Real Texas Wedding: Lisa + Andrew, Part II

Burlap-covered tables, potted floral arrangements, Mason jars and real-life hale bales: yup, this Texas wedding reception has all the makings of an authentic down-home shindig.  The trio of wedding cakes from The Cherry Laurel really are quite lovely, but take a peek at the groom's cake topped with mountain-hiking replicas of Lisa + Andrew!  Liked today's rustic wedding?  See the rest of Akil Bennet's photos here.

Describe your wedding flowers:  My mother-in-law found an organic flower farm in the town next to Wimberley where we got married.  We used whatever was local and in-season, which meant lots of sunflowers and gerber daisies! 
Describe your wedding cake:  We ended up having three small wedding cakes, one giant groom's cake, and a doughnut pyramid.  I do not like cake at all, but I do love doughnuts, so that was my own little addition.  Andrew's sister designed all three bridal cakes for a local Texas bakery and they were increbile!  My favorite cake was the groom's cake.  It was a multi-tiered cake made to look like an outdoor landscape. The cake included every detail from edible rocks, rosemary sprig trees, plastic figines of our dog, it was amazing.  Even the toppers were two hikers they got from R.E.I.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was:  The paper cranes hanging all over the tent and arbor.  Andrew's family made each one and strung them together.  It was a labor of love.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding?  The distance.  Andrew and I live in Maine and the wedding was outside Austin, Texas.  Everything was done over the phone and by email.  I'm still so in awe at how well everything turned out.
Hardest decision you made in planning?  To reserve a tent or not.  It was an outside wedding, but I was extremely against having a tent and just couldn't visualize having my wedding in a big white tent.  Luckily we did reserve one and, of course, it was pouring rain on our wedding.  I loved the way the tent came out once it was decorate with thechinese lanterns, paper cranes, and burlap covering the poles.  I'm very thankful that Andrew and everyone else helping to plan the wedding pushed me to get the tent; you never know what mother nature might bring.
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was:  The rain.  It was sunny one minute, then a huge storm rolled in.  Suprisingly, it cleared up for photos before the ceremony, but then it downpoured right at five o-clock when I was walking down the aisle.  It's great that Andrew and I are very "go with the flow" type of people.  We actually had fun getting married in the rain. 
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite verse, line or phrase?  We both wrote our own vows.  Andrew's were written about 30 minutes before the ceremony!  I pretty much named my top five reasons for marrying him and my favorite line was how he is my personal GPS.  He is amazing with directions, and I'm so lucky and I abuse him for that =)
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration. Our boss at Texas State University quoted Neil Young at the end of his speech, "Long may you run".  Young is one of our favorite musicians and the message fit us perfectly.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future?  We are always looking for new exciting outdoor trips to experience with our two Border Collies.  Up next is a seven-day canoe trip on the Allagash River.

Congratulations, Lisa + Andrew!  We can't wait to hear about your new adventures as newlyweds!