LOVE ON THE LAKE - i

LOVE ON THE LAKE
KELLYE H U NT & DUSTIN R AU GHTO N
October 12, 2013 Graford, Texas
As a little girl, Kellye Hunt would wait anxiously for her nextdoor neighbor Dustin Raughton to come home from school, so she
could run outside and wave to him. “I had a huge crush on Dustin
growing up, but of course he wanted nothing to do with me,” recalls
the bride. Despite her opposition, the groom does admit to taking
notice of Kellye at an early age: “I always remembered the giant
bows in her hair and her cheerful demeanor,” reminisces the groom.
“She has always had a one-of-a-kind personality.”
Kellye and Dustin’s relationship developed over the years, and
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Photographed by Vue Photography
before long the bride’s childhood crush became her fiancé. Prior
to his proposal, Dustin made sure to ask his bride-to-be’s father for
his blessing. “We were driving one afternoon and I told him that I
was working on a ring for [Kellye]. He couldn’t stop smiling; he was
beyond excited,” says the groom. On a romantic getaway to one of
their favorite destinations in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Dustin dropped
to one knee and asked Kellye to marry him with a custom-made
yellow diamond engagement ring. “It could not have been more
perfect!” exclaims the bride.
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RESOURCES
Beauty
Isha Meshaal for Fort Worth Blow
Dry Bar - hair
Bridal Gown/Veil
Monique Lhuillier
Bridal Salon
Warren Barrón Bridal
Bridesmaid Gowns
Nightcap
Cake
Cakewalk Bake Shop
Catering/Favors
Sissy’s Southern Kitchen & Bar
Consulting
Tara Wilson Events
Entertainment
The Good Nights - ceremony &
reception
DJ Mark Lane for i Entertainment reception
Floral Design
Branching Out Floral & Event
Design
Formalwear
Ermenegildo Zegna
Hair Accessories
Branching Out Floral & Event
Design
Honeymoon
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
Invitations/Calligraphy
Blue Eye Brown Eye
Jewelry
Grissom’s Fine Jewelry
Lighting Design
Hunt Electric
Linens
Ducky-Bob’s Event Specialists
Photography
Vue Photography
Rentals
Ducky-Bob’s Event Specialists
Maven; Suite 206
Shoes
Christian Louboutin
Venue
Private Residence
Videography
Mason Jar Films
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Originally desiring a destination beach wedding, the couple
ultimately decided to plan an autumn affair closer to home. “The
closest thing to the beach is my father’s lake house, which ended
up being the absolute perfect spot,” confides Kellye. A natural color
palette of ivory and green was used to highlight the raw beauty of the
surroundings, and also achieved the bride’s “Southern and classic”
theme. In order to keep the evening intimate, Kellye and Dustin
celebrated their momentous occasion with just one bridesmaid, one
groomsman, and 55 loved ones.
Guests gathered for the elegant outdoor ceremony on a grassy lawn
overlooking the lake. A natural aisleway sprinkled with hundreds of
alabaster petals led to the ceremony arch, which was comprised of
magnolia-leaf garlands and featured a small chandelier suspended
overhead; arrangements of billowing ivory hydrangeas were placed
at both sides of the structure. Kellye glided gracefully down the
aisle in an ethereal lace gown with a trumpet skirt and a detachable
tulle overskirt, which she removed for the reception. The bride
carried a cascading bouquet composed of a variety of succulents and
gardenias, which she passed to her sister before exchanging vows
with her groom.
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“There is something to be said in having all the people you
love in one place for an event that only happens once.”
“The ceremony was the most important aspect for me,” declares
Dustin. “We wanted [an officiant] that would share in our love and
convey a great message.” And so, the bride and groom selected the
father of Kellye’s father’s girlfriend to conduct the ceremony. “It is
the best feeling having someone that is a part of your family marry
you,” begins the bride. “We will always remember the words he
chose for our vows: ‘I promise to kiss you first thing each morning
and last thing each evening, so long as we both shall live.’”
An enchanting lakefront porch welcomed guests to the sit-
down dinner service. Dark-wood tables absent of linens were
arranged in a U-shape, so guests could communicate freely with
one another throughout the meal. Bundles of hydrangeas in green
and cream hues provided a solid train centerpiece that “overflowed”
from the ends of the table to the wood flooring at its base. Ivory
candles illuminated hurricane vessels and translucent ghost chairs
emphasized the natural décor. “I wish I could relive being at that
dinner table – the weather, people, laughter, speeches – everything
was beyond perfect,” says Kellye.
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While guests dined on Southern-inspired menu items,
a live band performed the couple’s favorite songs and
continued to do so throughout the night while loved ones
danced atop checkered flooring. A comfortable seating area
was provided for relaxation, and strings of twinkling café
lights shone overhead, enriching the romantic ambience. A
dessert bar provided a selection of sweet treats including
miniature cherry pies, strawberry shortcakes, s’mores,
and macarons. The highlight of the display – a “naked”
pumpkin-spice wedding cake with cream cheese frosting in
between layers – was embellished with a classic cake topper
and garnished with greenery.
The festivities concluded at midnight and, staying true
to their Southern hospitality, the couple ensured guests
left completely satisfied. “Everyone had a choice of a
cheeseburger or taquito as they were leaving!” notes Kellye,
who made sure wedding attendees were provided with latenight snacks from a popular fast-food eatery upon their
exits. Reflecting on their day, both bride and groom agree
that everything went flawlessly – despite a wasp getting
stuck in Kellye’s tulle skirt during the ceremony. Recalls the
groom, “I was amazed at how comfortable it all was… [We
KELCY CHRISTY
were] very relaxed.”
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