EPOCH CO+ | Austin Wedding & Event Planners

View Original

Modern Spring Wedding Inspired by France & Chanel | Houston, Texas

When Samantha and Justin came to us, they had a vision: a wedding that blended vintage charm with modern elegance. As wedding planners and designers, we were thrilled to take on the challenge of curating an event that reflected their personalities and their love story. Samantha, a fashion-forward bride, and Justin, a laid-back groom with a love for bourbon and cigars, gave us the perfect foundation to craft a wedding filled with thoughtful details, unique colors, and plenty of personal touches.

The Most Special Moment

When asked about her favorite moment of the wedding, Samantha didn’t hesitate: "Honestly, the entire day. Getting to celebrate our love with all of our closest friends and family was the most amazing experience. The last dance was supposed to be private, but that didn’t happen thanks to a 10% chance of rain turning into a full-blown hurricane. Still, it was magical because it felt like we were the only two people in the room. To have that moment of just soaking up the entire day was truly incredible."

The Fashion

Samantha’s love for fashion played a major role in the wedding’s design. "In another life, I would have gone to fashion school," she said. "I’m always inspired by my surroundings, by people, and by places. I knew that my wedding dress would be something no one expected."

For her bridal look, Samantha chose the Sandra gown by Sarah Seven, a dress that perfectly encapsulated her modern-vintage aesthetic. The gown featured a column skirt with a dramatic slit in the back, off-the-shoulder sleeves, and a unique "train" design, which mirrored her personality—bold, elegant, and fashion-forward. "I’ve always admired Chanel’s ability to combine vintage with a modern twist, and that’s exactly what I wanted for my wedding look," Samantha explained. "Pearls were also a recurring theme in my wardrobe, so I made sure to drop hints at every bridal event leading up to the big day."

For her bridesmaids, Samantha opted for mismatched dresses in varying shades around olive green, a daring and stylish choice that elevated the entire bridal party’s look. "Olive green was tricky to work with, but I have an eye for what suits my friends, and I wanted them to feel just as beautiful as I did. Incorporating varying hues of olive green helped to elevate the modern yet playful vibe I was going for."

Justin and his groomsmen complemented the bridesmaids' attire with classic black tuxedos from The Black Tux. The sleek simplicity of their look was the perfect counterbalance to the boldness of the bridesmaids' outfits.

Design: A Blend of Vintage and Modern

As for the design, Samantha said, "I knew I wanted vintage and modern elements, but honestly, Epoch crafted a vision board from their signature brand exercise and curated my dream design! I have to give them so much credit because making decisions is tough for me, but they made it magic."

Designing Samantha and Justin’s wedding was an exercise in balancing vintage elements with modern touches. Inspired by Samantha’s admiration for Chanel, we incorporated subtle yet striking nods to the iconic brand throughout the event. The black acrylic laser-engraved table numbers resembled Chanel perfume bottles, with each table named after a different "Chanel No." number. Even the typography used for the signage was a direct homage to classic Chanel, tying everything together in a cohesive, stylish way.

The color palette centered around olive green, a non-traditional choice that lent itself beautifully to the spring season. We softened the boldness of the green with accents of spring pinks, neutrals, and Samantha’s favorite flower—coral peonies. These floral choices brought warmth and vibrancy to the venues exposed brick, iron details and high ceilings, complementing the olive green bridesmaids' dresses and creating a stunning visual contrast against the black details. Incorporating black into a spring wedding that isn’t your usual “black and white” wedding can be tricky, but we managed to give the color new life by blending it with more vibrant tones, all while maintaining a refined aesthetic.

The venue itself offered the perfect backdrop for the modern-vintage theme. The architectural elements of the space enhanced the overall design, while the carefully selected decor brought a sense of elegance without overshadowing the natural beauty of the venue. The string quartet’s music echoed beautifully in the space, creating a dreamy, fairytale-like atmosphere.

One of the interactive entertainment highlights of the day was a cigar roller at the reception, a nod to Justin’s love for bourbon and cigars. "It was a huge hit, and everyone went home with one," Samantha said.

Reflection and Advice

At the end of the day, Samantha offered some sage advice to couples planning their weddings: "Be present. The entire day goes by so fast, and before you know it, it’s over. Take the time to pause and soak it all in—whether it’s doing your flower girl’s makeup or stepping back to admire the reception space before guests arrive. Take a moment to reflect on everything that’s led to this day and truly cherish it."


Samantha’s words remind us that weddings are not just about creating a beautiful event, but about celebrating a journey—one that begins long before the walk down the aisle and continues well after the last dance.

Entertainment || @jpeezyofficial @itsdjbray
Catering || @cityviewcatering
Dance Floor || @duramieventtx
Rentals || @Premiereeventstx
Lounge || @lovebirdsvintage
Guest Book || @afterthetone.co
Beauty || @blushdbeautytx
Bridal Shoes || @louboutinworld

Wedding Planning + Design || @epochcoevents
Floral Design || @urbanrubbish
Photography || @camera_shi
Cinema || @prime_wedding_films
Venue || @ironmanortx
Stationery + Acrylic || @finedaypress
Cake || @cakesbyginahou
Ceremony Strings || @divisistrings

Samantha and Justin’s wedding was a true reflection of their personalities, love, and shared experiences. From the Chanel-inspired design elements to the cigar roller at the reception, every detail was thoughtfully curated to represent the couple in a meaningful way.

As wedding planners and designers, our goal is always to craft weddings that feel personal, authentic, and reflective of each couple’s unique story. Samantha and Justin’s wedding was a perfect example of how fashion, design, and personal touches can come together to create a truly unforgettable event.

Whether it’s incorporating non-traditional colors, adding entertainment like a cigar roller, or blending vintage with modern aesthetics, we’re here to help couples bring their visions to life. Weddings like Samantha and Justin’s remind us that the most important element of any wedding is that it tells the couple’s story in a way that feels authentic and timeless to them at that moment in their journey.

To help our couples visualize the wedding day details, we do a design mock-up with our couples to finalize florals, select linens, tabletop decor and more. Then on the wedding day, we carve out time to allow our couples to see the full wedding reception in all of it’s glory before it is filled with bodies and people have touched and moved everything.

Here you get to witness our room reveal with Samantha, courtesy of Prime Wedding Films