Thao -N- John / An Austin Wedding at the Hummingbird House

from Thao and John:

I suppose it was about the time I realized my wedding would be less of a Grace Kelly affair, and something a bit closer to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, when I started to really enjoy my day.  All the little, silly details start to blur into a vaseline lens view, and you realize all the things important.  That's when I was not only excited to marry my lifetime lover, but when I fell in love with my friends and family all over again.  My fondest memories of my wedding are seeing my friends and family gather in full force to help fold napkins while singing railroad songs, drive newly make-up'd bridal parties in un-air-conditioned minivans, aunts (well, one in particular) charging into the changing room just because she deserved to be there, uncles with cameras wielded more boisterously than the most seasoned paparazzi, cousins who were supposed to be guests instead transform into freelance wedding coordinators.  That's when you realize how much love surrounds you, that people you love so much are so willing to sacrifice time and distance away from their busy lives, Mother's day and birthdays put on hold, just to be with you and help you, to celebrate you and the love of your life.  And then, of course, there's my husband.  Who stood at the end of the aisle, crying like a newborn babe.  That was my absolute favorite part of the wedding--seeing that one person you want to be with most on this Earth, wanting the very same thing.  It brings me to tears again just thinking of our wonderful vows.  There were butterflies.  Not like in Disney movies, but real live butterflies floating in the air as we uttered lifelong promises to each other in front of those friends and family we hold dearly.  The wedding day was a blur, but the bits and pieces that I keep are some of the most valuable I have, and I will treasure them for as long as we both shall live.  

Thao says:

Oh how do I count the ways?! Mel can do no wrong in my eyes.  While still awaiting my wedding pictures, I have NO RESERVATIONS about recommending her over and over and over again (and in fact, already spread her gospel amongst my newly engaged friends).  Why?  Because she is talent incarnate.  And a lot of fun.  But her talent and fun are only icing on a massive, moist cake of professionalism.  Her work is absolutely incredible--our engagement pictures were fun, unique, and vibrant with life and love.  She was flexible, yet inspired throughout, and took our ideas and made it her own.  I LOVED our engagement pictures and the three wedding shots I've seen--especially because I was a bit camera-shy with some self-doubt.  She made it all go away with a few camera flashes, and has the uncanny ability of seeing (and capturing) the beauty in anyone, regardless of how long she's known you.  She's willing to try new ideas and methods, yet experienced enough to know what looks best.  She is reliable, timely and responsive.  She guides without being overbearing--hell, she even talked me down during my one bridezilla moment when the family was pulling me here and there during family photo time in a cathedral veil under the Texan sun (think Hatfields and McCoys, except both factions come from my side of the family).  She is truly a gem--while everyone else makes you feel like you're just another bride-cog in the wedding-machine, Mel actually made me feel beautiful on the most important day to feel beautiful.  And for that memory and keepsake?  I'm forever grateful...

Wedding Venue, Coordination, Catering and Cake – Nichole Rogerson - Hummingbird House / WeddingPhotography – She-N-He Photography and Design / Catering - Bittersweet/ Laura Eliel / DJ - Strat Kat DJ / Hair and Make-up – Little Orchard Salon / Cellist – Keith Nguyen / Violinist - Thomas Macgregor / Flowers – Gala Gals / Wedding Cake - Erin's Cakes / Officiant – Gibran Mancus / Babysitting - Fairy Godsitters

Austin original, husband and wife wedding photography team based in Central Tx. We specialize in documentary style wedding photography for couples who seek a unique, colorful and timeless look for their wedding photos. With experience in Advertising and Editorial Photography and Design we bring a unique perspective to Wedding Photography, Bridal Photography, Engagement Photography, and Boudoir Photography as well as Custom Wedding Invitation Design. If you’re looking for the bold, fearless and the Best Wedding Photographer in Austin Tx, you found the right team! Available for destination wedding photography worldwide.

Angela -N-Greg / Vista West Ranch Wedding / Austin Wedding Photographer

Angela -N- Greg

Vista West Ranch - fall of 2014

We had an absolute blast at our wedding. What we wanted was a special day to celebrate with our friends that fully matched our personalities and would leave our friends and family thinking "Yep, that's exactly what I would have pictured for Angela and Greg."  We wanted it to be personal more than perfect, so we just planned with that in mind, without trying to compete with elaborate Pinterest ideas, other weddings we'd been to, or flawless wedding blog posts. We had an extremely talented friend do the ceremony music, we had a cookie cake (complete with the Cookie Monster song during the cake cutting) along with Amy's Ice Cream, we had Buc-ee as our cake topper (who in Texas doesn't love Buc-ees?), we had fajitas for dinner, and we had our dog as the ring bearer.  The most memorable parts of the day for me were the flower girl (my niece) going back to the aisle mid-ceremony to pick up the flowers she had dropped along the aisle on the way in and my dad's toast at the beginning of the reception (had people crying, then laughing, the crying again).  The best advice I have for a couple planning their wedding is to not get wrapped up in the planning and everyone else's ideas and expectations for the event. Don't let anyone convince you that you care more about a certain aspect than you actually do (I promise no one even remembers that didn't go with fancy china at the wedding).  Just think about the two of you as a couple, plan your day to enjoy it, and remember that it's the life ahead of you that's the most important part!

Venue – Vista West Ranch / Coordinator - Coordinate This / Officiant - Chaplain Larry Todd / Photographer – She-N-He Photography and Design / Catering –Pappa's Catering / DJ– Complete Music / Wedding Cake - Sweet ATX / Flowers - Petal Pushers / Ceremony Music - Pheobe Hunt

She-N-He Austin Wedding Photography and Design specializes in making your day…YOURS. We capture your wedding just the way you see it. We’re a husband and wife team with backgrounds in Graphic Design/Art Direction and Commercial/Editorial Photography respectively. We bring to you a unique perspective that is romantic, modern and timeless and 15 years experience shooting all over the world. Call us and tell us all about your big day. We’re listening. 512-351-9314. We also service San Antonio, Dallas, New York City, and any and all remote destination locations.

Elizabeth -N- Kenneth / San Marcos Engagement Photographer

Elizabeth and Kenneth both came to San Marcos for school, met, fell in love and never left. We met up in San Marcos for their spring engagement session and hit a few of their favorite spots.

Elizabeth and Kenneth

San Marcos, Tx Engagement Photography

She-N-He Austin Wedding Photography and Design specializes in making your day…YOURS. We capture your wedding just the way you see it. We’re a husband and wife team with backgrounds in Graphic Design/Art Direction and Commercial/Editorial Photography respectively. We bring to you a unique perspective that is romantic, modern and timeless and 15 years experience shooting all over the world. Call us and tell us all about your big day. We’re listening. 512-351-9314. We also service San Antonio, Dallas, New York City, and any and all remote destination locations.

Keeli -N- Kevin / Azul Sensatori - Riviera Maya, Mexico - destination wedding / Austin Wedding Photographer

Keeli -N- Kevin

Destination Wedding:

Azul Sensatori Riviera Maya, Mexico

She-N-He Austin Wedding Photography and Design specializes in making your day…YOURS. We capture your wedding just the way you see it. We’re a husband and wife team with backgrounds in Graphic Design/Art Direction and Commercial/Editorial Photography respectively. We bring to you a unique perspective that is romantic, modern and timeless and 15 years experience shooting all over the world. Call us and tell us all about your big day. We’re listening. 512-351-9314. We also service San Antonio, Dallas, New York City, and any and all remote destination locations.

Kelly -N- Stephen / Green Pastures Wedding / Austin Wedding Photographer

Our wedding was in the planning stages for quite awhile - we were engaged for over two years (since 9/18/10) before our big day.  I really wanted the event to reflect a combination of our personalities - casual, laid back, and natural - but still special.  I knew Green Pastures was the perfect location because it felt like coming to someone's home rather than a stark event center.  It felt warm and cozy, despite still being able to accommodate our 130 guests.

The colors (teal and yellow) actually were inspired by the colors of my shoes.  I was shopping just a month or two after our engagement, and I fell in love with these polka-dot Seychelles shoes.  At the time, I wasn't looking for wedding shoes, but these were perfect.  I used them to help pick out the bridesmaids dress color and the yellow ties for the guys.

Going with the "natural" look, Bouquets of Austin did our floral arrangements and did an absolutely perfect job.  I wanted lots of color, and a "gathered" look.  I pretty much gave them a blank slate and they didn't disappoint!  It was wonderful to walk into the room at Green Pastures and be greeted by the smell and sight of our beautiful bouquets!  A few of my other favorite details: my garter, knitted by one of my bridesmaids, Trisha; the cake-topper of two teal lovebirds, custom ordered from Orly Design on Etsy; and the guys' Texas cuff links, ordered online from who-knows-where by Stephen.

Of course, it threatened rain all day on Saturday, and ended up pouring right during the window of time our ceremony was supposed to be outside.  Stephen and I both love the outdoors, and it was a bit of a bummer to not get to have the ceremony under the beautiful live oak trees at Green Pastures.  But, I do have to say that the indoor ceremony was intimate and beautiful, and was everything we wanted.  We didn't know what our officiant was going to say, and his speech was perfect.  Again, the folks at Bouquets of Austin really did a wonderful job accommodating the last-minute rain changes!  And the fact that it rained made our after-ceremony photo session even more intimate because all the guests were still inside.  I thought it was so great that we randomly found that UT umbrella to use in the pictures - perfect touch!

And of course, there was plenty of dancing!  That might have been the most important thing to me: there had to be dancing!  Heck we even did Gangnam Style. If anything it just went by way too quickly.

Finally, we got to make our get-away in an awesome teal Cadillac from Vintage Rides of Austin.  Even though our hotel was only about 5 minutes down the road, the driver (who happened to also be the owner, Ed) took us for a spin through downtown.  It was really a magical way to end our night!  We got to have a little time to just bask in all that had just happened.  People waved to us and shouted congratulations as we cruised down the streets.  It was a perfect ending to a perfect night!  Our only regret: hopping on a plane the next morning at 10am to head back to North Carolina.  A leisurely after-wedding brunch might have been nice :-)

Photography - She-N-He Photography and Design / Location, Catering, Cake - Green Pastures / Flowers - Bouquets of Austin / Cake topper: Orly Design / Hair + Make-up - Erica Gray 

Strings - Barton Strings / DJ, Video, Photobooth - Complete Music / Car - Vintage Rides of Austin

She-N-He Austin Wedding Photography and Design specializes in making your day…YOURS. We capture your wedding just the way you see it. We’re a husband and wife team with backgrounds in Graphic Design/Art Direction and Commercial/Editorial Photography respectively. We bring to you a unique perspective that is romantic, modern and timeless and 15 years experience shooting all over the world. Call us and tell us all about your big day. We’re listening. 512-351-9314. We also service San Antonio, Dallas, New York City, and any and all remote destination locations.

Nicole -N- Sam / Vista West Ranch Wedding / Austin Wedding Photographer

The super lovely Nicole and Sam married at Vista West Ranch on April 15 - tax day.

From Nicole: "We met at a funeral in California. Well, we had seen each other before here and there, but we had our first real conversation at a funeral. We started dating right away, and I couldn't get enough of him! A month later I broke the news that I was moving to Boston to attend grad school. Surprisingly, he wanted to come along! It was so exciting! He quit his job, packed his bags and hopped in my car. We hardly knew each other when we were driving cross country! It was the wildest thing ever - moving far away with a stranger. We both had an adventurous, devil-may-care attitude about dating. That was eight years ago, and now we're mister and missus."

From Nicole: "My dress... I tried on dresses for six long months. I knew it would be tough because I wanted to add some custom touches to whatever dress I bought to make it more "me" - more dramatic! I finally found it, it's an Enzoani, on Black Friday at Blush Bridal. The dress fit me pretty well, and more importantly, it  lent itself well to the custom sleeves I was dreaming up in my head. I bought it right on the spot, and met with my seamstress,  Deborah Birch, to tell her all about the sleeves I envisioned. I sketched for her some drapey, double-drop sleeves, and she brought it to life! Plus, she made an extra set of sleeves - fabulous cuffs - that I could change into for our dance. Partying on the dance floor was definitely a must, and my second pair of sleeves allowed me to swing my arms like a wild woman all night. Some brides have a dress change for the reception, but I had a sleeve change! That was definitely my favorite part of the dress."

She-N-He Austin Wedding Photography and Design specializes in making your day...YOURS. We capture your wedding just the way you see it. We're a husband and wife team with backgrounds in Graphic Design/Art Direction and Commercial/Editorial Photography respectively. We bring to you a unique perspective that is romantic, modern and timeless and 15 years experience shooting all over the world. Call us and tell us all about your big day. We're listening. 512-351-9314

Venue - Vista West Ranch / Coordinator - Coordinate This / Catering - Sterling Affairs / Cake - Coco Paloma / Flowers - Petal Pushers / Harmonica Player - Michael Rubin / Curtain Rental - Filo Designs / Dress - Enzoani / Bridal Shop - Blush Bridal / Seamstress - Deborah Birch / Second Photographer James Dvorscak

Natalie -N- Ryan / Private New Braunfuls Waterfront Wedding / Austin Wedding Photographer

Natalie and Ryan have been together since high school, they have been living a quiet, practically married life, ever since, with their family including their dog in Austin, Tx. They finally decided it "was time," they were ready for that next step. They're ready to start a family and they just wanted to share their obvious commitment with family and friends as they launch into the next phase.

McAdoo's Seafood Company in New Braunfuls, TX is the restaurant that did the catering, everything from fresh oysters to filet their food bases were covered, in fact I over heard a guest saying to another guest "can they host a party or what."    2 Tarts, a bakery in New Braunfuls, did all of the sweet treats on the dessert table including the cake, except the brownies, that was Fork & Spoon.  Comal Rental Company provided all the rentals, tables, chairs, linens etc.  Blumen Meisters Flower market did all of the body and aisle marker flowers.  The rest of the flowers and centerpieces for the table were done by  Becky Wiggins, the brides step-mom and her friends and neighbors.  Also, the burlap table topper for the dinner tables were sown and stenciled by Becky and her Mom, Janelle.  Janelle also made the table cloth for the cake table and used lace from her parents own 50th wedding anniversary. Pretty neat!  The china and silverware came from Aztec Rental out of San Antonio.  The band was the Argyles out of Austin.  The String Quartet was Quartetto Lirico out of Austin.  Carl's Electric out of New Braunfels hung all the lights and did the other electrical work.  Joe Ball, a contractor the couple works with in their real estate business,  made the stand for the canoe and the structure for the bar.  Texas River Tubes provided the transportation.

She-N-He Austin Wedding Photography and Design specializes in making your day...YOURS. We capture your wedding just the way you see it. We're a husband and wife team with backgrounds in Graphic Design/Art Direction and Commercial/Editorial Photography respectively. We bring to you a unique perspective that is romantic, modern and timeless and 15 years experience shooting all over the world. Call us and tell us all about your big day. We're listening. 512-351-9314

Venue - Private Home / Catering - McAdoo's Seafood Company / Sweets - 2 Tarts / Brownies - Fork & Spoon / Rentals - Comal Rental Company / Body and Aisle Flowers - Blumen Meisters Flower market / Centerpieces and other Flowers - Becky Wiggins / Band - the Argyles / String Quartet - Quartetto Lirico / Lighting - Carl's Electric / Contractor - Joe Ball / Transporations - Texas River Tubes

Arranged - A New Florist in Town - Austin Wedding Photographer

 

May I introduce Rachel the brains behind the beauty of Arranged! enjoy.

We just wrapped up a style shoot with Rachel, The Simplifiers, Loot Vintage Rentals, and Hideout on the Horseshoe. I am almost finished processing it. I can not wait to share!

K+K / Vista West Ranch Wedding / Austin Wedding Photographer

K+K

Katie and Kieran met in New York City while working as copywriters for an ad agency. Katie is from Houston while Kieran is from New York. To celebrate the great distance they crossed to come together, and in honor of all the worldly places their guests traveled from, they created a lavish destination affair.

Their centerpieces and table numbers were custom designed maps of locales that the couple hold dear to them including Manhattan, Mexico and Austin. Carrying the theme of travel throughout the wedding, K+K added to their guests' escort cards the couples favorite travel destinations. They also included nods to their host city of Austin with charming cowboy boots, BBQ from Gourmet Gals and Guys, and tabasco sauce party favors. Their awesome wedding color combo of turquoise and pink was in every detail including bridesmaid's dresses, flowers from Petal Pushers and a 4 tiered pink gradient wedding cake by Simon Lee Bakery. The whole affair was pulled together perfectly by Aimee Villa of Lizze Belle Event Planning

Kieran mentioned during their engagement session that Katie requests or plays "Boot Scoot Boogie" everywhere they go in New York. hmmm, sounds familiar. With the Matt Wilson Band at the helm there was not a still moment on their dance floor. It was an amazing Sunday evening with the most perfect sunset. A day any couple would proudly relive again and again.

Photography: She-N-He Photography and Design

Wedding Coordinator: Aimee Villas - Lizze Belle Event Planning

Catering: Gourmet Gals & Guys

Cake: Simon Lee

Floral: Petal Pushers

Bartending: Served Bartending Services

Chaplain: Larry Todd

Hair & Makeup : Erica Gray

Band: Matt Wilson Band

Mary -N- Alan / Kindred Oaks Wedding / Austin Wedding Photographer

Mary and Alan how I adore thee. It was delightful to work with you two. So wildly in love, you're an inspiration! I can't wait to meet your babies!

She-N-He

Austin Wedding Photography and Design

Location: Kindred Oaks

Food and Flowers - Camille Styles - Style Shoot - Austin Wedding Photographer

Another great style shoot with THE Camille Styles!

She-N-He Photography and Design

Camille Styles

The Byrd Collective

Any Style Catering

Greenhouse - Hummingbird House Style Shoot - Austin Wedding Photographer

 

I am wildly in love with this shoot. Thank you to everyone for everything. It was THE best.

Photographer & Designer: Melanie Howe of She-n-He Photography Venue: Hummingbird House Hair & Makeup: Erica Gray Desserts: The Pie Society Coordinator: Pearl Events Dress Designer: Beth Ellis Floral Design: Arthouse Design Groom’s Attire: Spring Frost Jewelry: Catherine Nicole Shoe Designer: Spring Frost Wardrobe styling by Laura Del Villaggio and Cheryl Smith: Vintage Accessories: Amelia’s Retro-Vogue & Relics White Organza Dress: Spring Frost  “Lana” Wedding Dress: by Beth Elis from Gilda Grace Greenery: The Great Outdoors Swarovski crystal evening bag from Spring Frost Veil or Hair Accessories: Milli Star

Summer in Savannah - Style shoot - Austin Wedding Photographer

I worked on this gorgeous little style shoot this summer with Camille Styles, finally getting it blogged after  100 Layer Cake posted it last month.

She-N-He Photography and Design

Camille Styles

The Byrd Collective

Antiquaria

Blog Love - Style Me Pretty - Austin Wedding Photographer

A little bit of blog love from The one and only Style Me Pretty.

Please enjoy!

---mel

blog love - Snippet & Ink - Austin Wedding Photographer

blog love from Snippet & Ink

Food and Flowers another masterpiece from Camille Styles.

blog love - Off Beat Bride - Austin Wedding Photographer

A little love from Off Beat Bride this morning.

A skyped elopement was shot and broadcast from The Inn at Wild Rose Hall.

Keri -N- Justin - A wedding at Vineyard at Florence - Austin Wedding Photography

Keri and Justin, adorable, no? And totally amazing. So much fun to spend time with and that's how photographing their wedding felt, like we were guests. The were married in an intimate service at The Vineyard at Florence. There wanted to keep it simple so they did not have a wedding party, their flowers, from Petal Pushers, were extraordinary. Hair and Make-up by the super amazingly talented miss Erica Gray. Southern's fine dining kicked off the party with down home cooking including fried green tomatoes. yummo!

We met quite a while ago and with some pressing we figured out that Keri and my sister (who lives in D/FW) used to work together. weird. small world.

Venue: The Vineyard at Florence

Caterer: Southern's Fine Dining

Floral: Petal Pushers

DJ: Altared Wedding

Rentals: Sweet Sunday

Invitations: Invitation Solutions

Strings Quartet: String Attached

Hair and Make-up: Erica Gray

Wedding Magazine - Published - Austin Wedding Photographer

This was a shoot we put together at the end of last summer. We ran it on our blogs and then Style Me Pretty ran it. Then we got a call from a British Magazine called Weddings. And here is the resulting full page clip.

Photographer: She-n-He Photography and Design / Coordinator: Three Apples Events / Florals: Wow Factor Floral / Hair + Make-up: Keep Austin Gorgeous / Styling: Shannon Yarbrough / Catering: Austin Catering / Rentals: Premier Party Central / Petit Fours: Paige’s Bake House / Wedding Cake: Wicked Cakes / Venue: Hacienda del Lago / Groom’s outfit: Nordstrom / Bride’s outfits: Dresses by Linda Asaf,Blush Bridal, Bella Saison / Accessories: Tracy Tenpenny / Headpieces: Millistar, Blush

Meejin -N- Jay - A Barr Mansion Wedding - Austin Wedding Photographer

Meejin and Jay's perfect-but-not-fussy wedding at Barr Mansion. It was stunning and also comfortable, low key. During their first look, Meejin's grandpa was walking out of the restroom and made it into some of their first look shots. Meejin was hysterical. I love that! Let your day be your day!  It was one of the loveliest weddings I have ever had the pleasure of photographing. Single stem flowers in several different vases of varying colors and sizes from Stems floral, the groomsman in mixed-matched vintage snap button shirts with suspenders, table assignments painted on panes of window glass, and Meejin hand-painted their cake topper. Wow!

You might remember them from their animal-loving engagement session at the Austin Zoo.

Photography: She-N-He Photography and Design

Venue, catering and cake: Barr Mansion

Groomsmen attire: vintage stores Austin

Bridesmaids dresses: J Crew

Bride's dress: Davids Bridal

Groom suit: Thick as Thieves

Flowers: Stems Floral

Margaret -N- Edward - Barr Mansion - Austin Wedding Photography

Delicious! Margaret and Edward what a lovely match, it was such an honor to capture their wedding's beautiful memories at Barr Mansion. Their wedding was held at the brunch hour on a Sunday morning in April. It was amazing. Congratulations to you both and your families, I look forward to photographing your future milestones. All the best.

"I love the pictures, everyone looks so happy and warm. Thanks for everything."  Margaret B.

Venue, cake, and day-of coordination:

Barr Mansion, Keegan O'Connell http://www.barrmansion.com/ Officiant: Spike Gillespie http://www.spikegillespie.com/ DJ: Full Circle Media http://www.fcmedia.com/ Flowers: Stems Floral Design http://stemfloral.com/ Hair: Alison Luce http://www.johnmichaelssalon.com/ Makeup: Rhiannon Watkins rhiannonbray@yahoo.com Dress: Unbridaled http://www.unbridaled.com/ Dress designer: Amy Kuschel http://www.amykuschel.com/ Photog: She-n-He http://www.she-n-he.com/