There was something special about Caitlin Parr that Brett Baldwin always remembered. They met when Caitlin visited a mutual friend at The University of Texas at Austin during their sophomore year and spent time together whenever she flew in from fashion school in New York City; however, they lost touch when Caitlin moved to Dallas and Brett moved to Richmond after graduation. Thankfully, they reconnected when Brett moved back home to attend business school. “He looked me up remembering I lived there, asked to meet for dinner, and we have been inseparable ever since!” she smiles. 

The day before Caitlin’s 31st birthday, Brett surprised her with a spa day and when she returned to their Michigan home, “I walked into a surprise birthday party with many of our closest friends,” she remembers. Thinking the day couldn’t get any better, at midnight her beloved led her to their balcony to celebrate her birthday with Champagne. “That’s when he, with our dog Chandler, pulled out a gorgeous ring and popped the question, just the three of us,” she says. “It couldn’t have been any more perfect!” 

Though they considered a European destination wedding, Caitlin and Brett ultimately decided to get married at a historic estate in Austin, as the city is nearby many of their loved ones and where their early friendship began. As the weather in Texas can be unpredictable in February, the couple was lucky to have an outdoor ceremony in front of the venue’s striking arches covered in verdure and florals. 

“Our wedding-planning team and florist really nailed my vision for wanting it all to feel organic, like it could have been growing on the façade for years,” confirms Caitlin. Inspired by Bridgerton, classical interpretations of modern songs furthered the romantic tone of the overgrown-garden vibe the bride envisioned. 

“Having our ceremony feel personal was definitely a priority of ours, so Brett and I wrote it together and asked his father to officiate,” explains Caitlin. “We incorporated details of our relationship and life together, as well as expressed our sincere gratitude to all of our guests for being there to witness our most special day.” 

Other personal elements included having their rescue dog walk down the aisle, asking the groom’s grandfather to recite a reading, and incorporating “something old” handkerchiefs from the pair’s great-grandmothers in the bride’s bouquet of roses, anemones, ranunculuses, and sweet peas. 

“I was going for a very lush, romantic, European feel in a palette of saturated neutrals with seasonal greenery.”

Throughout the wedding, the couple placed a focus on creating new environments for guests to experience, seamlessly flowing from one to the next. “I was going for a very lush, romantic, European feel in a palette of saturated neutrals with seasonal greenery,” describes the bride of the cohesive design elements for each event. 

Cocktail hour was held in the sunken gardens of the property, where loved ones were presented with their table assignments attached to single-stem roses on vintage trays carried by tuxedo-clad butlers. “It felt like a really fun nod to the 1920s era of the property!” affirms Caitlin of the detail. 

Since an alfresco reception was not possible due to cooler nighttime temperatures, a clear tent was constructed to still allow for a view of the grounds and the sunset. Thousands of twinkle lights, warm candlelight emitted from votives and taper candles, and crystal chandeliers draped in smilax and roses added to the amorous feel of the evening. Guests found their seats atop upholstered chairs and velvet banquettes at tables strewn with embroidered or velvet linens, decorated with varying centerpieces, monogrammed napkins, and gilt accents. 

For the dancing portion of the evening, friends and family were ushered to the onsite chapel, which had been transformed into a residential-inspired setting complete with family photos on bookshelves. After the formal dances, Caitlin changed into a feather minidress, and The Golden Coast All Stars ensured guests of all ages hit the dance floor. 

When it was time for the after-party – that “leaned a bit more into ‘20s, speakeasy vibes… complete with a Champagne tower and light-up props such as fedoras and feather boas,” shares the bride – a DJ took over to keep the revelry going all night long. 

Though they expected something to go wrong, Caitlin and Brett confirm that the day was absolutely perfect. “The entire weekend was better than my wildest imagination,” affirms the bride. “Every time I look at pictures and relive it, I am just so overwhelmed with the happiest memories.”

This real wedding was originally published in the Spring 2023 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

To order a copy of the Spring 2023 issue, visit our library of Inside Weddings back issues available for purchase.