Justin and Kelli met in April of 2003, as Kelli was walking her new puppy: a toy poodle. As she was approaching her apartment, the tiny dog slipped right through her leash and made a beeline for a nearby apartment balcony. Kelli chased after the dog, and found her in the arms of her future husband. They began chatting, and he asked her out for that evening. The two dated for six years before getting engaged. “After six years of dating, we were ready to be married!” Kelli exclaims. Kelli had always dreamed of a summer garden wedding, but knew that because of the Texas heat, her chances of finding the perfect (and comfortable!) location were slim. A trip to Conroe to check out Heather’s Glen turned out to provide the venue she had dreamed of. “As we stood at the front of the chapel, all you could see were trees and flowers. It was as if we were standing in a garden. It was perfect! The chapel with its large windows overlooking the garden area was just the compromise that we needed. We were able to have an indoor wedding ceremony and an outdoor garden reception, with enough versatility to comfortably accommodate all of our family and friends,” Kelli recalls.
Kelli had the perfect groom and perfect venue, and now it was time to plan the perfect wedding! She chose black with pool blue for her wedding colors. Gown shopping was successful. “I selected an ivory gown with a long pool blue sash from David’s Bridal. The detailed embroidery and beadwork that adorned the dress and sash, paired with the bold use of color, made for a contemporary twist to the traditional and I loved it!” Her bridesmaids were in tea-length black satin, with pool blue sashes and peek-a-boo slips. A unique touch to Kelli and Justin’s wedding was a male attendant on the bride’s side. He called himself the “bridesman,” and wore a black tux with black shirt and vest, and a pool blue tie and pocket silk. The groomsmen wore black Calvin Klein single button tuxedos with ivory shirts and black vests and pool blue pocket silks. Justin himself wore the same style, but with an ivory vest and pocket silk.
With attire chosen, flowers and cakes were to be determined. “Our flowers were strikingly gorgeous!” exclaims Kelli. Cheryl of Cheryl’s Flowers was the mastermind behind the creations. Star gazer lilies, black magic roses, purple dahlias, blue delphinium and purple lisanthus with peacock feather accents made up her bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, and centerpieces. The flowers even decorated pews in paper cones hung with a pearl strand. The colors and blooms themselves were personal to Kelli. The star gazer is her sorority family flower, and was given to her from her big sis on the night of her initiation. Purple has been her favorite color since childhood, and she was fond of the vibrant colors of the peacock feather. Kathy of Kathy’s cakes created both cakes. The bride’s cake comprised of three square tiers, with different patterns on each. “It was perfect and tasted great, too!” The cake topper was a silver scripted “C” with peacock feathers. “The grooms cake was Justin’s vision,” explains Kelli. A bottle of Jameson and a box of fondant-rolled cigars rested on top of a chocolate devil’s food cake. Along the base of the cake were chocolate dipped tuxedo strawberries.
The uber-talented Tricoast Photography captured the moments of Kelli and Justin’s wedding. As seen below, the two danced their first dance song to Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars, a song that the couple “both have such a strong connection to the lyrics and what the song is really saying.”
Heather’s Glen wishes a life full of happiness and love to the vivacious and beautiful Mr. and Mrs. Curran!
