1. Real Weddings

A Fiesta-Inspired Wedding at AvantGarden in Houston, Texas

Embracing their Southwestern roots, Adriana Gonzalez (26 and a retail manager) and Mike Cole (34 and a store leader) threw an elegant fiesta-inspired

Embracing their Southwestern roots, Adriana Gonzalez (26 and a retail manager) and Mike Cole (34 and a store leader) threw an elegant fiesta-inspired wedding complete with delicious Mexican food and drink, vibrant florals and cacti and succulent accents. “I was inspired by the bright colors that spring brings, and one of Mike's non-negotiables was a queso fountain,” Adriana says. “The queso fountain sort of led us in the direction of a fiesta theme.” The couple’s nuptials took place at the beautiful AvantGarden in Houston, Texas, with an alfresco ceremony and reception. “We wanted to create a space to celebrate our commitment to each other and have room for lots of fun,” the bride says. Adriana and Mike exchanged vows in front of the terrace’s ornate gates embellished with flowers. “The twinkle lights and lush greenery are so magical on their own that my florist got to have a lot of fun creating a beautiful arch piece that served as an accent for the ceremony,” says Adriana says. The couple personalized their ceremony with meaningful songs like “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors, the song that played after Mike popped the question during a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. Mike’s grandmother gave an opening prayer and a scripture reading, and the couple exchanged heartfelt written vows. During cocktail hour, where the queso fountain and sangria were flowing, the terrace was flipped from the ceremony site to a festive reception site with tables clad in vibrant linens and blooms. For dinner, AvantGarden’s truck served an array of tacos, and guests sipped Jarritos Mexican sodas. Fun-filled activities included dancing and a photo booth that created gifs and printable pictures for guests to take home as keepsakes. —Marissa Hermanson

Adriana paired her ball gown with glitzy Badgley Mischka peep-toes. Later in the evening she traded her heels for a comfy pair of sparkly Keds.
“Bridesmaids got to pick their own full-length dresses in the blush color family,” the bride says. “Most also selected gowns from BHLDN.” Adriana’s bridesmaids carried smaller versions of her bouquet: lush arrangements of vibrant pink, yellow and orange blooms.
Adriana carried a bouquet brimming with vibrant colors and exciting textures. “The crazy thing about my flowers is that I gave my florist 100 percent freedom to put together what his vision was for my wedding after I gave him some loose guidelines regarding color and our theme,” Adriana says.
Adriana and Mike said “I do” in front of two ornate gates that were embellished with an arrangement of pink and orange blooms at AvantGarden in Houston, Texas.

Adriana and Mike personalized their ceremony with meaningful songs like “A Thousand Years” by the Piano Guys and “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors, the song that played after Mike popped the question during their helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. Mike’s grandmother gave an opening prayer and read scripture, and the couple exchanged heartfelt written vows.
A bottle of Jarritos Mexican soda and a bottle opener were included with each place setting. “The Jarritos added so much color to the tables,” Adriana says.
Along with traditional floral arrangements, Adriana and her friends made DIY centerpieces of succulents and cacti in terra-cotta pots. “It was a fun project, and I might have been able to buy them assembled, but it was a blast to put them together in such great company," the bride says. "It was a great thing for friends and family to take home as a memory for the wedding.”
For the couple’s alfresco dinner reception at AvantGarden in Houston, Texas, tables were draped in white linens and topped with gold chargers, turquoise napkins and vibrant floral arrangements or potted succulents and cacti.
Embracing their fiesta-themed wedding, AvantGarden's taco truck served an array of tacos, and during cocktail hour the couple had a queso fountain, which was a hit with guests. “It was a nice way to get a tasty snack, and my husband’s dream of a queso fountain came true,” Adriana says.

As a nod to Mike’s love for baseball, an intricate baseball stadium grooms cake was created.
Adriana and Mike’s four-tier wedding cake of almandine, tres leches and strawberries-and-cream tres leches was iced in buttercream and embellished with greenery, peonies and a gold “Mr. & Mrs. Cole” that the bride ordered off Etsy.
Adriana and Mike had their first dance to an oldie but goodie: Ben E. King’s classic “Stand By Me.”