Inside a Shady Oaks Country Club wedding with personal touches

Ben and Delaney Sexton

the venue. Shady Oaks Country Club
the photos. Mollie Goodspeed Photography

Popcorn and corndogs during dancing, a TiVo groom’s cake and an intimate ceremony on the 18th hole of the Shady Oaks Country Club golf course — every detail of the Sextons’ wedding was a creative reflection of their passions. Instead of deciding between a small wedding or a big event, Ben and Delaney Sexton opted for both: an intimate ceremony and dinner followed by a large reception.

The event began with just 35 people, including Delaney’s uncle as the officiant. The bride wore a dress by Alice in Ivory, and the groom wore a tuxedo from Neiman Marcus. For name cards, the bride and the groom handwrote letters to each guest. The small gathering meant the couple was able to stay grounded and not feel any part of their day was a performance, Delaney says. After dinner, 200 people celebrated with the Sextons at the reception. Time Machine covers included “Delaney Talks to Statues,” the Jimmy Buffett song the bride was named for — and an appropriate choice for the father-daughter dance. They also danced to a few Pitbull songs, per the groom’s request.

Both Ben and Delaney attended the University of Texas — separated by seven years, and they connected through an app — so they’ve been to many weddings with a groom’s cake in the shape of a Longhorn or the UT Tower. Their groom’s cake paid homage to Ben’s college days but was decorated to look like a TiVo device. He was the first of his friends in college to own one, which meant his room was the go-to hangout. Briar Rose Venue made both the bride’s and the groom’s cakes. Most of the furniture and linens used were custom-made, and some of it has been passed on to Delaney’s parents, who own a wedding venue in East Texas. One of the most eye-catching pieces was a white frame behind the altar, which faced the golf course’s 18th hole and made for an elegant, simple backdrop.

The Sextons chose Shady Oaks because the venue’s golf course is one of their happy places. Their specialty cocktail, the carajillo, was served at Izzy’s Carajillo Bar, named for their dog, and inspired by another place they love to visit, San Miguel, Mexico. The drink is a Mexican take on the espresso martini and is a favorite when they’re south of the border. Delaney said her photographer, Mollie Goodspeed, and florist, Botanical Floristry, were two of her standout vendors, but they had a great experience with everyone they worked with.

For the paper products, signs and other visuals, Delaney designed everything herself. Beyond save-the-dates and invitations, her handiwork included coasters with “Don’t take my drink, I’m dancing with the Sextons,” and cocktail napkins featuring Izzy. During the process, she realized she had a knack for design and has since spun her passion into a special events branding and stationery business, Mimo Market.