House Estate

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

Carter and Kema met at a wedding - his brother's wedding.&nbsp;

Carter was a groomsmen in the wedding and Kema knew both the bride and groom from a Sunday School class that they all had previously been a part of.&nbsp;

Kema joked with the groom about only inviting single ladies to the&nbsp;wedding and inquired about where all the single guys were. To which he replied "My brother's single and he's about your age.&nbsp;

They did not meet immediately after that, but did eventually meet that night.&nbsp;

Was it love at first sight?&nbsp;No. But they met&nbsp;because two people fell in love.&nbsp;

All because two people fell in love....

In the months and weeks leading up proposing to Kema I had agonized over where and how to do it. We had heard a lot of great stories about how other guys had proposed, but in each story the girl always saw the proposal coming. I wanted to do all I could to make sure that Kema would be as surprised as possible. This was part of my 3 major proposal requirements:

1. It had to be in Texas. – ‘cause duh?

2. Kema had to be surprised. – It’s just more fun that way.

3. I really wanted someplace permanent. – So we can go back to that spot and reminisce.

Luckily for me, a trip to Austin satisfied all those requirements. I looked online, talked with some friends and settled on the Capitol building. Now came the tricky part of a reason to go to Austin for the weekend – which meant a month of “hey, we should get out of town” hints. Finally, we agreed on a weekend that fit within our schedule and the college football calendar.

I tried to play it cool all morning – &nbsp;but I still had a few small hurdles; waiting 2 hours for Kema to get ready, paying $35 to park for 3 hours, slow service at the restaurant and having my photographer go MIA for 2 hours leading up to the big moment. In the end (or in this case the beginning) we got to the Capitol with the sun shining and everyone in good spirts. I was so anxious to start our lives together that I picked a spot within 5 minutes of arriving, dropped down on my knee and popped the question. I’m still not 100% sure that Kema every actually said “Yes” to my proposal, but she took the ring, so I think we are good. The rest of the day was full of love, celebration and fun and I could not be happier!

The Proposal - His Version

Carter had been talking about wanting a weekend away since we hadn’t gone anywhere in while. So we picked a weekend and headed off to Austin. Leading up to the weekend I was trying to gauge what we were going to do for the weekend, so I would know how to pack. Like are we going to do more outdoorsy activities, go to vineyards, just explore the city, watch football, etc&hellip;

He threw up all these smoking mirrors of things that we could do to try and throw me off of where he was actually going to propose. He mentioned going on a wine tour that left from (near) the Capitol. The first stop on the tour was the first Vineyard/Winery that we went to as a couple (Duchman Family Winery). He also told me that he made dinner reservations at the first nice restaurant we went to on a date - The Grove at Bee Caves. Carter went to Baylor and Baylor was also playing UT that weekend in Waco. He had mentioned wanting to watch the game.... and wanting to maybe go to the Capitol, because he had never been - well at least had never been inside.

I just thought that we were really just going away for a nice relaxed weekend, and that IF he did propose that he would do it at Duchman or the Grove, but I wasn't expecting it.

That Saturday we woke up and he asked if I wanted to go for a run. I didn't pack cold weather running gear and the temperature had dropped some, and it was a little cooler than I wanted to run in shorts and a tank top. So we decided to just take our time getting ready and go to Brunch at 11. Well I thought that meant I had all the time in the world to get ready - so I really took my time. He thought I knew he was going to propose because I was fixing my hair different than I normally wear it and I put on makeup a little more than I usually wear.

We went to brunch at Second Bar + Kitchen in downtown Austin that morning. Carter had mentioned the night before when we were at a wine bar with his friend Will that we might go to the Capitol. Then one of them also mentioned that there was a farmer’s market/flea market near the Capitol. So when we got done with brunch Carter mentioned that Will texted and said that if we wanted to check out the market, we should head over soon before they wrapped up for the day. &nbsp;I was like why not go - we weren't that far (plus I feel like everyone should go at least once) ... So after brunch, we decided to head toward the Capitol.

On our way to the Capitol, I saw some wall art on the side of the building that said “The only magic I still believe in is LOVE.” I made Carter stop so that we could take a picture of it, and then with us in the picture too&hellip;

When we got to the Capitol I made Carter take a picture of him with the Capitol in the background, then we walked around and looked at all the different monuments that are in front of and around the Capitol. After we had seen all there was to see outside the Capitol, we decided we would go checkout the inside. As we are walking towards the building, he started to gently push and pull me in different directions trying to get me under the perfect oak tree (I still had no clue) &hellip; He pulled back slightly and said "Hey, real quick, before we go in, I have to ask you a question." I turned around and he was down on one knee holding the ring out in front of me and said "Will you marry me?" He claims that I never said "yes". I told him that I took the ring and that meant "Yes!" But later I said (just to confirm it), “Yes, I will marry you!" I remember asking him right after it happened if he had some long speech prepared and he said "No, but I do have a photographer." His friend Ashley was there to take pictures and capture the whole thing. Then we went in and around the Capitol and took pictures.

The Proposal - Her Version

Live Stream Our Ceremony

<a href="https://youtu.be/2W5LBHeNxR8" target="_blank">Click here to Live Stream our Ceremony</a>

We are sad that you were not able to join us in person to help celebrate our big day. Our videographer has made it available for us to have a socially distanced option via a live stream of the ceremony.



The ceremony will start promptly at 5:30pm.









So put on your wedding attire or your comfy clothes and join us as we become Mr & Mrs!

Our Story

Details

Photos

Wedding Party

Registry

Q + A

The Room Block is available for booking until 7/3/2020. <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure3.hilton.com%2Fen_US%2Fru%2Freservation%2Fbook.htm%3FinputModule%3DHOTEL%26ctyhocn%3DIAHCCRU%26spec_plan%3DNCW%26arrival%3D20200717%26departure%3D20200719%26cid%3DOM%2CWW%2CHILTONLINK%2CEN%2CDirectLink%26fromId%3DHILTONLINKDIRECT&amp;data=02%7C01%7CSamantha.Ponce%40Hilton.com%7Cb6b1f2807ed84e54bd8f08d8033ce622%7C660292d2cfd54a3db7a7e8f7ee458a0a%7C0%7C0%7C637262907373132698&amp;sdata=qEdCvMoA2uMdQtPknFNGEzi5gtouO5tzgi1kXmSgSik%3D&amp;reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/ru/reservation/book.htm?inputModule=HOTEL&amp;ctyhocn=IAHCCRU&amp;spec_plan=NCW&amp;arrival=20200717&amp;departure=20200719&amp;cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&amp;fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT</a> Please note, the entire URL must be copied and pasted for it to work properly, or you can click the Book a Room button below.&nbsp;You can also book a reservation by calling the Hilton Reservations toll-free number at 1-800-HILTONS. Mention the&nbsp;Newton-Cochran Wedding Group Block&nbsp;or the unique code&nbsp;NCW&nbsp;to receive your group rate.

Carter & Kema

Carter & Kema

Travel

Tru By Hilton Cypress Houston