Offbeat partner: Kendra
Offbeat partner: Yannis
Date and location of wedding: Villa Antonia, Jonestown, TX — July 13, 2018
Our offbeat wedding at a glance: It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia, in the hills of Austin, TX (Jonestown). Each member of the wedding party got to choose their own character to dress as.
I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Even our families got into it. My father was Spider-Man and Yannis’ father was Black Panther.
It was childhood fun with a touch of elegance. Our main colors were dark red, Gotham City blue, royal purple, black, and white. We were carried off in a very Bruce Wayne-ish 1937 Cadillac.
Tell us about the ceremony:
The ceremony was also held at Villa Antonia's chapel. The aisle was lined with flower arrangements by Wild Bunches Floral that included black dahlias, black bacara roses, black scabiosa, and black billy balls. Satin bows, cut and tied by me, draped on the starting chair of each aisle, alternating with the arrangements. A painting of Batman was propped at the front of the chapel on the groom's side, while a painting of the Joker signified the bride's side. Above the altar were drapes of chiffon. Dark red roses, purple stock, red mums, black dahlias, and dark red hypericum hung from the center.
Instead of the traditional wedding march, the bridal party walked down the aisle to "Hey," a song by King. Each bridal party member carried a bouquet of flowers made specifically for their character. We wrote and recited our original vows. My aunt, an ordained Deacon, delivered the ceremonial rights. The best line was about how God created man and then created a creature from man and called her WHOA-man.
Tell us about the reception:
It was a fun and imaginative vibe. The tables were a half-and-half mix of black tablecloths and purple tablecloths with pin-striped runners to give off the Joker look. Tea lights submerged in cylindrical vases gave off a soft glow as table centerpieces. The guest favor was a deck of cards adorned with comic book onomatopoeias.
The photo booth was full of masks and superhero props with a glitzy background. Mopsie catered the event with their award-winning, Texas-style barbeque. There were two specialty drinks created, one each for us: The Joker and The Batman. The cake was a five-tiered cake that showcased the Gotham City skyline on one side and the purple essence of the Joker on the other.
The funniest moment was perhaps the groom's dance with his mother. It started of to the crooning sounds of Boys II Men's "A Song for Mama" but ended with 2 Chains.
What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding?
The biggest challenge was making sure things got done the right way. I was so cautious of being a Bridezilla that I couldn't get my bridesmaids to do everything I needed, my makeup artist was two hours late, so my wedding ran two hours behind, and the day flew by.
My advice would be to hire as many people as you can to do stuff for you or surround yourself with people you can confidently delegate things to. Whether you plan in advance or not, you cannot do it all. Try to pass off as much of the work as possible so that you can enjoy your day because it flies by and it's a terrible feeling to feel like you missed it.
Vendors
Venue: Villa Antonia • Photographer: Ron Parks Photography • Caterer: Catering by Mopsi • Cake: WincConfections • Car Service: 4 Leaf Limo • Photo Booth: Complete Weddings + Events • Floral Arrangements: Wild Bunches Floral
