October 7 • Austin

stephanie&

sean engaged: a year and a half

photography by The Nichols at Barr Mansion

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THEIR STORYBRIDE Stephanie Artzi, 38, a reading specialist at Andrews Elementary School GROOM Sean Fern, 30, a PhD student at University of Texas HOW THEY MET On JDate.com WEDDING STYLE Organic whites and grays let the abundance of fresh greenery take center stage at Stephanie and Sean’s garden affair.

“We fell in love with Barr Mansion the moment we saw it,” recalls Stephanie. “It had a beautiful outdoor garden for the ceremony and a rustic indoor hall for the reception.” The bridesmaids carried natural, low-key arrangements of roses, astilbes, snowberries, silver brunia, ranunculus and leaves.

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Stephanie let her five bridesmaids choose their own black dresses. “I love the mismatched look and I wanted each of them to feel beautiful,” she says.

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SEAN

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SEAN

Sean stood out from his black-suit-clad groomsmen in a three-piece pinstripe suit with a crisp white shirt and a pale gray bow tie.

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“Our favorite part was the dessert bar,” Stephanie says. Guests filled goody bags with meringues, Jordan almonds, vanilla malt balls, cotton candy, homemade apple cinnamon toaster pastries and Devil Dogs.

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STEPHANIE & SEAN’S WEDDING INGREDIENTS

CEREMONY & RECEPTION SITE Barr Mansion,

Austin

PHOTOGRAPHY Jennifer and CJ Nichols/

The Nichols

FLORAL & EVENT DESIGN The Nouveau Romantics

OFFICIANT Rabbi Alan Freedman

GOWN Vera Wang, Ever After, Miami

HAIR Shannon Briggs Hack/Janet St. Paul Studio

For Hair

MAKEUP Nisa Nicole Makeup Artistry

SHOES Jimmy Choo

WEDDING RINGS Tiffany & Co.

FORMALWEAR Ralph Lauren

STATIONERY The Nouveau Romantics

RENTALS Intelligent Lighting Design

CATERING Barr Mansion ; LM Cocktail Catering

CAKE Barr Mansion

OTHER DESSERTS Liddabit Sweets; Sugarfina.com;

Walton’s Fancy & Staple

MUSIC Ceremony: Barton Strings; cocktail hour:

Mariachi Jalisco; first-dance song: Anthony Johnson;

reception: Matchmaker Band

PHOTO BOOTH Magnolia Photo Booth Co.

DANCE LESSONS Go Dance

TRANSPORTATION Around Austin

ACCOMMODATIONS Hyatt Regency Austin

HONEYMOON Australia; New Zealand; Wyoming

GUESTS 130

BUDGET $$$$$ (see key, p. 6)

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In addition to an overflowing dessert bar, Stephanie and

Sean served a three-tier vanilla buttercream cake

accented with sugar blooms.

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best of weddings 2013 WINNER