First Date to Forever

“Do you want to go camping with me?”

It was the summer of 2020, and the friend I had a crush on just asked me to go on an adventure with her. It was early in the pandemic, and here was an opportunity to get away for a few days to a place I’d never been with a person I thought was fascinating and very cute. So obviously, I said “yes.”

And just like that, our first date turned into a five-day trek through the wild and breathtaking grandeur of Big Bend National Park, the quirkiness and charm of Marfa, and even the quiet beauty of downtown San Antonio (I said it was the pandemic summer, remember?). We still love looking back on that journey and sharing some of the funny, sweet, and even perilous stories from that trip. And while we may have felt the possibility then, we certainly didn’t know that that trip would be the first of many adventures Taryn and I would have together.

Fast forward a few years to when we’re engaged and planning a wedding. We knew we didn’t want a big event, but we wanted it to reflect who we are: casual but elegant, creative but familiar, and full of meaning. After touring one venue that was beautiful but not for us, we talked through things on the way home. Taryn asked, “If we had all the time and money in the world, what would we want to do for our wedding?” I paused, trying to find the words for thoughts that were already swirling in my mind. “I’d want to take everyone on our first date,” I finally replied. Taryn smiled big like she does, and we knew we had found our answer.

We do not, in fact, have all the time and money in the world, so our goal became to figure out how we could recreate and recapture some of the magic we had experienced on our first adventure in West Texas and share it with the people we love.

We set our sights on Marfa as our destination. The town is tiny but established enough to offer a selection of venues and accommodations for our event with 30 people. It’s got history and a unique artsy vibe we love, and many of our guests would be visiting for the first time. Taryn already followed a lot of the hotels and art galleries on social media, and it wasn’t long before we realized Bohemio would be the place where we would get married. We loved its bespoke desert motif, and it had a garden for the ceremony, a patio for the reception, and a living room we could use as our dance floor — along with accommodations for my family.

With the date set and venue booked, we found a caterer in (relatively) nearby Alpine who seemed like a good fit. Roux Alpine specializes in locally-sourced, seasonal cuisine that is elevated, delicious, and pairs well with the desert air. Guests could stay at a variety of hotels and short-term rentals, from the modern and posh Hotel St. George to the historic Hotel Paisano (Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean stayed there while filming Giant) to the hipster boutique, The Lincoln.

When the big day finally arrived, guests gathered in the garden for the ceremony. Our photographer captured the setting and our excitement perfectly during our first look and family photos. On the tables, the vintage candlesticks and flowers still looked great and were only slightly disheveled after the drive from San Antonio. Taryn’s bouquet had made the journey in fine shape. Thinking back, my favorite part of the ambiance was the sound of the papel picado strung through the trellis as it rustled in the gentle West Texas breeze.

Taryn walked out to a cherished song as our celebrant — a dear friend and the reason Taryn and I originally met — and I waited at the altar. I had a lot of feelings in that moment: gratefulness, peace, joy. If I’m being honest though, our officiant cried more than either of us, but his tender tears of joy (and the blaring horn of a passing train at one point) only added to the unforgettableness of the moment.

After the kiss and the ceremony concluded, we offered our guests cocktails, wine (both the spirits and wine were selected for our memories with them), and beer custom-brewed by a friend for the occasion. We also introduced them to each other by pairing a favorite photo of each guest with a connection and conversation starter for another guest.

Dinner ended, and for our first dance, I had surreptitiously planned for confetti canons to go off at the climax of our song. The surprise and joy on Taryn’s face was even better than I hoped it would be. We all gathered for a “farewell” photo at the end of the night, with sparklers and loved ones surrounding us in celebration. I say “farewell” because the party didn’t end. We all loaded up and drove the few miles out of town for an after-party at the Marfa Lights Viewing Area to bask in the mystery and spectacle that is the West Texas sky.

Our wedding turned out — not perfectly — but exactly how we hoped. After all, a wedding is a celebration of the love two people share with people they love in a place that encapsulates it all.

Intentionality
A wedding is a wonderful opportunity to forge intentional connections, with the couple and between the guests themselves. We thought about how our location, dinner, and activities could help bring our guests together.

Ideas
Choose a venue that is a part of the couple’s story. It may be a place the couple has fond memories of or a location they hold dear.
Incorporate food and drinks that are meaningful. If possible, serve a cuisine you both love or select beer, wine, and spirits that hold memories.
Create opportunities for guests to connect. Beyond table assignments, let people know about a shared interest or common experiences they may have.

Community
Any wedding is a celebration of people coming together, and there’s no way to make one happen without a lot of people working with passion. We recognize that the partners we chose had everything to do with our wonderful experience. We are so grateful to our vendors for making our occasion special for us and our guests.