< Previous10 COAST BRIDAL 2021 COAST BRIDAL 2021 11 FEATURE groom in the wedding portrait,” said Connie DeRome, owner of Island Flowers. “Give me your dream of dreams, and we’ll figure out how to make it come true in this pandemic.” Smaller affairs don’t disappoint, said DeRome, a master florist and design- er who coordinates weddings with other members of the Galveston Bridal Group, which is a one-stop wedding service shop at 2328 Market St. in Galveston. She recalled one wedding last year planned for 350 guests that turned into something different with a pleasant surprise. “Only 24 people attended, but it was still set for 350,” DeRome said. “The bride loved it.” With fewer guests, the bride’s anxiety level relaxed proportionately, DeRome said. The Total Wedding Experience in Galveston also is seeing smaller gath- erings, owner Jane Park said. “People really are dealing with a lot right now,” Park said. “The stress of getting married on top of that can be overwhelming.” For that specific reason, Park en- courages couples to find someone to help them plan and coordinate their wedding. “Enlist help wherever you can find it,” she said. “Even if it’s not me.” Her business offers mini-wedding packages to help meet the need for intimate weddings. “It’s the same as a regular wedding, but on a smaller scale,” Park said. Most venues and coordinators will work with a couple to create the right-sized wedding. Galveston Bridal Group can coordinate pop-up wed- dings on the beach that are quick to plan and cost about $500. While The Bryan Museum has ( Left) A couple ties the knot in Kempner Park in Galveston in front of a handful of guests who could attend under COVID restrictions. photo courtesy of RYAN R JONES PHOTOGRAPHY12 COAST BRIDAL 2021 FEATURE photo courtesy of RYAN R JONES PHOTOGRAPHY With COVID restrictions over the past year, wedding guest lists have gotten smaller. Fewer than 10 people attended this wedding at The Lasker Inn in Galveston. ample space for large and opulent weddings, the venue also welcomes small and modest affairs, Ochoa said. He has arranged intimate ceremonies for students graduating from the University of Texas Medical Branch, he said. Whether it’s a high-end event or a smaller, less expensive affair, coordinating all the vendors is important, planners said. Florists, photographers, caterers, linen providers and DJs need to arrive at a certain time in a spe- cific order, DeRome said. In 2020, an anxious couple from Utah had planned a destination wedding in Central America, but when COVID-19 restrictions limited out-of-country travel, the couple contacted Galveston Bridal Group, DeRome said. Then she got busy creating their dream wedding with a Galveston twist. DeRome arranged monstera leaves, birds of prey and ginger flowers to set the tone for a tropical-themed wedding on the beach for the Utah couple. Working with other busi- nesses in the Galveston Bridal Group, the wedding came together quickly, she said. A reception at Riondo’s Ristorante, 2328 Strand St., followed the service on the beach. Or- chids adorned the wedding cake from Cakes by Jula, a League City-based business. “It takes a village to run a wedding,” Ochoa said. “We try to use a lot of the same core group. When I started six years ago, from day one, I tried to make a conscious effort to use Galveston talent.” The museum’s gazebo, conservatory, bridal suite and groomsmen’s lounge offer an elevated experience with an emphasis on customer service, Ochoa said. “Everyone we work with is super nice,” he said. Some couples getting married at the muse- um choose an over-the-top, romantic, Euro- pean backdrop just as swoon-worthy as the set of a Regency romance drama on Netflix. Houston-based Rexberry Luxury Weddings and Events creates those type of installations with huge urns filled with thousands of flow- ers, Ochoa said. “It’s layers of lushness and extravagance,” he said. Other couples choose classic black-tie events for formal weddings, and others choose a Southern-style wedding that looks simple at first glance but is full of details, Ochoa said. An occasional bride at The Bryan Museum has worn cowboy boots and a vintage dress, he said. “Most of our brides wear Manolo Blahniks,” Ochoa said. Although the pandemic changed the way people get married, some in the industry are seeing a return of big weddings and glim- mers of normalcy. “I don’t think it’s 100 percent normal — people are still doing social distancing and masking, but there’s definitely more wed- dings than were happening last year,” said Giovanna Radzieski, spa director at Hotel Galvez, 2024 Seawall Blvd. in Galveston. The Spa at the Hotel Galvez offers hair and makeup services for wedding parties at the hotel and for other venues, including cruise ships in Galveston. Cruises have been suspended since the pandemic. And some people have postponed weddings because of the pandemic. But that’s changing, Radzieski said. “Weddings have been obviously smaller, more intimate, but people are still having their weddings, still coming to get their hair done,” Radzieski said. “This month and in the future we’re starting to see more normal big weddings again. It’s nice to see.” Editor Laura Elder contributed to this article.3920 Gulf Fwy S Dickinson, TX 77539 832-861-6351 www.thewatergrove.com COAST BRIDAL 2021 15 FEATURE ‘IT’S JUST MAGIC’ Whether it’s a Texas theme or a beach scene, local culture makes wedding planning easy story by ANGELA WILSON C arla Smith vividly remem- bers her wedding day in 2014 and how it made her feel, she said. Working closely with her wedding planner made her want to make other brides feel the same way, so she started her own business to do just that. “I wanted to get into weddings after feel- ing how special the day is from the perspec- tive of the client,” Smith said. “I want all of my clients to feel those same overwhelming emotions — a day they’ll never forget.” Smith for the past five years has been planning and decorating weddings and events on the upper Texas coast, turning her clients’ dreams into reality, she said. Owner of Memorable Moments Event Lounge in La Marque, and Carter 7 Grand Events, Smith has designed weddings from the very intimate to grand ones featuring huge budgets for which she provides linens, flowers and whatever else the client desires, she said. Decorating is easy when the theme is focused on local designs, food and fun, Smith said. “I absolutely love Texas coastal weddings,” Smith said. “Outdoor venues during spring and fall, beachside venues on a cool summer eve- ning with a Texas rustic twist are my favorites.” photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS (Above) Established in 2019, The Barn at Willowynn is on 18 acres in Santa Fe and features a large barn-style hall nestled under four oak trees. (Opposite) Kenzie Gonzales strikes a pose in front of a pond next to the open- air chapel on the property. It’s the ideal location for couples wanting a country-chic wedding.Pam Durham has planned more than 100 weddings on the Texas Gulf Coast and beyond as an event planner and owner of Moments Event Planning and Design in Galveston. Durham agrees with Smith that Tex- as-themed weddings never get old and are the most popular among her clients, she said. “Who doesn’t love Texas, and specifically, Galveston and its sandy beaches?” Durham said. “I always say that when you grew up seeing the beach, it takes an outsider to show you its worth.” The pandemic has inspired many brides to seek serene, secluded and rustic weddings, said Amanda Slivinski, who with her husband, Steve, own The Barn at Willowynn, 16603 Cowan Road in Santa Fe. “I feel like brides are circling back to kind of 15 years ago, which is really nice,” Slivinski said. “They want traditional, sim- ple, rustic weddings, especially with COVID.” It isn’t so much about how many people are attending, as it is who is attending, Slivinski said. “Family and close friends are really what matters now,” she said. “It’s super important to brides now, having small, inti- mate weddings and really enjoying their day.” 16 COAST BRIDAL 2021 FEATURE “I absolutely love Texas coastal weddings. Outdoor venues during spring and fall, beachside venues on a cool summer evening with a Texas rustic twist are my favorites.” CARLA SMITH COAST BRIDAL 2021 17 photos by STUART VILLANUEVA For the past five years, Carla Smith, owner of Memorable Moments Event Lounge in La Marque, and Carter 7 Grand Events, has been planning and decorating weddings and events. Smith worked closely with an event planner for her own wedding in 2014 and wanted to help other brides turn their dreams into reality.18 COAST BRIDAL 2021 FEATURE When building The Barn at Willowynn, the Slivinskis sought to create an intimate setting that made couples feel like they were “sitting in their grandparents’ back- yard,” Amanda Slivinski said. After building venues for others, they built the The Barn at Willowynn for themselves on their cattle farm. The venue features farmhouse tables and cross back chairs. But perhaps what makes everyone feel most at home and relaxed is Willie, the couple’s beloved donkey, who helps serve shots or distribute party gifts. “Willie is our pride and joy,” Sliv- inski said. “He’s amazing. Our main objective is that people sit back and relax and enjoy their day.” As it relates to Texas-themed weddings, Durham said it’s import- ant to listen to clients’ wishes to help bring their vision to light and to make sure the client is happy as well. “Since I’m from Texas, it helps me to be able to utilize my knowl- edge base of all things ‘Texan’ and we meet there,” Durham said. “I love every detail, their stories, and beautiful room designs showcasing Texas beauty. It’s just magic when it all comes together.” Like Durham, Smith has honed her skills to create various wedding themes during the pandemic by keeping up with the latest “small- er-scale” events, Smith said. “My job is to help them enjoy their wedding without all of the stress associated with it,” Smith said. “And, living on the Gulf Coast in Texas makes it easy to make their dreams come true.” (Left, from top) The Barn at Willowynn in Santa Fe features bright white shiplap walls, farmhouse tables and cross back chairs; the open-air chapel holds up to 200 guests. photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDSGalveston’s Premier Luxury Wedding & Event Venue Your story begins here … Every bride deserves a spectacular wedding! Featuring the all-inclusive wedding weekend package! This beautifully restored c.1870 estate with 9,000 sq. ft. includes stunning parlors, amazing bar, elegant chapel, lovely gardens and gorgeous suites for overnight accommodation! Absolute Elegance - Epic Memories! You Deserve A Venue This Spectacular! The way your wedding should be! ***** Five Star Rating – Wedding Wire & Trip Advisor ***** 1019 16th Street Galveston, Texas 77550 • 409-497-4318 • www.laskerinn.comNext >