Kelly and Houston’s wedding professionals:

All Vendors, Eastern Iowa: Photographer Grace T. Photography | Videographer Jared Mills and Josh Sparks | Ceremony & Reception Venue Little Lights on the Lane | Floral Studio Bloom Iowa: Tiffany Landuyt | Caterer Stonewall Pizza Oven | Dessert Hynes Ice Cream, Iowa City | Hair Roots Salon: Leah Coates | Makeup 100% Pure Pro Makeup, Cedar Rapids | Wedding Dress Stillwhite.com pre-owned wedding dresses, Brand: Rue De Seine | Menswear Ewers Men’s Store, Iowa City | Bridesmaid Dresses Show Me Your MUMU, Fame and Partners, Shona Joy, Reformation | Jewelry Von Maur | Stationery Goodfellow Printing, Mariah Koster (Designer) | Rentals Borrow My Vintage, Harvest and Dock (Napkins and Fork/Knives) | Spray Tan Jet De Soleil Nicki Boyd | Nails Elite Nails, Iowa City

See all the vendors we LUST for, that can help you with your big day!

The perfect un-perfect proposal.

A little rain and spontaneity never hurt anyone.

It was a cloudy, rainy day when Kelly and Houston decided to take a trip up to Galena, IL. They spent it hopping from shop to shop, trying to stay dry. While grabbing a drink at a brewery, they met a sweet woman, also enjoying her day off. They talked for a bit before continuing through town. As it stopped raining, Kelly thought they should get some pictures. She saw the same woman they had met earlier and asked her to take their photo. With the streets quiet, they took a couple of shots in the middle of the street. The woman asked, “Okay, do something different!” That’s all Houston needed; he was ready. He got down on one knee and proposed. It was the perfect, spontaneous surprise.

Planning your wedding vibe.

Every wedding has it, find yours.

Kelly wanted a moody yet colorful day. She worked with her florist to come up with a unique color palette. They decided on colors like mustard, burgundy, and mauve, with hints of black and gold, like in the candles and candlestick holders. It really gave the whole wedding a great moody vibe.

It was years before the couple was engaged that Kelly found Grace T. Photography. Once she got engaged, Kelly knew Grace would capture their special day. “I got really lucky that she was available. She knows how to capture the best moments, and she is AWESOME to work with,” Kelly told us. We can’t agree more, every shot is real and beautiful.

Pizza, ice cream, and cookies?! Yes please.

You don’t have to stick to traditions, make it about you.

Some of the new and fun ways Kelly and Houston celebrated was with pizza for dinner with cookies and ice cream for dessert. It was their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers who made their signature cookies to share. Kelly and Houston had 12 different cookie jars, each in their own cookie jar with the baker’s name on it, so everyone knew who made that cookie. What a fantastic way to honor the wonderful women who made Kelly and Houston who they are today.

One of Kelly’s favorite moments was the impromptu dance party the bridal party had in the groom’s lounge before the reception. As well as her dad’s heartfelt speech that had them both tearing up. Houston loved walking his bride down the aisle, out the door with their bridal party, and right into stuffing their faces with pizza before heading to the reception. He couldn’t stop laughing and smiling the entire time.

Kelly’s biggest piece of advice for planning your day: decide on what parts are the most important, and plan them first! People are planning much farther in advance, so book your favorite wedding pros as soon as you can!