An Intimate At Home Wedding in Houston | Melissa & Michael

Intimate At Home Jewish Wedding in Houston

The past year has been overwhelming at times, but its challenges have inspired true and beautiful creativity in the wedding world. I was so very lucky to work with Melissa and Michael on their intimate at-home wedding in Houston, on December 2020. Although they were originally set to tie the knot in Lake Como, their plans shifted due to COVID. The result was an absolutely stunning gathering of 45 of their loving friends and family at the bride’s parents’ residence. I think you’ll see what I mean about the incredible creativity that the change in venue inspired. This is truly one of the most gorgeous events I’ve had the pleasure of attending in recent months.

A platform was created to cover the entire area from the driveway all the way back over the pool. This allowed two tents to be built – one for the ceremony and one for the reception. To keep things cozy, heating lamps were placed on the path that connected the two tents. Ingenious! Keeping the safety of their loved ones in mind, the couple asked that all guests have a COVID test done before the event. The musicians, in elegant black-tie attire, stayed masked as they played.

There were so many expressive touches – from the bespoke artwork on the invitations, to the kippahs stamped on the inside (in gold!) with the couple’s name and the date. Both families are Jewish, so traditions were observed in very unique ways. Beautifully laid-out booklets listing Jewish wedding traditions were printed, and the chuppah was incredibly lush, with cascading blossoms and greenery. One of the most amazing touches was the floral wall – a lovely spot for portraits! And everyone came so graciously attired! Melissa wore a jaw-dropping Ines Di Santo gown and cathedral-length veil, and her bridesmaids were in mis-matched dresses (which I love!). Melissa is all about creating the perfect trail mix, so when Michael surprised her by giving trail mix to the guests as favors, she was absolutely delighted – a truly special touch that reflected their personalities to a T.

As the sun dipped down, the reception tent came alive with dancing and music and thousands of tiny golden lights reflecting on the ceiling. I looked around, realizing that an intimate, at-home wedding may just be the best kind – especially in Houston! A huge thanks to Gina with The Whitt Experience, what a joy to work with her on this incredible wedding. The perfect design and planning!

bride getting ready at home in Houston personalized covid masks for wedding