Lara & Joshua’s Wedding | May 2022 | Katy, Texas
Lara and Joshua were married on a beautiful property in the Houston suburb of Katy, Texas. This picturesque estate was complete with a pool, guest house, covered outdoor reception area, pond, wooded area, and even a secret garden. The grandeur of the location did not make the wedding seem stiff and formal, but instead it lent itself to the feeling of a truly family-style backyard wedding where everyone was welcome and at home.
All photos were taken by the amazing team of Joan and Jordan at Radiant Film & Photo.
When Lara and I first spoke about her wedding, I could hardly contain my excitement. Lara and I have been friends since 2010 when we met while dancing at Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston. We were roommates for a while and have stayed friends ever since. I was so excited for Lara to be getting married because she is one of the most loving, kind, generous, and bold people that I know. Her faith is strong and I have learned so much from her about trusting God in all seasons, praying boldly about anything and everything, and being obedient to whatever God asks because His motivation is always love. When I think of Lara, James 5:16 comes to mind, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
When Lara began to tell me about Joshua, she could not help but have a huge smile take over her face. She shared about his strong faith in God, his love of music, and the way he cares for her and makes her laugh. They had been friends for a long time, and after getting coffee together, it was clear that they both were interested in something more.
After Joshua proposed, Lara called to talk about ideas and possibilities for flowers. She expressed her desire for a relaxed, yet classy, backyard wedding vibe. She wanted the flowers to be wild and free with colors that resembled a watercolor painting.
All of the florals (including the dried flower petals for the flower girls) were locally grown at Terra Cotta Blooms with some plants supplemented from a local nursery.
Lara’s bridal bouquet included zinnias, sunflowers, snapdragons, cosmos, fragrant stock, orlaya, bells of ireland, and cress all grown in Plano, Texas. We personalized her bouquet by wrapping the handle with ribbon from a pair of her pointe shoes.
Joshua’s boutonniere was made from rose-colored strawflower, white gomphrena, purple statice, and greenery including cress and purple fountain grass. As a violinist, we gave a personal touch to his boutonniere by including his favorite brand of violin strings.
The ceremony was held under a beautiful sprawling oak tree between the guest house and the lawn leading to the pond. Lara and Joshua exchanged personalized vows, washed each other’s feet, and took communion together as a married couple. Everything that was said and done was a glorious picture of God’s love for his church represented by Joshua’s love for his bride.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a delicious Mediterranean dinner at the covered reception area. The tables were set with a runner made from sheet music, glass hurricanes with candles inside, and bud vases filled with whimsical flowers scattered in between.
The reception was full of worship and celebration as Joshua’s brother played his harp and sang, Lara danced with a few dozen of her professional dance friends, and guests spoke blessings over the new couple.
Although the weather that day was nearly 100 degrees, full humidity, and no breeze, Lara and Joshua’s love for each other and the Lord was the most memorable part of the evening. Here’s to a lifetime of living and loving each other!
