This wedding at the Wildflower Center almost didn’t happen. 

Austin and Abigail’s meet-cute is a modern-day love story full of modern-day travails. The two met on Hinge and got off to an auspicious start when Abigail ghosted Austin after their first date. Four months later, Abigail reached out to Austin to apologize. They began talking again, and a few years later Austin proposed (on my birthday, funnily enough!)

As the culture editor of the Houston Chronicle, Abigail is proud of her Texan roots. She was eager to showcase the springtime splendor of the Texas Hill Country at her and Austin’s wedding. They were married at the historic Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, surrounded by bluebonnets in bloom.

This Wildflower Center wedding was full of personal touches.

Their decor included embroidered signage (and the bride’s embroidered Doc Martens) courtesy of Abigail’s sister and maid of honor, Hannah. They tapped two iconic ATX eateries, the Peached Tortilla and Quack’s Bakery, for catering. Austin is a sommelier, so you know the wine was really good, too. We also took Abigail’s bridals in a bookstore, as an homage to her romance book podcast.

Because the Wildflower Center doesn’t allow venue access until after it closes at 4 PM, Abigail and Austin got ready off-site. Once they arrived to the venue with their wedding parties, they had a first look in front of Cecille’s Arch. After a tearful ceremony, Abigail and Austin ended their evening with a raucous reception that culminated in an unforgettable singalong to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.”

I photographed this Wildflower Center wedding on a mix of 35 mm film and a digital camera.

This story could not have been captured as beautifully without 35 mm film. While most of the major moments of the day were documented with a digital camera, I used the 35 mm film to capture the in-between candid moments and the colorful details of the day. The Porta 400 film stock in particular captured the raw the beauty of the Wildflower Center, and allowed the colors of the day to shine.

Vendor Team:

Venue | The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Photography | Tess Leslie Photography

Coordination | Mockingbird Lane Events

Florals | Say It with Flowers

Hair and Makeup | Bella and Blush

Wedding Dress | Anthropologie

Catering | The Peached Tortilla

Dessert | Lady Quacks Bakery

Entertainment | DJ Phil Does It

If you need an excellent example of a personalized wedding, take a look at Abigail and Austin’s Wildflower Center wedding photos below.