Happy Monday, friends! I’m still coming off the high of a fun wedding weekend in Gruene, Texas. Aaron and I got back yesterday afternoon, and we were exhausted from all of the fun we had this weekend. We danced the night away, and this mom-to-be stayed up way longer than I have in a really long time. It was the perfect weekend for a wedding – the weather was amazing, and Gruene is the perfect little town to fully embrace fall. So, why don’t we get right into it!
By the way, Aaron and I have received so many messages of support, encouragement and friends and family sharing in our excitement from our big news. We feel ready to fully embrace this next chapter of our lives. Thanks for joining us for the ride!
Welcome dinner in Gruene, Texas
We drove in on Friday afternoon. It was storming when we left Houston, so it was slow getting out of town. We left later than planned, so we were kind of pushing it on time. We were schedule to roll in right as the welcome dinner was starting. It’s just about a three hour drive from Houston, and we made it was about ten minutes to spare. After checking into our room, letting the pups out to the bathroom and getting them situated and making a very quick outfit change, we walked down to the Welcome Dinner.
The dinner was held at the Gruene Homestead Inn, which is where many of the out-of-town guests were staying. Since they are pet friendly, we brought the pups along for the weekend. More on that in just a bit.
The Welcome Dinner was held down by the pool, and it was chilly for an October evening in Texas. I snagged a jacket from my closet at the very last minute, and I was glad I did. Here’s a photo of Aaron with Richard (the groom) and our friend, Zach.
And of course, a photo of the ladies. Here I am with the bride and our friend, Megan. Since Aaron and Richard have known each other since they were babies, Aaron has a long history with Richard’s family. And, they’ve since become part of mine. It was so nice to catch up with friends – new and old – at the welcome dinner. The evening ended with a slideshow of Richard and Sarah!
Gruene Homestead Inn
The Gruene Homestead Inn is a bed and breakfast, which was convenient for the guests since many came from out of state. The entire facility was rented out \for the wedding weekend, so everyone staying there was attending the wedding. We stayed in one of the dog-friendly buildings, and it was perfect.
The inside was rustic, which was perfect for Gruene. They served a hot, scratch-made breakfast for all the guests every morning, which was nice because we could just get up, grab breakfast and coffee and get ready to start the day.
The grounds were also really pretty, and there was plenty of room to walk the dogs.
The Chapel at Gruene
Wedding day started off bright and early. Aaron and I grabbed breakfast, and we took the dogs on a really long walk to wear them out. It was a really walkable neighborhood, and the weather was perfect, so we were able to wear them out. I didn’t want them barking or stressed while we were at the wedding.
Shortly after, Aaron’s parents made it into Gruene for the wedding. So, we decided to go to lunch with them. We had high hopes of eating at the Gristmill, which is one of New Braunfels’/Gruene’s most popular restaurants. But, of course, it was packed on a Saturday, so we opted for lunch at The Gruene Door, which was just as delicious.
After lunch, it was time to get ready for the wedding. Aaron got ready and went to go help set a few things up. I got ready, and headed over to the venue, which was the Chapel at Gruene! The Chapel at Gruene is an open-air venue for the ceremony. It was quaint – and felt like everything a Texas wedding in the fall should feel like.
The attire was “Cowboy Casual,” so this is what Aaron and I ended up with. We got Richard and Sarah married, and all the guests enjoyed a cocktail hour outside. Again, the weather was perfect for this whole setup.
Then, everyone went inside to enjoy some dinner. It was BBQ-style – and all the tables were seated family style.
After dinner, we go to the speeches. Aaron was giving a toast since he and Richard are best friends. And, I was a bit nervous. He’s been crafting this speech for awhile, but has kept it under wraps. It ended up being perfect!
And, we ended the night with a lot of dancing! It was lovely meeting so many new people from near and far. One of the guests was from Alaska! We arrive back in Houston on Sunday with full hearts. It was a lovely weekend celebrating a lovely couple!!!!
Have a wonderful week
Have a wonderful week, friends. Today is going to be a whirlwind. I’m catching up on work, and of course, getting ready for my trick-or-treaters a bit later today!
