Chic Pastels Brought a Modern Vibe to This Western Wedding at Hotel Drover in Fort Worth, Texas
It seemed serendipitous that Juli and Randy’s love story began at a wedding. Though the two met initially on a trip to Tokyo as members of the YPO, it wasn’t until three years later, at a mutual friend’s wedding, that the two considered anything more. Both divorced for 12 years with a blended family of five kids and five grandkids, the couple says they’re “a testament to patience.”
On a weekend trip to Aspen in the fall of 2022, Randy crafted a special charcuterie board for Juli in their cabin. “[O]n one of the carrots was the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen. I may have fainted, but I definitely said yes!” says Juli. Though they officially waited to tell their loved ones of the engagement once their vacation ended, Juli couldn’t help but Facetime her daughter at college moments after the proposal.
Since Aspen held special meaning for the bride-to-be, Juli wanted to get married in the mountains of Colorado before Randy suggested something local. In Fort Worth, they found the Hotel Drover, with its architectural beauty, natural greenery and sprawling lawn perfect for saying their I do’s that evoked the feeling of Colorado right in the Southwest. That made theming the day even easier for the nearlyweds. “The theme was Western [and] 'modern polished.' We went for a 'sexy/sophisticated' take on Western luxury,” says Juli.
In a tribute to Juli’s heritage, she also wanted to inject the feel of an English garden into the day. Both of her parents were born and raised in England, and she also wore her mother’s wedding ring on her right hand during the wedding day. With the help of her vendors, they transformed the circular ceremony space with an array of “flowers [that] were soft lavenders and blush tones, with fun textures like with the allium blooms,” she says. Guests sat all around Randy and Juli as they exchanged vows, and before exchanging rings, the couple’s children came to the altar to bless the jewelry.
Keeping with the “polished” and Western theme, the soon-to-be-weds opted for attire that spoke to them separately and as a couple. Juli chose a white wedding gown from Romona Keveza, with its asymmetrical neckline and cape-like back that she says was “simple [and] elegant gowns… I knew it was for me immediately.” The groom opted for a custom navy suit sans a tie, which they also told the guests was optional.
The couple’s officiant was a friend of theirs who worked to make sure the vows were personalized for the two. Juli says, “He called each one of the kids in the months leading up to the wedding to talk to them about Randy and I as a couple. He incorporated that into his script.” There were other ways the blended family was involved throughout the day, like during the toasts. All five of them wrote special toasts during the reception, a moment that made both parents emotional.
A one-of-a-kind seating chart led guests to the reception area, a barn with a “sexy, elegant dining club” vibe, according to Juli, with its moody candles and shades of smoky blue, gray and blush pink. Each person’s name card resembled a bolo tie, fitting the Texas venue. The flowers in this space featured a mix of more English garden-inspired blooms, like roses, ranunculus, tulips, sweet peas and clematis. Juli also wanted another special motif throughout the decor: butterflies, a symbol that her mom “was there with her.”
While guests dined in the reception area, Randy and Juli ate together at a table, placed at the ceremony’s altar where they exchanged vows not long before. “It was a beautiful, quiet, and romantic moment for us,” she says of this meaningful part of their day.
Once they joined guests inside the barn, Juli changed into a party dress to dance to their band, hailing from Nashville. Instead of a wedding cake, they opted for their favorite homemade cookies and a gelato cart. Another unique element to their day was the wedding guestbook, a vintage-style phone that let guests leave voicemails. “We waited until our one-month anniversary to listen to them. It was so much fun,” Juli says.
One way the newlyweds chose to make the wedding less stressful for them and their guests was by having events throughout the weekend. That included dinners, lunches, and brunch to visit with friends and family so that the wedding day itself was all about partying together. The bride also adds, “Hire a great planner and trust that person on the day of your wedding. Don’t think about any details… Just the fact that you’re marrying the love of your life.”