Wedding Inspiration

Annah Bennie and Cody Woodland’s Garden Party Brunch Wedding by Brock + Co. Events

August 1

SMS Photography //

It was one stunning garden party. Fuchsia orchids cascaded over vases of roses in reds, pinks and white. Glass bowls of fresh fruit rested between gold-rimmed glass plates and votive candles. You could hear the lively giggling of kids playing games in the garden, and you could smell the delicious aroma of fresh pancakes served miniature style on skewers dusted with powdered sugar. Servers passed flutes of bubbly to guests ready to celebrate the bride and groom. The Four Seasons Hotel Austin was beautiful as always with its crisp white umbrellas, chic furniture and chandeliers suspended from tree branches shading the reception area.

Annah and Cody met on an online dating site. She was working as a nanny in Austin, and he was doing real estate in San Antonio. Annah was instantly attracted to Cody’s fun loving, adventurous personality. “Whether it’s a fishing trip, road trip or lounging around the house, we enjoy being together,” Annah says. “[Annah] is my best friend, and we just have such a great, great time together. To me she is beautiful all day every day whether in workout clothes or the most elegant evening dress,” Cody says.

While it was challenging at times, they dated long distance for four years. They enjoyed all the occasions when they got to travel together, but there was one trip to South Padre Island that will always mean the most. After they drove around together and had lunch one day, they relaxed on the beach, and Cody shared with Annah how much he loved her. Although the music from surrounding food trucks kept “killing the mood,” the couple laughed it off, and Cody popped the question. “I kept having to fight through the substantial background noise from taco trucks and other street vendors jamming out to their music. We were sitting on the tailgate of my truck enjoying a beautiful day on the beach South Texas style,” Cody says. With a beautiful ring in hand, he got down on one knee and asked Annah to spend the rest of her life with him. “I had an idea it was coming. I was so excited and couldn’t wait for us to finally be married!” Annah remembers.

Annah and Cody knew they wanted a brunch wedding. Brunch is their absolute favorite meal. They hired Brock + Co. Events to help coordinate the big day. “They were a perfect fit for us,” Annah says. The team got to work about two weeks after Annah and Cody got engaged. Annah is a pro having been in 18 weddings, so she knew what she wanted! After they took engagement photos in the fall of 2015, things picked up in January. Annah spent countless hours selecting garden-inspired details and tasty brunch food.

On June 11, 2016, the sun peeked through the clouds. The morning was gorgeous for a wedding. Light shined through the beautiful stained glass windows of the church. The bride and groom were filled with pure joy to see each other for a “first look.” It was going to be the perfect day.

At 10 a.m., about 140 friends and family members gathered at First Christian Church to witness the marriage of Annah Bennie and Cody Woodland. The bridesmaids wore long, elegant blush-colored sleeveless gowns by BHLDN, and the groomsmen wore sharp gray tuxes with bow ties.

Escorted down the aisle by her father, the bride wore a stunning beaded A-line gown by Anna Campbell. “I loved the back of it. The jewels on it were so beautiful and made the dress so elegant. It was so unique and not like anything I had ever seen before,” Annah says. She wore her hair swept up with a long veil and her mother’s necklace and earrings. With a huge smile on her face, she looked adoringly at her soon-to-be husband. Cody was blown away with how beautiful his bride looked. Annah was thinking about how lucky she was getting to marry her best friend and “being so grateful to have this sweet moment of walking down the aisle” with her dad. “I don’t think it’s something you ever forget,” Annah says. The ceremony was traditional right down to the vows. Cody kissed his beautiful bride, and the beaming couple led the recessional out of the sanctuary.

On the lawn of the Four Seasons downtown, guests waited with flutes of champagne in hand for the wedding party to arrive. Loved ones passed hors d’oeuvres and shared stories about the bride and groom. Once everyone arrived, Annah’s dad gave the blessing, and they dove in to the delicious meal. The omelet station was a hit along with the “bubbles bar.” Guests enjoyed a variety of champagne drinks from classic mimosas to fizzy grapefruit and fresh raspberry. The eye-catching wedding cake was five tiers iced in white and adorned with pale pink flowers and gold details, including an “A” and “C” in the middle. “The food was absolutely delicious. I will always remember how pretty all of the serving stations and tables looked with beautiful flowers everywhere,” Cody says. The luxe gold and white chairs, blush tablecloths and bright pink flowers created a Southern California-type feel. “My mom and I walked around to see what all was done. It was so beautiful. Everything was so perfect,” Annah remembers.

What stood out the most to Annah and Cody was the warm family-feel of the reception. With kids frolicking on the grass and playing games, the newlyweds worked their way around to each table to talk with their loved ones. Annah says her favorite part of the reception was “getting to be with all of [their] closest friends who came and showered [them] with their love in such an exquisite setting.” For their big exit, Cody’s uncle’s antique Model A car was waiting outside. Cheers and well wishes filled the air as the couple walked hand-in-hand between two lines of guests waving gold streamers. “I would say that the entire event was a true fairytale for Annah and I,” Cody says. As they climbed into the car, the couple looked back on that big “family” that had celebrated them all day _ a group of people that had touched each of their lives up until that point. It was the perfect way to begin their new life together.

FEATURED VENDORS

Cake and Dessert | Simon Lee Bakery

Decor/Rentals | Whim Hospitality

Favors | Fluff Meringues & More

Florist | Botanical No. 9

Registry, Rings | The Menagerie

Wedding Planner, Favors | Brock + Co. Events

other local vendors: Blue Bridal Boutique • Nuage Designs • Townsley Designs • Bee Lavish Vintage Rentals • Kris Kimara Quartet • Fine and Folded Hand Fan Co. • NSalon • Anibella Ink + Paper • FILO Productions • Denise Vasquez Makeup • SMS Photography • AustiNuts • First Christian Church • Four Seasons Hotel Austin

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Other Local Vendors: Four Seasons Hotel Austin, The Menagerie, Simon Lee Bakery, Bee Lavish, SMS Photography, Fluff Meringues & More, Townsley Designs, FILO Productions, Botanical No. 9, Brock + Co. Events