Wedding Cupcakes

Houston Wedding Trends – Wedding Cupcakes:
Having taken part in weddings for 12 years and counting, we have been lucky enough to witness and capture the changing scenes in the wedding industry. We have seen wedding dresses go from poofy shoulders and long sleeves to strapless, couture gowns. These days, it’s the traditional tiered wedding cake that’s getting a bit of a makeover and transforming into creatively stacked cupcakes. Not only are cupcakes a fun and familiar site, but depending on which route you choose to obtain your cupcakes, these mini confections could end up saving you big bucks on your wedding day budget. Looking for something quick and easy? With a little artistry and creativity, pre-made grocery store cupcakes can be dressed up and turned into a one of a kind, decorated treat. Want to take things to the next level? Designate a friend or family member familiar with the baking process to handle the cupcakes for you. They can easily be made in advance and keep well in airtight containers in the freezer. You will have more control and flexibility with the variety of flavors and designs possible. How about one more step up? With the popularity cupcakes haved gained over the years, Houston now has several bakeries and dessert boutiques that specialize in these bite-sized treats. With the sophisticated flavors available, you will be able to offer your guests a selection of gourmet wedding cupcakes. If you’re not ready to let go of the tiered wedding cake tradition altogether, add a 6″ top tier for cutting. The cutting of the cake by the bride and groom represents their first joint task as a married couple and the feeding of the cake as a symbol of their commitment to each other. And who would want to let go of that? Planning on serving wedding cupcakes at your upcoming event? Let us know about it with your comments below!

Jamie + Victor dance in the background as we capture images of their cupcakes

Monogrammed Wedding Cupcakes

Cupcakes offer a variety of flavors and designs

Include a small cake for cutting

Great details!

A cake for cutting surrounded with cupcakes

Fun frosting!

We're always sure to capture all the delicate details

Kasey + Rick – The Gallery

Houston Wedding Venue Review – The Gallery:
When Kasey + Rick’s friendship blossomed into a love, wedding plans were soon on the horizon. To help with the event planning, Kasey + Rick turned to Tamara Marshall of The Red Experience to transform their ideas and visions into their dream wedding. Kasey and Tamara worked together to creatively incorporate the couple’s love of friends, family and Texas into their special day, which was being held at The Gallery in Houston. The Gallery was the perfect venue choice to blend the open air and the bright blue Texas sky into Kasey + Rick’s outdoor, patio ceremony. But before the ceremony could begin, we know every bride must have the perfect accessories prior to marching down the aisle. So what were some of Kasey’s perfect accessories? As her “something old”, Kasey wore her grandmother’s wedding rings on her right hand. And as her “something borrowed”, Kasey rented her elegant, diamond earrings from the popular online jewelry shop, Adorn. They were effortlessly fashionable pieces to go along with her stunning dress from Brickhouse Bridal. A touching tribute to Kasey’s father, who had passed away, was also part of the pre-ceremony events as a yellow rose was placed on an empty chair as Kasey’s mother was being led down the aisle at The Gallery. After her uncle gave her away, and Kasey + Rick said, “I do” it was time to move the celebration indoors at The Gallery. The red brick and Mediterranean-style features of The Gallery were a perfect backdrop to the evening’s events which included a surprise groom’s cake for Rick. The groom’s cake, from Cakes by Gina, was a replica of Fenway Park created in honor of Rick’s home state and favorite baseball team. So maybe the Fenway Park cake was a little bit of a stray from their Texas theme, but to get back on track with the motif, all you had to do was take a quick glance around and see napkins engraved with mockingbirds and personalized bluebonnet seed packets as parting favors. Kasey + Rick’s chic wedding day at The Gallery goes to show that a Texas-themed wedding doesn’t have to be big and over the top. Subtle details in your decor can make a statement that speaks volumes. Let us know what you think of Kasey + Rick’s wedding at The Gallery with your comments below!

Bridal Details

Something Borrowed - Kasey's rented earrings from Adorn

All dressed up! Kasey + her flowergirls are ready to walk down the aisle

In Remembrance - Mason Jar decor for Kasey's Grandmother + a Yellow Rose for Kasey's Father

Kasey + Rick's outdoor ceremony at The Gallery

The Gallery's red brick features make a great background!

Texas-themed favors

Delicious cakes from Cakes by Gina

Who will be the lucky girl to catch the bouquet?

Kasey + Rick make their exit from The Gallery

Ice Sculptures

Houston Wedding Trends – Ice Sculptures:
With the extreme summer heat here in Houston, it’s no surprise we see ice sculptures appear most often in the cooler months of the year. So as we quickly make our way through our schedule of fall weddings, we wanted to share with you some of our favorite images of ice sculptures from recent receptions. But first, how exactly does water go from being in its liquid state to transforming into these 150lb+ pieces of frosty carvings? You would be surprised to learn how much time, science and talent goes in to making these displays. All sculptures start out as a 300lb block of clear ice. The ice block itself usually takes about 3-4 days to prepare and requires a constant flow of purified water to keep the block clear and free of impurities – definitely not as easy as filling up an ice tray and sticking it in the freezer! From there, a delicate hand is needed to carve and sculpt the ice to your desired shape. We have seen everything from hearts, swans and letters to full ice bars and photos and flowers encased in ice. With their limited lifetime as an intricate piece of art, ice sculptures are valued for their delicate details and “of the moment” impression. What a treasure it is to have photos to look back on! Check out the images below and let us know what you think of these carved creations. We’ve even zoomed in on some of the photos to show you the amazing details!

Ula & Todd are big Rockets fans.

Monogrammed Ice

Stunning ice carving.

Angela + David had a full ice bar.

Photos encased in the ice bar.

Simon surprised Heidi with the full ice bar at their wedding.

Amazing details!

Monogrammed ice is the most popular.

Deltra + Allan – Las Velas

Houston Wedding Venue Review – Las Velas:
Deltra + Allan’s wedding at Las Velas was almost the event that never was. With visions of a small, quick Vegas chapel wedding playing in their minds, Deltra + Allan had a choice to make. Not having their friends and families involved, especially Allan’s family who would be coming all the way from Kenya, simply wasn’t an option. So Deltra + Allan set out to plan their fairy tale wedding at Las Velas right here in Houston. The overall feel of the day was to be romantic and dramatic, but not over the top. And nothing illustrated this theme better than Deltra’s wedding dress from David’s Bridal. With hand beading and lace details that were sophisticated yet subtle, Deltra’s dress was the definition of romance. To complete her timeless look, a birdcage veil adorned with feathers and ribbon was placed in Deltra’s hair along with a set of pearls fastened around her neck. With its natural vibe, Deltra + Allan’s candlelit ceremony at Las Velas provided just enough “wow” to intrigue guests and transport them away to the majestic drama of the Mediterranean. As you wander the halls, staircases and courtyards of Las Velas, you can’t help but be inspired as we were when capturing formals of the newlywed couple. After a few quick photos, Deltra + Allan joined their guests as Jose with LG Entertainment set the tone for dancing and socializing among the cascading, twinkling lights high above the dance floor of Las Velas. The lights overhead were not the only thing twinkling at Las Velas that night. The cake provided by Who Made the Cake was decorated with rhinestones that sparkled and dazzled guests as it was being cut by the happy couple. Before the reception came to a close, Deltra + Allan honored Allan’s Kenyan heritage by performing a tradition welcoming Deltra into the family. Deltra was presented and dressed with handmade jewelry by family members. The ritual was a very touching and moving custom for all who witnessed. Wanting to be more involved with their guest and not wanting to be the first to leave the event, Deltra + Allan saw their guests off and soon began their happily ever after as husband and wife. Let us know what you think of their fairy tale wedding at Las Velas with your comments below! How will your happily ever after begin?

Las Velas has many beautiful features.

Deltra's dress was simple but not plain.

Deltra gets ready for her walk down the aisle.

Timeless elegance.

Allan + his boys near one of the many staircases in Las Velas.

Deltra + Allan enjoy their first dance as husband and wife.

Delicious cake by Who Made the Cake.

Sparkling details from Deltra + Allan's cake.

Candy Buffets

Houston Wedding Trends – Candy Buffets:
Just as there are trends in fashion, the wedding industry has its own set of fads and fancies that become popular as the seasons change. One of our current favorite trends? The always popular, always crowd-pleasing candy buffet! When done correctly, the candy buffet is not only a delectable treat for those with a little bit of a sweet tooth, but can be a buffet for the eyes as well. From retro chic to elegant abundance, candy buffets are easily customized to fit your wedding day theme, personal taste and budget. So what are the tricks to pulling off a successful smorgasbord of sweets without going overboard on your budget? We’ve talked with a few of our brides who displayed candy buffets at their weddings and this is what they suggest: Search the local thrift stores for containers in various sizes or simply rent them. Opt for clear containers to show off the colorful contents and make sure the mouth of the container is wide enough for the scoops. When possible, buy candy in bulk and fill your larger containers with the less expensive candies and your smaller containers with your more expensive candies. And what about the theme of your buffet? We’ve found that in your photographs, candies of coordinating colors look the best visually. And don’t be afraid to fill your table with other items such as flowers or candles to make it appear more full and more appealing. Now, for the most personal touch of all – the bags or boxes your guests fill up and take their candy in. These items can be personalized with custom printing, stickers or rubber stamps. Wedding favor complete! Be sure to check out the images we’ve captured below from various weddings throughout the year. Creative angles and use of the candies provide those great detail shots you will always treasure. Leave us your comments and let us know how these photos inspire you for your big day!

Getting creative with rock candy and the couple's rings

The color of love!

Love is sweet!

Coordinating colors of blue

Childhood favorites

Fill your table with other items

Add some variety to your Candy Buffet

Colorful treats

Kate + Darryl – Sweetwater Country Club

Houston Wedding Venue Review – Sweetwater Country Club:
When planning for their big day at Sweetwater Country Club, Kate and Darryl had a very specific idea in mind: South Beach Wedding. With some creative guidance from her coordinator, Emily of Keely Thorne Events, the couple most certainly pulled off that theme. We have never seen Sweetwater Country Club transformed so stylishly! Elegant drapery surrounded Kate and Darryl as they said “I do” against the backdrop of candlelights and white uplighting provided by DJU Productions. And just as quickly as they walked down the aisle as husband and wife, the room at Sweetwater Country Club was flipped to begin their evening celebration. Friends and family enjoyed the night club atmosphere as purple uplighting and spotlights followed them along the dancefloor. Just as all weddings seem to end too soon, so did Kate and Darryl’s. After a quick wardrobe change into something more comfortable, the newlywed couple said their goodbyes and made their way through a sparkler exit as they left Sweetwater Country Club for the night. This wedding definitely goes to show you, even at the exact same venue, no two weddings are ever the same. Let us know what you think of Kate and Darryl’s South Beach themed wedding at Sweetwater Country Club with your comments below!

Houston Wedding Venue - Sweetwater Country Club

There's always beautiful skies above Sweetwater Country Club

Darryl and his boys at Sweetwater Country Club

Kate and her girls at Sweetwater Country Club

Ceremony set up for Kate + Darryl

Kate + Darryl went for a South Beach theme

Reception details at Sweetwater County Club

Kate's stunning cake

No detail is overlooked at Kate + Darryl's wedding

Kate + Darryl make their exit at Sweetwater Country Club

Hue + Hai – Le Virage Chapel & Rosemary’s Garden

Houston Wedding Photography – Le Virage Chapel & Rosemary’s Garden:
Hue and Hai’s wedding at Le Virage Chapel and Rosemary’s Garden was definitely one of the many highlights to our summer. Not only were we lucky enough to photograph this colorful event but Evoke Videographers were on hand to record all the laughter, the voices and the music that accompanied this special occasion. The day started out at a family residence in Houston as Hue and Hai began to prepare for the festivities with one of our favorite beauty teams, Thalio Beckham Makeup Artistry, on hand to enhance Hue’s natural, classic beauty. Evoke lenses then captured the traditional tea ceremony that began the day of celebration for the couple’s close family and friends. From there we traveled to Le Virage Chapel for Hue and Hai’s wedding ceremony officiated by Rev. Ron Ramey. The stunning architechture of the chapel at Le Virage provided an atmosphere that was both warm and inviting with neutral, soothing colors that easily blended in with the couple’s unique decor. The contemporary structures at Le Virage also provided a great backdrop for some artistic, formal photographs of the couple. As they led each other down the hallways of Le Virage Chapel, Evoke was able to capture special moments between them – a shy smile from Hue, a loving glance from Hai. And after a break in the day, it was on to the reception at Rosemary’s Garden. Surrounded by lush greenery and a picturesque water fountain outside, the evening started with a grand entrance into the ballroom at Rosemary’s Garden as Hue and Hai, now husband and wife, greeted their guests. And just as Hue and Hai complement each other perfectly, their reception decor consisted of complementary colors chosen by the couple during the planning stages of their Houston wedding. Hue selected the warm shade of orange and Hai selected the electric shade of blue to complete the look. As the night continued on, Hue and Hai let their playful personalities come out as they fed each other cake provided by the French bakery at Rosemary’s Garden. We are thrilled to share with you some of our favorite photographs from their wedding day at Le Virage Chapel and Rosemary’s Garden along with a short-story video highlighting some of the memories as well. The music in the video is so hauntingly beautiful as it plays along perfectly to each scene, as if it were made especially for Hue and Hai. We hope you enjoy these images and highlight video as much as we have. Be sure to let us know what you think of Le Virage Chapel and Rosemary’s Garden with your comments below!

Houston Wedding Venue - Rosemary's Garden

Capturing all the details at Hue + Hai

During the ceremony at Le Virage Chapel

Lighting the unity candle during their ceremony at Le Virage Chapel

Great formals at Le Virage

Hue and Hai share a moment at Le Virage

Time to cut the cake from the French Bakery at Rosemary

Having fun with the cake from the French Bakery at Rosemary

Grooms Cake

Houston Wedding Trends – Grooms Cake:
In the United States, the grooms cake is generally known as a Southern tradition. So how lucky are we that we live in Texas and get to take part in this delicious custom? Though not absolutely necessary, the grooms cake can serve several purposes. It is often times served alongside or as an alternative to the wedding cake during your reception or instead, used as dessert for your rehearsal dinner. In addition, there’s a very interesting wives tale that says if a young, unmarried woman takes a piece of the grooms cake home with her and places it under their pillow, she will dream of her future husband that night. Talk about sweet dreams! Over the years we have seen some very intriguing and elaborate grooms cakes and we wanted to share some of these tasty treats with you. Our photographers have captured these cakes in such great detail you can practically taste the sweetness. From tshirts to school spirit and cakes that look so much like real food they make your mouth water, we’re sure you’ll find something to inspire you for your big day. And we saved our favorite image for last! See if you can name all the snacks that make up this towering confection!

Tshirts Showing off Favorite Hobby

Favorite Video Game Land

Showing School Spirit

Honoring the Military

Favorite Summer Tradition

Favorite Food

Mouth Watering!

Ultimate Sweet Treats

Laura + Daniel – St. Laurence Catholic Church & Sweetwater Country Club

Stained glass windows at St. Laurenece Catholic Church

Houston Wedding Photography – St. Laurence Catholic Church & Sweetwater Country Club:
This week’s “Wedding of the Week” features images from St. Laurence Catholich Church and Sweetwater Country Club. Check them out below!
When it came time for Laura and Daniel to unite, Laura knew she wanted to keep her wedding day traditional. But having a traditional wedding doesn’t mean your special day has to look and feel like all the other weddings you see in the bridal magazines. With personal and unique touches added, Laura and Daniel’s day was anything other than cookie-cutter.
And this all started with amazing images captured of her wedding dress. While searching Ventura’s vast selection of wedding gowns, Laura came across her flower-adorned dress, designed by Mori Lee, that was a perfect fit for her and complemented her personal style. Evoke was sure to photograph the special elements of this dress for the bride to treasure long after the gown has been tucked away into the far ends of her closet. To complete the look, Laura added a garter belt and veil, both handmade by her mother, to the day’s ensemble.
Part of the classic wedding day traditions that the bride included during the pre-ceremony moments was having her mother place a sixpence in her left shoe for good luck. And with bouquet in hand from Suzanne’s Flowers in Sugar Land, it was now time for Laura to walk down the aisle of St. Laurence Catholic Church to the alter where Daniel waited beneath the beautiful stained glass windows. These stained glass windows at St. Laurence Catholic Church are always a favorite detail for our photographers to capture as they provide great backgrounds for our album designs and not only help to tell the story of the wedding day, but tell a story within themselves. After a traditional full mass ceremony, the bride and groom were now husband and wife and were quickly making their way to the elegantly decorated reception at Sweetwater Country Club.
Jennifer from Sweetwater Country Club assisted the happy couple in transforming the ballroom into a fun and luxurious event for their guests, who danced the night away to music provided by JM Productions. After a little dancing, dinner was soon completed with a slice of delicous cake from Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations. Based on how great the photographs of the cake look, we can only imagine the wonderful taste of the sweet treat!
And finally, the bouquet and garter toss brought the afternoon at Sweetwater Country Club to a close as the bride and groom made their way through the bubble exit and in to the awaiting car.
Be sure to leave your comments below and let us know what you think of these amazing images from St. Laurence Catholic Church and Sweetwater Country Club!

Houston Wedding Venues - St. Laurence Catholic Church + Sweetwater Country Club

The beautiful and unique details captured from Laura's wedding day gown at St. Laurence Catholic Church.

Traditional full mass ceremony at St. Laurence Catholic Church

Stained glass windows at St. Laurenece Catholic Church

Bouquet and other floral arrangements from Suzanne's Flowers at their reception held at Sweetwater Country Club

Toasting to their future during the reception at Sweetwater Country Club!

Delicious cake from Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations during their reception at Sweetwater Country Club

A bubble exit at Sweetwater Country Club

Ana + Daniel – St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland

St. Helen Catholic Church:
Ana and Daniel were awesome! They were married at St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland which is not only gorgeous, but has amazing natural lighting inside which allowed our photographer to capture some amazing ceremony shots! A lot of people don’t realize how hard it actually is to get good images inside of Churches… there are not only so many rules and regulations photographers have to abide by, but the lighting is very limited and good color balance is super hard to achieve. – Ashleigh

Houston Wedding Photography - St. Helen Catholic Church

Danielle + Robert – Omni at Woodway

Houston Wedding Photography – Omni at Woodway:
Check out this wedding which took place at the Omni at Woodway!
Danielle and Robert had a very traditional Jewish ceremony which was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Both the ceremony and reception were held at the gorgeous Omni at Woodway in the Galleria area. It was hard to narrow it down… but here are some of my favorite shots from their special day! -Ashleigh

Houston Wedding Photography - Omni at Woodway

Katie + Zak – Orchard at Caney Creek

Orchard at Caney Creek:
Take a look at this beautiful wedding held at the Orchard at Caney Creek!
While editing images, I constantly come across so many awesome pictures that literally keep me in awe for hours. Thousands of detail shots, formals, ceremony shots, reception shots, family shots, romantic shots, candid shots, and of course my favorite, cake shots!! So instead of trying to visually embed in my mind each cool picture that crosses my path, I have decided to create a blog series to share them with YOU guys! I will be posting a weekly “Wedding of the Week” blog with a handful of images from weddings that I thought totally rocked… so make sure to keep checking back! This week we’re looking at Katie + Zak’s wedding which was held at the Orchard at Caney Creek. It was such a beautiful day which allowed them to have their ceremony outdoors on the grounds of the Orchard at Caney Creek.
We would love to hear your feedback! Until next time…. ENJOY!! -Ashleigh

EVOKE Photographs billboards for the Bridal Extravaganza Show!

What a fun experience! In a town full of great photographers, EVOKE was given the awesome opportunity of photographing the billboards and magazine cover for the January Bridal Extravaganza show at the George R Brown. What an honor! Much thanks to the team at the Bridal Extravaganza for your trust and for hosting the best bridal show in the city.

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