Jack and Anna- July 28th

My life has been a whirlwind since this sweet ceremony, so I am just now sitting down to post about it.  Jack and Anna Decker were united as one in Christ this summer, and the whole event turned out beautifully.  Anna is someone I've known since she was about 14 years old, and have watched her grow and mature into an amazing young woman.  We've gotten the privilege of getting to know her sweet new husband, Jack, in the past few months.

Anna is from a family of 9 and she is right in the middle of the line up.  The "kids" in this family are some of the most beautiful people you have ever met.  They could literally all be models.  They are talented, smart, and have a strong work ethic.  I felt extremely blessed to be a part of this special day.

The ceremony and reception took place at the spectacularly landscaped Avalon.

 Anna's brother, Joe, and long time friend, Aaron, played live music as guests were arriving.

The weather was slightly on the warm side, but with large fans blowing, it wasn't unbearable.

Anna is fortunate to have talented friends and family that could pitch in for food, flowers, desserts, music and decorations.  Sometimes when friends and family offer to "help", it doesn't work out very well.  But in this case, every aspect of the wedding turned out beautifully.

This newlywed couple's photographer was Arlina Rose, who is an up and coming rock star in the photography world.  I love working with her and her sweet husband, Chris.

As part of their ceremony, Jack and Anna washed each other's feet as a reflection of the service Jesus performed for his disciples as recorded in the gospels.  It was a beautiful gesture to view.

Their friend Melinda was their DJ and Anna's brother, Wes, was the MC for the evening.  Both did a fabulous job helping me create a lively and exciting reception.  This group of friends and family know how to party and kept the dance floor literally jumping throughout the night.  The send off was unique. They bought glowsticks and played extremely loud music as the new couple left.  My camera's flash doesn't do a very good job of capturing night time images, but Arlina has some amazing shots of it!

Overall, every aspect of the wedding was exceptional and I was pleased with how it turned out.  I hope that the Deckers will always look fondly upon the day that they became husband and wife.

Dan and Ruth

This weekend, my family went to Louisiana to attend the wedding of Dan Nagao, a sweet fellow who works with the youth at our church. We experienced a great taste of the Louisiana culture with giant oak trees covered in Spanish moss, Jambalaya for dinner and, of course, the humidity. This was a breathtaking, simple and elegant ceremony and one of the sweetest I've ever witnessed. Ruth's dress was a beautiful vintage style, and with such an amazing scenery on a family property, little decor was used because it would have distracted from the natural background. Ruth's parents were married on this very spot of land which made the time even more intimate. And the cake was just fabulous!

Wedding Reception Cocktail Tables

Cocktail tables are becoming increasingly popular at receptions.  And why not?  They allow a place for guests to set drinks and food, socialize, but they don't take up as much room as the traditional table and chairs.   Lacey at Details Rental in Bryan/College Station, TX, posted some great ideas for decorating cocktail tables on her blog. Check them out!

Peru Bound

I've been extremely busy since my last posts. With four kids, the end of the school year is always extremely full of joyous occasions such as soccer and baseball games, end of school projects, tests and of course, parties! I was able to participate in the Aggieland Bridal Show on Mother's Day and haven't yet had an opportunity to post about that event. So, since summer vacation is finally here, I've got just a moment to blog about my next adventure. If you hired me to coordinate your wedding in past 6 months, your deposit is going to pay for an exciting trip I will be taking with my 11 year old in July. Our church takes a group every year to Puerto Maldonado and Cusco, Peru to support, encourage and participate in the work God is doing there with missionaries that we, as a church, fund. So, two years ago, I set a precedent of taking the boys the summer that they are 11.

So, this is son #2's year to go and I now have another great opportunity to spend time with some of those in a people group I have come to adore.

In a beautiful country I have come to love. We have a few weeks to prepare, and then we will be taking off at the beginning of July. I feel so fortunate to be able to experience this trip with my child. I appreciate those who are giving me the amazing privilege of coordinating their weddings this fall. Erin Joyner, Wedding Planner, Bryan/College Station, TX

Unique Photo Designs to Enhance Your Wedding Ceremony

My friend Anne Barnby creates the most amazing photo designs you can imagine. As stated in my last post, I adore pictures. Anne's creations are simply amazing and will only improve the decor at any wedding, no matter what you're envisioning. All brides these days are looking for something unique that will make their wedding stand out in their guests' minds. If you are looking for an exclusive design for your guest book, a layout for your engagement photos, the decorations for your tables, then the Go2Girl is where you need to shop next. Don't just take my word for it, visit Anne's site yourself and check out her book designs. I've also got some pictures of her photo cubes below.

Anne Barnby is also now my decorator for Wonderfully Wed. If you need assistance in creating the perfect reception, Anne will take your dreams and vision and make them a reality.

Anne and I with our beautiful booth (which she decorated) at the Spring Bridal Show.

Erin Joyner, Wedding Planner, Bryan College Station, TX

Wedding Pictures

I cannot describe how much I LOVE pictures. I could sit and stare at beautiful pictures of children,brides, families, nature, animals... All day long. It is with great delight that I share some of the pictures taken at the wedding I coordinated a few weeks ago. They are deliciously, amazingly, blessedly lovely to view. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! Fabulous job, Arlina Rose Photography! Look for JB and Jenny Benevides Covenant.

Olde Dobbin Station- A Charming and Truly Vintage Venue

I had the privilege of attending the Bridal Show for the grand opening of a wonderfully charming new wedding venue in Dobbin, TX. I had never heard of Dobbin, TX until I met Monica Orlando, a bride who hired me to coordinate her October 27th which will be held at this facility. This location appealed to me as a fan of history as well as a wedding planner. It used to be a watering station, as well as place for people to fellowship and go swimming. It was built in the early 1900's. When they purchased the property, it looked like this. And the pictures that follow are what the owner, Carrie McCoy, has done to transform this historical site into a place for your dream wedding. The best part about it is that it can seat up to 530 people. So, it is beautiful, historic and spacious. You can't get much better than that!



The beautiful entry way


The amazing and heavy front door.


So spacious! It seats up to 530 people!



I love the beautiful faux finish on the walls.


This is the bridal suite from 3 different angles.




Such lovely light fixtures!


Nice landscaping


The future chapel. I can't wait to see it completed!