A Watercolor-Inspired Spring Wedding in a Dallas Barn

Evie and Drew met in Jamaica in February 2018 during a three-day rewards trip for work. Drew pointed Evie out from across the room to a mutual connection who introduced them and they instantly hit it off. When Evie went home to Atlanta and Drew flew back to Houston, they began a long-distance relationship that lasted almost a full year before Drew moved out to Atlanta.

During that time, the couple made a list of places they wanted to go and accomplishments they wanted to make together. “Jokingly, I added ‘Steal Things’ to our list one night, meaning ‘steal his last name’,” Evie says. In November 2019, at a family dinner in Atlanta, Drew waited in an area of the restaurant for Evie holding a leather-bound book with every item of their bucket list transcribed in it with photos of them completing them. “Finally, I flipped to the page that said ‘Steal Things’ and Drew was down on one knee,” Evie says, “It was the perfect proposal for us and we got to celebrate with both families in town after.”

The couple initially planned for a destination wedding in Mexico, but pandemic travel restrictions caused them to rethink their plans and host their 140 guests in their new city of Dallas, Texas. Evie grew up as an equestrian so she fell in love with the bright white barn at The Nest at Ruth Farms in Ponder, Texas. She knew the venue could bring her vision of a vintage-meets-modern wedding to life. “I planned weddings for over 7 years but planning my own was a totally different deal!” she says, “We wanted the day to feel like us but better—so all of our elements felt authentic to who we are as a couple and played into the equestrian feel of the venue!”

The couple worked with Evie Morgan for partial wedding planning and day-of-coordination to pull off watercolor and acrylic styling at their May 1st, 2021 wedding day. See all the beautiful spring details, as captured by Emily Nicole Photo.

The couple’s invitation suite highlighted the watercolor elements of their wedding theme and featured illustrations of the white barn at their venue, as well as their beloved Australian Shepherd, Doak. The couple also incorporated a custom crest that included their first initials surrounded by a floral wreath. Evie handmade the wax seals and collected vintage Kentucky Derby-themed stamps for the envelopes as a nod to their barn venue, her equestrian past, and the fact that their wedding took place during the race.

Evie prepped for the wedding day by getting monthly hydrafacials, peels and dermaplaning, as well as sugaring and a spray tan by Sugared & Bronzed. The bride wore her mom’s blue topaz engagement ring as her something borrowed and something blue, as well as her mom’s diamond stud earrings. “My mom has always been the most important person in my life and wearing her jewelry was incredibly special,” Evie says.

When she was looking for her perfect bridal dress, she remembered advice a fellow wedding planner had given her; wear the dress, don’t let the dress wear you. “That was in the back of my mind as I tried on dresses—so many were beautiful, but I felt like I was playing dress up!” she says. She tried dresses on with her mom in Savannah, Georgia, with her best friend, Jen on FaceTime. When she put on a Kate McDonald Bridal A-line gown with buttons down the back, she felt like herself. “The dress I ended up with was classic with a modern twist and made me feel like a bride,” she says, “I loved the way the fabric reflected the light and I felt like I could move in it!”

Evie altered the gown a bit by removing some crinoline layers and adjusting the thickness of the straps. She completed her bridal look with a veil by Altered for the Alter, a hair vine hairpiece, and Badgley Mischka shoes before changing into Golden Goose sneakers for dancing.

Evie held a large bouquet that included blush peonies, peach garden roses, ranunculus lisianthus, phaelo orchids, and other seasonal blooms finished in an ivory silk riven. “From my former life as a wedding planner, I am obsessed with the statement florals can make,” Evie says. “My bouquet was over the top and I loved it!” She had her bouquet preserved through Soil & Soul so that she could hold onto a piece of it as a keepsake. Her bridesmaids held a smaller version of her bouquet for the ceremony.

Drew wore a royal blue three-piece suit from Generation Tux paired with a Show Me Your Mumu tie in an ivory shade called “Show Me the Ring." His grooming prep for the big day included a haircut and beard trim, and he wore Mont Blanc’s Legend fragrance on the wedding day. His boutonniere was a miniature succulent with a peach flower and greenery.

Evie and Drew shared a first look outside the venue before the ceremony began. “It was so special to connect before the wedding and have time together,” Evie says. “It let us share the moment truly together and focus on our big day ahead.”

After the first look, the couple took some portraits and group photos with their wedding party around the property. “Emily Nicole was our photographer and videographer and has since become such a sweet friend,” Evie says, “I couldn’t imagine our day without her.”

Evie and Drew originally planned to have an outdoor ceremony, but a last minute change of plans meant they had to bring their ceremony inside. “Despite a crazy flip, it was stunning and worked out for the best,” the bride says, “We repurposed our ceremony floral to frame the gorgeous stained glass doors as our altar.” The flowers included peonies, french roses, succulents, and greenery. White pews were brought into the first rows for the family while acrylic ghost chairs were set up for the remainder of the guests. A remembrance table was set up at the entrance in memory of the couple’s loved ones who couldn’t be there to celebrate their special day.

Evie was accompanied by her mother, Georgiana, as she walked down the aisle to Kina Grannis’ rendition of “Can’t Help Falling In Love”. Her little brother, Christian, officiated the ceremony, “It was so personal, heartfelt, and funny,”, she says, “We had compliments on it all night long. He made you feel like part of the day!” They went with a modern twist on traditional vows and incorporated 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

As guests arrived at the couple’s outdoor cocktail hour, they were greeted by a bicycle cart with pre-poured champagne and a sign that read: “No Rain, New Name, Champagne.” Evie and Drew also served their favorite cocktail; Texas Ranch Water with Casamigos Tequila, Topo Chico, and lime. 

At Evie and Drew’s reception, the round guest tables were topped with light-catching shantung linens while the head table was a long vintage farmhouse table with a soft blue runner. Acrylic ghost chairs brought a modern touch to the venue’s white barn.

The place settings included clear beaded chargers, soft blue velvet napkins, and vintage goblets. The centerpieces featured lush peonies, tall gold florals, and pops of bright blue flowers mixed with greenery, tea lights, pillar candles on wooden stands, and blue taper candles in glass hurricane votives. Each guest’s place setting had a gold acrylic nameplate for them to take home.  

Evie and Drew’s naked wedding cake was modeled off of the famed Milk Bar’s birthday cake. Fun fact: the couple celebrate their birthday with the cake annually, as they share a birthday!

As a special touch, Evie and Drew hired a live painter to paint their first dance. They swayed together for the first time as husband and wife to “Half a Song” by Cody Johnson.

The couple hired the band Uptown Drive to get guests on their feet for the reception. “Our band brought us up on stage for the last song “Shout!" It was such a fun, unexpected, wild way to end the night!”

At the end of the night, the couple had a streamer send-off with their guests before hopping into a vintage convertible and driving off. Shortly after, the newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon relaxing on the British Virgin Islands.

To couples planning their wedding, Evie and Drew recommend picking wedding traditions that are true to you. “We decided to forgo parts of a traditional wedding reception because they weren’t authentic to our personalities, and we were so much more comfortable because of it,” Evie says. “After a crazy year of COVID, it was so apparent how important it was to us to be surrounded by our favorite people. It was the best day surrounded by the best people.”