Anna Kautz and Addison Wheeler
the venue. Bowie House
the photos. Reigh Walker
Anna and Addison attended the same high school, but it wasn’t until they both moved back home during COVID-19 that their lives truly intertwined. “Addison asked me on a date, and something just clicked,” Anna said. “It felt so easy and natural.”
From that first date, after fate aligned their homecomings, they never stopped spending time together. “Now, five years later, I’m so grateful that life brought us back home at the same time,” she said.
The proposal unfolded in Cancun, Mexico, during Addison’s graduation trip. Under the guise of a family beach photo shoot that the family was “running late” for, the photographer asked Addison and Anna to take a few pictures together.
As they strolled along the shore, Addison proposed. “To make it even more special, my parents showed up right after to congratulate us,” Anna said. “It was such an amazing surprise, one I’ll cherish forever.”
The Love Story
My husband and I went to the same high school, but we barely knew each other back then. It wasn’t until we both moved back home during COVID that our paths truly crossed. Addison asked me on a date, and something just clicked—it felt so easy and natural! From that day on, we never stopped spending time together. Now, five years later, I’m so grateful that life brought us back home at the same time.
The Proposal
We were in Cancun for Addison’s graduation trip when the proposal happened. Addison’s family had planned a beach photo shoot, but they were “running late,” so the photographer asked Addison and me to take a few pictures together. Then, as we were walking on the beach, he popped the question! To make it even more special, my parents showed up right after to congratulate us. It was such an amazing surprise—one I’ll cherish forever!
The Wedding Venue
We spent a long time searching for the perfect wedding venue, wanting a place that felt special and unique. When we toured Bowie House, it was still under construction, but even at that early stage, we could sense its charm and potential. The blend of Texas character, elegance, and an intimate atmosphere made it clear this was exactly what we were looking for. From that moment, we knew Bowie House was the perfect place to celebrate our big day.
The Vibe
For our wedding, we envisioned something truly special—an intimate dinner party that was both formal and elegant, yet comfortable and inviting. Every detail was planned to create a warm, personal setting where friends and family could connect, celebrate, and enjoy the evening together. It was important to us that our guests felt as treasured as they are in our lives!
The Photography
We chose our photography and videography team because we knew they would capture our genuine joy and the true vibes of our day! We knew we would look back on our wedding day and relive it through the photos and videos! Their style felt natural and authentic! They worked seamlessly together as a team to tell our story perfectly.
The Dress
I wanted a wedding dress that was elegant and classic but still felt like me. The moment I put it on, I felt confident and beautiful—I knew it was the one! To add a personal touch, we even had a custom bow made for the reception.
The Accessories
For my “something borrowed,” I wore my grandmother’s gold wedding band, carrying her love with me on the day. My bridesmaids were my “something blue,” and I absolutely loved their dresses. I wanted something that complemented mine perfectly, so we chose styles with a beautiful bow detail to tie everything together. My “something new” was my wedding band, which was engraved with my husband’s initials and our wedding date.
The Bridesmaids
My bridesmaids were my “something blue” and wore a misty blue in a satin fabric. It was the perfect blue because they were a subtle pop of color that blended with the overall theme. They also had a bow detail that was a nod to my dress and details throughout my wedding season!
The Groomsmen
For the groomsmen, we went with classic black tuxedos—timeless and sharp!
The Wedding Rings
Addison chose a solid gold band, while I went with a gold diamond pavé band. We both had our rings engraved with each other’s initials and our wedding date, making them even more personal and meaningful.
The Hair and Makeup
For my hair and makeup, my goal was to feel like the best version of myself! Ashley and her team made me feel confident and beautiful! They were the perfect team to collaborate with to achieve the overall look! We kept everything natural and clean. We went with an updo for my hair because it was classy but still fun.
The Stationery
We chose timeless and elegant wedding stationery—ivory paper with black ink, highlighted by our wedding monogram, and finished with a delicate bow for a classic touch.
The Florals
Our florist executed every detail flawlessly. I envisioned lush white floral arrangements that added depth and warmth to the space, and Shaun brought that vision to life! Some of the florals we used were peonies, garden roses, and hydrangeas!
The Morning Of
My maid of honor had the perfect playlist going all morning, keeping the energy upbeat and making the moments in between feel extra special. I was feeling a mix of nerves, gratitude, and pure happiness that our wedding day had finally arrived. Then Addison surprised me with the most beautiful flowers delivered right to my hotel room, along with the sweetest note—an unforgettable highlight of the day. We were both so happy and so excited to begin this new chapter together!
The Ceremony
Our wedding ceremony was just perfect. A violinist played music as everyone walked down the aisle, and we shared traditional vows surrounded by love. One of the best moments was when our friends and family prayed blessings over our marriage—it made everything feel even more special as we entered this next chapter together!
The Reception
Our wedding reception was truly unforgettable. A live band provided the perfect songs and had the most talented musicians! We named our bar “Bar Allie” in honor of our golden retriever, with personalized his-and-hers cocktails. At “Bar Allie,” I went with a spicy margarita, and Addison picked an Old Fashioned. Each guest was greeted with a thoughtfully placed gift—a votive candle handcrafted by my parents, honoring my mom’s candle-making business she had when I was growing up. My dad delivered a heartfelt speech that moved many to tears. The evening was filled with joyous dancing, laughter, and celebration, as the love and happiness shared among everyone present was unmistakably felt throughout the night. We will cherish these memories forever!
The Planning
Larissa was amazing to work with! We met early on in the process. She made an intimidating planning season fun and exciting! Our wedding day was executed seamlessly because of her!
The Cake
We went with a traditional wedding cake design, but added a personal touch! Our cake had subtle bow details. We had two flavors. I chose a champagne cake, while Addison chose red velvet!
The Food
One of the things we were most excited about was the food—and it did not disappoint! We’ll never forget how incredibly the Bowie House staff treated us and our guests. Every plate was served at the exact same moment, like a perfectly choreographed dance. It felt so elegant and special. That attention to detail made the night even more unforgettable.
The Favorite Moment
One of my favorite moments from the day was right after the ceremony. As we made our way through cocktail hour and walked through the hotel lobby to take photos in another spot, all of our guests were cheering us on—it was such a surreal and happy blur. But what made it even more special was that even the hotel guests in the lobby and bar joined in, cheering and clapping for us like we were celebrities. It was such a fun, unexpected moment that made us feel so loved and celebrated.
The Unexpected
On our wedding morning, it was raining, and I was a bit nervous about how it would affect the day. But as we stood in the ceremony room, the soft rain outside actually added a beautiful touch. A family friend shared a saying that stuck with me: “Rain is liquid sunshine.” That perspective turned my nerves into appreciation, and I’ll always remember how the rain made our day feel even more special.
The Honeymoon
After a whirlwind year and wedding season, we were so ready to relax. Our honeymoon in Playa Mujeres was perfect—sun, sand, and zero stress. We stayed at an adults-only, all-inclusive resort, and it was exactly what we needed to unwind and enjoy each other’s company. A dream come true!
The Advice
Cherish each moment, big and small, and approach the journey with gratitude! It’s the love you share that makes it all meaningful!
The Vendors
PLANNING AND DESIGN Fête Fort Worth
HAIR AND MAKEUP Ashley McNabb Artistry
VENUE Bowie House
FLORAL Raofactor
PHOTOGRAPHY Reigh Walker
VIDEOGRAPHY Alabaster Films
RENTALS Grand Events
ENTERTAINMENT Jordan Kahn Music Company, Manhattan Band
BRIDAL SALON Lovely Bride
MUSICIAN Catherine Beck Music
MENSWEAR The Black Tux
INVITATIONS Sally G Designs