Little did I know that a chance encounter in March of 2018, at The Penrose Bed and Breakfast in Sedona, Arizona, would lead me to this month’s blog post. Sharing a glass of wine with strangers led me on a journey of friendship and the ultimate wedding design experience in Texas.

The Penrose Bed and Breakfast is built into the side of one of Sedona’s famous red rocks.

This was the view from the outside patio. Jeff and I made our reservation late, and got the last room in the inn. It was the only guest room on the bottom floor and was located off of the common area.

On our first night, we left for town and noticed a couple sitting on the couch outside of our room near the grand piano, opening a bottle of wine. We said a polite hello and left for dinner. We returned from dinner only to see them still there enjoying each other’s company.

I said, “Hey, you guys are still here?” They invited us to share a glass of wine. By the end of the night, we invited them on vacation to Martha’s Vineyard. The rest of the story is kind of like a fairytale.

Catherine and I hit it off from the very start. But what next? We hardly knew each other.

It is kind of a crazy thing to meet a couple and invite them on vacation the same night, but it is also exciting to go outside of your comfort level. Catherine and I decided to text each other every Monday leading up to our Martha’s Vineyard trip in July. We found we had so much more in common than we ever knew.

On July 14th, we met Catherine and Tim at the ferry terminal in Oak Bluffs. We picked up right where we left off at The Penrose in Sedona, and spent four amazing days together in Martha’s Vineyard.

By the end of our trip, Jeff and I agreed our visit with Catherine and Tim was ranked as one of our best vacations in our married life.

One of the highlights was a private charter sail on the Catboat, Tigress, captained by Kurt Peterson.

Catherine and Tim invited us for a September trip to Texas. I always wanted to go to Texas. Upon arrival, they greeted us with leather boots and a double date to do the two step at Cowboy’s Red River Dance Hall in Dallas, Texas. Our trip included horseback riding, shooting, and a rodeo in Fort Worth.

We were beginning to realize this friendship was something special.

Tim and Catherine knew each other in a professional setting since 2011. After Tim retired at the end of 2016, he reached out to Catherine and their friendship blossomed. They discovered they had much in common and began to travel together. Their friendship evolved into a beautiful love story.

“After missing his chance to propose on a mountaintop in Scotland, the proposal was a quiet romantic moment in our hometown of Dallas, Texas, in October of 2019. We then embarked on designing my engagement ring together with a very talented jeweler.”

— Catherine

I offered to design Catherine’s bridal accessories for her Texas themed wedding. She began sending me links to dresses she liked that didn’t “look like a bride.” Every dress she sent me looked usual and common. Everytime Catherine told me she didn’t want to look like a bride, I reminded her that she was “a bride!”

“I sent Catherine this photo as an inspiration for her wedding day style. I knew this style could work for her if we customized it. Adding a pop of color might fulfill her idea of not looking like a traditional bride, while still being a bride.”

— Marie Hunt

“Marie is an Instagram guru and sent me an idea of what she had in mind. My mind continued to circle back to that one image. It was soft, feminine, flowing, and intricate but nowhere to be found in any store. Marie sent me a photo of a beautiful ivory lace bodysuit by the designer Olvi. I immediately fell in love with it. I posed a question to Marie, “Can you make my skirt?””

In November Jeff and I took a trip to Texas to help plan the wedding. I brought along many different types and colors of silk to show Catherine. She fell in love with a blue silk satin crepe with an ivory lace overlay. Once that was decided, the accessory design ideas came easily to me.

I had only five weeks to design everything and help Catherine with wedding planning. They set a date of January 4th, 2020, at their lake home in Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas. With all of the bridal orders I had to finish at the shop; this became a challenge. Adding in the Christmas holiday made it a bit more challenging, but I have never missed a deadline in my career!

Jeff and I left for Texas on December 28th and spent the New Year with Catherine, Tim, and her mom, Margery, who was visiting from Scotland. The wedding prep began. We finalized the outdoor layout for the ceremony and reception.

Yes! We became florists too! I can’t say enough about the 5 star experience with Fifty Flowers. I only wish we used them for my daughter, Brielle’s wedding. The flowers were shipped directly to our door from growers around the world…and I never saw more beautiful and healthy flowers!

Margery has a beautiful garden in Scotland. She offered her talents and began arranging the flowers for the tables.

We did a practice centerpiece arrangement on the eve of the wedding! It was exactly as we had dreamed.

Our cowboys were ready to set up for the wedding with texas flair!

The sun rose and we were granted a glorious sun filled day with just the right amount of chill in the air.

Wedding Photography by Alba Rose Photography

“My original vision for our wedding day was a small affair with the two us and the Justice of the Peace. Then we considered having a small celebration at our lake house with family. When Marie and Jeff came to visit in the fall, we sat outside, and I could see Marie’s wheels turning. She threw out idea after idea on how our lake house was indeed the perfect wedding venue. Somehow our guest list grew from 20 to 80 guests very quickly.”

“Ivory roses, blue baby’s breath, and silk ribbon laced the chairs of family members. It was simple, understated, and gently beautiful.”

A Texas girl has to have the best belt and boot accessories. I designed them with touches of light blue sapphire, opal, and clear crystal.

Catherine’s hair accessory was delicate. I designed a flexible jeweled scalloped band with light sapphire, freshwater pearl, white opal, and clear crystal.

The ceremony was planned from their hearts. Catherine and Tim didn’t process down the aisle, but instead danced their way to their vows to the song “You Are Music To My Eyes” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, sung by family friend Houston Holmes and his fiancée, Jade.

Tim sang his vows to Catherine, “The Keeper of the Stars.”

Her cake and His cake were delectably prepared by Dallas Affaires Cake Co.

Catherine’s wedding day style was just that! It was hers! She looked beautiful and bride-like.

“In life, we tend to stay in our comfort zone. We carefully step to the edge but often retreat. Meeting Catherine and Tim taught me so much as I journey through the middle of my life. While I loved helping her plan her wedding and designing so much of it, it was that one glass of wine that changed my life.”