1. Real Weddings

Marquette & Paul: A Purple Wedding in Austin, TX

The garden parties of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby inspired Marquette and Paul's wedding style, and considerable handiwork on the part of the bride a

The garden parties of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby inspired Marquette and Paul's wedding style, and considerable handiwork on the part of the bride and groom made it all the more special. A purple and green palette pulled together every last detail. The Bride Marquette Maresh, 31, attorney and jewelry designer The Groom Paul Reddam, 36, owner of a real estate firm The Date September 11 Marquette and Paul met through a dating service, and though they hit it off right away, each wasn't exactly sure what the other had in mind. The records show that Paul was looking for a school teacher type who was traditional, not too outgoing, playful, and not serious, the bride laughs. She'd said she was interesting in a liberal adventurer who enjoyed going to museums and the theater. Differences aside, they found themselves to be a perfect pair -- within weeks Marquette told her mom she'd met the guy she was going to marry. Paul realized he'd found the one as well, and planned a proposal for Marquette's 30th birthday. He headed over to her house at eight in the morning to give Marquette her gift -- a small jewelry box containing...diamond earrings! I could tell she was disappointed, Paul remembers, but I knew Marquette had hopes of getting an engagement ring for her birthday, so I had to be sneaky. Paul told Marquette to step outside, explaining that he had another gift for her that was in his car. As I stepped onto the front steps -- in my pajamas -- Paul reminded me that this was the first place he ever kissed me as he got down on one knee and proposed, Marquette remembers. After some crying on her part, Paul finally asked her if the answer was yes -- and of course, it was!

The flowers varied as well (though keeping with the lavender and moss hues) and some tables boasted tall pillar candles wrapped in layers of sheer ribbon.
Following the ceremony, guests headed over to the Driscoll Villa while the wedding party took formal snapshots down by the water. Dinner -- a Southewest-inspired gourmet feast, save for the burger and fries Marquette had special-ordered for Paul -- was served inside, and dancing took place out on the patio. Tables were adorned with what the bride describes as a shabby chic scheme -- each table was decorated a little differently. Marquette tracked down chiffon, lace, and satin fabrics to match the wedding palette, and her mother sewed them into one-of-a-kind overlays.
Marquette's five bridesmaids -- each of whom for her represented a different time in her life -- wore A-line, strapless matte satin dresses with a chiffon overlay in lavender by After Six. She personalized their attire with handmade jewelry sets. Each set was unique and fit the personality of the woman wearing it, yet the pieces all coordinated together, Marquette says.
The Programs
Marquette and Paul exchanged vows beneath the oak and palm trees of the outdoor amphitheatre at Laguna Gloria. The couple complemented the space’s natural beauty by bringing in ten bougainvillea bushes to fill out the decor; after the wedding, they gave them to close family members and the wedding party. Marquette and Paul incorporated many traditions into their ceremony, which they wrote themselves, including penning their own vows. To honor Paul's beliefs, they worked in some Catholic traditions, and they even devised a new one, based on Hawaiian, Celtic, and Native American customs. With each RSVP card in their invites, the couple sewed on a piece of fluorite (a green and purple semi-precious stone) with silver thread. We asked the guests to hold the stone, make a 'wedding wish' for us, and return it with their RSVP card, the bride explains. When all of the stones had been returned, they strung them into a long, single strand which they later adorned with orchids, and had their celebrant wrap around them in an infinity symbol. We truly were wrapped in the love and good wishes of our friends and family, Marquette remembers. We then tied the individual ends of the strand together, symbolizing the joining together of our lives for eternity.
The Bridal Bouquet
The Menu/Food
The Location
Marquette and Paul chose a palette of moss green and lavender for their wedding, using the two hues to tie the wedding style together. They also used their first initials on many of the wedding details -- when guests arrived at Laguna Gloria, they were greeted by the purple, flower-covered letters P and M hanging on the wrought iron gate.