Happy New Year from Dallas! After four months of winter spent in Texas, we’re packing our bags and heading back to New York City. I can’t wait to walk back into our Brooklyn apartment, curl up amongst our things, and settle into familiar routines. There’s something about the comfort of home that feels extra sweet after an extended time away.
If you follow along on Instagram, you may have caught a glimpse of how we spent New Year’s Eve: celebrating my friend Jessica’s wedding. The ceremony was held at Le Meridien Dallas, The Stoneleigh Hotel, in the beautiful Penthouse suite. It was an evening filled with everything you’d hope for—delicious hors d’oeuvres, cocktails mixed just strong enough, and laughter echoing through the room as we waited for midnight. When the fireworks lit up the Dallas sky, it felt like the perfect send-off to a year that had been heavy with uncertainty, and the perfect beginning to a year of hope and joy. Watching two people we love finally say “I do” after such a turbulent time made the moment even more meaningful.
The Morning After: A Photo Session to Remember
As if the night itself weren’t memorable enough, the following day Jessica generously let us borrow her Penthouse suite for something very special: our save-the-date photo shoot.
We worked with Charla Storey, a Dallas-based photographer we had met during our David’s Bridal spring campaign shoot. Having already admired her eye for capturing light and atmosphere, we knew she’d be perfect for something as personal as this. With our wedding date set for September 4, 2021—Labor Day weekend in France—we were beginning to feel the pressure of wedding timelines creeping up. Save-the-date cards needed to go out quickly, and these photos would serve as both keepsakes and practical tools for our invitations and wedding website.
Dressing the Part
For the occasion, I chose a wintry velvet tulip dress by Eloquii, pairing it with my favorite Sarah Flint Perfect 85 pumps. It struck just the right balance of festive and timeless. Thomas leaned into classic tailoring with tweed trousers, a soft cashmere sweater, and a camel coat from Banana Republic. His look was finished with suede high-tops from Mr. Porter, which gave everything a slightly modern twist.
The Penthouse itself couldn’t have been more fitting. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, and cozy corners with bookshelves gave the suite a warmth that balanced its grandeur. We had spent the night before sipping martinis in those very nooks, talking about the year ahead. Returning to that same space for our photos felt serendipitous—an elegant way to tie our memories of Dallas into this chapter of our story.
The Save-the-Date Timeline
Now comes the not-so-glamorous but very necessary part of wedding planning: deadlines. Because our celebration is a destination wedding, the etiquette rule of thumb is to send save-the-dates about six to seven months before the big day. Invitations should follow about twelve weeks prior. With February around the corner, our window was quickly closing.
We’re designing our cards through Minted.com, which makes it easy to upload images and customize layouts while we finalize the rest of our stationery vendors. It feels like a small task in the grand scheme of wedding planning, but it’s one of those foundational steps that helps everything else fall into place.
Why These Photos Matter
Looking back, what makes these save-the-date photos so special isn’t just the fashion or the setting—it’s the timing. They capture us in the in-between, on the cusp of heading back to New York, with the anticipation of our France wedding buzzing in the background. They’re a snapshot of love, hope, and a season of transition.
A Question for You
As we prepare to send our cards out, I can’t help but wonder—how did you handle your own save-the-dates? Did you create them yourself, or did you work with a professional?
For us, this step feels like both a logistical milestone and an emotional one. The photos remind us not only of Dallas and dear friends but of the excitement of building a future together, one little piece of stationery at a time.
