One Couple's Black-Tie Wedding in Texas Hill Country

Brittany Patterson and Peter Kerr struck up a conversation at a dive bar in New York City before realizing they were both attending the same birthday party. The pair began dating soon after, and years later, on a freezing night in Manhattan in December 2016, they set off on their annual holiday celebration (the duo celebrates with a hearty paella dinner followed by ice-skating at Rockefeller Center each year). They were strolling through Washington Square Park before a dinner reservation when Peter suggested they snap a few pictures in front of the Christmas tree under the park's landmark arch. When Brittany turned around to pose for the photo, she found Peter down on one knee, shivering.

They didn't realize until later, but Peter, numb from the cold and nervous adrenaline, struggled over his words while proposing. "Brittany, will you make me the happiest girl in the world?" he asked. His future-bride, however, hardly noticed—all she could say was yes. They then hopped into a cab and headed straight to their favorite restaurant, Barbuto, where their families joined together for a celebratory dinner in the chef's kitchen.

The year had already filled up with friends' weddings, so Brittany and Peter decided to wait to host a spring destination celebration in Texas with help from Westcott Weddings. It was important for them to find a venue that represented their personal style, so the couple chose to invite their 140 guests to Prospect House in Dripping Springs, Texas, for a black-tie affair.

The Invitations

With help from August and White, Brittany and her mom made sure the invitations had personal touches, including a black thread that tied the pieces together and a customized wax stamp that sealed the envelopes.

The Stationery

This bride took on creating most of the day-of paper herself, including the programs, menus, and welcome letters. "I love design, and it was so fun to get my hands dirty and do some of it myself," she says.

The Location

Brittany and Peter were drawn to the modern event space offered at Prospect House, and the fact that it's surrounded by hill country landscape sealed the deal. Guests arrived by shuttle bus and enjoyed an outdoor ceremony followed by dinner and dancing inside the venue.

The Gown

Brittany had her venue in mind when she went dress shopping and aimed to find something sleek and modern. "The stylists at each salon would caution me against picking a dress based on my venue, and instead tailor my venue to my dress," she says, "But I disagreed. I saw the event as one cohesive vision."

She chose a Rime Arodaky high-waisted gown with a split crepe skirt, completed with floral tulle embellishments and hand embroidery. She finished her bridal look with white leather Manolo Blahnik heels, a custom veil designed by Rime Arodaky, a pair of diamond and pearl earrings gifted from her mom, and her mom's pearl necklace folded around her wrist for her "something borrowed."

The Groom's Look

Peter and his father shopped for custom tuxes together at Enzo's Custom. Peter chose a classic black tuxedo and paired it with black suede slippers and a black bow tie. Gold cufflinks that once belonged to his grandfather completed his big-day look.

The Bridesmaids

Brittany provided her bridesmaids with an inspiration board and let them choose dresses they were comfortable in. Each wore a floor-length gown with various necklines in different shades of muted pink. They wore small roses in their hair to tie their respective looks together.

The Groomsmen

Peter's ten groomsmen had the freedom to choose any tuxedo they wanted to wear; they each donned a matching black bow tie.

Ceremony Setup

Guests gathered for the ceremony in the outdoor area at Prospect House, where a modern frame took the place of a traditional floral arch. The couple's florist, Clementine Floral, created an installation of spirea, white hybrid delphinium, and white larskspur that cascaded down one side of the concrete steps.

The Bride's Entrance

The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father to "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix. "True to myself, I wanted a dramatic entrance," Brittany says, "While the wedding party entered from a side door, we kept the main door closed until the perfect build up in the song. At that moment, it slid open to reveal my dad and me."

A Ceremony Cheers

The ceremony was officiated by a minister from Texas who tailored the script to reflect the couple. Brittany's mom shared a reading from Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist before the bride and groom shared vows they wrote themselves. Once Peter and Brittany officially became husband and wife, guests shared in a toast of rosé. "It was such a fun way to wrap up the more serious part of the evening and kick off the party," Brittany says.

The Cocktail Hour

The group enjoyed views of Texas hill country during the cocktail hour, which took place in a covered breezeway on the venue's outdoor patio. Guests had a choice of wine, liquor, selected beers, or the pair's signature cocktail, a spicy mezcal margarita with jalapeno and lime.

The Seating Chart

The couple carefully selected each guest's seat with the intention of getting them to feel like they were at an intimate dinner party. Attendees were found their seating information on an acrylic chart designed by The Inviting Pear.

The Reception

Guests were seated at raw oak tables topped with taper candles and linen runners in a dusty rose shade. Blooming branches on a weathervane hung overhead to accent the dance floor; fabric was installed on the main wall. "The reception room is beautiful as is, but we wanted to add some subtle softness to the clean architectural lines," Brittany says.

The Centerpieces

Each table featured a completely unique arrangement of centerpieces. They included a mix of vessels that held a single bloom and large arrangements that featured white, pale pink, and mauve flowers.

The Dancing

The newlyweds shared their first dance as a married couple to James Gavin's "City of Stars." They finished the night with a final dance to "Can't Feel My Face" by The Weeknd. "It is always our favorite song to dance to, and we finished the night by executing the perfect Dirty Dancing lift," Brittany remembers, "Cliché, but worth it."

The Jean Jacket

Brittany designed a jean jacket featuring her new last name and went to Etsy to have it made. "The design was inspired by Kanye West's Life of Pablo merch," she says.

The Cake

Brittany and Peter worked with Feathers and Frosting to design their two-tiered wedding cake, which featured both carrot and raspberry-Champagne flavors. "We wanted the cake to reflect the simplicity and structure of the venue space itself," Brittany says. Guests ended the night with one final surprise—they were handed breakfast tacos paired with mini tobacco sauce bottles as they boarded the busses back to Austin.

Sources

Photography, Matthew Moore Photography

Videography, The Brothers Martens

Event planning, Westcott Weddings

Venue, Prospect House

Catering, Royal Fig Catering

Flowers, Clementine Botanical Arts

Invitations, August and White

Seating Chart, The Inviting Pear

Bride's gown, Rime Arodaky

Bride's shoes, Manolo Blahnik

Hair & Makeup, Jessica Roop

Groom's suit, Enzo Custom

Music, Look No Further Entertainment, Ross Phillips

Cake, Feathers and Frosting

Rentals, Whim Hospitality, Premiere Events Austin, Birch and Brass Rentals

Transportation, Transportation Consultants