From across the water in the heart of Texas, we are delighted to bring you the amazing and inspiring love story of Chelsea and Collin. The lovebirds channelled their inner child and celebrated with a Summer Camp theme. Incorporating bright florals with vintage heirlooms and a ranch style outdoor ceremony at the The Amish Barn. We are thrilled to share today's colourful barn wedding celebration, beautifully captured by Maria Hibbs of Squaresville Studios...
Like many relationships Chelsea and Collin's didn't start smoothly, but thankfully Collin is persistent... A mutual friend brought Collin to my housewarming party in Houston, Texas, where I (partly intimidated by his good looks, partly overwhelmed with hosting) exchanged about two words with him. Six months later, we met again at a mutual friend’s wedding, and danced the night away. Then out of the blue, Collin called to ask me on a date, which I outright refused (crazy, I know). This happened a few more times when Collin, ever tenacious, suggested dinner at “a place with great platonic food." After that dinner Collin and I began our awkward and exhilarating friendship, with lots of biking, running, watching MadMen. Finally, he asked for a date once more, adding “Think about it! Don’t answer right away!” This time I said yes, and we started our adventure with martinis by the bayou!"
After all the convincing it took to get Chelsea out on a date with Collin, we were glad to hear the proposal was a little easier on him... The summer we started dating, the Houston Museum of Natural Science was open 24 hours a day. Collin and I would frequently go there at night and look at the butterfly house, and on one of those nights, Collin first told me that he loved me. Two years later, Collin suggested we take advantage of Houston’s Free Museum Day and visit all the Houston Museums. So, we, along with every child in the Houston area, went out that day to explore art and science for free! Towards the end of the day, we wove our way through a sea of sweaty, yelping kids to the butterfly house, where it was surprisingly quiet. With butterfly's flying about, Collin proposed! My amazement continued when we drove to a nearby restaurant to find our close family and friends gathered for an engagement party! It was a perfect day.
As a couple who enjoy fun and freedom (hey, I love that they took advantage of the Free Museum day) it makes perfect sense that their wedding was a reconnection with their inner child. So they planned a summer camp inspired wedding day. Chelsea wanted a celebration in the great outdoors surrounded by wildflowers, giant board games and summer sweets and treats. Sounds like a fun day to plan if you ask me!
When it came to choosing the perfect wedding gown, Chelsea kept to her summer theme. Her beautiful BHLDN dress had an eyelet detail which beautifully complimented her natural looks. She added a few special pieces, including her great grandmother’s pearl necklace, her mother’s opal ring, and her mother’s veil from her own wedding in 1977.
We spy Chelsea's "something blue"!
Chelsea's bouquet is the bee's knees. Full of fuchsia, orange, yellow and purple hues it adds pops of Summer brights to her beautiful bridal look.
After Chelsea and Colin landed on their summer camp theme, they had to find a venue to suit and they found just the place at The Amish Barn. A working cattle ranch belive it or not that belongs to a family friend... I wanted the venue to be at a private location, if possible, so I wouldn’t have to deal with limits on how many people to invite, etc. It really felt like the wedding was an old time community affair, with people from all over pitching in to help in the weeks leading up to the day!
Chelsea's father played double duty on the wedding day, both walking her down the aisle and performing the ceremony!
How phenomenal is this ceremony backdrop? I can see a few farmer's daughters eyeing the cattle feeders in a new way now! A florist friend of the family flew in from Florida to arrange the flowers and decorate the venue. They're all stunning, scattered throughout the space they add subtle splashes of summer colours.
Yay! It's official!
Love the peach bridesmaids dresses - very Summer cool. The boys are looking dapper too, navy suits are perfect for a laid back affair, smart and formal in a relaxed way.
When wedding planning, Chelsea and Collin's priority was the right photographer. Maria Hibbs of Squaresville Studios had photographed their friends wedding the previous year and the couple were super impressed with the results. And it looks like she really worked her magic with such a large bridal party - that's a lot of people to wrangle!
What a transformation from a working ranch to a Summer Soiree for Chelsea and Collin's celebration.
The bride and groom had a wonderful idea for bringing their guests into the wedding decor... Collin and I gathered photos of guests on their own wedding day and displayed them on a hanging line for everyone to see in the reception area. We really wanted it to be a day celebrating love of all sorts, not just our own! It was so fun to look at all the different wedding photos and see the joy on everyone’s face as they saw their own!
The wedding photos add such a lovely touch, and we love that they're held on with the tiniest of clothes pins!
Wild flowers can be seen in all elements of the day, I love the addition of pink and red flowers on the wedding cake.
If you’re getting married in a “hands off” venue, I would strongly recommend hiring a wedding planner, even if your budget is tight! Having a wedding planner made the wedding weekend so stress-free! We could sit back and know that all the last minute details would be taken care of by the pros!
Chelsea has the sweetest advice for couples planning their wedding...A few weeks before the wedding, my dad (our wedding officiant) encouraged us to write love letters to each other that reflected on the early days of dating, why we love each other now, and what we hope for our future. Writing that letter was so powerful, especially because the weeks leading up to the wedding can feel anything but romantic. We exchanged letters on the wedding day (Brides, I recommend reading your letter before your make up is applied!) So romantic!
Congratulations to you the happy couple and thank you for sharing your big day with us.
Of course a big thank you to the guys at Squarevilles Studios for sharing their work with One Fab Day. To see more of Squarevilles Studios' work pop over the their webiste www.squaresvillestudios.com
All the Wedding Details:
- Ceremony: The Amish Barn
- Photography: Squarevilles Studios
- Wedding Planners: Ashley & Company
- Wedding Dress: BHLDN
- Flowers: Karla McCaughey at Mona’s Floral Creations
- Groomsmen’s suits: Jos A Bank
- Wedding Favours: American Meadows
- Stationery: Oscar and Emma via Minted
- Make Up & Hair: Lauren Noblin Artistry
- Wedding Bands: Bride’s: Past Era Antique Jewelry /Tiffany & Co.
- Ceremony/Reception Music: Greg Tivis Band
- Wedding Cake: Kathy’s Icing on the Cake
