KATIE and RYAN

VIDEO

It’s a Small World, After All

by Tiffany Batchelor

“It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears. It’s a world of hopes and a world of fears. There is so much that we share, it’s time we’re aware. It’s a small world after all.” Robert Sherman, Richard Sherman

There are certain moments during a wedding reception when I pause to embrace the memory. Wedged between the couple’s first dance and opening food service, the Host and Hostess typically share a few words to welcome guests and honor the bride and groom. These sentimental pearls of wisdom invariably offer a perspective of the couple that I did not know and leaves me pleasantly surprised.

Bride Katie is the daughter of two career educators, Karen and Bill. When Karen and Bill stood in the spotlight offering a toast, I expected to hear about past students not worthy of their daughter’s hand and even qualifications Karen and Bill had spent a lifetime making note of. What I did not expect to hear was that Karen and Bill were co-workers and friends with the Groom’s parents. Additionally, father of the bride, Bill, had been the Groom’s high school golf coach. “It’s a small world” seemed an understatement.

Katie and Karen came to Avenue I Events with partial planning complete. Their goal was to manage the heavy lifting on the front end, then have a professional complete the planning process and to execute wedding day. Our work began at the Art Museum of South Texas, walking through the venue to create a floor plan that worked for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.

One of the most beautiful venues in the Coastal Bend, the Art Museum is, well, a museum.  Therefore, the curated art may or may not be the same during planning as it is on wedding day. Additionally, restrictions for food, beverage, lighting, and sound may change, further altering logistics. Six months after our initial layout, new art called for a new floorplan. While a seismic shift can create unrest for the bride, a seasoned planner sees beauty in new opportunity.  

Edits to the layout, reworking the design and carefully walking the family through the revision helped the wedding day run seamlessly. Florist, Peggy Keaton of Keaton Designs, fit into the small world story as a long-time friend of both families. Peggy brought beautiful blooms to the event with colors of blush and crimson, perfect tones for that late February romantic wedding.

The intimate ceremony in the Upper Gallery was only matched by the festive mariachis calling guests to cocktails below. (The mariachis may or may not have interrupted the quiet prayer at end of the ceremony, offering a big south Texas laugh.) The rooftop photo session with photographer and childhood friend Jaycie Hillard truly captured the wedding day’s magical moments with perfect lighting and a view for miles over the bay. Childhood friend of the bride, Amy Netek of Amy Netek Bakes sweetens the story with her talents on display, baking the bride’s and groom’s cakes.

Katie and Ryan’s wedding was a night that brought together old and new friends, sharing stories, dancing and celebrating. With love, laughter and stories old and new, the night proved it is a small world after all.

For more photos click to see the KATIE and RYAN GALLERY

Photography by Jaycie Hillard Photography

ERIN and CHADWICK

VIDEO

Love Language

by Tiffany Batchelor

TE QUIERO JE T’AIME TI AMO I LOVE YOU

“Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind and fills your life with stories to tell.” – Paula Bendfeldt

When travel is a common interest and brings adventure to the relationship, a couple that celebrates this passion during the wedding will take guests on a journey.

Erin and Chadwick, avid travelers, thoughtfully considered past travels in every aspect of wedding planning. Avenue I Events was hired early on to manage all of the details for the couple who resides in the Austin area. The bride chose to focus on details she enjoyed such as visiting the linen showroom, designing her table scape and researching unique entertainment for the immersion experience.

Upon arrival to the Art Museum of South Texas, guests were greeted with a glass of champagne and walked a living red carpet. Guests were ushered to the Upper Gallery for the wedding nuptials. The candlelit ceremony was accompanied by acoustic guitar playing Spanish music. At the conclusion, the intimate group migrated downstairs to the Singer gallery where all enjoyed a menu with cultural flair.

The gallery was softened with tropical leaves, white blooms, metallic accents and a personal note at every place setting. The dinner hour took guests to Spain with paella and a flamenco performance. As the night progressed, the live band kept the dance floor hopping with southern rock and country western.

“The crazy hour” brought Hora Loca, with lit costumes like Brazil’s carnival. Stilt walkers and Spanish dancers passed glow sticks and lit glasses to light up the night. In case of emergency, guests were given a take home emergency kit; thoughtfully packaged: the take-away was full of night time necessities.

When travel is a couple’s love language, what a  memory to take closest family and friends on the adventure of their lifetime.

For more photos click to see the ERIN and CHADWICK GALLERY

Photography by Eureka Photography

NATALIE and BEN

VIDEO

Beautiful Little Sky

by Tiffany Batchelor

Outside the city limits, beyond the horizon, lies a sweet slice of heaven. Situated nine miles north of Kingsville, off a two-lane highway, look up and behold a beautiful little sky. Rancho Cielito Lindo, appropriately named, offers a south Texas venue rich with culture, cabins and cuisine.

Corpus Christi residents, Natalie and Ben, sought out this secluded gem for an outdoor wedding weekend celebration under the Texas sky. Natalie, a seasoned not-for-profit event coordinator volunteer, felt comfortable beginning the planning process.  However, when a career change 4 months prior to wedding day demanded her attention, she sought out Avenue I Events to transfer responsibility of all remaining details.

Rich in color, manicured lawns and bountiful flower beds, the ranch offered the perfect setting for an outdoor celebration. The ceremony took place on the steps of the quaint chapel as guests participated from the lawn. The Event Center offered the perfect pavilion for an indoor and outdoor cocktail hour. The party further progressed to the back lawn for dinner and dancing.

With the bar drinks cold and the dance floor hot, guests enjoyed a night under the stars. Simple centerpieces of sliced wood, potted ferns, and deer antlers softened the venue’s farm tables and wooden chairs.

“Baby, you’re a firework!” The groom surprised the bride with a firework display perfectly cued to the lyrics. It was a colorful display like no other and truly was the grand finale. Guests were invited to linger around the outdoor fire place before calling it a night.

In the time since the wedding, our bride, Natalie, has joined the Avenue I Events team. We could not be more honored. We consider her a valuable resource, having worked with Avenue I Events as a bride, and now sharing her experience with future couples.

For more photos click to see the NATALIE and BEN GALLERY

Photography by Lori Romana Photography

JESS and TRENT

VIDEO

Vintage Vibe

by Tiffany Batchelor

Unconventional and outside cultural mainstream styles lend themselves to a uniquely distinctive wedding style. Trent and Jess, a New York City duo, did not disappoint. Living on the East Coast and planning to tie the knot in Corpus Christi meant long-distance planning with Avenue I Events managing local logistics. Our bride, an art director by trade, meticulously designed and planned a ceremony and reception showcasing remarkable creativity.

The ceremony and reception were held on the upstairs patio of the Corpus Christi Yacht Club. With the breathtaking downtown backdrop, the two wed before a macramé altar hand knotted by the groom’s mother and sister, and the ceremony was sweetly officiated by the groom’s father.

The wedding décor held its own unique charm. Vintage style medicine bottles with tropical foliage were accentuated with layers of candles and floral stems of crimson and white. Guests found their seats by selecting a personalized, hand-painted Mexican tile. A Polaroid photo album uniquely served as the guest book and was positioned next to photographs of loved ones who have inspired lasting love.

Anthony Gauna, photographer, hand crafted authentic photos for this non-traditional couple by creating a collection of photographs emulating an out of the ordinary display.

The one-of-a-kind night ended with a South Texas serenade by local mariachis and a sparkler exit.

For more photos click to see the JESS and TRENT GALLERY