Let me just start this vibrant blog post by saying HOLY COW!!! This wedding was just… WOW. It’s taken me a good half hour to decide how I even want to write this post. There’s just so many wonderful things I can say about Keisha & Wayne’s wedding.
The day started with me stressed to the max because I-35 traffic is the literal worst. I drove down from Benbrook to New Braunfels, leaving at 10 a.m. to have time to spare should any sort of traffic arise, as it tends to do on the route. Well, it was worse than I have ever experienced. Multiple wrecks and slow downs and closed roads took me from getting there 45 minutes early (like I said, I’m a planner and like to be early. Thanks, years of marching band) to getting there half an hour after my start time. By some miracle, I ended up making it with 10 minutes to spare. I may or may not have taken the toll road, driving 90mph. But when I arrived, all that stress melted away. This was my first time at the historic Gruene Estate, and I’m hoping I can come back again soon. The open air chapel was nestled on a large field, nothing but blue Texas skies above it. About a hundred yards away stood the reception hall and Gruene House where Keisha and her ladies were getting ready in their floral robes. There was no stress, just a calm excitement about the Bride. I guess when you’ve known your groom since 1992 and you have Happily Ever Hill Country running the behind the scenes, you just take your day in stride.
Yep, that’s right. Wayne met Keisha in high school back in 1992. Soon after they started dating, even going to prom together where they were crowned King & Queen. After 4 years of bliss, distance, careers, and life in general kept them apart for 22 years… but that wouldn’t be the end of their love story. At the time, Keisha was living in London. Wayne never let a day go by over those two decades without thinking about her, so in 2018 he flew to the UK to confess his love. The rest, as they say, is history. On May 25, 2019, they were FINALLY married! These two are so loved by family and friends that a majority of the guests came from all over the world, including Australia and England.
To start the ceremony, Keisha’s Dad drove her and her mother in his vintage pink car before walking both of his favorite women down the aisle. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house when the soon-to-be Mrs. Laviolette walked down to Wayne. All of those years, all the memories, coming down to this moment. After a short Christian ceremony, Keisha and Wayne were declared Wife and Husband! There was so much joy as they recessed down the aisle to ring the wedding bell, then as they were wrapped up in embraces from the people they love most.
During cocktail hour we did the standard couples and bridal party portraits. The lighting was just INCREDIBLE! If you don’t believe me, just keep scrolling 😉 You’ll see. I appreciated that the new Mr. & Mrs. were up for just about anything, even sitting in the open field of golden grass, which turned out to be my favorite images from the entire day.
As if their portraits didn’t take my breath away, then I saw the RECEPTION!!!! Macrame hung from the chairs and the ceilings, lush, vibrant florals covered every surface they were on, and no detail was spared. Guests found their seats in one of the most unique ways: packets of wildflower seeds with their names on it. Guests were treated to homemade strawberry jam from Keisha and dry rub from Wayne, as well as individually potted succulents that marked there place at the family style tables. In between games of corn hole, guests mingled with the horses and deer that live on the property. Cocktails, savory appetizers, and a full dessert bar boasting homemade family recipes of cookies and hand pies were served. After cake and dances came the toasts, where more happy tears were shed. My favorite one was the Maid of Honor sharing the story of them in high school and how she had signed Wayne’s yearbook with, “You’re going to marry Keisha one day!” Oh, how right she was.
The remainder of the night was full of dancing, photo booth selfies, and mingling. The lovebirds were sent off with a grand sparkler exit, where a charter bus escorted those in attendance back to their hotel rooms in Austin.
Mr. & Mrs. Laviolette, what a joy it was to document your incredibly love story. Everything was beyond perfect.
Photography: Swan Photography // Venue: Gruene Estate, New Braunfels, TX // Coordinators: Happily Ever Hill Country // Catering: Creations Catering // Wedding Cake: HEB // Desserts: Homemade by Family // Ceremony + Cocktail Hour duet: Traveling Trees // Bartender: Bartenders 4 You // Shuttle Bus: Clark Travel
Congrats you guys