Ana and Bill’s wedding at Hotel Saint Cecilia

Ana and Bill chose the Hotel Saint Cecilia, in Austin, as the backdrop of their lively wedding celebration. The bride drew inspiration from the both the hotel aesthetic and her Mexican heritage. Rich hues, a lively mariachi band and eclectic table settings made for a vibrant celebration perfectly captured by Jennifer Lindberg Weddings.

What made the wedding special and unique?

We got musician Bob Schneider to play two of our favorite songs for the ceremony. One of them (“The World Exploded in Love All Around Me”) is one of my all-time favorite songs and has been the soundtrack to many moments in my life, so it was an incredible gift for him to play that for us live as we exchanged rings.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

I bought my dress at Unbridaled. It is designed by Modern Trousseau. I was looking for something that was elegant, simple, and structured, with a vintage flair. …My dear friends Kim and Patti and wonderful daughter Olivia came with me as I tried on more than 15 gowns before settling on the “one”. We were so excited and relieved we headed to the 4 Seasons to celebrate with champagne and lunch on the patio afterwards. The dress was initially designed and sent to me as a strapless gown but I had straps made from the same Chantilly lace as the dress and added them in the weeks before the wedding.

What were some touches added to make it personal?

The wedding style was inspired by the stunning aesthetic of the Hotel Saint Cecilia, where we were married. My color palette reflects the deep turquoise, red, black, and white tones used throughout the hotel. I was born in Mexico, and loved the vibrancy and richness of the culture I grew up in. I wanted to bring that into the mix somehow. My goal was to layer in vintage Mexican details against the existing eclectic backdrop, without going too far. I took the peacock art from the wedding invitation, cropped it and had runners made for the tables. I used turquoise glassware, deep red vintage roses and peonies, peacock feathers, and hand-cut papel picado for the pool area where a 9-piece mariachi band played for the guests during cocktails. Vintage couches; mirrored tables, and a mix of modern rugs and lamps were used for lounge areas. The crowning visual touch was the addition of 3 gigantic red chandeliers to the hundred-year-old oak tree that anchors the property, and that served as the backdrop for the ceremony. The letterpress invitations from Bella Figura featured a black and red peacock, a subtle nod to the huge white peacock featured in the hotel bar.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Bill and Ana met at the University of Texas School of Law but never dated. A close mutual friend reconnected them 17 years later. Bill proposed to Ana at Villa San Michele, overlooking Florence, Italy.

Vendors: Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings // Venue: Hotel Saint Cecilia // Event design and production: Suzanne Court Catering & Events // Catering: La Condessa/Suede // Music: Bob Schneider and Strings Attached // DJ: Frank Marshall // Sound: Audio Fish // Mariachi: Viajeros // Rentals: Marquee Rentals and Townsley Designs // Hair and Make up: Kiss My Face // Flowers: Fabian Salcedo // Video: CSE Capitol Sports & Entertainment // Lighting: Atomic Picnic // Transportation: Uptown Valet // Table runners: Dynamic Reprographics // Paper flags: Ay Mujer Shop // Printed Materials: Barclay Papers // Invitations: Bella Figura