Photo: Jen Huang
Naomi was surprised to see her girlfriend, Rachel, at her office. In the middle of the day. With their two dogs in tow. "She had secretly contacted my boss and requested a few days off of work for me so that we could spend a long weekend at a private cottage in Texas hill country," Naomi recalls. But she was even more surprised when Rachel proposed later that afternoon as they enjoyed a picnic. "It was so romantic," Naomi says. "The sun was shining, there was a nice breeze, and our dogs were running around us in the grass happy as could be!"
On May 5, 2012, the couple wed at the Houston Zoo. "The Reflection Pool, with its dramatic fountains and gorgeous oak trees, offered the elegance and beauty we were seeking," Naomi says. "I wanted a dramatic, elegant look, but not stuffy. I wanted lots of candlelight and soft, feminine flower and accents. It was important to me that the decor complimented the natural beauty of our venue, without overpowering it."
Photo: Jen Huang
In front of a pair of arched vintage windows, Naomi and Rachel traded quotes from beloved authors and read from The Velveteen Rabbit. "The arched window backdrop was actually made with lots of blood, sweat and tears by Rachel herself," Naomi says. Tin pails filled with white flowers lined an aisle that ended at the zoo's glistening reflection pool.
Photo: Jen Huang
Naomi brought fresh meaning to the phrase blushing bride by donning a pastel pink Ines di Santo dress. "I envisioned wearing a blush gown because I wanted something unique and dramatic," she says. When she stepped into the strapless silk shantung shift inside Houston's Belle Mariee Bridal boutique, "I fell in love immediately," Naomi says. "I didn't want to take it off—that's how I knew it was The One." Rachel complemented Naomi by wearing a soft gray Alfani suit and custom pink tie.
Beneath her gown's "soft, lightweight and luxurious" layers, Naomi slipped on a custom garter—a gift from her matron of honor—she says.
Photo: Jen Huang
The bride carried a round bouquet of garden roses, peonies, ranunculus and dusty miller, matching Rachel's soft spray rose boutonniere. The couple's wedding bands were purchased at Mark Broumand, which specializes in custom designs.
Photo: Jen Huang
Naomi's three closest friends wore granite-colored satin dresses and carried full bouquets that mimicked the bride's own.
Photo: Jen Huang
In addition to designing their own classic blue and white wedding invitations, Naomi and Rachel made their own guest book—with a twist. "Rachel is a geologist, and I just happen to love rocks," Naomi says. "So instead of a guest book we asked our guests to sign rocks."
Photo: Jen Huang
Miniature crab cakes and smoked salmon canapes were offered to guests during cocktail hour—but it was the creatures who weren't served on platters that stole the show. The couple asked zookeepers to "walk around with different petting animals for guests to touch and learn about," Naomi says.
The couple's signature cocktail? A beverage that matched Naomi's beautiful dress, of course. "Our blush-colored signature cocktail was a Paloma—pink grapefruit juice, soda, lime and tequila," Naomi says.
Photo: Jen Huang
Guests were seated at a single banquet table covered in candles and feminine flower arrangements that fell from Naomi's own 40-piece milk glass collection. "One long gray runner with lace edges—made lovingly by one of my bridesmaids—ran straight down the dinner table," Naomi says. Above guests' heads—and floating in the nearby reflection pool—were more candles.
Photo: Jen Huang
"The flower arrangements consisted of the same flowers used in my bouquet with the addition of Queen Anne's Lace, and were arranged in white milk glass pieces that I collected," Naomi says. The couple handcrafted table numbers from wood frames and coordinating fabrics. Pink and lace ribbons streamed from the couple's chairs, which also donned their initials.
Photo: Jen Huang
A classic white fondant cake—with a custom topper made to resemble the couple—served as dessert.
Photo: Jen Huang
Naomi and Rachel escaped the party through crackling sparklers on their way to France and Greece.
—Jillian Kramer
Venue: Houston Zoo || Floral Design: The Nouveau Romantics || Catering: The Bird & The Bear || Gown: Ines di Santo dress || Bridal Boutique: Belle Mariee Bridal || Hair Flower: Tessa Kim || Rings: Mark Broumand || Bridesmaids: Eden Bridals || Photography: Jen Huang Photography
For more gorgeous photos of Naomi and Rachel's wedding, visit 100 Layer Cake.
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