nora + jarod


When Martha, a downtown Austin venue’s Event Manager who I’ve worked with before and adore, asked me if I planned weddings because her twin was getting married, I was so thrilled – first, it’s an incredible honor to have someone you know and trust refer you to a loved one and second, if her twin was anything like Martha, I knew this would be amazing. But just how amazing, I had no idea. Nora and Jarod are a dream couple for an event planner. They came in with lots of ideas, and together we collaborated over a year and came up with a design that fit their aesthetic and their personalities perfectly. And on top of that, they are two seriously incredible people – brilliantly smart, wonderfully kind, and so in sync with one another.  I know I sound like I’m bragging to all the other planners out there… and, yes, I am.  These two rock!

This was a true destination wedding – the only invitee from Austin was Martha! So it was really important to pick venues that were within walking distance so their guests could really enjoy the wedding without worrying about rental cars, taxis, or parking. We wanted everything to be white and green, to feel very spring and warm – but never to venture into cheesy wedding territory.  There were green accents incorporated everywhere from the ribbons tying their favors to his tie or her (hot) shoes!

Before I get to their actual wedding events, I need to give special recognition to milk+honey salon downtown.  Nora is a beautiful beautiful woman any day of the week – the hair and makeup that milk+honey did accentuated that beauty to the nth degree. She looked STUNNING. Wait till you see the pictures of her hair – perfection.

For their ceremony, Nora and Jarod chose the Marriott Downtown/Convention Center.  We transformed the room into a beautiful white wedding from the chair covers to the backdrop to the aisle runner.  Last Petal created beautiful pedestal pieces to frame the ceremony – a ceremony that was all Nora and Jarod.  With no wedding party, just the two of them, they were married in front of their 37 guests by a family friend and with a script that the two of them wrote themselves.  It doesn’t get more personal than that.  Also, I have to mention one of my favorite touches – Nora walked down the aisle to a cello and guitar arrangement of “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica played by Ryan Waguespack.

After cocktails at the hotel, the wedding guests headed to Ten Oak Restaurant, a newly remodeled restaurant downtown, where we took over the private dining room. Again sticking with white and greens, the flowers were architecturally arranged bunches of hydrangeas in cylinder vases of various heights. And with tons of votives running down the tables, the room was an incredible display of true romance.  With a monogrammed menu at each place setting along with their favors – a mini Tito’s bottle and personalized shot glass for everyone – the tables were perfect. After a fantastic dinner and a touching speech by Nora’s father, the group then headed out to the famous “Til Death Do Us Part” mural for a group photo!

Meanwhile, we were lighting the candles at the third and final venue, Terrace 59 at Speakeasy, getting ready for a serious party.  Decor continued in greens and whites with plenty of candles.  We scattered custom pins around the room again with the “n+j” monogram that had carried from their invitations months earlier through the dinner and now to the very end.  Instead of a traditional cake, Nora and Jarod chose to do cake balls by Austin Cake Ball, and they had a bride and groom pair just for them! No cheesy wedding DJ here – Miguel Angel (ulovei) was spinning all night long, and with the exception of just their first dance as Mr. and Mrs., the entire night was a upbeat dance party!

What really struck me about their wedding was just how close all their guests were and how much they all love Nora and Jarod.  Inside jokes abounded from a rubber chicken to lone ranger masks to a poster of a flamingo.  I have only known them for a year, and I am crazy about them – so to put the feeling of their wedding day in perspective, take that and expand it to people who have been so lucky to have known them all their lives… this was a day full of a LOT of love.

Photos by Brio Photography

 

 

Comments

One Response to “nora + jarod”
  1. Mandy Burke says:

    This is such a wonderful story for two wonderful people – awesome job Nora and Jarod! I am so happy that Chicken and Pinky made it into the story! Can’t wait for the next Schweighart Farm rendezvous!!!

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