GETTING HITCHED, TEXAS GULF STYLE 2022 CEREMONIES BY THE SEA Isle do MORE COUPLES ARE CHOOSING GALVESTON TO TIE THE KNOT AND IN THEIR OWN STYLE PLUS: WEDDING SERVICES DIRECTORY 2022 $7.99 COASTMONTHLY.COM 645485005999 CREATE THE PERFECT COASTAL WEDDING THE BIG PICTURE STEPPING IT UP CHOREOGRAPHER HELPS COUPLES FIND ALL THE RIGHT MOVES GET TO KNOW A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER BEFORE TAKING THE PLUNGEGalveston’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.comRexberry Luxury Weddings & Events www.rexberryluxury.com Riondo’s Ristorante www.riondos.com Tour de Tents www.tourdetents.com Ryan Jones Photography www.ryanrjonesphotography.com Sea Star Base Galveston www.ssbgalveston.org DJ Chosen www.iamdjchosen.com Galveston Railroad Museum www.galvestonrrmuseum.org Events @the Tasting Room www.thetastingroomevents.com Coastal Catering www.chefmarshall.com Cruise Planners www.deckthesea.com Wedding Heart Ceremonies www.weddingheartceremonies.com Wedding Bliss Events www.weddingblissevents.com Bayside Event Center www.BaysideEventCenter.com The Total Wedding Experience thetotalweddingexperience.com Southern Spirits info @ southernspiritsevents.com Tatiana Verega-Wedding Choreographer disdancestudio@gmail.com Cakes by Jula www.cakesbyjula.com A Finer Event www.afinerevent.com Betsy By Design www.betsybydesign.net AKStyles akstyleshair@gmail.com Carriage Haus Rentals www.carriagehausrentals.com MCDJ www.musicalcheersdjs.org Island Flowers islandflowergal@comcast.net Kirksey Gregg Productions www.kirkseygreggproductions.com Gypsy Joynt www.gypsyjoynt.com Patty Cakes Bakery www.pattycakesgalveston.com For the best wedding vendors in Galveston and South Texas, look no further than4 COAST BRIDAL | 2022 16 ON THE COVER Ashley Reese at Moody Gardens overlooking Offatts Bayou in Galveston. Hair and makeup by Moody Gardens Spa. Photo by Ryan R Jones Photography CONTENTS 10 ‘A REAL DESTINATION’ More couples are choosing the island to tie the knot and in their own style 16 CEREMONIES BY THE SEA Create the perfect coastal wedding with these easy tips 18 THE BIG PICTURE Get to know a wedding photographer before taking the plunge 20 THE WEDDING DANCER Island choreographer helps couples find all the right moves 24 A VERY GALVESTON WEDDING Friends, family and island landmarks made these nuptials a homecoming 28 ‘WE’RE THE PERFECT MATCH’ The groom loved to fish, but soon realized she was the best catch of all 32 ‘THE PERFECT CIRCLE’ A wedding day that also was a birthday gift 34 BEHIND THE VEIL Meet cover model Ashley Reese 35 THE PROFESSIONALS Wedding services directory Coast Bridal would like to extend sincerest thanks to Moody Gardens for allowing the use of its beautiful property for our cover shoot. Moody Gardens, which offers a tropical Gulf setting for intimate and grand ceremonies, was the perfect backdrop for the dreamy cover. SPECIAL THANKS 2496 COAST BRIDAL | 2022 A beloved dog serving as ring bearer. Inside jokes. A beachy, barefoot affair. Taco bars. College colors. Personal vows with heartfelt words that have special, genuine meaning for couples. It’s a you-do-you world and that attitude increasingly is shining through at weddings. Weddings are beautiful celebrations, but had become pretty standard affairs. White dress. Check. Tuxedo. Check. Tiered cake. Check. While those traditions are timeless, we certainly don’t object to the personal and stylistic touches couples are in- corporating in their weddings to reflect their relationships. Here and nationally, weddings are trending toward more customized experiences reflecting the unique wishes and in- terests of the bride and groom; destination weddings where guests and wedding parties gather for entire weekends; big parties; and, in some cases, quicker, more intimate weddings put together in elegant packages, as Coast Bridal correspon- dent Kathryn Eastburn reports. What makes this issue of Coast Bridal so fun — and differ- ent from national wedding publications — is the very local look at what’s trending in weddings and the creative ways couples are putting their own twists on traditions. As the popularity of destination weddings rises, Galveston FROM THE EDITOR JUST DO YOU WHEN YOU SAY ‘I DO’ increasingly is among hot spots to tie the knot. With historic venues and seaside resorts, it’s easy to see why. Coast Bridal offers helpful tips on how to make weddings more coastal, along with a comprehensive listing of vendors and services to make the big day special. We thank and congratulate everyone who shared their special day with us and hope it helps others get hitched here without a hitch. Remember to do you. And heed the advice of Rebecca Den- ton, who shared highlights of her wedding with Coast Bridal: “Don’t stress over what others expect for your wed- ding,” she said. “This is a special day for the both of you, and it’s about the both of you as well. It’s OK if someone doesn’t like what you chose or picked, because this day is not about them. “You should look back on this day and love every part of the whole day, instead of wishing you did the things you really wanted. “Also, don’t stress over the small stuff, not everything will go perfectly smoothly; just breathe, relax, enjoy your special day and just have fun.” LAURA ELDER Coast Bridal Editor MELISSA RIVERA Coast Bridal Design EditorLUNCH & BRUNCH By day, EATcetera is a Local Family Eatery. Inside and under their iconic red umbrellas, diners enjoy a casual atmosphere and tasty fare, while staying healthy. SPECIAL EVENTS At night, EATcetera transforms to an elegant setting for private events. This is the perfect island spot for rehearsal dinners, anniversary parties, graduation parties, bridal/baby showers, and corporate events. The entire restaurant and sidewalk café is reserved just for your celebration. Totally private. Totally yours. YOUR GUESTS EATcetera staff have broad knowledge of speciality diets. Whether meat eaters, vegan, gluten-free, egg-free or dairy- free, Chef Lena Pyles can create a delectable menu for you and your guests. At EATcetera we like to say: Everyone Eats Together. Main: 409-762-0803 Events: 409-939-9403 www.eatceteratx.com 408 25th Street Culinary creations for every event.8 COAST BRIDAL | 2022 SHORELINES WE ASKED ON FACEBOOK: Abel and I were slated to be married in New Orleans in October 2008. When Hurricane Ike hit Galveston in September 2008, we realized we shouldn’t ask our friends and family, many who just lost homes and businesses, to spend money to go to New Orleans, so we canceled. When I told my father, a fifth-gen- eration Galvestonian, that we were going to postpone, he asked me what we were going to do. I replied, “If we have to get married in front of Uncle David’s statue on the seawall in blue jeans, then that’s what we do.” His eyes sparkled, and I knew that’s what we needed to do. Our wedding was replanned in 30 days and took place in No- vember 2008. We were married in front of my Great Uncle David Moore’s 1900 Storm Statue on the seawall by good friend Judge John Froeschner. We had the reception at the Artillery Club, on the same property where my aunt would climb the large oak tree as a child. We hired friends who were aspiring bakers, photogra- phers and florists to help with the ceremony and made it not only about us, but our family, friends and Galveston’s recovery. It was the best blessing we could have ever asked for. Oh, and Antoinette Perry Lynch may have had a nice little UT vs. A&M trick up her sleeve on his groom’s cake. It was absolute perfection. Magen M. Ortiz Our menu reflected our heritage. We had a beef station because we are in the cattle business, a seafood station because I’m a fifth-gener- ation BOI (born-on-the-island), a pierogi and vodka station because my husband was born and emigrat- ed from Poland, and a Southern sta- What about your wedding most reflected your personalities? (Above) Brad and Kandace Gilman had alpacas at their wedding last November in Galveston. (Below) Hal Rochkind’s Galveston-themed groom’s cake. PHOTOS: COURTESY tion because our family is from the South. We also had Irish blessings at every bar because, well, the Irish enjoy their spirits! Second, I wrote our wedding ceremony. A friend married us, but I wanted to make it reflective of our strong faith backgrounds as Catho- lics. Additionally, I was educated at Trinity Episcopal School and it had a profound influence on my faith. So, George and I carefully chose the scriptures, and the ceremony was a combination of both Catholic and Episcopalian wedding ceremo- nies. It was very special to us! Kelley Sullivan Georgiades Wedding alpacas at my son’s wedding. Manny Chan is a must for photography. Amanda Reay Blanda Besides the bride, my groom’s cake takes it. Hal Rochkind Read more at coastmonthly.com . COAST BRIDAL | 2022 9Next >