Eventually, though, Sunnye got married and had twin boys. She later divorced. After Sunnye’s divorce, John and Sunnye became closer friends and eventually began dating. 
 

John and Sunny dated for two years. On John’s 34th birthday, May 10, the couple was getting dressed to meet John’s parents for a special dinner when he suddenly took Sunnye’s hands. He told her that she was everything he had ever wanted for a wife and that he couldn’t imagine a life that did not include her.
 

“He dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him,” sighed Sunnye. “Of course I said yes!” 
 

On the way home, Sunnye asked him why he chose his birthday to ask her to marry him. John responded, “I wanted to make sure that I chose a day that I ­wouldn’t forget!”
 

Like any other girl, Sunnye had always dreamed of the perfect wedding. She envisioned a beautiful outdoor setting in the Hill Country under giant live oaks, softly lit with white lights and beautiful chandeliers hanging from the branches. While on vacation in Wimberley, John and Sunnye stopped by Old Glory Ranch to look at what the ranch had to offer.
 

“It was perfect, exactly what I had always wanted,” said Sunnye. 
 

Once the couple had decided that Old Glory Ranch was the place for them, the overwhelming task of planning began. First, John and Sunnye decided on a date by checking the Farmer’s Almanac to find the month in which there has traditionally been the least rainfall and a target temperature of 60 to 70 degrees. Once they had secured the date, Sunnye and her mother traveled to meet with Suzanne McCord and Kellye Lawson of Old Glory Ranch. 

“I realized then that I had found very knowledgeable professionals who were very committed to making our day the best it could be,” said Sunnye. 
 

Suzanne and Kellye gave Sunnye a list of vendors they had worked with in the past and highly recommended – everything from liquor services to photographers. This made the job of planning much easier for Sunnye and her mom. 
 

“I also looked at magazines and cut out pictures of things that I liked,” Sunnye said. “I put all of the pictures in an accordion file, which made it possible to give vendors pictures and descriptions of what I wanted for our special day.” 
 

The wedding was an event that John and Sunnye truly wanted to share with the people they loved. They decided from the beginning that they wanted a guest list that was limited to family and very close friends, which came to about 125 people. They tried to involve their guests in their ceremony and reception, which helped them achieve the personal feel they ­wanted. They were very fortunate that John’s brother is an ordained minister, and he acted as their officiant.
 

“It was so very special to have someone with such a close personal bond as the person that would bond our lives together forever,” said John. John had his brother, father and two best friends at his side at the altar. 
 

Sunnye was also fortunate to have her family involved in many ways. Her younger sisters greeted guests and handed out programs; a sister-in-law and two best friends served as bridesmaids; and a dear friend, Heather, read scripture during the ceremony. 
 

“The most touching part of my wedding came when my twin nine-year-old boys walked me down the aisle,” said Sunnye. “They were so nervous – behind their big smiles were tight grips, sweaty palms and the gentle whispers of them counting, ‘one Mississippi, two Mississippi,’ in order to keep the correct gait. When asked, ‘Who gives this woman in marriage?’ they replied, ‘We do.’ It was very sweet and showed the true joining of a family, not just a couple.” 
 

Sunnye and John wanted to keep the food simple but tasty. Knowing their guests, food was not the most important aspect of their wedding, but not an area they wanted to overlook either. The caterer, Sullivan Street, developed a wonderful menu of passed hors d’oeuvres, hearty sides and beautiful main courses that pleased everyone. They also had a full bar and started the evening with John and Sunnye’s signature peach Bellinis and champagne. 
 

There were a few flowers that Sunnye wanted to center all of the colors and arrangements around, especially flowers that had a special significance to her and John. Beautiful peonies, hydrangeas, anemones and tulips were her favorites. They chose a color scheme of vibrant peach, ivory and spring green. All of the arrangements included these colors, except for the bride’s bouquet, which was all ivory and spring green.
 

The patio at Old Glory Ranch is naturally beautiful, and Sunnye and John did not want to take away from the beauty. They chose the very classic look of ivory linens and wooden chairs. The guest tables were topped with a simple glass and wrought-iron hurricane lamp with a single ivory candle surrounded by flowers. Each table had tiny wooden frames containing photographs of John and Sunnye at various points in their lives. Beautiful chandeliers hung from the branches of the live oak trees that gave a warm glow to the area. The weather was cool, as planned, so there was a fire in the outdoor fireplace and multiple fire pits and heaters to help keep the guests comfortable.
 

The food and cakes were displayed on antique wagons that were covered with candles and greenery, and draped with burlap and ribbon. Upon exiting the reception area, there was a multitiered favor “cake” on a 12” square pedestal stand with 2” x 2” ivory boxes. Each box was trimmed with peach, green and ivory-striped ribbon with a small bow. On the outside of each favor box was a small bag of Texas bluebonnet seeds. The entire cake was topped with flowers and cascading ribbons. 
 

The guests danced the night away to an eclectic mix of John and Sunnye’s favorite music. Their DJ had asked them to prepare all of their favorites for each section of the reception. Their first dance was to “My Best Friend,” by Tim McGraw.

As the happy newly married couple made their exit, guests showered them with handfuls of wonderful, sweet-smelling lavender from the wedding coordinator, Kellye Lawson’s own supply.
 

“It was a remarkable wedding at Old Glory Ranch, and exactly as I had always dreamed it would be,” sighed Sunnye. “At the end of the day, there were quite a few things that Old Glory Ranch did for us that were above and beyond our expectations and at no extra charge. These beautiful touches, that in some cases were simply out of our budget, made for very nice surprises,” said Sunnye. “In this day and age, this is something that has become very rare and is definitely worthy of praise.”

Venue:
Chapel Hall, Old Glory Ranch
 

Reception:
Old Glory Ranch
 

Old Glory Ranch team:
Suzanne McCord, Kellye Lawson and Sandra Schaub
 

Caterer:
Sullivan Street

Wedding dress:
The Princess Bridal
 

Groom’s tux:
Al’s Formal Wear
 

Wedding cake:
Sansalone’s Specialty Cakes 
 

Photographer:
Kim Maguire Photography 
 

Officiant:
John’s brother Todd
 

Hair salon:
Shine in the Heights
 

Florists:
Old Glory Ranch 
 

Makeup artist:
Kelly Bonifay
 

DJ:
Chris Heckendorn 
 

Wedding spirits:
Wimberley Valley Spirits 
 

Date Cards and programs:
Embossed Graphics of Texas