Natural décor inspires Texas Hill Country wedding

Elements of the Texas Hill Country are woven into a sophisticated design scheme.

When Maureen Reibel of Elegant Events, San Antonio, Texas, set out to create a June wedding in the Texas Hill Country, she and her clients took inspiration from the spectacular landscape as opposed to ranch stereotypes—no sunflowers, cowboys boots or Mason jars allowed. “We took things that you find on a ranch like cactus, grasses and antlers, and lifted it up to an elegant black-tie affair,” Reibel says. Under an 82-by-148-foot tent installed by Texas-based Peerless Events and Tents, Reibel combined shades of green and white with other natural elements, fashioning a sophisticated space for cocktails, dinner and dancing.

Found decor

Antlers harvested from the ranch were deployed as decor pieces, three large antler chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and a canopy of string lights, uplighting and pin spots illuminated the space. “The bridal party head table had a cactus pad table runner made from live cactus pads that spilled over to the floor,” Reibel says. “The bride was very much into flowers, and she just loved the cactus pads.” End walls of the tent were solid white, while sheer drapes softened the view through clear sidewalls. A mixture of round and farm tables, along with sofas, settees and banquettes contributed to a comfortable flow through the room.

Elevated impressions

White carpet was a happy accident—a brown carpet was planned, but after a mix-up in delivery, the team switched out to white, which did require more sweeping and wearing booties. “[The white carpet] elevated the look with the draping and the lights and the ceiling,” Reibel says. “It was lovely the way it came together.” Another challenge was the ranch setting itself. While turkeys, cattle and adventure seekers tubing down the Guadalupe River left the installation alone, raccoons were pesky and required clean up. Challenges aside, the celebration came together as an exquisite reflection of the topography. “I just think it was a to-die-for event,” Reibel says. “Everyone loved it.”