloved goldendoodle, Tommy. The late-night snacks were classic Chicago hot dogs and churros representing the groom’s hometown of San Antonio. An after party held at The Lodge Tavern, one of the oldest bars in Chicago, where the couple achieved a received the rare honor of being allowed to sign a brick on the wall of the Prohibition-era speakeasy.

The bride graduated from Southern Methodist University where she earned a degree in advertising. She is currently the vice president of marketing for the Dallas Market Center. The groom also graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in economics and recently started his own investment business, Tetragon, LLC. The couple honeymooned in Antigua, and reside in Dallas. The Leepers especially enjoy skiing, traveling to new places, playing cards, hosting friends in their backyard, and exploring with Tommy.