After six years together, Clayton + Erika decided to make it official! Her Hawaiian heritage met his Texas upbringing for a memorable celebration inspired by their culture and one very artistic town:
Marfa holds a special place in our heart. It was our first trip together as a couple and we honestly thought we would get married there. While we love Marfa’s vibe, nothing in Dallas came close. So, we decided to get married on my parent’s land since it gave us full creative freedom. It still felt intimate, even with 200 people, and I love the whole “Southern belle getting married in her parents’ estate” idea – ha!
Stacy from Maxwell + Gray Studio helped design and plan C + E’s dream backyard wedding, complete with a tepee festival, cacti ceremony, dance floor under twinkle lights, llamas (!) and an epic fireworks + lantern send off. As per Hawaiian tradition, Erika’s parents cooked an entire pig for the reception. And when it all came together, even a rainstorm on the dance floor didn’t put a damper in the day!
Lauren Nicole Photography and her second shooter Light as Gold captured every detail — let’s have a look!
Erika’s Rue de Seine ‘Tiger Moss’ gown is QUICKLY becoming a favorite here at GWS!
Our Favorite Memory
Clayton: When we did our first look. It was like time stopped.
Erika: When I changed into my muʻumuʻu and performed the Hawaiian hula song. My older sister dances and taught me — it had been a long time since I danced hula. I was so nervous and worried that I would fall flat on my face or trip!
The Blushing Bridal Party
Erika is the co-creator of Hello Flawless Artistry, so we aren’t surprised that her bridal party looked absolutely stunning!
Desert-Inspired Ceremony
Don’t you just love when the simplest ideas have the biggest impact?! Crushing on this alter design!
Our Musical Choices
“Put a ring on it” takes on a whole new meaning with these killer hoop bouquets by Zoeys Garden!
(And if you’re loving this idea, we’ve got more alternative bouquet right here!)
YAY!
The Backyard Reception
The reception seriously brought the Marfa vibes home, complete with tepees a la the popular El Cosmico campsite!
And how fun is this Game of Thrones seating chart that Thuyan Hoang created for the couple?! Such a clever way to incorporate some fan love without going all in.
What wedding is not made better by a llama bride and groom, we want to know?
Cheers to the Newlyweds!
Thinking about your own backyard wedding? We’ve got an incredibly helpful article sharing expert advice from those who have been there done that!
Gotta love a bride who uncovers hidden gems on Amazon…like these SHOES!
Our Advice
The stress is REAL! It will hit you hard the month before and is, unfortunately, inevitable. My advice for the brides is: be realistic with your DIY decor ideas. Sometimes you just do not have time for all the DIY things. I bought a lot of things from Etsy, Home Goods, and Amazon. I basically thought of what I could use as decorations for my home or things I could pull from what I already had.
Preparation for the wedding is important, of course. But preparing for marriage should be a priority, as well. We were thankful to find an amazing pre-martial counselor.
A true Texan send-off: fireworks in the field. All our congrats to Clayton + Erika!
Featured in This Wedding
Sugar Creek Event Rentals
Coral Lane Rentals
Lauren Nicole Photography
Maxwell and Gray Studio
Interested in becoming a GWS Preferred Artist? Apply Here.
Other Vendors in This Wedding
Venue: Family Property // Florals: Zoeys Garden // Wedding Dress: Rue de Seine 'Tiger Moss' // Dress Boutique: Unbridaled // Bride's Shoes: Cape Robin from Amazon // Hair Stylist: Hello Flawless Artistry // Makeup Artist: Hello Flawless Artistry // Calligraphy: Thuyan Hoang // Catering: Baon Caterer // Desserts: Emporium Pies // Music: Mr. Carter Davis // second shooter: Light as Gold
