Trinity River Audubon Center Real Wedding | Emilee & Stephen | April 16, 2023
On a stunning April day, Emilee and Stephen committed their lives to one another at the Trinity River Audubon Center. We can’t wait to share all the special details of their big day!
Emilee and I met in small-town New Mexico at the end of 2019. We hit it off on our first date at the local Thai restaurant and were soon spending every evening and weekend together. Emilee introduced me to birding locally that winter. Looking and listening for birds proved a great way to explore the Land of Enchantment together and get to know each other. I asked Emilee to marry me at the Chuparosa (the Hummingbird Lodge), in Madera Canyon, Arizona at the end of a beautiful long weekend we spent there.
We were looking for a venue that was easy for our family to get to, and a venue that we had a connection with. We were looking at nature centers specifically because of our love for the natural world and birds in particular. From the moment we saw photos of the Trinity River Audubon Center online we felt like this was the place for us. The modern architecture, details like the feather outlines in the ceiling and walls, and the way the building fits the surrounding landscape blew us away.
While the girls were doing hair and makeup, my brother and I went to my friends’ AirBNB. We hung out played a little H.O.R.S.E. until it was time for lunch. From there we freshened up at our hotel and then occupied the groom’s room at the TRAC until it was showtime!
There was also a fun light moment during our ceremony when the 4 year old ring bearer could only be coaxed up the aisle by having him deliver us caterpillars on the pillow he was holding!
When we look at our wedding photos we marvel at the flower arch every time!
We enjoyed our photos on the boardwalk and trails behind the TRAC. Mostly we loved being over the water, in the meadow and amidst the trees.
We wanted our wedding to be ‘tastefully’ bird-themed, and to bring the feeling of a wildflower meadow inside.
We leaned into our love of birds and the Audubon theme by using prints from Audubon’s Birds of America as our table markers and invitations. Each table marker was an Audubon print of a local bird that was likely at the Trinity River Audubon Center during the time of our wedding. On our seating chart, guests were invited to “Find your Flock”! For us, it was neat that we saw nearly all of the birds whose art we used at the TRAC in the lead-up to our wedding.
We were big fans of the honeycomb station! Delicious and out of the ordinary.
Some moments that stand out to me are repeating our vows, our first dance, and bringing out a special cake for my grandmother’s birthday.
A very special aspect of our wedding was it was also my German grandmother (“Oma”)’s birthday. Oma made the trip to the Trinity River Audubon Center from Germany - only her second time ever in the United States (the last visit being in 1988)! After we cut the cake, I surprised her and most of the guests with a dual-language announcement that our wedding date had always been a special day in my life, it being Oma’s birthday. We all sang happy birthday and Oma blew out a candle on a slice of Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (German black forest cake) to a big ovation from our guests.
Becky and Matt Rathbone, of Rathbone’s Flair Flowers in Jenks, Oklahoma have been long-time family friends of Emilee’s. They understood Emilee’s vision and brought all the florals down from Oklahoma. The flowers were a key part of the look and feel of the wedding.
Emilee’s great-aunt Pam called it “the wedding of the century”!
We had a lot of fun dancing and celebrating with our family and friends.
Looking back, what words would you use to describe the day?
Joyful, breath-taking, whirlwind!
Do you have any advice for future couples?
Let the day unfold, make a conscious decision to enjoy the ups and downs and try to absorb every moment - it will fly by! (Also applies to life in general!)
Emilee and Stephen, thank you so much for sharing your incredible wedding day with us at the the Trinity River Audubon Center! We wish you nothing but the best in the years to come!
Vendors:
Photographer - Two Pair Photography
Catering - Boxwood Catering
Rentals - CoHost
Florals - Rathbone’s Flair Flowers
Band - Bishop String Quartet
Gown - Mockingbird Bridal Boutique
