It was fate that brought Emily Moss and Kevin Brooke together – two 20-year-olds embarking on their own journey to study abroad in Barcelona. She was a valley girl from Los Angeles and a student athlete at the University of Arizona. He was a Midwestern boy from Minnesota, attending Duke.

“The connection was instant,” Emily remembers. “Within weeks, we made a surreal experience feel very real together.” Between classes, clubs, and adventures across five different countries together, their foundation was set in those unforgettable months in Spain.

Nine years later, their love story reached another milestone at their first home in Austin, Texas. Just days after moving in, Kevin proposed in their backyard with their beloved dog by their side. “The surprises continued by having all our parents and siblings walk out of the house right after he popped the question,” Emily shares. The special time in their relationship with all of their favorite people turned into the most quintessential Austin weekend, with boat rides on Lake Austin, neighborhood strolls, and dinners at their favorite local spots.

When it came to planning their wedding, Emily trusted her instincts and of course focused on celebrating their love story and their beloved Austin. “I was very specific about how I dreamed up the weekend and the big day,” she explains, wanting to maximize time with loved ones and ensure everyone had a great time. With the guidance of her planner as well as her family and friends, she curated an elegant and deeply personal celebration that reflected the pair’s love of hosting.

A neutral palette of white florals including peonies, orchids, hydrangeas, and roses set a timeless tone for the soirée, accented by the glow of candlelight, 10 specially curated chandeliers, and sleek black details for subtle contrast.

“The vision was to create a clean and simple look while making the space feel super warm, intimate, and inviting,” says the bride of her vision inspired by their own home décor. An alfresco ceremony and indoor reception in a space with floor-to-ceiling windows created exactly the look the couple envisioned.

Emily began the morning with her bridesmaids, surprising them with facials and a champagne toast before slipping into her gown. Her German Shepherd, Oakley, was by her side for every moment – from their morning coffee walk to the ceremony itself.

“The vision was to create a clean and simple look while making the space feel super warm, intimate, and inviting.”

At last, Emily walked down the aisle to meet Kevin, with her brother-in-law officiating. At the beginning of the ceremony, a gust of wind whisked the bride’s veil off. “It made the ceremony way more us,” Emily recalls. “Light-hearted, natural, and cherished because all that mattered was that moment and experience between Kevin and me.”

When guests entered the reception highlighting a “clean and simple” design that also “felt elegant, yet warm and personal,” Emily describes, they enjoyed a delicious fall-inspired dinner of butternut squash bisque, a choice of salmon or beef tenderloin, and late-night sliders, pizza, and fries for welcome comfort foods. Dessert was playful and personal: milk and cookies paired with espresso martinis in lieu of a traditional wedding cake.

The highlight of the evening was surely the dance floor. The couple spared no expense on entertainment, flying in a live band from Atlanta. “We knew the band we wanted and knew that was where we would splurge. It makes the entire night!” says Emily. “Looking around to see all the different faces having so much fun – it was an overwhelming joy.” After the band’s final set, a close friend took over as DJ for a late-night finale, keeping the energy high before guests continued to Jim Bob’s for the after-party.

Looking back, Emily cherishes the intimacy of having the entire weekend hosted in one place, even with 100 guests in attendance. “It was the best way to maximize time with our family and friends,” she shares. Her advice to other couples is simple but heartfelt: “Celebrate all the big and small things. Make every moment a memory. It really is such a sweet and special time; soak it up.”