Briar and Carlie Bullock
Tell us about your love story!
How did you meet?
We met on Hinge. I was down in San Antonio for my first round of clinicals and one of my friends encouraged me to get on Hinge while I was there for six weeks. So I thought, “Why not?” It turned out to be the best decision ever! We matched while he was on a cruise in the Bahamas. We started talking and immediately scheduled our first date!
How did you know he was “The One”?
Honestly, it sounds very cliché, but after our first date, we both just knew! We even texted our best friends about finding “the one.”
We had always heard people say, “When you know, you know,” and it really is so true once you meet your person.
From our first date, through three years of dating, to now being married, Briar has truly been my best friend and someone I can completely be myself around. He makes me a better person and truly is the love of my life. I cannot imagine a better man than Briar.
I knew he was the one because of how I felt when I was with him—completely at ease and just at peace.
How did he propose?
He proposed under a huge, beautiful tree on the backroads on the way to his parents’ house. What many don’t know is that this road and tree hold so many special memories for us. It was where we had some of our biggest conversations and shared some of life’s most meaningful moments, from life talking about our future to grieving the loss of loved ones.
This road had been the setting for so many conversations that shaped our relationship. So, for Briar to choose that very spot to propose made the moment even more special. It was such a raw, genuine, and beautiful moment that we shared, and one I will never forget.
Describe your wedding planning process.
Who helped with the planning?
My husband and I, along with my sisters, my mom, my in-laws, and our friends all played a big part in planning our wedding. Honestly we had such an amazing support system throughout the entire wedding season. We were so blessed to have so many people we love helping us along the way!
Did you hire a planner or day-of coordinator?
Yes, and she was incredible in bringing everything together months before and even on the day of the wedding. Barbie Foerster is amazing!
Did you DIY any aspect of your wedding?
Yes! Most of our wedding was DIY, from the lace designs on our head table and the bar signs to my mom creating some of the floral arrangements and décor. Everything had such a special, personal touch because of the people we love.
My best friend made our wedding cake, and my older sister created a picture slideshow that played during cocktail hour, featuring photos of my husband and me from birth to now.
One of my favorite personal touches was our seating chart. My husband and I wrote handwritten “love letters” to each of our guests, and those letters served as our seating chart. It was such a meaningful way to make everyone feel special and loved!
Did you have a specific theme?
I would describe our wedding theme as “classy country.” Most of our guests wore dresses or jeans with boots and cowboy hats, which fit our style perfectly! Most of my bridesmaids and I even changed into boots for the reception. It was the perfect mix of classy and country!
Where did you save the most?
We saved the most on flowers! My mom actually did about 90% of our floral arrangements! We purchased fresh flowers from Trader Joe’s the morning before the wedding, and she created all the arrangements for the guest tables, head table, and floral box.
Our wedding coordinator took care of the other 10%, including my bridal bouquet, the bridesmaids’ bouquets, and the ceremony cross.
Having my mom create so many of our flowers not only helped us save money but also made everything feel that much more special!
Where did you splurge?
I would probably say my wedding dress, but even then, it wasn’t a crazy price. But then again, you only get one wedding dress and one special moment like that, so in my opinion, it was definitely worth it!
Why did you choose your venue?
It just felt so natural and welcoming! We loved the people who gave us our tour and really loved everything the venue had to offer. It fit our vibe perfectly and was exactly what we were looking for with our “classy country” wedding theme!
Did you incorporate any special traditions or sentimental details in your ceremony or reception?
We had several special traditions throughout our wedding day!
My getting-ready robe was truly one of a kind. A family friend made it using pieces of my mom’s wedding dress and my late grandmother’s dress. It was so special to have a piece of both of them with me while getting ready for my big day.
My husband’s grandmother and great-grandmother were our ring bearers, which was just incredible in itself! Both my husband’s wedding ring and mine are also part of our families’ legacies, making them even more meaningful.
Instead of tossing my bridal bouquet, I gave it to my mom. My sisters were my co-maids of honor, and they walked down the aisle together, which was another special moment for me.
We also included a unity candle during our ceremony.
There were just so many meaningful family touches throughout our wedding day, and each one made it even more special to us!
What was your most stressful decision?
It wasn’t so much a particular decision, but one of the most stressful parts of our wedding season was figuring out how to handle controversy and negativity involving others throughout the planning process.
What turned out to be your best decision surrounding the big day?
My best decision was doing my own makeup! I felt like myself and looked like myself, which made me feel even more beautiful and confident on my wedding day!
Is there anything you would have done differently?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! If I could relive my wedding day every single day, I would! Truly, everything went according to plan, and it was the best day ever. We still have people tell us it was “one of the best weddings they have ever been to,” which makes it even more special!
Tell us About
Your dress:
My dress had a strapless, lace corset, bodycon style, with a small train.
Your flowers:
The colors were red and white with greenery! We used Calla Lillies for the bouquets!
The food:
Chuy’s catered Mexican food for our reception dinner. They had fajitas, salsa and queso, beans and rice!
The cake:
My best friend made our personal wedding cake, which was cookies and cream! She also made a variety of delicious treats for our dessert table, including Bundtinis, flavored cookies, and custom cookies with our last name on them. It made everything even more special knowing my best friend had made it all for us!
Recap your big day for us
What made you laugh?
I felt like I was smiling and laughing all day long! By the end of the night, my cheeks actually hurt from smiling so much. It was such a happy day, filled with so much love and surrounded by so many of our favorite people. Having all our loved ones there to share in our special day made it even more memorable!
What made you cry?
The moment right before walking down the aisle! Briar and I decided not to do a first look because we wanted to save that special moment for when I walked down the aisle.
The anticipation and excitement just kept building, and as I sat in the bridal suite waiting to walk down the aisle with my dad, I was suddenly flooded with emotions. It was pure happiness and a feeling I had never experienced before.
It was so surreal knowing I was about to marry my best friend, with all of our favorite people gathered in one place to love and support us. It was truly magical. All happy tears!!
What were the most memorable moments?
There were so many memorable moments from such an unforgettable day, but a few of my favorites were our last private dance, when Briar and I got to soak everything in together; locking eyes with Briar as I walked down the aisle, surrounded by all our family and friends; and seeing our two worlds come together, with extended family and friends all in one place.
It was so special having everyone we love together to celebrate with us!
Did anything unexpected happen?
During our ceremony, while we were lighting our unity candle, hot wax dripped onto my hand, and I almost dropped the candle right onto my wedding dress! Luckily, I managed to play it off like nothing happened!
My dad also forgot his suit jacket at home and ended up having to borrow my brother-in-law’s jacket for the wedding. Just a couple of unexpected moments that we can laugh about now!
Advice and Looking Ahead
What’s the best advice you can give a bride and groom planning their wedding?
Enjoy and take in every single moment—the good, the bad, the stressful, and the emotional—and do it together as a team!
My husband was so helpful during wedding planning and was right by my side throughout the entire process. The memories you make during the planning season are just as important because they are all leading up to the moment you become a forever team.
Soak it all in and enjoy the journey together!
What did you look forward to most as Mr. and Mrs.?
I had so much fun and truly enjoyed the entire wedding planning process, but there is no better feeling than knowing you’re marrying the best person and getting to be right by their side throughout your wedding day and for the rest of your lives.
At the end of the day, it really is about who you spend those moments with and who you share the journey with that makes it all worthwhile.
Local Vendors:
Wedding Venue: The Chandelier of Gruene
Reception Venue: The Chandelier of Gruene
Planner: Barbie Foerster
Officiate: Kyle Horton
Photographer: Asiah Erbe
Caterer: Chuy’s
Florist: Mom and Barbie Foerster
Bridal Shop: Signature Bridal Salon
Hair Stylist: Hannah Hurt
Bartending/Beverage Service: Bartenders 2 You
Music/Entertainment: Broken Fences Mobile Entertainment
Wedding Coordinator: Barbie Foerster
Wedding Music:
Processional: All Your’n 0 Instrumental – Guitar Tribute Players
Pink Skies – Instrumental – Guitar Tribute Players
Bride’s Entrance: Dream – Priscilla Ahn
Recessional: This Will Be an Everlasting Love – Natalie Cole
First Dance: Millionaire – Chris Stapleton
Father/Daughter Dance: Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Mother/Son Dance: My Wish – Rascal Flatts
Last Dance: We Danced – Brad Paisley
