So, you will now be seeing Ashley + Nikolay’s sweet wedding twice this week after the awesome feature on The Collection Event Studio blog here, but I just couldn’t resist posting this again on our own blog because it was such a beautiful wedding, as well as the fact that Ashley has such a special place in Joe and my heart’s.
Ashley is a person you are totally able to sum up in one word: grace.  She is one of the sweetest, simplest, most confident women I have ever gotten to know.  Ashley and I spent a lot of time together after college when we roomed together here in Houston.  We got to see eachother’s good, bad and ugly when it comes to what we try not to show everyone else.  But in all honesty…there was no bad about Ashley.  I love her sense of “no worries”.  It is so refreshing…since I am one who stresses way too much sometimes about the little things.  God has graced her with the most chill personality and it is totally contagious.

The wedding day with her was no different.  Ashley was cool, calm and the prefect picture of grace.  Everything was a little bit late, but it wouldn’t be Ashley and Nick’s day if things ran on time.  One thing that everyone knows and loves about her.  Joe and I had so much fun getting to document the sweet evening.  It was a bunch of Russians among a bunch of sweet southern sweeties.  Nikolay’s parent’s couldn’t attend, but one of their friends skyped them from his phone for the ceremony and Ashley got to blow kisses to her new inlaws afterwards.    The colors, the emotions, the location…it all could not be topped.
Nikolay’s anxious waiting, Ashley’s brother singing to the guests, a wedding under the most amazing oak tree, how STUNNING Ashley looked, the Russian accents and amazingly sweet men, the chill reception, dancing late into the night and Nikolay wearing a hard hat as he ran out to keep safe from his friends throwing the birdseed….these are all just some of our favorite things.
We love you Ashley…and could not be happier for you and Nikolay!!

Some of Ashley’s memories from the day:

Q. What was your favorite part about the wedding?
A. Dancing & Cake!

Q. What was a crazy of funny moment on your wedding day?
A. The groomsmen unexpectedly showed up in hats…

Q.  What was the most special moment on your wedding day?
A.  The ceremony, while I was trying to hold it together Nik was trying to whisper to me how beautiful I was, but the ceremony is the most important part and it was so special! We also had a lot of really sweet toasts.

In the words of the bride: -vendor love-

Venue: Eden Gardens State Park
Planner: Nouveau Flowers
Cakes: Cakes by Tanis
Flowers: Nouveau Flowers
Wedding dress: Watters Wtoo Brides
Shoes: Alfani
Band: Gwen Hughes & the Retro Jazz Kats
Hair: Mindy Norris
Special jewels: Nik’s gift – the saphires
Bridesmaids: JCrew
DIY elements: invites and programs & bridesmaid’s jewelry.