An Alfresco Southwestern Wedding at McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas

Taking inspiration from the Spanish architecture of McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, Alicia Lovett (29 and a lawyer) and Ian McNab (29) threw a vibrant Southwestern wedding. “We absolutely love San Antonio’s Tex-Mex culture—the food, the mariachi, the artwork, the decor, the colors,” Alicia says. “We wanted everything to feel fun and comfortable for us on our big day, and there’s nothing better than the feeling of being home, so it was a no-brainer for us.” The couple exchanged vows on the Spanish mansion’s lawn. The ceremony site was decorated with romantic string lights, stone planters and vases filled with flowers and succulents, and at the end of the aisle, a floral arch covered in greenery and pink blooms. “I wrote the entire ceremony and my brother-in-law, the officiant, added personal notes and jokes,” Alicia says. “Ian and I wrote our own vows, and it was the most important and probably the most memorable part of the wedding experience.” With the couple’s first kiss as husband and wife, a mariachi band started playing, signaling the beginning of their celebration. “Mariachi [bands] are so joyous and fun that we wanted our exit to be the kick-off to the party,” she says. During cocktail hour, guests were escorted on a private tour of the museum's art collection, which featured original works by Monet, Degas and Picasso. Guests enjoyed dinner outside under the stars. “Before we had a venue or a date, we knew we were having Don Strange Ranch cater our wedding,” Alicia says. The caterer, which specializes in Tex-Mex and Southern cuisine, served up fried quail with jalapeno gravy, hand-pressed gorditas, avocado halves stuffed with shrimp and ceviche. During the dinner reception, long wooden tables were embellished with blue and white geometric table runners, pretty pink flower arrangements and gold decor. The couple enjoyed their first dance to “Bring It on Home to Me” by Eddie Floyd and spent the rest of the evening celebrating to music played by the Royal Dukes. —Marissa Hermanson