1. Real Weddings

A Vibrant Fall Wedding at Villa Del Lago in Austin, Texas

Milad and Kelley Hashemi, both 26-year-old engineering Ph.D. students, tied the knot in a vibrant fall wedding at Villa Del Lago in Austin, Texas. The

Milad and Kelley Hashemi, both 26-year-old engineering Ph.D. students, tied the knot in a vibrant fall wedding at Villa Del Lago in Austin, Texas. The couple first met at a summer internship before their senior of college and began dating long-distance when they both returned to school. Following graduation, they both selected the same graduate program in Austin. Milad eventually proposed with an asscher-cut diamond ring while the couple was on vacation in St. Lucia. The bride and groom held two ceremonies and a reception for their big day. The first ceremony, a traditional Christian service, took place at University United Methodist in Austin, and the second, a Persian Sofreh Aghd ceremony, followed at Villa Del Lago. Having a fall wedding was a no-brainer for the couple, who chose a color palette that was primarily brown and gold with deep reds and oranges mixed in. "I wanted the wedding to feel not terribly formal, but definitely not rustic," Kelley says. Floral arrangements and candles served as the primary decor at both ceremonies and the reception. Guests dined on brisket from The Salt Lick for dinner, and were also served a selection of Persian foods including beef kebabs. The bride and groom decided against alcohol, instead hiring a barista who made espresso drinks after dinner. "We included the things we liked regardless of how cohesive an event we created." Kelley says. "The result was a unique wedding that we, and our guests too I hope, enjoyed greatly."

"My wedding dress was an intricately beaded ballgown with a tulle skirt," says Kelley. "I knew that I wanted beautiful beading on my dress from the beginning and didn't really care about what the rest looked like. The Allure Couture dress that I purchased definitely delivered!"
"We wanted the groomsmen and bridal party (which included a few guys too) to pick out their own outfits," says the bride. "We had the guys wear any dark grey suit of their choosing, and we provided gold bow ties. I asked the girls to wear short ivory dresses with 'texture.' I didn't really give any more direction than that, but the results were quite stunning."
Persian Sofreh Aghd Wedding Ceremony
The couple honored the groom's heritage with a Persian Sofreh Aghd ceremony, where the bride and groom sit in front of a cloth decorated with several symbolic items.
Persian Sofreh Aghd Wedding Ceremony
Welcome Table with Floral and Frame Decor
"I have always loved fall colors — particularly brown for some reason," Kelley says. "Having a fall wedding was almost a no-brainier for us."
Bright Pumpkin Decor
Gold Table Linens with Brown Napkins
Vibrant Fall Floral Centerpiece
Floral arrangement centerpieces that included a variety of flowers such as dahlias, teddy bear sunflowers and orchids sat on the tables at the reception.
Vibrant Fall Floral Centerpiece
The bride and groom designed and printed the menus and ceremony programs themselves on kraft paper.
Bride and Groom Chair Signs
Long Table Reception with String Lights
For dinner, long tables were set up with gold table linens and dark brown napkins with festoon lighting strung overhead.
Three-Tier Vanilla Wedding Cake
In addition to a three-tier vanilla cake for dessert, guests were served a carrot groom's cake that was decorated to look like the Seattle Seahawks logo.
"A bit later in the evening we had a Mariachi band arrive and play until the end of the reception," Kelley says. "The band ended up being very good and was a huge hit with the guests."
Bride and Groom's First Dance