Elisabeth Williamson & Mason Mundell
Elisabeth “Lilli” Williamson and Mason Mundell celebrated their wedding at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, where the bride grew up attending and her parents were married, followed by a reception at The Fort Worth Club. As a nod to the couple’s time in London and their love for Queen Mary’s Rose Garden, Melanie Tatum Events transformed The Fort Worth Club into a lush garden for Lilli and Mason’s black-tie wedding. From flower-filled elevators and champagne coupes hanging from the ceiling to a magical hallway adorned with sculptural trees and framed photos, the atmosphere was a perfect blend of “Bridgerton” meets “Alice in Wonderland.” From the first look at Lilli’s childhood home to being whisked away as the newly minted Mr. and Mrs., every element of their unforgettable celebration was a vision of elegance and whimsy. Join us for an exclusive Q&A with the bride as we dive into the details of their special day.
the couple. Elisabeth Williamson & Mason Mundell
the venue. The First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth | The Fort Worth Club
the planner/designer. Melanie Tatum Events
the photos. Sara Donaldson
The Love Story
We met in Nashville, Tennessee, 2021. Mason saw me on one of his friend’s Instagram stories and decided to send me a direct Instagram message. His first message said … “Hi Lilli, I hope your Monday has been a breeze,” lol. It took us about four weeks to go out and the rest was history.
The Proposal
After dating for a year in Nashville, we decided to move to London for six months. Mason, being bold, brought the engagement ring with him when we left the U.S. Since we were far from family over Christmas, we decided to spend the last month of our stay in Austria. Austria was stunning this time of year, with snow and Christmas markets. Mason planned a backcountry sleigh ride on Dec. 27, 2024, about an hour outside of Salzburg. About an hour into the sleigh ride, we stopped to take photos in a snowy field with a beautiful mountain backdrop. Shortly after posing for photos, Mason dropped to one knee. I was shocked and overjoyed, and we returned to the U.S. as an engaged couple!
The Wedding Venue
We were married at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, with the reception held at The Fort Worth Club. This church holds a special place in my heart as I grew up attending it, starting with Sunday school. My entire family has been a part of this church for generations. It was especially sentimental because my youth pastor, a close family friend, officiated the ceremony. Adding to the significance, my mother also got married at this same church, with her reception at The Fort Worth Club.
The Vibe
We had a black-tie wedding that beautifully blended our love for the outdoors with elegant sophistication. Since Mason and I spent most of our Sundays in London walking through Queen Mary’s Rose Garden while watching church online, we decided to incorporate that special memory into our wedding. We aimed to create the feeling of stepping into a lush garden the moment our guests arrived. From the moment you stepped into the elevator, you were surrounded by flowers. Exiting the elevator, guests were greeted by champagne coupes hanging from the ceiling and the enchanting music of a violinist. Walking down a magical hallway adorned with sculptural trees, flowers, and framed photos of Mason and me, it truly felt like a homecoming. The atmosphere was a perfect blend of “Bridgerton” meets “Alice in Wonderland,” creating an unforgettable, whimsical experience.
The Photography
Sara Donaldson photographed my sister’s wedding, so having her for my own felt especially meaningful. We were fortunate to have Sarah capture our big day. We wanted the photos to feel natural, and she excels at highlighting everyone’s natural features. I wanted the day and night captured discreetly, and she perfectly balanced being unobtrusive with guiding me for the perfect photos I didn’t know I needed.
The Dress
I always knew that finding the dress would be challenging for me since I am a perfectionist, but when I tried on the dress, I knew it was the one. My mom, sister, sister-in-law and best friend came dress shopping with me, and when I tried it on, they all teared up. I felt truly myself in this dress, and I’ll never forget when Mason and I had our first look. He said to me, “this dress is you; it is absolutely perfect.”
The Accessories
My mother passed down to me pearl and diamond earrings that have been cherished through generations — from her mother, to her, to my sister and finally to me. For my wedding, I wore new Jimmy Choo shoes, carried a handkerchief that had belonged to my grandmother as my something blue and borrowed the sixpence that had adorned my sister at her own wedding. I wore custom cowboy boots from Petite Paloma, designed with the Texas state flower, which was especially meaningful to me because I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Bridesmaids
I always imagined my bridesmaids would be my something blue, and that’s exactly what happened. I wanted them to feel beautiful and graceful on the big day, and also have the option to wear their dresses again with a simple hem for a cute and fun look. To match with me, they wore pearl earrings as well. On the morning of my wedding, as we were getting ready, my bridesmaids surprised me with a coffee table picture book. Each page was dedicated to a bridesmaid, featuring a photo of us together and a heartfelt letter.
The Groomsmen
Mason wanted his groomsmen and all the men attending the wedding to feel like James Bond, a true black-tie event with no fancy colors outside of Mason wearing the only white tux jacket. He gifted all of his groomsmen a custom knife.
The Wedding Rings
Mason opted for a classic gold ring, adhering to a traditional style. We personalized our rings with sentimental engravings. I inscribed a cross, our wedding date and our initials on his ring. On my wedding band, he engraved our wedding date.
The Hair and Makeup
I wanted to feel like myself on my wedding day with very natural makeup and hair. I chose to wear my hair how I normally wear it curled and half up/half down. For makeup, I wanted a natural, glowing look. My makeup artist achieved exactly that, enhancing my natural features and ensuring I felt authentic and radiant.
The Stationery
We wanted to incorporate our London rose garden inspiration into our wedding stationery, incorporating elements that resonate with my love for flowers, butterflies, and color. We used pastel colors for the design, creating a soft and elegant backdrop that complemented our theme beautifully. The invitation itself was kept simple yet elegant, allowing its design to speak for itself. The delicate vellum was adorned with floral patterns, butterflies, and hints of lemons added a whimsical touch, making each piece unique and reflective of our style.
The Reception
The Cake
The Favorite Moment
Our favorite moment was our first look that took place at my childhood household. Mason was waiting outside with his back facing the front of the house. As I approached to tap him on his shoulder, we both felt the emotions start to take place. Once Mason turned around he gasped and we both started crying and he approached me with a few heart-filling words and an endless hug.
The Honeymoon
Mason and I have always wanted to go on a safari and thought what better time than our honeymoon. We started off our adventure to Mauritius, a small island off South Africa and stayed there for four nights relaxing on the beach, swimming in the pool, paddle boarding and dining at lovely restaurants. We then adventured to Sabi Sands Reserve in South Africa and stayed at Dulini River Lodge. This was by far the best trip we have ever been on. Truly the trip of a lifetime. We started off by being picked up in the safari car right when we landed. As we were driving to the lodge, we saw our first animal, an impala, which we thought was the coolest thing. But after a few hours, we realized they are the most populated animal. At the end of the trip, we accomplished the magnificent seven by viewing a lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, cheetah and wild dog. We got within 5 feet of all of these animals, which was thrilling to see these animals in their natural habitat. The people made the trip all the better, they had the nicest staff in the world and the resort itself only had five villas, which allowed us to feel like family during our stay.
The Vendors
Featured Vendors
HAIR + MAKEUP Ashley McNabb Artistry
Other Vendors
CEREMONY VENUE First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth
RECEPTION VENUE The Fort Worth Club
PLANNING + DESIGN + STATIONERY Melanie Tatum Events
PHOTOGRAPHY Sara Donaldson
EVENT DESIGN FABRICATION Stage Works
LIGHTING Beyond
FLORAL Bella Flora of Dallas
RENTALS Bella Acento
BAND AND TRIO Professor D
STRING QUARTET Deborah Brooks String Ensemble
CAKE Creme de la Creme Cake Co.
VIDEOGRAPHY Turquoise Video Productions
BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Peter Langner
BRIDAL SALON Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon
BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES Amsale
OFFICIANT Dr. Josh Stewart