If Looks Could Kill: With the help of bridal stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz, Anna dazzled in a pair of Reem Acra dresses (far left and right) and a sultry Ines Di Santo reception gown.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Growth Opportunity: The ceremony took place in the Omni’s Wildflower Atrium, which features a triptych of flower reliefs. They served as inspiration for day-of paper goods and signage, which Chelsea Carpenter of Southern Fried Paper accented with embossed and plaster florals.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Well Suited: Anna wanted an Old Hollywood feel for her ceremony gown, choosing Reem Acra’s “Heirloom” gown. Along with a Brackish feather bow tie, her stylish groom donned a custom Knot Standard tux with a velvet jacket that tied into touches of the fabric used throughout the festivities.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Love Potion: Wendy, a fellow Harry Potter fanatic, took great pains to accurately outfit the book-inspired “potions and elixirs” bar, which served Felix Felicis and other kitschy cocktails.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Level Up: A modified champagne tower provided the Old Hollywood feel Anna was after with less risk. “I call it a ‘safe champagne tower,’ ” says Wendy of the structure-supported display, “where one falling over doesn’t take the whole thing out.”

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Raising the Bar: Wendy turned to Top Tier Rentals’ Jordan McCarter, who built a number of custom furniture pieces for the event, including this fluted bar (as well as the secondary Potions & Elixirs bar), the champagne tower, stage facade, and more. Vines served to soften the chandeliers in the pavilion space.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Soft Statement: When outlining their vision to planner Wendy Kay, Anna and Skyler’s wish list included a tent, a bevy of candles and flowers, and a soft color scheme. “I knew I wanted neutrals,” says the bride, who notes that she dresses mostly in subdued tones. “I just love the timelessness of them—I feel like you won’t ever regret it.” Wendy worked to turn up the volume on the muted scheme, incorporating sage green linens, rich textures, and luxe details.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Fall Finery: The couple marveled at Wendy’s ability to make a 300-person reception feel “intimate and cozy.” In addition to various lounge areas, dimmable lighting, and tent draping, Wendy says personal touches for guests go a long way toward creating an intimate atmosphere. Here, each placesetting included a charger, china, upgraded glassware and flatware, and a menu personalized with the guest’s name.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Making an Entrance: Austin-based florist Remi + Gold accented the tent’s exterior with fresh flowers and greenery in Anna’s desired palette.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Wide Open Spaces:The couple chose the Omni Barton Creek because it could accommodate not only the sizable ceremony and reception—aided by a nearly 7,000-square-foot tent—but could also host their 300 guests for the weekend.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

The Wand Chooses the Wizard: The Harry Potter devotees had a display of replica wands that served as guest favors and exit props. “They were an absolute hit,” Skyler laughs. “I mean, there were grown men running to make sure they got the ones they wanted.”

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

Wizarding Whirled: In lieu of sparklers, guests bid farewell to the newlyweds with light-up wands.

Photo by Charla Storey Photography

This Tented Austin Wedding Combined Timeless Elegance with Harry Potter

By Jessica Otte

Anna Cook & Skyler Wheeler
November 20, 2021

Following a whirlwind courtship years in the making, a spellbound pair say “I do” with an elegant and bewitching Austin extravaganza.

Decisiveness, Anna Cook admits, is not one of her strong suits. Yet she made swift and certain work of two important ones: Her person and her planner. 

She met beau Skyler Wheeler the week they both transferred to TCU, but for the next seven years, the timing was never right. “And then she moved to Chicago, and I thought she was gone,” Skyler says. 

But in August 2020, he came across a profile of particular interest while perusing Hinge: Anna’s. “We finally went out and it was the best first date ever,” he says. With social calendars cleared by quarantine and plenty of intimate, at-home dates on the agenda, their relationship moved quickly. “It’s almost like The Bachelor in reverse,” Anna says. “You get all the good, daily-life stuff and none of the extravagant stuff that can distract you.”

Just four months later, the girl who has trouble making decisions was sure it was forever and accepted his Christmas Day proposal. 

The bride-to-be was equally as convicted about hiring planner Wendy Kay of Birds of a Feather Events. Armed with a few key directives and a mutual obsession with Harry Potter, Wendy hit the ground running, orchestrating a grand, tented celebration for nearly 300 that managed to feel intimate and intensely personal. Though Wendy had some initial misgivings about the green-and-white color palette—“I don’t really have that in my portfolio; I do a lot of colorful weddings,” she says—she challenged herself to make the neutral scheme sing. 

On November 20, 2021, the Fort Worth–based couple said “I do” in a timeless and elegant celebration that, thanks to Wendy’s eye for detail and lots of custom touches, was anything but ordinary.

Anna Cook and Skyler Wheeler at Reception

Personality Match

Wedding planner Wendy Kay prides herself on her ability to convey her clients’ personalities through idiosyncratic wedding-day details. It’s the primary reason she only books four weddings per year—to allow her the opportunity to get to know clients intimately “to really think about who these people are, what they’re about, and what their wedding should look like, instead of just dropping two people into any generic wedding design.” She starts their working relationship by administering extensive questionnaires, which reveal a couple’s favorite hobbies, colors, or—in Anna and Skyler’s case—books. “Part of the reason they hired me is because we share a mutual obsession with Harry Potter,” Wendy says. “So I knew we had to have some sort of Harry Potter aspect within the wedding.” 

Oftentimes, though, Wendy knows a great deal about what makes a client tick even prior to the design stage, as she considers their personalities before taking them on. “I actually market directly to certain Enneagram types,” the planner says. That perfect client-professional match is what, she says, allows them to make matrimonial magic happen. 

Guests: 287

Something Blue: Anna’s toenail polish  

First Dance: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Kina Grannis

Cake Flavors: Vanilla and chocolate dual plated with banana pudding, Skyler’s favorite dessert

Credits

  • Ceremony/Reception Site

    Omni Barton Creek Resort

  • Photographer

    Charla Storey Photography

  • Bridal Gown Designer (ceremony and after party)

    Reem Acra

  • Bridal Gown Designer (reception)

    Ines Di Santo

  • Bridal Gown Retailer (ceremony)

    Warren Barrón

  • Bridal Gown Retailer (reception)

    Ivory Bridal Atelier (reception)

  • Bridal Gown Retailer (after party)

    Reem Acra

  • Hair & Makeup

    Kiss by Katie

  • Groom’s Attire (tuxedo)

    Knot Standard

  • Groom’s Attire (bow tie)

    Brackish

  • Bridesmaids’ Dresses Designer

    Jenny Yoo

  • Bridesmaids’ Dresses Retailer

    Bella Bridesmaids

  • Groomsmen’s Attire

    Generation Tux

  • Flowers

    Remi + Gold

  • Stationery

    Southern Fried Paper

  • Cake & Desserts

    Cakes by Shannon Starr

  • Catering

    Omni Barton Creek Resort

  • Music (ceremony)

    Sienna Strings

  • Music (reception)

    A-Town A-List

  • Lighting

    Austin Event Lighting

  • Videographer

    Peyton Frank Films

  • Wedding Rentals

    Bella Acento

  • Wedding Rentals

    Loot Rentals

  • Wedding Rentals

    Whim Hospitality

  • Wedding Rentals

    Marquee Event Rentals

  • Wedding Rentals

    Monarch Event Rentals

  • Wedding Rentals

    Party Tables

  • Wedding Rentals

    Top Tier Event Rentals

  • Wedding Planner

    Birds of a Feather Events

  • Wedding Designer

    Wendy Kay

  • Wedding Designer

    Birds of a Feather Events

  • Additional Vendor

    Gabrielle Hurwitz Bridal Styling (bridal and bridal party styling)

  • Photobooth

    MirMir

  • Dance Floor

    Center Stage Floors

  • Neon Sign

    DFW Neon

  • Welcome Boxes

    The Artisan Gift

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