Meredith Demack and Michael Cohen’s Elegant Austin Wedding by Pearl Events Austin

Meredith Demack and Michael Cohen’s Elegant Austin Wedding by Pearl Events Austin

The water was so blue under the fluffy white clouds. Stunning floral arrangements in blush pinks and creams crowned the white covered table at the front of the ceremony, and gold chiavari chairs were lined in rows facing the breathtaking view. Meredith and Michael were so excited for this special day. They hadn’t seen each other since the night before, and it was going to be incredible to see each other when Meredith made her grand entrance at Villa de Lago.

Meredith and Michael met through her best friend in San Antonio. Michael was instantly attracted to Meredith’s huge heart and kind-hearted nature. “My favorite thing about Michael is his character.  He is the most genuine and sweetest person I know,” Meredith says. The proposal story for this couple is reflective of them. It was intimate and classic. Meredith had gone to a family get together out of town, and Michael picked her up from the airport. Once home, they put Meredith’s bags away, and she stepped in the bathroom to freshen up. When she came out, there was a card waiting for her outside the bathroom door. “[It was] incredibly nerve-wracking. I knew that she was probably expecting the proposal, and I knew what the answer would be. But that didn’t stop my stomach from being in knots,” Michael remembers. She opened the envelope and read the sweet note as Michael came around the corner with flowers. Before she could blink, Michael got down on bended knee and asked Meredith to spend the rest of her life with him. “I was just speechless.  There were so many emotions going on. Overall, I felt like the luckiest person in the world to know that I would be spending the rest of my life with Michael. He makes me so happy each and every day,” Meredith says.

When it came to planning their wedding, Meredith did what so many brides do. She settled down on the couch with a cup of coffee and browsed through Pinterest post after Pinterest post. She focused on a color scheme first. She knew she wanted pink but wasn’t settled on a shade or coordinating colors. There was something she loved about the richness of French blue. She’d be inspired by one post’s table settings and another post’s floral arrangements. She ended up choosing French blue, blush pink, and gold, which turned out to be the 2016 tone colors of the year! As for a venue, she wanted something outdoors to showcase beautiful photos. She’d check out a blog here and there and pick up a magazine. She and Michael booked a few appointments in Austin and stumbled across Villa del Lago overlooking Lake Travis. It was stunning. They loved the views with lush greenery overlooking the water and plenty of space for a gorgeous wedding under the Austin sun. Meredith knew she’d need help planning the big event and hired Pearl Events after hearing wonderful things about the staff.

Shopping for her wedding gown was one of Meredith’s favorite experiences as a bride. She wanted to include her grandmother who couldn’t travel so they focused their shopping on Houston. She chose a lovely strapless lace gown by Oscar de la Renta. “I loved the design and detailing of the lace. I never thought I would go with a dress with a ton of lace overall. I envisioned myself in with something with more beading and bling, but once I tried it on, I knew it was the one.  I just loved it!” Meredith remembers.

May 2016 dwindled down to its final week and the moment Meredith and Michael had been waiting for. The couple and most family members settled into their hotel rooms in Austin the Thursday before the weekend ceremony. Guests stayed at the Omni Downtown, The Four Seasons, and Hotel Ella. At the rehearsal dinner at the Four Seasons, the couple caught up with relatives and friends they didn’t get to see often. It was a laidback night of anticipation leading up to the beautiful events about to unfold.

The morning of the wedding, Meredith and Michael were excited. Their big day had finally come. Meredith woke up early to write her vows. She ordered breakfast, and hand wrote the sentimental message she would later recite to Michael at the altar. It was a peaceful (and surreal!) moment for the bride to spend by herself before her bridesmaids arrived for all the fun. They laughed and swapped stories as the ladies got their hair and makeup done at Hotel Ella.

The couple was insistent their “first look” be at the altar. They wanted it to be a complete surprise. Besides a little drama with Michael having to get his shirt dry cleaned, everything ran smoothly! The weather was perfect. The clear blue sky was almost at stunning as the rich blue water below. At 6:00 on May 28, 2016, 132 friends and family took their seats to witness the union of Meredith Blair Demack and Michael Robertson Cohen. The ceremony was intertwined with family traditions. Meredith’s mom’s cousin who is a minister and judge performed the ceremony. Her junior bridesmaids and Michael’s junior groomsmen were all relatives. The couple exchanged the vows they wrote, which ignited laughter and tears. They were heartfelt and had everyone smiling as the couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife.

During cocktail hour, guests mingled while the wedding party took pictures. Meredith and Michael were so happy; their pictures would be worthy of a coffee table book. To kick off the reception, the newly-named Mr. and Mrs. Cohen danced to Lionel Ritchie’s “Truly.” Michael danced with his mother to “Happiness” by Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. “It’s a song I’ve always liked that I thought would be unique!” Michael says.

The dancing was lovely, but it was only the prelude to the excitement that was about to unfold. After the “first dance duties” were out of the way, a pop sounded in the sky. And then another pop. And then several consecutive pops alerted the guests. Everyone looked up to see this stunning display of fireworks crackling in the Austin sky. It turned out a little thunderstorm had passed over, so in addition to the fireworks, lightning lit up the sky like a brilliant light show. Meredith was behind the fireworks, but it was a complete surprise to Michael. “He had no idea that was going to happen!” Meredith says. Michael loved it. It was the perfect way to celebrate their night. Meredith and Michael love doing life together. It was that simple surprise of fireworks after their first dance that make them happy and realize how lucky they are to have each other. As they left for their hotel at the end of the evening, guests showered the newlyweds in rose petals. The night had been like a fairytale. And just like the crackle of those surprise fireworks, the excitement of a new life together began.

FEATURED VENDORS

Accommodations | Four Seasons Hotel Austin

Cake | Sweet Treets Bakery

Decor/Rentals | Loot Vintage Rentals, Marquee Event Group

Florals | Stems Floral Design & Productions

Photographer | Christina Carroll Photography

Wedding Planner | Pearl Events Austin

other local vendors: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering • Casa de Novia Bridal Couture • Bella Bridesmaids • Crave Catering • Hill Country Hullabaloo • Big Dog Pyro • Terra Vista Strings • Greenbelt DJ Productions • Kellie’s Baking Co. • Erica Rae Beauty • Papellerie • Ilios Lighting • Maris Malone Calderon Makeup Artistry • Airstream Photo Booth • Villa Del Lago • Moses Jewelers • 4 Leaf Limo • Uptown Valet • Transportation Consultants • Suit Supply • Heights Tuxedo