An Elegant, Vibrant Backyard Wedding in Hunt, Texas

A romantic and elegant Southern motif was carried throughout Gracey Winters (26 and a certified public accountant) and Chris Howey’s (30 and an investment banker) wedding, which was held on the bride’s family property along the banks of the Guadalupe River.

“Hill Country is a magical place—it was fitting for us to celebrate in a location that means so much to us,” Gracey says of their tucked-away venue. In fact, Gracey and Chris’s favorite elements of the land, from fireflies and oak trees to the nearby river, inspired their wedding design.

“When we were little, we used to catch fireflies on the lawn and put them in mason jars,” Gracey recalls of spending time on the property with her family. With that in mind, the glass jars became an integral part of the design process and appeared on everything from oak trees to the couple’s custom invitation suite.

Having both grown up around water, the newlyweds departed their reception in a canoe decorated with tiny lights and flowers. “We paddled under the moonlight until we got to our neighbor’s bank, where a driver picked us up to take us to the airport for our honeymoon,” Gracey says.