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.