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Spicewood Vineyard Wedding
By Jean Hailey
Photography By A La Vie
Barry and Nicole met at a golf tournament in Denver. He was a University of Michigan fan, and she was a Notre Dame fan. They spent the day heckling each other and talking smack about the other’s team. After a day of enjoyable bantering, they became friends, and stayed in touch over the years. Years later, they met again for dinner and began to date. The rest, as they say, is history.
Barry proposed to Nicole in front of a gorgeous sunset on the upper deck of the Oasis restaurant. He had already bought a ring from a designer that they had seen in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Nicole was not expecting the proposal, but what a wonderful surprise it was.
Barry and Nicole planned their own wedding. He wanted to keep the wedding small and intimate, and eventually they were able to narrow the guest list to 130 people, still a few more than they were hoping. The couple considered holding the wedding in Houston, but decided instead to have it in Spicewood, which is a place that holds special meaning for them. They thought that Spicewood would be a great place because they could share the lake with their families and friends; Nicole’s family is from New York and Illinois, and Barry’s is from Michigan and Alabama, so neither side was familiar with the area The main attraction of Spicewood, however, was Spicewood Vineyard. The manager of the vineyard, Annie Berg, proved extremely helpful to the couple by giving them great leads on local vendors.
“We couldn’t have done it without her,” said Nicole. “We loved the small-town Hill Country feel; everything just seemed to fall into place.”
The majority of guests rented houses or cottages nearby for the event, which worked out well because guests were able to spend time together this way. Other guests stayed at hotels in Lakeway and Marble Falls. The couple’s goal was that their wedding would not only be a celebration of their love, but also a means for friends and family to explore the Texas Hill Country and have a good time.
The wedding was held at Queen of Angels Catholic Chapel. The ceremony was not a full communion Catholic wedding because a deacon presided instead of a priest.
However, the communion was an important step for Barry and Nicole in their marriage, so the deacon gave them communion when they were alone. Not having a formal wedding gave the couple the flexibility to add a poem, “Sooner or Later,” at the end of the service. One of Nicole’s sorority sisters, Melissa Vandergriff, served as cantor and sang a solo of “Ave Maria.”
“She was amazing,” said Nicole.
In the reception area, white lanterns were strung in the trees. The space was decorated with candles and light pink, yellow and green flowers. The table numbers were inserted in the corks of Spicewood Vineyard wine bottles. Light appetizers were offered during cocktail hour, and dinner was served buffet style. The couple had a full wine bar offering all varieties the vineyard produced.
Before the newlyweds were introduced to their guests, a 1940 Cadillac dropped them off in the wine cellar, where the caterer had set up a private table for them to snack on appetizers and toast before they joined the party.
“It was nice to be there with just my husband for a bit, and a great idea to eat early,” said Nicole.
The reception entertainment was provided by Third Language, an Austin band.
“Everyone had a wonderful time, especially my 88-year-old aunt; she stole the dance floor singing Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen,’ and banging a tambourine,” laughed Nicole.
The happy couple spent their well-deserved honeymoon in Hawaii. “It was paradise,” said Barry, “a mix of exploring the islands and being pampered at the resorts and fine dining. It’s very special taking in the spectacular Hawaiian sunset, and recalling all the special moments of our Spicewood Vineyard wedding with the one you love.” The couple will be glowing with the memories of their beautiful wedding for years to come.
Austin Resources
Venue:
Queen of Angels Catholic Chapel
String trio:
The Arundel Ensemble
Pianist:
Narisa Lao
Reception:
Spicewood Vineyard
Caterer:
True Confections
Wedding dress:
Casa de Novia
Bridesmaids’ dresses:
Bella Bridesmaid
Flower girl dress:
David’s Bridal
Groom’s tux:
Men’s Warehouse
Wedding cake:
Cakes by Lou Carpenter Sapp
Photographer:
A La Vie
Transportation:
Concord Limousine Service
For bride and groom:
Antique Limousines of Austin
Hair Salon:
Hair-Lush Salon
Makeup:
Nisa Mrizek
Florists:
Flower House
Music:
Third Language
Officiant:
Deacon John Hill
Rehearsal dinner:
The Oasis
Travel agent:
Majesty Travel
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