1. Real Weddings

A Chic, Classic Wedding at the Grove in Houston, Texas

With a focus on making every detail clean and chic, Chelsea Oppliger (28 and a lawyer) and Aaron Sloan (28 and an estimator at P

With a focus on making every detail clean and chic, Chelsea Oppliger (28 and a lawyer) and Aaron Sloan (28 and an estimator at Pace Concrete) had a stunning, timeless wedding. For the last two months of planning, Chelsea and Aaron enlisted the help of Allison Butcher from Keely Thorne Events to bring all the final details together. “I had in my mind what I wanted the event to feel and look like, so Allison was there to help me bring all the details together in a way that I couldn’t have,” Chelsea says. They chose a neutral palette of shades of white, sage green and blush accented with pops of gold for a chic look we love. Chelsea and Aaron wanted their wedding location to truly speak to their style as well, and with breathtaking stained glass and one of the largest traditional pipe organs in Texas, it’s no wonder they exchanged vows at First Methodist Church of Houston, Texas. Their reception at the Grove in Houston, Texas, was equally sophisticated, with the second-floor patio providing stunning views of the park and the Houston skyline. “It was the perfect blend of the chic city with an outdoor feel, as we had dinner on the patio and then the dancing was in the adjacent room with floor-to-ceiling glass windows,” Chelsea says. There are so many details we love about this gorgeous wedding. See them all, beautifully captured by Mustard Seed Photography, below. A tip from Chelsea: “Invest in a great photographer. We had such a wonderful experience with Kat. She made us feel 100 percent comfortable in front of the camera, and I completely trusted her vision. Also, your photographer is a great way to find other vendors."

Chelsea loved the incredible shape the mermaid-style gown gave her body (plus, it was motivation to keep going to Pilates classes during the wedding planning). Knowing the silhouette she had in mind when she went shopping at Mia Bridal Couture helped her find her dream lace and tulle dress by Paloma Blanca. She completed her look with a cathedral-length veil to fit the dramatic look of First Methodist Church of Houston, Texas.
Chelsea and Aaron knew they wanted to keep their palette mostly neutral. With that in mind, Events In Bloom created a stunning bouquet of roses, gardenia and hydrangeas. “The gardenias also added a beautiful aroma to the bouquet that I can still remember,” Chelsea says.
White Rose Bloom Classic Boutonniere
The bridesmaids carried white roses with dusty miller that matched the groomsmen’s boutonnieres. Chelsea and Aaron loved how the stunning florals were neutral and natural to match the clean, chic, formal theme.
Chelsea and Aaron exchanged vows at First Methodist Church of Houston, Texas, with its breathtaking stained glass and one of the largest traditional pipe organs in Texas. Reverend Ann Spears officiatedand kept it super-personal. She even shared what Chelsea and Aaron said about each other in separate emails explaining why they wanted to get married. “It was a nice way to bring a personal touch to an otherwise very traditional ceremony,” Chelsea says.
Chelsea wanted to look like the best version of herself for her wedding day. She trusted Taylor and Candace from Sunkissed and MadeUp with her hair and makeup, and she couldn’t have been happier. “They were absolutely incredible every time they did my makeup, and I fully trusted them to make me feel and look my best,” she says. “On the day, I went with flowing loose curls and a bold lip, which kept the chic look I was envisioning.”
Chic Gold-Framed Chalkboard Wedding Reception Escort Board
All four of Chelsea’s bridesmaids wore the same gray, sage green floor-length Jenny Yoo dresses and nude heels of their choice. Each lady completed her look with crystal earrings (a gift from Chelsea). “I wanted them to have a statement earring like I had, and it was my opportunity to bring in a little pink as well as show off their personalities,” Chelsea says.
Glamorous Gold Guest Book Wedding Sign
The Original Trolley Company Wedding Transportation
Chelsea and Aaron really wanted a venue that wasn’t a standard reception site. The couple were looking through their photographer’s (Kat Theis from Mustard Seed Photography) pictures, and fell in love with a wedding she photographed at the Grove in Houston, Texas. “So in part, I can thank our wonderful photographer for helping me find our venue,” Chelsea says. “It was the perfect blend of the chic city with an outdoor feel, since we had dinner on the patio and dancing in the adjacent room with floor-to-ceiling glass windows.”
Simple, Chic White and Gold Wedding Menu Cards
The reception tables were decorated with white roses and hydrangeas in modern, square glass vases. “We ate dinner on the second floor patio of the Grove, and I wanted the look to be very clean and not take away from the park surrounding the Grove as well as the beautiful view of the Houston skyline,” Chelsea says. Metallic mercury glass candles and gold table numbers added plenty of glamour to the otherwise-neutral decor.
The wedding cake was a classic three-tier white cake with buttercream frosting. The cake was topped with white cascading hydrangeas to add plenty of romance to the confection.
Glamorous Crystal Statement Wedding Earrings