A Rustic Wedding with Hawaiian Accents at a Private Residence in Thrall, Texas

Professional volleyball players Amanda Dowdy and Brad Lawson wed at the bride's family ranch in Thrall, Texas. Their wedding combined aspects of Texas, their current residence of Southern California  and the groom's home state of Hawaii. Brad paired a ti leaf lei with his classic navy suit and burgundy tie. Amanda stunned in a patterned lace formfitting gown with a V-neckline. The outdoor ceremony took place beneath a wood arch with a colorful Hawaii-inspired flower arrangement. "We took sand from the beach I grew up on in Galveston, Texas, the beach my groom grew up on in Waikiki, Hawaii, and the beach we met and now live on in Hermosa Beach, California," Amanda says. "We combined all of the sand together in a vase during our ceremony. This represented us joining our lives together in a unique way." Handwritten wood signs lined the aisle, and string lights hung from the rustic reception tent. The couple made sure to honor Amanda's sister, who passed away when the bride was nine years old. "I had a charm with her picture on my bouquet to have her walk down the aisle with me," Amanda says, "and we set out a beautiful picture collage on our memory table that included pictures of other lost loved ones." The couple also served Moscow mules, the drink Brad managed to spill all over me the first night we met in Hermosa Beach," Amanda says.  Finally, "at the end of the night we celebrated our new beginning by jumping into our pool, fully dressed in our wedding attire, with our entire wedding party. It was one of my favorite memories of the night."