Venues – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Events April 7, 2015

#CrazyForCommons

This past weekend, our good friends, Amanda and Scott, got married in a stunning ceremony at the Southern Oaks Plantation in New Orleans. The wedding weekend kicked off with a bridal happy hour at Le Meridien hotel, where the bride and her family were staying. Amanda gave us the cutest monogrammed pajama pants to get ready in the next day, as well as a tiny bottle of St-Germain (obsessed). After we had a couple glasses of bubbly (in gold sugar-rimmed glasses!), we headed to the Galvez Restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. The speeches were wonderful, and the video that Amanda made was unbelievably good – almost all of the guests watched their faces flash by on the screen and were reminded of the many wonderful memories they had of the bride and groom.

The next day, we met in the bridal suite and started getting ready around lunchtime. There were lots of girls getting their hair and makeup done, and it was so nice to catch up with many friends I haven’t seen since high school. I slipped away for 30 minutes to take photos of the men getting professional barber shaves at Aidan Gill. Around 5:30pm, we all loaded into the limo and headed to the Southern Oaks Plantation. Once we got there, Amanda and Scott had their first look, then it was go-go-go as guests started to arrive. The ceremony was so sweet, and the processional New Orleans marching band that marched around with the bridal party afterward really helped it end with a bang. We headed inside for the reception, which was quite the party – Amanda’s incredibly talented dad and his band, Easy Money, played the best music all night long. The highlight of the entire party (for me at least) was when Amanda and her two sisters surprised all of the guests by performing ‘Single Ladies’ (watch an iPhone capture here – not the best quality, but you’ll get the picture). It is an understatement to say that they nailed it. I’m so impressed!

The grand exit was perfect, with guests shaking noise makers at the bride and groom as they left the venue as husband and wife. I am so excited for Mr. and Mrs. Commons. They are a perfect match, and I know they’re going to live happily ever after.

I cannot wait to see pictures from their talented photographers, Dark Roux! Until then, here are a few that I captured during the weekend.

crazycommons1 CrazyCommons2

Events April 1, 2015

#Jophee2015

This past weekend, a best friend of mine got married in one of the most gorgeous (and emotional!) wedding ceremonies I’ve ever witnessed, which was followed by one of the most incredibly fun receptions. Every single detail of the weekend was perfect. Sophee is definitely one of the most organized people I have ever met, so I was the least bit surprised. From the bridal brunch on Friday at Z’Tejas to the reception at Lakeway Resort & Spa, everything was planned to the nth degree. Everyone kept commenting on how the rehearsal dinner felt fancy enough to be the actual wedding!

Sophee and Johnny wrote their own vows, so pointless to say – everyone was crying. We had discussed doing the same, but I knew I wouldn’t have been able to keep it together and I know that’s a fact after boo-hooing when they read theirs. Sophee and Johnny are two of the most thoughtful and loving individuals I’ve ever met, and every single speech that was given reiterated this fact. And then there’s their model looks. I’ve never seen a model in any wedding magazine that looked as gorgeous as Sophee did when she slipped her dress on. Truly breathtaking.

It feels like yesterday that Sophee asked me to be her bridesmaid. I cannot believe they’re now married, relaxing on their honeymoon as husband and wife. I could not be any happier for them! Her wedding photographers (Anne Marie Photography) snapped a million photos, and I cannot wait to see them. Until then, here’s a sneak peek at some of the precious moments from the weekend.

Bridal Brunch

Venue: Z’Tejas | Paper Goods: Paper Therapy Shop | Florals: Walton’s

Personal May 5, 2014

A Weekend Well-Spent

Sasha and I headed to Austin at the crack of dawn on Saturday, after spending Friday with one of my best friends, Kirby, who flew in town from Oklahoma City for her baby shower (she’s due exactly 4 weeks after me!). We had plans to meet my childhood best-friend – Alisdair, (we met before we were one years old in Scotland), who came to live with us in Texas for his senior year of high school, then ended up going to The University of Texas at Austin with me and married an Austinite! They moved back to Scotland last year, much to my dismay, and I only get to see him once a year, so I was anxious to hug him and Erica. We stayed with another best friend, Sophee, at her gorgeous house (where we spent my bachelorette weekend!). She recently got engaged to Johnny (who took many of these wedding preview pics) – they are the sweetest, most attractive couple ever (see pictures of them at our rehearsal here). I am over-the-moon excited to be one of her bridesmaids next March. Her invitation was perfect (see picture below!).

In the late afternoon, we went to one of my good friend’s wedding – Eric and I have been close since fourth grade! Him and Alisdair also became best friends during our senior year, so we’re one big happy family. Stephanie, his bride, looked radiant. I love weddings! The reception was held at Thurman’s Mansion, just south of Austin. The venue couldn’t have been prettier, neither could the weather.

We had a big family breakfast at Kerbey Lane on Sunday morning, then headed back to Houston. I had a bit of a scare in the car, as I suddenly felt nauseous and then fainted while Sasha was driving. I am a big fainter (errh, fainted at the altar), and have passed out during every pre-natal appointment that involved needles, but this was the first unprovoked fainting, which is a bit concerning. I have my 36 week appointment today and plan on checking with my doctor. Fingers crossed!

I hope you had a good weekend! Happy Cinco de Mayo and first year wedding anniversary to my sister and Carl (pictures here and here).

the back view of thurman mansion in austin // sasha and kenneth getting rather competitive with bean bag toss (‘cornhole’)

sophee’s amazing bridesmaid invitation – obsessed and so excited // mother-son dances always make me cry

shameless selfie with my new ray-bans (after mine got stolen) and haircut (long overdue) // most amazing photo album from ryan ray

32 days from my due date (feeling ever-so-swollen) // dad and sasha being competitive per usual

post-breakfast at kerbey lane with dad // wedding selfie in the hot-hot texas sun (think 90+ degrees already)

outside kerbey lane with my childhood bestfriend/brother and his wife (vising from scotland) // belle is petrified of our stroller… so we’re practicing

Real Weddings September 20, 2013

San Miguel de Allende Weddings

One of my closest friends got engaged on Tuesday, and I cannot stop daydreaming about their romantic nuptials in a gorgeous city in Mexico next year. They still haven’t landed on a place (I mean, it’s only been a few days!), but one of their favorite cities is San Miguel de Allende. I headed straight to Style Me Pretty for reference purposes, and ohmygosh… this city is stunning.

The first Style Me Pretty wedding venue is Casa Capricho.

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I found this second wedding on photographer Stephanie William’s site. It’s perfect. The venue is Casa Chorro.

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I found the third wedding on photographer Brandon Kidd’s site. The venue is Casa de la Cuesta. More details can be found here.

Food August 26, 2013

Rainbow Lodge

As part of my mission to eat Burrata cheese at all of these Houston restaurants, I decided to meet a good friend of mine, Paola, at Rainbow Lodge on Sunday for brunch (99 cent mimosas? yes, please). I had never been before, but had wanted to go for ages, so jumped at the opportunity to check it off the list. As I walked in, I felt like I had in fact been there before. I quickly remembered that I recognized the restaurant because I had seen it on photographer Taylor Lord’s blog. She shot a wedding there last year, and I loved every detail. In fact, little did I know at the time, but I would end up in the same Crepe de Chine BHLDN dress! I was grinning ear to ear when I pulled up the pictures again and saw that.

The food was incredible. The Heirloom Tomato Salad was heavenly – the Burrata cheese was perfect, as were the wonderfully affordable mimosas. The 100 year old cabin home turned into hunting-style restaurant is an amazing spot for Sunday brunch or date night. The views are amazing – windows all around. The vegetarian options are definitely limited, but that’s what I expected from an upscale game lodge eatery.