An Elegant Tented Wedding at McGovern Centennial Gardens in Houston, Texas
We love a contemporary love story: Kristina Haag and Christopher Kissel’s paths crossed on a popular dating app. “Chris and I met in a super traditional way: Bumble! It was truly the only way to meet anyone during the early days of Covid,” Kristina reminisces. Their connection grew swiftly and deeply, leading them to plan their future together. In a rather unconventional twist, they booked their wedding venue before Chris had even popped the question. This led to constant teasing from Kristina about their official engagement, which drove “Chris insane on almost a daily basis. ‘It’s in the works’ became his tagline.”
The much-anticipated proposal came on a day Kristina least expected. “Impeccably dressed with her hair and makeup on point, our young couple went for drinks before dinner, and left without a proposal. ‘It’s in the works,’ Chris said yet again,” reads the story they shared with their guests. The following weekend, as Kristina groggily agreed to her beloved’s insistence on a morning stroll, little did she know the surprise that awaited her. During their walk through Hermann Park, Chris finally seized the moment. “I turned around and saw Chris down on one knee, finally proposing marriage (even though we had already paid the deposit at a wedding venue).” Her shock was compounded when “I saw a photographer leap out of the bushes, and then both of our parents walked out to congratulate us!”
From the early days of envisioning their dream day to the final moments of celebration, every detail was meticulously crafted to create a memorable experience for themselves and their guests. The bride and groom had some important elements they wanted to incorporate, and their wedding turned out to be a beautiful reflection of their personalities and shared love. “We wanted our reception to have a secret garden vibe to it,” Kristina explains. This enchanting vision was brought to life with the help of their talented wedding planner. Together, they determined a mood board and a timeless color palette of black, white, gold and greens, setting the stage for a day that was both elegant and intimate.
Their journey began with choosing the perfect venue for their ceremony. The historic charm of St. Paul’s Methodist Church was the perfect backdrop for their vows. However, St. Paul’s had strict rules on the decor, which led the couple to make a smart budget decision. “We decided it was a better use of our budget to only fill the two urns on the pulpit and instead go big for the ceremony,” Kristina shares.
Both Kristina and Chris chose their attire with care and a touch of personal flair. For the ceremony, Kristina opted for a Monique Lhuillier gown paired with a jacket that made the gown look like it had long sleeves and a veil. “I knew exactly the look I was going for at Monique Lhuillier; they made it so easy to swap out the fabric for a more traditional lace that I loved in another design,” she says. For comfort, she chose to wear Jimmy Choo white sneakers under her gown, knowing that no one would see them. Chris, on the other hand, wore a Brooks Brothers tuxedo with stylish Gucci tuxedo loafers he found during a trip to Paris.
As guests began to gather at the church, they took in the simple yet elegant decor that set a serene tone for the ceremony. Kristina and Chris exchanged their vows in front of family and friends, a moment the bride described as “such a special moment to share with our loved ones.” Following the heartfelt ceremony, guests were guided to the McGovern Centennial Garden for the reception, which was divided into three distinct parts: the cocktail hour, the main reception and the after party. The cocktail hour was held in the “Celebration Garden” of the venue, staying true to the secret garden theme. “It was all outdoor and we brought in a bar, cocktail tables, couches and a stunning acrylic four-sided escort wall surrounding a unique floral display,” Kristina recounts. This setup provided a relaxed and inviting atmosphere for guests to mingle and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
The main reception took place under an ethereal tent on the main lawn of the gardens. “We opted for a clear cathedral tent, specifically so our guests could still see the beauty of the venue and city around them,” Kristina explained. Inside the tent, the decor continued the secret garden theme with lush whites and greens, featuring a floral runner down the main long table and a hanging canopy. “Florals were really the basis of the vibe of the wedding,” she adds.
As guests moved inside for the after party, they were in for a spooky treat. It was Halloween weekend, and the indoor pavilion was transformed into an eerie space that guests followed a Third Line band into. “We had a surprise for our spooky after party, which was a zombie flash mob! We had a group of dancers come into the space, crawling around and acting very creepy before breaking out into a coordinated Thriller dance,” the bride details. This unexpected twist was one of her favorite moments of the night, as it left everyone shocked and “thrilled.”
Throughout the day, Kristina and Chris made sure to incorporate personal touches that reflected their backgrounds and shared interests. The cocktail hors d’oeuvres represented Kristina’s Swedish and Filipina heritage, including Swedish meatballs and Lumpia from the Philippines. For the after party, they served poutine, honoring Chris’ Quebec roots. One particularly unique and memorable moment was the cake cutting. “While we did have a full (fake) cake on display, and rather than having sheet cake ready to pass out, we gave every guest a mini layered cake so we could all cut the cake together!” Kristina says. This created a shared experience that everyone enjoyed.
Looking back on their wedding, the newlyweds had some valuable advice for other couples planning their big day. “Hire a wedding planner,” Kristina emphasizes. She also stressed the importance of having fun on the big day. “Soooo many people told us this, but I didn’t really understand what they meant until we were actually there and living the day,” she admits. By having a welcome party the night before and brunch the next day, they were able to spend quality time with their guests, allowing them to let loose and enjoy the dance floor during the wedding.