Today we are truly honored to share the final two Sitting in a Tree weddings. If you are in the wedding industry, you know about the tragic loss of the founder + creative force behind Sitting in a Tree weddings, Tori Hendrix exactly one year ago. She truly brought a unique vision to all the weddings + events she touched and we here at GWS LOVED sharing any event she worked on as it was truly SO UNIQUE for the couple and each event was GORGEOUS. These final 2 weddings are no different and we are honored to share her vision one final time on GWS….#forTori
Inspired by their favorite restaurant in Amsterdam — Restaurant Salmuera, along with their many travels, Erin + Taylor’s dark, romantic, and bohemian-inspired wedding was an absolute DREAM. Taking place just outside of Austin, Texas at the Vista West Ranch (also featured in our Top 26 Coolest Places to Get Married), Sitting in a Tree helped E+T bring in Mexican-inspired touches + rustic pops.
Erin shares When Taylor and I were introduced over Christmas, he lived on one side of the country and I lived on the other. We decided pretty quick we didn’t want the vacation to end, so we just kept on going. We got to know each other over visits to each other’s cities and trips everywhere in between…
We wanted to begin our new life by celebrating special moments from our time together: port wine in Napa on Taylor’s first visit; a mezcal bar inspired by our trip to Oaxaca; the dark, romantic Latin American vibe from our first dinner in Amsterdam, Taylor’s infamous spicy margaritas, quotes from my favorite literature in our ceremony, etc. After that, we really just wanted our guests to have fun with us. So we tried to think of everything through that lens and throw the best party we could.
Let’s see how the day unfolded in the photographs by Studio Castillero.
What a dapper looking duo! Erin rocked a beaded dress by Naeem Khan (and we’re positively drooling over it). We’re loving the peachy bowtie + velvet suit jacket on Taylor, too!
Dark + moody florals GALORE! We adore the deep wine colors, complemented by the vibrant pops of red in this bouquet by Bows & Arrows.
Processional: Never Tear Us Apart by INXS
Recessional: Here I Am by Al Green
First Dance: I Choose You by Willie Hutch; International Players Anthem by UGK, Outkast
HOLY SMOKES. Gilded gold escort cards featuring a sugar skull? How gorgeous is this design by Studio BDR?!
What a space! Loot Vintage provided many of the tabletop pieces + furniture rentals to accent the already rustic venue.
Four tiers of PERFECTION! This semi-naked cake, adorned with strawberries + sweet pearls was crafted by Love Birds Sweets. Oh and that desert-inspired backdrop? Bows and Arrows created it, along with doing all the calligraphy, too!
The ceramicist, Chels Pots, created the custom matte black tumblers for the tables.
Surround yourself with vendors you feel comfortable with and consider a planner. I can’t recommend that enough. Ours were amazing. We were lucky to choose people we’d be friends with (friends with fantastic taste, saintly patience, and unwavering positivity).
Honor your relationship. There’s no one right way to plan a wedding. Once you’ve accepted that, and let go of outside expectations, you can really have fun with the planning.
Finally, it’s a party! Take time to enjoy each other, your loved ones, and all the unexpected, small, and special moments that come up along the way. Some of our favorite memories are the ones we’d never have anticipated.
Erin shares I’m not sure what we would have done without Sitting in a Tree! They put up with our wonky hours, kept track of details we weren’t even aware of, handled our last minute requests with grace (tarot card reader booked two days before? No problem!) and took our vision and made it better than we ever imagined.
There were so many! So we’ll choose a fun one: cutting our cake. We snuck away from the party to catch our breath and share a romantic moment, finally married, together, in love, and then… we smacked heads leaning in to feed each other – which if you know us, really sums us up nicely.
From the team here at GWS, congrats x 1000, Erin + Taylor! Check out the video above for a sweet clip of the day, captured by Max + Molly Films!
photography: Studio Castillero // venue name: Vista West Ranch, Dripping Springs, Texas, USA // event design: Aly & Jamie for Sitting in a Tree // planning: Aly & Jamie for Sitting in a Tree // florals: Bows & Arrows // wedding dress: Naeem Khan // bride's shoes: Miu Miu // hair stylist: Lola Beauty // makeup artist: Lola Beauty // videography: Max + Molly Films // paper goods: Studio BDR // calligraphy: Bows & Arrows // catering: Royal Fig Catering // cake: Love Birds Sweets // tabletop rentals: Loot Vintage // furniture rentals: Loot Vintage // music: DJ Mike Bond of Premier Entertainment Group // officiant: Sarah Reed // jewelry: Jenny Packham
Absolutely gorgeous! I love her hairpiece. Anyway to find out where it’s from? Is it also Jenny Packham?