This white Christmas-themed Moon River Ranch wedding was adorned with evergreen, pinecones, stockings, warmth and laughter. And really brought the season’s joy and cheer!
Let the Planning Begin
Following a romantic dinner and proposal in the backyard with their dogs, the newly engaged couple went to work on planning their wedding. Organized and a creative planner at heart, Alexis had a vision: a white Christmas wedding accented by deep greens. And let’s not forget about including their fur-babies!
Between collecting Christmas decor and working on her DIY projects, she slowly started bringing her visions to life.
Moon River Ranch Wedding
Situated near Waco, Texas, Moon River Ranch is the perfect venue for Alexis and Philip’s wedding. It comes with its own church, reception hall, and rustic boutique lodging. This venue also offers “accommodations in the Main Lodge that is filled with overstuffed leather furniture, vintage antiques and elegant finishes that captures the true spirit of Texas living at its best.”
But most importantly, it allows the couple’s dogs on property and can host the amount of guests that are attending this wedding.
The Big Day
The day has finally come! Alexis and Philip are ready to say “I do!”
Alexis getting ready with her entire bridal party, and dogs, of course!
Matching flannels for all the bridesmaids and bridesmen:
Meanwhile, at the boathouse …
The weather seemed to know that this was a Christmas-themed wedding. Dark clouds loomed over us, rain threatened to pour down, and there was constant cold wind blowing. However, that wasn’t going to stop these two from enjoying their day.
First Look
We went back and forth on whether to do this first look inside or out. With the rain holding out, we just couldn’t resist using this perfect setting. So we set Philip up and waited for the bride.
Their first look:
After the first look, they read their vows to one another. It was such a sweet and intimate moment.
Most first looks are just between the bride and groom. However, in this case, they wanted their moms and sisters to be a part of the special moment.
Time for bride and groom portraits (my favorite time)!!
The wedding party:
Moon River Ranch Ceremony
Alexis and Philip’s dogs play a huge role in their lives and relationship. So much so that they give the dogs credit for shaping them into the couple they are today. This couple “compliments each other in how much they care about dogs, and people.”
Just like with their engagement session, their dogs (Georgie, Pompi, and Jack) were very present. From walking down the aisle (alongside their cousin dogs), to details like the koozies below, they make many appearances. Being a dog-lover myself, it made my heart happy!
The beautiful flower girl with the ring BEARers!!
The bride’s dad began singing a song while the bride starting coming down the aisle:
Family Portraits
The wind and cold proved to be too much. We moved family photos from the ceremony location to inside the ranch, where everyone was able to stay warm (and fix their wind-blown hair).
Wedding Reception
Can we just take a moment to really appreciate all the small and large details? All imagined and executed (with the help of family, friends, and her planner) by the brilliant bride!
Okay, so just take a look at the photo below. How does a bride get flipped and still maintain a pretty face and a big smile?! Impressive!
The father-daughter dance:
Mother-son dance:
Toasting the bride and groom:
This cake by Glamour Cakes is just the cutest! Alexis and Philip made sure that Georgie, Pompi, and Jack made an appearance on the cake. And one of them was naughty (but cute) and took a bite out of the cake!
Santa made a surprise appearance, bringing a smile to everyone’s faces. As if that weren’t enough, he even had gifts for the little ones. Then, he stayed to dance and party with the guests!
I love when couples celebrate their heritage. That’s exactly what Alexis and Philip did. They incorporated a few Dutch and Romanian traditions. Everyone danced the Dutch promenade, and a traditional boiled Romanian drink was served to the guests with its cheese-meat pairing.
What’s a reception without a flash mob? The bride and groom, wedding party, and family all broke out into one in the middle of the reception. As the song continued, their guests jumped in, learned the moves, and made it one of the largest flash mobs I’ve seen!
It’s always a fun idea to include LED lights and accessories:
Who needs sleeves? Exactly what the groom and his brother were thinking! Off with the sleeves!
Cheers to the bride and groom and one of the most epic weddings ever!!
Wedding Vendors:
Bridal Boutique: Georgios Bridal ♥ Wedding Dress: Martina Liana ♥ Wedding Coordinator: The Whole Bridal Affair ♥ Hair Stylist: Ashlyn Quisenberry ♥ Makeup Artist: Angela Karr ♥ Wedding Venue: Moon River Ranch ♥ Photographer: Sweet Memories Photography ♥ Videographer: The Philgreens ♥ Floral Company (bridal bouquet only): A Rare Bloom ♥ Catering: TCP Catering ♥ DJ: DJ Traviste ♥ Rental Company: Action Rental ♥ Wedding Cake: Glamour Cakes ♥ Christmas Tree Decorator: Elizabeth Soto ♥ Santa: North Texas Santa