Brooke McLeod
& Kyle Sederstrom
Tracy Autem Photography
August 21, 2020 / Robert Carr Chapel and Rivercrest Country Club, Fort Worth
BROOKE AND KYLE met at Texas Christian University, but he didn’t ask her out until they both spent a summer in New York City. She turned him down because her mom was in town that weekend. Their paths crossed again in Texas and he asked her on a date to a Dallas Stars game.
They are both die-hard Horned Frog fans, and Kyle’s company sponsors many of the TCU athletic events. He told Brooke that he was being interviewed for the TCU magazine and convinced her to go along with him. The photographer posed the two of them as if it were actually for the magazine, but when Kyle took her to the deck overlooking the TCU football field, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. They celebrated at a surprise party with all of their friends and family (who had flown in from out of state) at B&B Butchers & Restaurant.
PLANNING DURING A PANDEMIC
Brooke and Kyle mailed their wedding invitations and were set to be married on April 25 when lockdown started. They had to postpone their big day by four months. Even then, they weren’t certain they would get to marry in August until about two weeks before their set date. Restrictions forced them to cut their original guest list from 350 to 205 and only close friends and family could attend the actual ceremony. Everyone else got to go to the cocktail hour early.
THE INSPIRATION
Brooke knew she wanted a classic, timeless and elegant Southern wedding. She’s obsessed with boxwoods of all shapes and sizes, white florals and ginger jars, which she incorporated into the overall wedding design. The topiary trees, chinoiserie jars and traditional Southern florals, as well as the Restoration Hardware restaurant aesthetic (complete with a giant crystal chandelier) adorned their tented lounge area.
HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED
Brooke got her gown from Carolina Herrera and added 2 feet to the train, which complemented her 15-foot Italian lace cathedral veil from the Bridal Salon at Neiman Marcus. Her other favorite fashion element was her pair of white Manolo Blahnik “Hangisi” heels with blue crystals.
Brooke’s bouquet consisted of white peonies, ranunculus and garden roses wrapped in white silk. A custom Shuler Studio duogram was featured on the bouquet silk, and throughout the décor.
Branching Out Events created two huge, luxurious floral arrangements in gold urns that were placed on each side of the altar. Katy at Branching Out and Jamie at Crème de La Crème Cake Company created the towering 6-foot-tall cake with a 5-foot-wide floral halo that they suspended above it. The cake was displayed on a round mirrored table and placed in the center of the ballroom. The groom’s cake was shaped to look like a pair of cowboy boots on top of a Yeti cooler. Their getaway car was a white Rolls Royce Phantom with a “Just Married” sign and “No more kissing frogs” printed beneath.
Wedding Vendors We Love
Invitations: PS the Letter, Fort Worth
More Vendors
Photography: Tracy Autem Photography, Fort Worth; Ceremony venue: Robert Carr Chapel, Fort Worth; Reception venue, caterer, drink service: Rivercrest Country Club, Fort Worth; Wedding planner: Grit & Gold Event Co., Dallas; Flowers and design: Branching Out Floral & Event Design, Dallas; Furniture rentals: Perch Event Decor, Dallas; Lighting: Absolute Lighting, Dallas; Linens: LaTavola Fine Linen; Cake, groom’s cake: Crème De la Crème Cake Company, Fort Worth; Other desserts: Cowtown Cookie Co., Fort Worth; The Velvet Crumb Bakery, Fort Worth; Band: Intensity Bands, Addison; Dance floor, dance floor monogram: Center Stage Floors, Dallas; Trees/Plants: BreadnButter Special Event Plant Rental, Carrollton; Videography: Splendor Films, Dallas; Photo booth: MirMir Photo Booth; Laser duogram wood cutouts: Artifacture, Dallas; Ceremony music: Serenata Strings; Duogram: Shuler Studio; Wedding Crest: Mesh By Alex Schwenke, Houston; Other stationery: Paper Planet, Fort Worth; Balloon arch: Stellar Balloons, Fort Worth; Wedding dress, veil, accessories: Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon, Dallas; Bridesmaid dresses: Bella Bridesmaids, Dallas; Groom/groomsmen attire: Culwell & Son, University Park; Jeweler: Read’s Jewelers, Fort Worth; Hair & makeup: Maitee Miles, DFW; Transportation: Premier Transportation of Dallas and Hamilton Transportation, Arlington; Rehearsal dinner venue: The Fort Worth Club