When Lee Johnston decided to spend his free time volunteering, he didn't anticipate meeting his future wife Lauren King, the volunteer coordinator for the Houston non-profit organization he selected. During his final week of volunteering, he asked Lauren on a date. A romance blossomed and it wasn't long before Lee proposed on the steps of Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The couple chose a beautiful estate in the bride's hometown as the location of their celebration; they desired a clean and classic aesthetic featuring white hues accentuated by colorful blooms and mixed greenery. "With eight years [of] experience in event planning, I had a pretty good idea of how I wanted the wedding of my dreams to play out," shares Lauren. "In order to make this dream a reality, we enlisted the help of DFW Events based upon their excellent reputation for putting together some incredible weddings."

On the day of the ceremony, guests gathered on a verdant lawn to watch Lauren and Lee exchange vows. The bride carried a bouquet of creamy florals intermixed with greenery and succulents, which complemented the foliage adorning the wooden ceremony arch. Bridesmaids wore navy blue gowns and carried nosegays of pink roses and apricot tulips. Following the alfresco service, loved ones entered an impressive event tent decorated with glimmering crystal chandeliers. Rustic wood tables were adorned with lace runners and delightful floral arrangements showcasing mixed blooms in shades of white, pink, and peach, as well as succulent and moss accents, in mercury-glass vessels and gold boxes surrounded by ambient candlelight.

Since Lauren and Lee enjoy film and television, their favorite movies played a big part in the day. "We love quoting movies and TV shows, so we wanted to be able to incorporate those without them being too over the top," shares the bride. Thus, the couple's two nephews, who served as ring bearers, walked down the aisle dressed as Harry and Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber; their favorite love quotes from movies and television shows were printed on all cocktail napkins; and signature drinks named "The George Banks" and "The Princess Bride" honored other favorite films.

In addition to a sit-down dinner service, the couple surprised their guests by having servers pass out Whataburger taquitos and honey butter chicken sandwiches, favorites of many Texans, as a late-night snack. The bride's classic confection featured white frosting with glamorous gold details, and the groom's cake was a charming ode to the movie Steel Magnolia's: a red velvet armadillo, just like the cake in the film. As another surprise for loved ones, a firework show illuminated the night sky as Lauren and Lee walked to their unique getaway car – a motorcycle with a sidecar.

From their Southern design elements to showcasing their personalities as a couple in the details of the day, Lauren and Lee's celebration was truly a representation of their love. "It was just about as perfect a day as I could've asked for!" shares Lauren. She urges other brides and grooms to "take the time every now and then to slow down and soak it all in" during the planning process. "Try to remember that the little things we all tend to stress about are just that – little things, which in the grand scheme of things won't matter," she adds.