Austin, TX Wedding Photography >> Star Hill Ranch DIY Crafty Artist Wedding :: Joelle + Jason

Being invited to shoot a wedding for these two uber creative Pump Project artists was quite an honor. Joelle is also the event coordinator at Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, so it’s always exciting to get to shoot weddings of other folks in the industry! Upon arriving at Star Hill Ranch and seeing all of their amazing DIY details, I was over the moon! The couple’s favors were hand-made animal paintings that did double duty as table seating cards (you can see more of Joelle’s work here). The groom wore a leather Texas belt buckle and an old timey tie. He hand made boutineers for himself and the groomsmen (guys can be crafty too!) – made with a branch, succulent air plant and buttons in shades of opalescent pink and purple. These looked great paired with the vintage looking fuschia ties and the bridesmaids deep lavender purple dresses. The bride wore a lovely and classic strapless dress delicately ornamented with just a touch of sequenced flowers and leaves.

For the ceremony, Joelle constructed a hanging wall of multicolored yarn poms that were so original and provided a perfect photo backdrop. Brightly colored lanterns set the stage for venue. And in the romantic little white chapel, guests escaped the heat with ice cold ac and decorated their own fans, got their programs, signed the thumbprint tree with ink, and sat catching up in comfort.

After the ceremony, guests moved to another one of the cool outcrop of amazing old-timey-texas looking buildings on the estate of Star Hill Ranch. Kids were invited to have fun at the arts and crafts table, which every parent loved!! Appetizers were served buffet style, while the Whiskey Shivers sung their down home songs in perfect harmony. Influenced by everything from Johnny Cash to Jolie Holland, this high energy roaring string band has to be seen to be believed. After taking the couple around the property for some photos – who can resist and old broken down truck and tractor??? Then the couple waltzed in the street al fresco. One of my favorite moments from the day is when the couple practiced their dance inside a room of stained glass. Perfect light and a perfect moment.

Later guests moved over to dining hall for dinner catered by Pink Avocado. The couple constructed the singularly most amazing centerpieces I may have ever seen. Spray painted horses & dinosaurs in pastel candy colors were surrounded with table numbers and frames with nested birds atop and both real and fake pom flowers inter dispersed. Other super creative touches were stones with guest names written on them in silver at each table setting and a handmade cake complete with wooden personalized figurines on top and fondant version of their cat and dog on the second tier was amazingly cute!

Dinner closed with cleverly personalized toasts, including Jason’s sweet toast to Joelle about finally finding the perfect woman. Then guests were invited out to the dirt road for the first dance a la two step and more dancing and music played by the band!

Ceremony & Reception venue :: Star Hill Ranch // Flowers :: Arthouse Design // Cocktail Hour Band :: Whiskey Shivers // Catering :: Pink Avocado // Cake:  Sheila Marie Fleming // Kid’s Art Station :: Abrakadoodle // Sashes and hair flowers :: ProjectU // Ties and Bow-ties :: Divine Domestication.X // Jewelry :: Rachael Adamiak Jewelry and Limbo Jewelry // Hair :: Aveda