Sometimes a town can inspire your wedding as did the town of Marfa, Texas for Emily + Colby. They visit Marfa about 2-3 times a year – it was actually the destination for their first road trip together! The striking colors of Marfa sunsets inspired much of their design aesthetic, what they called “desert magic”. The town’s charming laid-back quirkiness dictated an infectious vibe for their guests that was both fun and a little mystical. They really wanted their friends and family to explore Marfa and fall in love with the place they are so drawn to.
Because Marfa is such a challenge to travel to for only a weekend, they ended up having a smaller wedding with only their nearest and dearest. In fact that is why Emily thinks it was such a succes – those who made the trek were full of love and ready to party! I love all their special, creative details they incorporated into the day. And the sign of a successful wedding – when their friends walked into the reception space and said it really just felt like Emily + Colby. :) Big thanks to Natalie Shelton for the photos + to Emily Allen for the planning + design!
How gorgeous is Emily’s bouquet by Alicia Rico of Bows and Arrows?!! Seriously obsessed with it!
We wrote our own ceremony, rather than having the standard passages and prayers read. It spoke to the nature of love and was extremely heartfelt. So that started things off a bit different.
Processional: Sleepwalk by Santos and Johnny, performed accoustically by The Rivers Rockabilly Trio
Recessional: Here Comes the Sun by George Harrison, performed accoustically by The Rivers Rockabilly Trio
First Dance: True Love Ways by Buddy Holly, performed by The Rivers Rockabilly Trio
Our favors were a cool nicknack I originally purchased on the roadtrip that Colby proposed to me on: horseshoes crocheted over with bright yarns. I contacted the artist (Liz of Telegram) and commissioned a big order for our guests, and even sent her Marfa yarns I picked out from the shop Wild Woolies.
There were so many amazing, joyous moments, but one that really blew me away was when one of my friends (and bridesmaid) surprised us with a rendition of the song "You and Me" by Penny and the Quarters. She had secretly contacted our band and had them learn the song so that they could play it for us. It was a total surprise and a truly beautiful moment.
We hired a band that played some of our favorite music: Buddy Holly covers, and asked them to play special tunes for our ceremony as well.
So much of our wedding magic was determined by our venue and it is a big part of why our wedding was so memorable for our guests. I love the way a destination wedding turns it into a communal experience for everyone involved, and while it is sometimes an added expense for guests, it's also a way to give them something in return. In addition to the wedding night festivities, we hosted a fun cocktail party the night before, catered by Marfa's famous food truck, The Food Shark. We also greeted guests with custom visitor cards so that they had a selection of fun activities to occupy their time in Marfa. These experiences made it feel like one big desert party that lasted a whole weekend and also allowed friends to mix and mingle. While the wedding is essentially about the two of you, the more time you can spend with guests and the more unique the experience for all, the more celebratory the day will feel.
photography: Natalie Shelton // venue name: The Capri Lounge, Marfa, Texas // event design: Emily Allen // planning: Emily Allen // wedding dress: Monique Lhullier // hairpiece: a gold shimmer tulle and Chantilly lace veil hand-made by Homa Bridal // bride's shoes: Stella McCartney blush pumps // bridesmaid dresses: yellow maxis by Theory // hair stylist: Salon Americana // makeup artist: Salon Americana // groom attire: J. Crew // catering: Maiya Keck of Maiya' // cake: Lisa Copeland of Austin Street Cafe // music: The Rivers Rockabilly Trio // floral design: Alicia Rico of Bows and Arrows // invitations: Chelsea Carpenter of Southern Fried Paper designed our invitations, programs, and welcome guides. Nicole Black of The Left Handed Calligrapher did the calligraphy for our invitations // paper goods: Chelsea Carpenter of Southern Fried Paper designed our invitations, programs, and welcome guides. Nicole Black of The Left Handed Calligrapher did the calligraphy for our invitations
So lovely…especially love the bridal bouquet!!
Cheers
~ Jillian
Mate this is stunning. The colouring of the shots with the Texas backgrounds remind me of Kill Bill.
Loving all the colours of this wedding, in particular the mustard yellow bridesmaid dresses!
So many wonderful details and her wedding dress is everything! Love this wedding.
love the protea!
Wow, wow, WOW!! Absolutely stunning!! I think I love, yeap, EVERYTHING!!! Such attention to detail, and perfectly beautiful combinations…! You must be so proud, what a perfect day!
Oh my goodness. Favorite wedding I’ve seen in a long time. Photography is absolutely beautiful and I am swooning over all of the details (location) that the couple chose. Feeling very inspired.
Anybody know where I can snag same or similar cake cutting items? The knife and server in hot pink are totally fabulous and I’d love something like that for my wedding at the end of August!
Gorgeous memorable photographs of the special day. I love your wedding dress. decoration and the colors all are stunning here.
Gorgeous colours in these photos!
love the dresses absolutely awesome
Okay, LOVE those wedding flowers! Bows & Arrows did an amazing job! Adore the organic natural feel of the flowers, the unusual and fun varieties used, the wide different types of centerpiece containers and the fact they are all a bud vase type of an arrangement grouped together-it looks spectacular!
I absolutely adore how unusual this wedding is! The bride looks stunning in her lace dress. It fits her body frame so well and the lace gives her a sexy yet elegant look. Not everyone can pull of this type of dress. The bridesmaid dresses and the color are so unique and beautiful. I love the simple long gown effect. The bouquet of course cannot be more stunning. The flower choices and colors are perfect for the theme and the color scheme of the wedding. The venue is great. It is not a common wedding venue but as long as it fits the theme and the couple is happy with it that is all that matters. I fell in love with the reception as well as the gift favors. The favors gave a special personal touch just because they have something to do with the couples past. The colors are all over the place yet they somehow flow together so beautifully.
All in all a truly gorgeous wedding for a very cute couple. Kudos to the vendors as well as the photographer for these beautiful shots and of course GreenWeddingShoes for the post!
Katarina I.
Weddingful – Plan a Fabulous Wedding
I had to write a paper in college (in a Texas History class… it was an elective ;-) and I wrote about the mysterious ‘Marfa Lights’ – and ever since then I’ve been weirdly intrigued by this neat little place. And this wedding is absolutely stunning. Catches the vibe so perfectly. LOVE IT!
Lovely wedding!…
http://www.fotoestudio.es
Thank you all for the super sweet and lovely comments about our wedding! It makes us so happy to have such positive feedback for all the hard work we put into that special day with friends, family and those dear Marfa vendors. BOWS and ARROWS is where it’s at!
To respond to Karyn, the serving pieces are from the online shop: Leif.
Beautiful wedding! I am having a desert wedding too and am wondering where you got your table cloth for the dessert table — looks perfect and I’d like to get something similar. Thanks!!
Hi Kara! I purchased the table cloth as well as the wedding-themed papel picado banners from an amazing Mexican import shop in San Antonio, TX called Melissa Guerra.
Hi! I am absolutely in love with your whole wedding!…I have been planning mine and this post was so inspiring. I have to know where you bought those yellow maxi dresses….what is the website where I can buy them? I am considering yellow/daisies as my theme and the maxis are wonderful!
Natasha
xoxo
Hi Natasha! Thanks for the love! The dresses are by Theory and were purchased at Neiman Marcus. The sashes are from J. Crew. Not sure if any of the items are still available. Happy to hear you have found inspiration in our wedding and wishing you lots of happy days as you prepare for yours! :)
I’m in love with this wedding. The flowers and all the unique little finishing touches are so beautifuland It’s intimate with only those close to them which makes it special.
Hi! I am having my wedding in Marfa in September 2017. I would love to talk with Emily on some of the details. Would you have a way you could share my contact info with her?