Like many modern couples, Julie and Matt met online. And after messaging back and forth, they decided to meet at a local brew house—a location that would prove to be quite meaningful to them. The first date nerves soon melted away, and they made plans to see each other more. Five years in to their relationship, Matt hatched up an elaborate proposal, that included pints of Julie’s favorite ice cream, views of the fountains in Sundance Square, and a stunning sapphire engagement ring.
The original plan was a wedding at a Dallas brewery, but the pandemic had other plans when the venue was no longer able to host the event. We had to consider other options. The couple’s two non-negotiables were a brewery wedding and that brewery had to be downtown so out-of-town guests could enjoy the city as a destination.
We looked at countless options, but none were able to accommodate the guest count and wedding date. That’s when we decided that Century Hall would be the best route. Although it’s not a brewery, it is in the heart of Fort Worth—just a few blocks from where they got engaged. And with some creativity, we were able to create the feeling the bride and groom were after.
Since Julie is an architect, we bonded over our love of architecture and design. She wanted to work with someone that could take her ideas and make them even better than she originally anticipated. It was an amazing and collaborative experience designing this wedding for that reason.
The look of the wedding began with beer. Specifically, hops. The bride loved the idea of a hop-infused celebration that was laid-back but still elegant. Without getting too thematic, we knew beer would be a key player. I studied hops and how beer is made, and took inspiration from there. Their monogram featured line-drawn hops, and in addition to gracing the stationery, it was also etched into beer glasses given to guests as they arrived at the reception. Since hops grows on trellises, we built a metal structure covered with the plant and other greenery, and affixed bottle openers also customized with the monogram that doubled as favors and escort cards (thanks to a die-cut hops card with guests’ names and table numbers).
Hops, in artistic variations and actuality, was layered throughout the wedding without being overdone. To brighten and soften up the industrial look of the venue, we worked with a color palette of blues, burgundies, and purples, using hints of black and wood tones to keep it modern. Julie loves orchids, so we made sure to include those in her bouquet and the reception centerpieces.
