A Giant Floral Arch Set the Tone at This Nature-Inspired Wedding in Ponder, Texas

Emerald Pretty

The deep green envelopes and custom floral garland crest on the couple's handmade torn-edge paper invitation suite from Sugared Fig Paperie previewed the celebration's color palette and theme, while a custom liner showed off a sketch of the venue.

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Love at First Sight

After she spotted her ivory lace Milla Nova wedding dress on Instagram, Courtney ordered it immediately—without even trying it on. "It was a newly-released dress and no one had it in stores yet," she says. "But when you know, you just know! I felt like a princess and the dress had just enough elegance and drama in it."

She added her favorite pair of nude flats—"I knew no one would see my shoes and wanted to be able to dance by the end of the evening, one of the best decisions!" she says—and borrowed a pair of "simple but stunning" drop earrings from her mother.

Pretty in Pinks

Courtney's bridesmaids each chose their own gown with no restrictions on designer or style, creating a cohesive but colorful combination of pink, blush, and beige shades that set off their individual bouquets. "I gave them the mauve color palette and they all looked gorgeous!" says Courtney. "It was very stress-free in regard to the bridesmaids' dresses because they all got to pick something they loved."

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Navy Duty

Jon and his groomsmen wore matching dark blue tuxedos from The Black Tux. "He wanted to wear a navy tux because it's his favorite color!" says Courtney.

A Memorable Moment

Before the ceremony, Courtney and Jon met on an upstairs balcony overlooking the space for an unforgettable first look. "The wedding day and reception is a blur, but our first look is engraved in my mind," says Courtney. "When I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around he immediately started crying and told me how beautiful I was. I felt so cherished in that moment and I couldn't wait to marry the man of my prayers and dreams."

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Go Big

Courtney's oversized bouquet from Haute Poppies Floral Design mixed ivory-and-pale purple blooms with deep mauve-and-emerald accents for a dramatic statement piece—though Courtney required a little convincing before she committed to the size. "I scaled it down during my bridals, and then I knew my planner was right and I should have trusted her vision," says Courtney, "so it was much bigger for the wedding!"

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Flower Power

A sleek pedestal table held the couple's gold-rimmed card box and elegant guest book, while trailing floral installations from The Botanical Mix wrapped around the table and up the staircase. "I wanted the venue to feel like nature had taken over inside," says Courtney.

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Arch Expression

"Wild, flowing, and lush," a climbing floral installation anchored the ceremony. Along the aisle, low arrangements with richly-colored accent blooms brightened up the minimalist space.

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In Prayer

Before the ceremony, Courtney and Jon set aside a few quiet moments to pray and with their respective families and bridal parties. "Both Courtney and Jon are very spiritual and they incorporated their faith into every aspect of the day," says their planner Elizabeth Ise of Chancey Charm Weddings. "Their ceremony was a true testament of their faith and showcased how important it is to their relationship and family."

Petal Pushers

Courtney and Jon invited three flower girls and two ring bearers to participate in their ceremony; the girls wore shorter versions of the bride's gown and crowns of baby's breath. "They didn't wear shoes because they were hurting their feet, but I think it looked so darling to be barefoot walking down the aisle," says Courtney. "They truly looked like angels."

Music Notes

The bride's father walked her down the aisle as a string quartet played a custom arrangement of the instrumental score from A Little Chaos, a tune Courtney had dreamed of incorporating in her wedding since she'd seen the film. "I wanted a string trio to play the score, but the music was not offered to the public and it was arranged for a 47-piece orchestra," says Courtney. "I decided to email the composer, Peter Gregson, and he was so honored that I wanted to use his music. He rewrote the score to fit a string quartet just for my wedding. It truly is my favorite wedding gift from a complete stranger who just believes in the power of love."

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Words of Love

Courtney and Jon tied the knot in a traditional Christian ceremony, though they read their own hand-written vows to each other before the big day. "I have never cried so much listening to the sweetest vows my soon-to-be husband wrote for me," she says.

Setting the Bar

In addition to signature cocktails named after Courtney's dogs, the couple offered two personalized non-alcoholic drink stations at their cocktail hour: A hot chocolate bar with peppermint sticks, mini sweets, and whipped cream as a nod to Courtney's nickname, Coco; and a table with three varieties of flavored sweet tea—Jon's favorite beverage—that included herbal and fruit mix-ins.

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Wall Art

Calligraphed escort cards with custom wax seals hung on a freestanding boxwood wall under metallic lettering that read "Our Favorite People," while a row of blooms in varying heights added texture and color from the ground up.

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A Room with a View

For the reception, the couple defined the dance floor with plush, Victorian-inspired lounge furniture. Delicate garlands of foliage framed the band's stage and climbed up tall pillars toward the vaulted ceiling. Round tables held five-foot-tall trees built from branches and greenery that accented the soaring height of the space.

Garden Rows

Courtney wanted the smaller centerpieces to look like they had grown there naturally—with no visible vessels—so her team repurposed the arrangements that had lined the ceremony aisle, placing them down the length of wooden tables dressed in pale pink cloths.

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On the Menu

On the smaller round tables, the couple layered blush-colored leather cloths from La Tavola—custom laser-cut with a floral pattern—over matching floor-length linens. Metallic-edged plates and ornate flatware added a traditional element.

The steakhouse menu from Reata Restaurant was a nod to their Texas roots.

So Happy Together

For their first dance, the newlyweds chose the foolproof Etta James classic, "At Last." "Jon and I both feel like we waited for each other to come along and this song was so representative of our waiting," says Courtney. After playing a selection of jazz standards during dinner, the Royal Dukes Band switched to "fun music for dancing."

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Just Desserts

Buttercream frosting on a two-tier almond and coconut cake from XO Cakery "was layered and applied to look like a painted masterpiece," says Courtney. "Deep navy, cranberry, mauve, sunset blush, ivory, and cream were all combined into a beautiful cake that was almost too good to eat!"

A Bright Farewell

During the reception, Courtney changed into a sleek, stretchy Alamour gown with a BHLDN cape—"It was my party dress!" she says. The couple waved goodbye to their guests under the glow of dozens of sparklers before departing for their honeymoon in Maui.

Sources

Photography, Amanda Lane
Venue, The Nest at Ruth Farms
Event Planning, Elizabeth Ise, Chancey Charm Weddings
Catering, Reata Restaurant
Flowers, The Botanical Mix (floral installations); Haute Poppies Floral Design (florist)
Videography, KET Photography
Stationery, Sugared Fig Paperie
Calligraphy, Letter E Designs
Cake, XO Cakery
Music, The Royal Dukes Band
Rentals, Bella Acento; La Tavola Fine Linen Rental; May I Serve U
Bride's Gown, Alamour (reception); Milla Nova (ceremony)
Bride's Cape, BHLDN
Hair, Jessica Cannon
Menswear, The Black Tux
Bar Service, HD Liquid Catering
Photo Booth, The Josephine