A Romantic Pastel Garden Wedding in May

There is something so special about a wedding day that feels completely personal to the couple, and this May 23rd wedding at Garey House was exactly that. From the romantic garden-inspired details and beautiful pastel color palette to the thoughtful touches created for their guests, every part of the day felt sweet, welcoming, and full of personality. As the couple’s full-service wedding planner, I had the joy of helping bring their vision to life while also making sure every detail was ready for whatever a Texas spring day decided to bring our way!

A Beautiful Beginning at Saint Theresa Catholic Church

The celebration began at Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Austin, where the couple exchanged their vows in a beautiful and meaningful ceremony. The church provided a gorgeous setting for such an important moment, and after the ceremony, the couple, family, and wedding party stayed behind to capture their formal photographs. While they finished their photos, guests made their way north to Georgetown for the reception at Garey House.

A Little Texas Spring Weather

Of course, no Texas spring wedding would be complete without a little weather uncertainty! The original reception plan was absolutely beautiful: dinner on the large grassy area at Garey House with string lights overhead and the tables surrounded by the venue’s natural greenery. But with rain in the forecast and the possibility of a wet reception, we made the decision to move the reception indoors. While the weather changed the location of dinner, it certainly didn't change the feel of the celebration. The string lights that were originally planned for the lawn were moved into the hall and positioned above the guest tables, creating a warm, romantic atmosphere while still allowing a dedicated area for dancing later in the evening.

A Cocktail Hour Designed Around the Guests

While the guests waited for the couple and wedding party to arrive from the church, cocktail hour gave everyone a chance to relax, enjoy refreshments, and settle into the celebration. Because it was especially hot and humid, even with the possibility of rain, we wanted guests to have options. Cocktail hour featured both indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing guests to enjoy the patio for some fresh air or head inside to enjoy the air conditioning.

The bar was moved indoors as well, making it easy for guests to stay cool and comfortable while still being able to flow between the spaces. Personalized paper fans were also available for guests as they entered the house, a simple but thoughtful detail that was especially appreciated on such a warm day. And because guests had already been celebrating with the couple at the church and had traveled from Austin to Georgetown, passed appetizers during cocktail hour were an important part of the guest experience. They gave everyone something delicious to enjoy while they mingled and waited for the reception to begin. As guests made their way inside to the bar, they were greeted by the seating chart, which was a large mirror that the bride had personally created. It was not only functional but also another beautiful personalized detail that reflected the couple's style.

Meanwhile, the couple and wedding party arrived at Garey House and continued taking formal photographs around the property. The gardens and greenery created the perfect backdrop for the couple's romantic garden vision. The bridesmaids wore different pastel-colored dresses, with each color and style bringing a little bit of their individual personalities into the wedding. Together, the dresses created a beautiful soft and colorful palette and helped showcase the amazing pastel gardeny personal florals. The groomsmen wore classic navy blue suits, providing the perfect contrast against the pastel dresses and greenery.

Romantic Garden Details Inside Garey House

Once guests were invited into the hall for dinner, the indoor Plan B reception space came together beautifully. Light yellow linens covered the guest tables, with pastel napkins layered over wicker chargers. The combination of soft colors, natural textures, greenery, and candlelight brought the romantic garden theme indoors in a way that felt intentional rather than like a backup plan.

The guest tables featured floating candles in glass cylinders alongside bud vases filled with pastel florals. The florals were kept simple and elegant, allowing the combination of candlelight and greenery to create the atmosphere. The sweetheart table received a little extra attention, with wicker baskets and gorgeous green ferns, and the same pastel linens tying it into the rest of the room. Large glass candles were placed in front of the table, adding another layer of warmth and elegance. Even though the reception was no longer taking place underneath the outdoor string lights, those same lights were brought inside and hung above the guest tables, creating a magical glow throughout the hall.

First Dance, Dinner & Toasts

Once everyone had found their seats, the couple was introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Peters. Their first dance followed immediately, giving everyone the opportunity to sit back and enjoy watching the newlyweds share their first official dance together. It was such a sweet and intimate moment before the evening moved into dinner service.

After dinner began, it was time for the toasts—and they had the perfect number! Four people shared heartfelt words for the couple: the father of the bride, the parents of the groom, the maid of honor, and the best man. I typically recommend keeping the number of toasts intentional, and four is often a great balance. It gives the people closest to the couple a chance to share something meaningful while keeping guests engaged and the evening flowing naturally. I also recommend keeping each toast to about 2–3 minutes. This gives everyone enough time to say something heartfelt and personal without the toasts feeling like they are taking too long or slowing down the celebration.

For guests who wanted to toast along with the speakers, champagne was available from the bar. Those who preferred could simply raise whatever they were already enjoying. It was a small detail, but one that allowed everyone to participate comfortably.

A Private Cake Cutting

While guests continued enjoying dinner and mingling, we quietly pulled the couple away for a private cake cutting. I love when couples choose to have a private cake cutting because it gives them a few minutes together during an otherwise very busy wedding day. Instead of having their cake cutting become a production in front of the entire room, they were able to slow down, share the moment together, and enjoy a little bit of privacy as newlyweds. Once they finished, they returned to the reception just in time for some very special family dances.

A Mother-Son Dance No One Saw Coming

The father-daughter dance was a beautiful and emotional moment, followed by a very special mother-son dance. But the mother-son dance came with a surprise that almost nobody knew about—including the bride! The groom and his mom began their dance slowly and sweetly. Then, not too far into the song, they kicked off their shoes and transformed the dance into a full-on celebration. The DJ was completely in on the surprise and seamlessly transitioned the music to make it happen. It was fun, unexpected, and filled with so much joy. Seeing the groom and his mom let loose and dance the night away was one of those moments that everyone in the room will remember for a long time. And with that, the dance floor was officially open!

When Plan B Became Plan A Again

And then something else unexpected happened. The rain chances that had caused us to move the reception indoors had diminished, and suddenly the weather outside was absolutely perfect. Guests began naturally drifting outside to the turf and terrace to enjoy the beautiful evening. And that's when we made a decision that we had never made before. The couple's original vision had been to dance outside underneath the stars—and now, after all the weather uncertainty, we had the opportunity to make that happen. So we pivoted.

With the help of an amazing team, we moved the DJ setup from inside the hall to the terrace in less than 10 minutes. It was one of those moments that perfectly demonstrates why flexibility and teamwork are so important on a wedding day. Sometimes Plan B is necessary. Sometimes Plan A comes back around. And sometimes the best thing you can do is simply recognize the opportunity and make it happen. The couple got exactly what they had originally envisioned: dancing under the stars on the terrace at Garey House. The party continued outside, and everyone enjoyed the beautiful evening together and the paper fans also made their appearance as people used them while dancing. Also in true Aggie fashion, the Aggie War Hymn made its epic appearance, along with a few other special family traditions that made the celebration uniquely theirs.

A Sparkler Exit Under the Texas Night Sky

Eventually, it was time to bring the celebration to a close. Guests made their way to the front of the house for a sparkler exit while we helped organize everyone into place. But before the couple made their grand exit, they got one final private moment together. With the guests waiting outside, the couple shared one last private dance underneath the stars. After a day filled with family, friends, unexpected weather, beautiful moments, and plenty of dancing, it was the perfect way to slow down and take it all in before the night came to an end.

Then came the sparkler exit! The couple ran through a tunnel of sparklers and headed toward their getaway Jeep, which had been beautifully decorated with flowers and personalized signage. It was a picture-perfect ending to a wedding day that truly embraced everything that came its way.

The Beauty of Being Flexible

This wedding was such a wonderful reminder that a wedding doesn't have to go exactly according to the original plan to be absolutely beautiful. We started the day preparing for rain, moved the reception indoors, created comfortable indoor and outdoor options for cocktail hour, brought the outdoor string lights inside, and designed a reception that still felt exactly like the romantic garden celebration the couple envisioned.

Then, when the weather cleared, we pivoted again and moved the DJ outside so the couple could finish their night dancing under the stars. That is one of my favorite parts of being a wedding planner. It isn't just about making sure the timeline is followed or that the décor is in place. It's about watching the day, anticipating what could happen next, making decisions when needed, and creating solutions that allow the couple to stay present and enjoy their wedding. At the end of the night, the weather didn't matter nearly as much as the memories that were made.The couple got married, celebrated with the people they love, honored their family traditions, danced under the stars, and ended the night with a sparkler-filled sendoff. And really, that's what a wedding day is all about.

Vendor Team:

Planner: Moments and Milestones- Heather @moments.milestones

Venue: Garey House @gareyhousegtx

Officiant: St Theresa's Catholic Church @stccaustin

Florist: Cone Flower Designs @coneflowerdesigns

Catering/ Bar: PEJ Catering @PEJ_events

Cake: Classy Cakes by Lori @classycakesbylori

DJ: Moondance Entertainment @moondance_ent

Rentals: Premiere Event Rentals @premiereeventstx

Photographer: New Road Productions @newroadproductions

Videographer: New Road Productions @newroadproductions

Hair & Makeup: Make Up ATX @makeupatx