Sarah & Joe

Wedding Location | Austin, Texas Wedding Date | December 11, 2020

An unexpected turn of events | We had to cancel our original New Year’s Eve Wedding in New Orleans due to the pandemic. We originally thought we’d just wait until everything cleared and it was safe again to host a wedding. However, one day in early October 2020, I stumbled upon this beautiful chapel in the Austin hill country. I showed it to Joe and something about it just captivated us. It was so simple and beautiful… and perfect for a small elopement surrounded by our families!

Meet Sarah & Joe | We met in college. We both went to the University of Colorado- Boulder and had some classes together over our 4 years there. However, we didn’t know each other all that well until the second half of our senior year. We kept running into each other on campus and out at bars, and Joe eventually asked me out. We definitely fell hard & fast for one another, and spent almost all of our free time together after that first date!

We live in Austin, TX and just bought our first home together. I am a Strategy Analyst for Vrbo (at Expedia Group), and Joe owns and operates The Lake Defense Force, which is a freshwater restoration company. We love to cook together, go to local breweries, snowboard, and stay active!

The Proposal | I’m from New Jersey, but in 2019 we were living on the west coast. I wanted to head back east to celebrate my birthday with some of my friends in New York City. So, we flew back for a few days for what I thought was just a fun birthday weekend. Turned out, Joe had a lot more planned than I had realized. We celebrated that Saturday with my friends. However, the day after my birthday Joe wanted to take me to Brooklyn for brunch so that we could celebrate just the two of us. He’s pretty romantic, so I really didn’t think twice about the suggestion.

One of my favorite spots in the city is the Brooklyn Bridge. We’ve had a canvas of it hanging in our apartment for years. So that morning we got dressed to head to brunch. After walking across the bridge, we went towards the waterfront to get a picture, similar to the one in our apartment. That’s where Joe got down on one knee and proposed. I was shocked to say the least!

Finding ‘The One’ | One of my friends DM’d me on Instagram an Anna Campbell dress before I even began dress shopping. She thought it’d be amazing for a NYE wedding, and I agreed! It was so elegant and perfect for the Holiday. I began looking at Anna Campbell’s Instagram frequently and really loving the gowns, so I found a bridal shop in Austin that carried the brand called Blue Bridal. Turns out, that exact dress my friend sent me, was the very first wedding gown I tried on, and was the dress that I ended up falling in love with for my wedding day!

The Meadow Topper & Darcy Skirt | I tried on a few other dresses after trying on the Anna Campbell separates. I knew I wanted something form fitting, but I was open to trying on a lot of different styles. After trying on maybe three others, I just kept thinking about that first Anna Campbell look I tried on. It was truly the skirt that sold me, it just fit so perfectly. When I walked out of the dressing room in my Meadow Topper and Darcy Skirt, my Mom, my best friend, and all the amazing women working at Blue Bridal were in awe. I just knew it had to be the one!

What I love most about my Anna Campbell Dress | I loved everything about it. I loved the fit of the skirt, the long, elegant train, the sexy open back. It was just perfect in every way!

How I felt wearing my Dress | Absolutely stunning! I felt so beautiful!

Dress: The Meadow Topper & Darcy Skirt from Blue Bridal, Austin

Photographer : Caitlin Rose Photography | Instagram

Venue: Chapel Dulcinea

Florist: Wild Bunches Floral | Instagram

Event Planner: Mary Bradley Events