A Romantic Italian-Themed Wedding at The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge in Austin, Texas

Shelby Steblay (28 and a sales account manager) and Chad Shafferman (30 and a sales specialist) met in Houston while Shelby was on a “girl’s trip;” two weeks and one date later, their love story began. The couple spent the first three years of their love story 1,626 miles apart while Shelby lived in New York City and Chad lived in Houston, until Chad made the cross-country move to be with Shelby. While on a family vacation to Maui, the couple planned a side trip to take a journey down the “Road to Hana” to hike, explore and enjoy the scenery where Chad proposed by a pool and secluded waterfall. After three years in the Big Apple, the couple moved to Austin, Texas two weeks before their wedding. “I always knew I wanted to be married outdoors, in the spring and in Texas,” says Shelby. “We knew that a move to Austin was in our future so we thought it would be very special to get married in the city where we would start our lives together.” They selected The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge for its secluded, beautiful grounds, vineyard, wildflowers and oak trees. To set the scene for their romantic Italian-themed wedding, the couple selected a color palette of blush, nude, ivory and white with a plethora of natural green foliage. The ceremony took place under the trees on the property, followed by a reception surrounded by vineyard wine crates, barrels, cafe lights and iron lanterns. Guests Italian wine and Texas beer to accompany classic Italian cuisine, followed by a simple, three tier white cake surrounded by rings of greenery. “The premise of our wedding was natural beauty,” says Shelby. “It was a relaxed, natural, beautiful and happy event.”