Getting Ready in Pastels
It was a bright and balmy Friday afternoon in August as Paige and Christopher prepared for their big day. The setting? Hayes Hollow at Hidden Falls — a nature-inspired wedding venue tucked away in Texas Hill Country, which boasts an alfresco ceremony pavilion, a cocktail patio, a spacious ballroom, on-site lodging, and no shortage of dreamy, photo-worthy corners at every turn. The venue’s dedicated wedding suites provided a perfect space to get ready, offering well-appointed convenience for both lovebirds and their wedding parties to kick back, relax, and prepare for the day’s festivities.
Paige wore a lace-trimmed robe (repurposed from her mother’s wedding dress), while her bridal party donned charming sets that hinted at the wedding-day palette — a medley of pastel oranges and soft, ballet pinks. After hair and makeup was complete, the bride slipped into an elegant, ivory-hued wedding gown. Stylish yet timeless, the dress was made for a modern-day celebration — beautiful and simple with clean lines, a fitted bodice, and a long, sweeping train.
Christopher wore a perfectly tailored suit in a deep shade of jade green, paired with a peach tie and boutonnière, which blended seamlessly with the venue’s natural surroundings. Following individual portrait sessions with the bridesmaids and groomsmen, everyone began to make their way to the ceremony site, kicking off the wedding party processional. As Christopher took his spot by the altar, one hand held over the other, it was time for one of the biggest moments in any wedding: the bridal walk down the aisle.
A Sunny Alfresco Ceremony
All rose for the main event as Paige entered her wedding ceremony on her father’s arm, smiling in a positive blaze of excitement and anticipation. She held a multi-colored, organic-leaning bridal bouquet. Anchored by baby pinks and bursts of punchy peaches and creams, the floral arrangement featured a mix of ruffled peonies, roses, and eucalyptus. This subtle and sophisticated color palette informed the rest of the floral displays — from the cascading white roses on the altar cross to the bridesmaid bouquets and groomsmen boutonnieres.
The scene was set for a ceremony right out of the pages of a storybook. The sun filtered through the leafy canopy of 100-year-old oak trees that surrounded the open-air pavilion. The sound of gently trickling water from the fountain set a soothing, relaxing tone for the day’s events. Against that backdrop of cascading waterfalls, Paige and Christopher pledged their love for one another. The ceremony was intimate, with only 15 close friends and family members gathered around the couple — creating a peaceful atmosphere as the couple exchanged their blissful vows. The rest of their guests were invited to join for the next chapter: the long-awaited reception and dance party!
An Elegant Reception Dinner
Walking hand in hand down the staircase, Paige and Christopher made their debut as a newly married couple inside Hayes Hollow’s spacious ballroom. Their guests, now a larger crowd, cheered as the couple took their seats by the sweetheart table. Designed solely for them, the table was festooned with overflowing florals in shades of pastel pinks, creams, oranges, and buttery yellows. Elsewhere, round dining tables echoed the couple’s color palette with blush linens and pink-and-peach floral centerpieces.
Speeches were given; toasts were made as guests clinked their champagne flutes. Dinner kicked off with plates of goat cheese and grilled pear bruschetta served as passed appetizers. Instead of a sit-down, multi-course plated meal, the couple selected a buffet-style affair — giving their guests more flexibility and variety. Culinary offerings included parmesan-crusted chicken, top sirloin, roasted broccolini with lemon and garlic and herb-roasted potatoes. When guests were well-fed and happy, it was time for dessert.
Paige and Christopher had two wedding-day confections, both dreamed up by Walters Collective’s Jenny Layne Bakery team. The first was an extravagant three-tiered design; the ivory-colored cake was decorated with tiny white pearls along each tier and an oversized bow, borrowed from the mother of the bride’s wedding dress. A decadent dark-chocolate espresso cake made for an excellent second option. Jenny Layne Bakery worked with Christopher to create a bold showstopper that spelled out the letter “R” — a nod to the couples’ new last name — out of espresso beans.
But the treats didn’t stop there. Paige and Christopher’s dessert table also held several other sweet offerings: banana pudding, mini strawberry cheesecakes, and red velvet cake pops. After indulging in dessert (and a glass of dirty lavender lemonade, the couple’s signature cocktail), guests hit the dance floor for the rest of the evening. Boasting an open floorplan and dramatic, floor-to-ceiling windows that look out to nature, the venue holds space for a large dance floor set-up where Paige and Christopher could kick up their feet and let loose after one of the most significant milestone moments in their lives.
Venue: Hayes Hollow, Hidden Falls, Photographer: Emily Chappell Productions, Wedding Cake and Desserts: The Jenny Layne Bakery, Florals: The Design Haus