|
Our 1940s Wedding
By Jean Hailey
Photography By Maria Bernal Photography
J’me and Michael met during their freshman year at Bowie High School. Michael was a bit on the shy side, while J’me was loud and outspoken. They ran in different circles, and hardly had reason to talk to one another. Then, one day, they discovered that they had secret crushes on one another. Michael finally worked up enough courage to call J’me, and their friendship began. Once they began to officially date, they never looked back.
After years of dating, Michael proposed to J’me during a trip to Horseshoe Bay. They had had a wonderful weekend of visiting wineries and going horseback riding through the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Michael knew that J’me would not want him to propose in public, so he waited until the trip home. He pulled over to the side of the road while driving, on the pretense of needing to get out to look for something in the back of the car. J’me asked what he had forgotten, and Michael asked her to come to the back and help him. When she got to the rear of the car, there was Michael on one knee, holding a simple yet gorgeous princess-cutdiamond ring. He asked J’me to marry him and through a cascade of tears, she said, “Yes!”
Michael and J’me did not hire a wedding planner, but they did have many people who helped them throughout the process. Michaja Tate, coordinator and wedding assistant on-site at Villa Antonia, provided them with an excellent vendor list, where they found many of the vendors they ended up hiring. Both sets of the couple’s parents helped mentally and physically throughout the entire process. Another person who was instrumental in the planning process was Maria Bernal, their photographer. She helped solidify J’me and Michael’s vision for their dream wedding, and was a big support for J’me through the entire wedding.
“She became more like family, and we still talk all the time, even now that the wedding is over,” said J’me.
J’me and Michael wanted their wedding to be inspired by 1940s Old Hollywood. They had always loved that time period, everything from the way people dressed to the formality and old-fashioned quality about it. They chose the dragonfly to be their symbol because J’me loves dragonflies, and also because of the symbolic meaning attributed to the animal.
“The dragonfly is regarded as a symbol of light, adaptability, grace and transformation,” said Michael. “It symbolizes one going past self-created illusions that limit our growing and changing to develop a sense of self that comes with maturity. Dragonflies are reminders that we are light and can reflect our light in powerful ways if we choose to do so.” He added, “This was a quote that was used in our wedding.”
The intimate yet simple wedding was held at the Villa Antonia. Around 150 family and friends attended. Michael and J’me had a difficult time narrowing the guests’ list.
“Our wedding was a long time coming; it took us four years from engagement to actually make it down the aisle, and the guest list seemed to grow daily,” laughed Michael.
As the guests arrived, a pianist played classic 1940s music, and J’me walked down the aisle to a very fitting piano version of “At Last.” The couple did not have the typical unity candle or sand-pouring ceremony; they chose a simple hand blessing that spoke of what their hands will mean to one another in the upcoming years. The wedding colors were black, white and several shades of pink, and these colors were accented by the hundreds of dragonflies around the room.
After the ceremony, the chapel was converted into a dance hall, and the reception began. Bar-height tables were scattered around the room, decorated with black tablecloths and oversized martini glasses filled with floating candles, orchids and dragonflies. Pink lights decorated the walls, and the chandeliers overhead were dimmed slightly. Flickering tea lights added ambiance to each table, and feathers were everywhere; J’me and Michael love feathers!
Guests enjoyed tantalizing hors d’oeuvres, including coconut shrimp and bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin, catered by Sterling Affairs. The wedding cake was a five-tiered lemon mascarpone cake covered in fondant. Instead of a groom’s cake, the couple chose a white chocolate and a milk chocolate fountain for that special chocolate craving. They also included a shaved ice gelato bar that served wonderful coconut and Mexican vanilla gelatos.
The DJ, from DJ’s Unlimited, played the newly married couple’s first song, “We Are Man and Wife,” by Michelle Featherstone, then played classics such as songs by Sinatra, Bennett, Stewart and Buble.
After their beautiful 1940s wedding came to a close, Michael and J’me left for their honeymoon, a Disney cruise to Key West, Grand Cayman Island, Cozumel and then Disney’s private island in the Bahamas called Castaway Cay.
Austin Resources
Venue and reception:
Villa Antonia
Caterer:
Sterling Affairs (provided food and drinks) Chocolate Cup (provided gelato, shaved ice, chocolate fountains)
Wedding dress:
Alexia Gavela Bridal
Veil:
Unveiled Bridal Designs
Bridesmaids’ gowns and shoes:
White House Black Market
Groom’s and groomsmen’s tuxes:
Men’s Wearhouse
Wedding cake:
Tony Sansalone’s
Photographer:
Maria Bernal
Transportation:
Antique Limousines of Austin, Ltd.
Hair salon and makeup:
Hair stylists and makeup artists provided by photographer Maria Bernal
Florists:
Visual Lyrics
Music:
DJ’s Unlimited Austin
Pianist:
Dan McMurrough, booked through www.BookaBand.com
Officiant:
Reverend Paul Tate
Rehearsal dinner:
The Belmont
Invitations:
The Posh Pen
|
.jpg)
