Colorful Wedding at Barr Mansion

The Love Story

Hayley and Cole met at scholarship interview in February of 2014, where they chatted while waiting to interview. Later that day, Hayley’s mom told her she had found her college boyfriend. Turns out she had made friends with Cole’s dad! Together they decided that their children should date. Hayley originally wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship, but they became best friends. They started dating in April of 2015 and the rest is history.

The Proposal

Cole gifted Hayley a weekend getaway to the Hotel Drover in Fort Worth for Christmas. Hayley was suspicious, so Cole tried to throw her off. He told Hayley her mom would be on a girls trip, knowing Hayley would want her to be at the proposal. On the way to “drinks with friends”, Cole told Hayley everyone else was running late and suggested they go check out an art installation by the Trinity River to kill time. He led her out onto a bridge and got down on one knee about half a mile from where the couple had their first kiss 7 years earlier. Following the proposal, Cole planned a surprise dinner with their families and closest friends, as well as an engagement party with even more friends from all over the country.

Barr Mansion

Style wise, Hayley and Cole wanted an outdoor venue that didn’t feel overly rustic or rural. The couple really resonated with Barr’s ethos of minimizing waste and serving local, farm to table food whenever possible. They loved having full use of the large space, allowing ample room for their guests. Considering each space at Barr Mansion, we worked with Hayley and Cole to design a cohesive vision, curating their black tie colorful wedding. Each piece of the day had a slightly different ambiance, overall creating an intimate evening full of color and love.

Favorite Memories

As Hayley and Cole walked back up the aisle officially as husband and wife, they led their wedding party and families into the entry hall of the mansion. They all cheered and drank champagne, celebrating the moment together. It was unexpected, but pure magic.

Later in the evening, after guests were seated and eating dinner, we began toasts. Hayley originally didn’t expect to love the speeches as much as she did, but everyone who spoke was “brilliant and funny and sweet.” She will remember sitting there next to her new husband, laughing alongside their favorite people, forever.

At the afterparty, Hayley reminisces fondly on one of her bridesmaids, who made the incredible choice to order Taco Bell. Eating a cheesy gordita crunch in a bar while wearing her wedding dress was a top tier moment!

Colorful Wedding Details

When choosing colors for the event, Hayley and Cole knew they loved bright colors, and wanted to use a wide variety without it feeling like a rainbow. To keep the color scheme sophisticated, we used rich, vibrant tones of her favorite shades. We incorporated green linens to add a pop of color to the main space. The flowers added a more vibrant variety of yellows, purples and pinks. To elevate the design further, pieces of fruit were sprinkled amongst the centerpieces.

Keeping the day cohesive, we chose a lighter green linen for cocktail hour, dressed with simple bud vases. Another fun detail of the day was the guest book. Hayley and Cole rented a yellow After the Tone audio guestbook for their guests to leave them voicemails. We set the phone in an intimate and cozy space so guests felt comfortable. Nestling the phone in a bed of colorful flowers, we added a couple lounge chairs for guests to sit while they recorded.

Hayley especially loved the cake garden, “I will never be over those florals, and the wedding photos of our parents and grandparents nestled in with the candles and flowers.”

A Perfect Match

Hayley and Cole booked Carhart Photography first after the venue. It was one of the best decisions they made! Our photo and video team at Carhart were the first vendor we booked after the venue and one of the best decisions we made. Not only is their work stunning, they were responsive to the couple’s vision and just a genuine joy to work with. Hayley provided some wonderful advice for couples, too. “Your photo and video team are there for such intimate moments, and we not only felt immediately comfortable with Cayla and David, but also felt like they were truly overjoyed for us, even though they do this every weekend.” It’s so important to hire vendors who are a good fit for you personally. Carhart Photography’s natural editing style was also a perfect fit for capturing the colorful wedding accurately.

(Psssst! You can check out Carhart’s blog of Hayley + Cole’s wedding day here!)

Advice from the Bride

“Start your registry early (even if you don’t share it yet). Try to do a little planning every week so you don’t get overwhelmed like we did around the 6 month mark. But also, don’t let wedding planning be the reason you miss out on anything. We ended up ‘behind’ on planning because we were travelling almost every weekend to friends’ weddings and TCU football games (go frogs) the Fall before, and I don’t regret a thing.”

Working with Bianca Nichole and Co

BNCO’s use of color was the initial draw. We wanted a planner who we felt knew how to work with a bright color palette while creating a really elegant look, and BNCO’s gallery made us feel confident that was their specialty. After talking to Kelly, it was also clear that her level of organization was enough for even a couple as type A as we are.

The level of peace I felt on wedding day knowing Kelly was in charge. Anyone who asked me anything I could tell them, “I don’t know, ask Kelly”. That gift allowed me to be fully present all wedding weekend long.

Let’s get this planning party started! Want Bianca Nichole and Co to help plan your colorful wedding in Austin? Click here to send us an inquiry!

Bianca Nichole and Co is a team of wedding planners in Austin. BNCo will travel to San Antonio, Fredericksburg, the Texas Hill Country and nationally.

Vendor Team