Avery Campbell & Austin Owens
October 21, 2023

A New Year’s party brought great joy for Avery Campbell when she met her future husband, Austin Owens, through mutual friends. The pair spent the next two years falling in love over long walks and drive-in movies. A Christmastime engagement came when Avery and Austin were enjoying a day with family at Joshua Creek Ranch in Comfort, Texas, near Austin’s hometown of Boerne. The couple had gone to church, then brunch—after which Austin said he’d like to drive Avery by a scenic creek. There, he presented her with a bottle of Dom Perignon and a Bible with her new name on it—and a very important question.

After the “yes” came a surprise party with Avery’s family, and the planning officially began. “I’m the only girl in my family, so we had been planning for a long time,” she confesses. “My mom is great with details and taste.” For such a tight-knit family, having a ceremony at Highland Park Presbyterian Church and then a reception in the backyard of Avery’s grandmother’s house—which is within walking distance of the church—was a natural fit. “My grandmother’s backyard has always been my favorite place,” Avery says. “In third grade, I wrote a whole story about it.” Avery and Austin wrote the next chapter in the house’s history on October 21, 2023.

What’ll It Be?
During a sneak peek at the tent, Austin popped behind the bar and made Avery a drink—a Dirty Shirley Temple, to be exact. The couple admired the bar from Perch Event Decor and the matching trellis background. 

Matchy-Matchy
The cake, designed by Lauren Kitchens of Fancy Cakes by Lauren, was a direct tie-in to the invitation suite by Carly Creative Co. “Lauren took what Carly had painted and superimposed it, then added a crest and 3D butterflies,” Avery explains.

Miles of History
The getaway car belongs to Austin’s dad—Austin even took some of his senior pictures with it in high school. Friends painted the signage, and the Three Branches team added greenery for a feminine touch.

Down Home

Want to plan a wedding at home? Bride Avery Campbell shares her tips.

Trust your people

When trying to transform a family home into a venue, there can be a myriad of details to keep up with—all the more reason to have vendors you can trust. “Have a really good event designer who will have a vision for what it’s going to look like,” Avery advises.

Protect your yard

Consider bringing in flooring or even turf to protect the landscaping. “We did turf so that you still felt like you were in a backyard,” Avery explains. “Keeping up the garden theme was really what we wanted.”

Get creative with space

Avery utilized indoor and outdoor spaces, serving cocktails and hot chocolate inside by the library for a cozy element. Greenery roped off locations guests weren’t meant to access—like a balcony where the newlyweds had dinner privately before joining the rest of the group.

Match your aesthetic

Remember to match the tone and feel of your home when bringing in rentals. Avery used French country chairs for her head table to match the design of her grandmother’s house.

Signature Cocktails: Hers: Dallas Dirty Shirley with edible glitter His: Las Palmas Boerne Bottega (Mexican Coke, tequila, lime)

First Dance: “My Best Friend” by Tim McGraw

Honeymoon: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cake Flavors: Hers: Amaretto almond His: Chocolate espresso