Chad and Brandy Hunt
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOVE STORY!
The fall leaves in East Texas turned their vibrant colors in November of 2023 while a new season of life began for us. Our communication quickly spanned from our shared interests, faith and values to our families, goals and desire for a God-centered marriage. I believe that Chad and I could have met a thousand different ways and the significance would still remain in knowing that we were divinely meant to be with each other. We had our first date that winter walking through the chilly night in the charming town of Mineola warmed by a comfort of companionship. When spring gave rise to the abundance of wildflowers, it also gave rise to the relationship extending to our families. The Chad’s welcomed me and my daughters with open arms and Brook and Allison, my daughters, shared in my happiness of having this new blessing. Throughout the summer, Chad and I explored places like Broken Bow (where we will spend our honeymoon), A&M (where I attended college), and New Braunfels (where I spent most of my adult life and had the honor of introducing him). Time on the lake, on Lisa and Dennis’ porch swing and in the hammock suspended in the sweetgum trees seemed to stand still as we rented in knowing that this was what we both wanted for our futures. On Christmas Eve of 2024, on the steps of a historic gazebo in Jefferson with a ring that reminded me of the pretty windows in an old house and lakes I visited every other weekend, we committed to that future. Now this summer, when the magnolia blooms were full, symbolizing the beauty of hope, we stood among our wonderful friends and family that have been with us throughout and entered the gifted new season of marriage.
Describe your wedding planning process
What planning tools did you use?
I began with knowing that I wanted our wedding to be faith-centered, vintage inspired style, and full of personal details. I curated ideas using Pinterest board and continually modified a document on my computer to organize everything including: monthly tasks, table decor, budget, songlist, ceremony script, timeline, formal photo list, vendor contacts, and reminders.
Did you DIY any aspect of your wedding?
I hand-painted several items including the magnolia candle floaters, designed the monogram banner, invitations, and signage. I used many items I already owned such as an antique velvet couch that has been in my family since 1910, an antique plate that dates back just as far, an antique camera that my daughter had gifted me years ago and an old window for our seating chart that once belonged in a New Braunfels home.
Did you have a specific theme?
“Authentic, Artistic, Elegant, and Embracing East Texas” was how our guests described our wedding. Most of our decor included magnolias, birds, blueberries and peaches native to the area. Chad calls me his magnolia, which is my favorite flower. He is a gentle soul who enjoys feeding the assortment of birds that visit our new home. I value things that have a story and wanted our guests to feel as if they were in our home. I find beauty in the French and Deep South style, so I used many vintage pieces including goblets, mirrored trays, toile table linens, and blue velvet to elevate the experience.
Where did you save the most?
We did not serve alcohol, have a DJ, or an extravagant honeymoon. Our wedding took place on a Monday so that our friends and family would not miss their kids’ weekend events and saved there as well. Our guest list was not large, so everyone could fit in the small chapel. Our reception was a relaxing garden party with sweet tea and lemonade to cool our guests from the mid-day sun as they socialized in the open-air pavilion and beautifully landscaped lawn outside the cottage chapel while our favorite love songs played. Our honeymoon was five days spent in a secluded cabin in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, hiking trails in the state park, cooling our feet in the river, watching fireflies dance at dusk and enjoying the quiet alone time together. We had made this trip in our 7th month of dating and decided that it would always be a special place for us.
Where did you splurge?
I designed the invitations with a watercolor adaptation of a photo of the venue’s chapel with its arched blue French doors printed on hand-made cotton paper and ordered coordinating vow books. Chad’s ring was designed with a chord of 3 strands (Ephesians scripture reference) of white gold between Bethlehem olive wood custom made by Rustic & Main. My daughters and I arranged accommodations for the night before the wedding at a lovely French decor B&B in the Azalea District of Tyler large enough for many of my out-of-town friends to stay with us and had dinner catered as a classy, calm bachelorette celebration. I bought white lace lined cloth napkins and quality frames for signage and displaying engagement photos, rented vintage glassware, dishware, copper flatware, and other centerpiece decor including milk glasses, bud vases, and French toile table linens.
This photo was taken by the bride, Brandy Hunt (FireFly Photography)
Why did you choose your venue?
As a wedding photographer, I know there are so many gorgeous venues to select from. Chad was born and raised in East Texas, so his friends and family are all close to Tyler. I wanted them to not have to travel far. We also loved how the pretty chapel and garden would lend well to a light and airy/fine art style when preserved in images.
Did you incorporate any special traditions or sentimental details in your ceremony or reception?
My daughter, Brooke, bought a gorgeous hand-made necklace (the same one DanaSue wore on Sweet Magnolias) that I borrowed for the day. My daughter, Allison, helped me find a lovely magnolia embossed dress. They each wore the color found on one side of a magnolia leaf, dark olive green and fawn tan. I also found magnolia stamps circa 1995 and magnolia wax seals for hanging the seating chart cards.
Our history table displayed photos from our years prior to meeting and Chad’s great grandmother’s bible with her beautifully penned notes throughout. Our guestbook was a bottle for our guests to insert messages into that we will open on our anniversary. Each table number included writing from a text or letter between Chad and me near our date of that same number (ie. Table 7 has a message from Chad after our 7th date). Our letters were my favorite memory of our first year together.
Our song choices were important as we only wanted music that celebrated love and lyrics that were fitting to us. I actually chose our first dance song years before I met Chad, knowing that was one that I wanted the kind of love that resonated in the words. One of my most treasured friends of 17 years sang that song as well as our other ceremony songs.
What turned out to be your best decision surrounding the big day?
I have two videographers that I most enjoy working with as a wedding photographer. They have become my friends and I recommend them often. Wellman Productions is a husband and wife team that I adore. They know me, so they know how sentimental and detail-oriented I am. They saw my vision and when I asked for our highlight video to be set to the piano playing “The Blessing” with our vows voiced over, they delivered the most incredible preservation of our wedding day. I can now watch the beautifully curated video, listen to my husband profess his heart-felt vows to me with his kind and tender voice, and be reminded that this wedding day celebrated the gift that I was given: him.
Please enjoy our highlight video from Wellman Productions:
Is there anything you would have done differently?
I would have hired a day-of-coordinator. I was blessed with friends that helped set up the decor from the layouts I had created, but I was in the cottage getting my makeup and dress on at that time. In hindsight, I would have liked to have had someone in charge of that so that my friends weren’t having to do this task quickly with minimal direction and multiple boxes of details.
Tell Us About...
Your dress:
It was a beautiful off the shoulder ball gown with magnolia embossed jacquard.
Your flowers:
They were classic southern magnolia branches cut from local trees and blueberry stems picked from a local family-owned blueberry farm.
The Food:
Cherished Events had a delicious brunch for us that included: pizzettes (sundried tomato, fig preserves, caramelized onion and spinach, strawberry preserves, and cream cheese), cranberry ham and swiss croissants, and bacon, egg, and cheese tarts.
Mandolin Hospitality’s yummy lunch started with a signature salad with lemon herb dressing. It was followed by several main dishes that included: cajun etouffee and rice, vegan red beans and rice, fried crawfish and dirty rice. All of these main dishes were served with matchstick vegetables (zucchini, squash, and carrots).
The cake:
Chad’s sister-in-law created the blueberry cake with buttercream icing topped with local blueberries. These coordinated with the blueberry centerpiece stems and brownies that were paired with our favorite dessert – BlueBell homemade vanilla ice cream.
Cherished Events created the vegan peanut butter cookies, carrot cake muffins, and East Texas peach pie.
Mandolin Hospitality owns FD’s Grill which is where we ate on our 3rd date, so they created the key lime pie and catered the cajun meal for us.
Recap your big day for us
What made you cry?
Since writing to each other had been such a part of our relationship, writing personal vows was the part of the wedding I looked forward to the most. Hearing my precious husband tell me in front of everyone we love most how much he values me in his life brought such happy tears.
What were the most memorable moments?
Our most memorable moment was our foot washing, a Christian tradition symbolizing humility, love, and service inspired by Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.
What’s the best advice you can give a bride and groom planning their wedding?
The day goes by fast, so plan accordingly so that you have time to soak it in and cushion for mishaps. Be selective with your photographer and throughout about requesting specific family groupings. Order attire plenty ahead of time to allow for alterations. Make sure you get time with your guests since this will be possibly the only time you will have all of your favorite people all together. Consider a “first look” so that you have an intimate time together even if only for 10 minutes. First and foremost, plan your marriage more than you plan your wedding. Communicate with each other about your emotional needs and look for opportunities to humbly serve each other, for quality time, for sweet words of appreciation. Let your love be as beautiful as your wedding day.
What did you look forward to most as Mr. and Mrs.?
Chad and I look forward to enjoying a God-centered marriage where we love each other as Christ loves the church. We have had a long-distance relationship during our courtship, so we value the quality time that we now have more often.
Local Vendors:
Wedding Venue: The Folmar
Reception Venue: The Folmar
Photographer: Carlee Mae Photography
Caterer (Brunch): Cherished Events
Caterer (Lunch): Mandolin Hospitality
Florist (Magnolias): All Mixed Up
Florist (Blueberries): The Blueberry Farm (Quitman, TX)
Cake/Dessert (Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies, Carrot Cake Muffins, and East Texas Peach Pie): Cherished Events
Cake/Dessert (Key Lime Pie): Mandolin Hospitality
Rentals (Vintage Milk Glasses, Bud Vases, Vintage Dishware and Drinkware): Wild Violet
Rentals (Flatware): Royal Event Rentals
Makeup Artist: Jess Forrester
Hair Stylist: Casey Taylor
Videographer: Wellman Productions
Music/Entertainment: Arielle Nicole
Lodging: Azaleas Nest B&B
Wedding Music:
Bride’s Entrance: Heavenly Day – by Patty Griffin (sung by Arielle Nicole)
Recessional: All These Things – by Lori McKenna (sung by Arielle Nicole)
First Dance: When the Right One Comes Along – by Striking Matches (sung by Arielle Nicole)
