Melanie and Brandon met a few years ago during a deployment in the Middle East. They were both stationed in Europe at the time. Later, when Melanie was assigned new orders to a duty station in Texas, Brandon was able to go with her as he transitioned from active duty to a reservist. Melanie recounts the timing and luck that allowed them to do this as a welcome blessing.

They had moved across the world to start a new life in Texas. They bought a house and were settling in, but they had yet to get married. After some difficulties finding dates for venues, they had a discussion and decided they really just wanted to start their life together as Mr. and Mrs. without all the fuss and costs of a big traditional wedding. They told me how much they liked the idea of just making the day about them and celebrating this new adventure with a close group of loved ones.

A date had been picked, but they were still considering locations. They were initially looking at renting a house on the beach in Galveston where they could get married in the sand and then host some guests for a meal. After some reflection though, they decided to go an entirely different route.

Intimate Wedding at Brenner’s on the Bayou with Lunch Celebration

The couple settled on an exceptional location in Houston, Brenner’s on the Bayou. This beautiful location situated right alongside Buffalo Bayou feels like a quiet respite from the bustling city just a block away. It has a picturesque waterfall feature, wedding gazebo, sprawling lawn and decks to enjoy the peaceful and lush setting.

They planned for their ceremony to take place outside at the garden gazebo, which Fauxtastic Floral Creations decorated beautifully. Alas, we had to initiate the rain plan as some early afternoon thunderstorms rolled in forcing us to move indoors. Like the seasoned service members they are, Melanie and Brandon did not even blink at the changing plans. They quickly chose an elevated spot inside to use to conduct their ceremony. They were honestly just so happy to have everyone there together, the location seemed less important. And shoutout to the team from Fauxtastic Floral Creations for pivoting so quickly and moving some of their floral installation indoors to decorate the new spot.

This couple has such a quiet strength that could be felt throughout their ceremony. They had 20 guests present to support and hold their union, and the joy, love and admiration was felt so strongly.

As their ceremony ended the downpour ceased and we were able to slip outside to enjoy some photo time at the garden gazebo. Guests enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres and mingled at the bar and outside on the lawn.

A fun detail about this event is the bride and groom let all their guests know what their wedding color palette was, and everyone wore attire to match! It made their group photos look really cool and festive. I love this idea for smaller weddings with a generous color scheme. It made everyone feel really included and special.

They reserved The Garden Room, which can host up to 25 people, for their meal. This space has a panoramic view of the waterfall, gazebo and lawn. Lunch was served in courses. First was soup and salad. For the main course guests had a choice of steak, chicken or salmon. I selected the chicken and it was DELICIOUS!!! Lastly was dessert which was a plate of german chocolate cake with mixed berries and cream, and piece of their delectable cake from Michi’s Sweet Empire. Everything served was wonderful and the service was excellent.

Since their wedding was on a Friday afternoon and the restaurant doesn’t open until 5pm, their guests were able to utilize the bar space next to The Garden Room to spread out for mingling after their meal. The events team at Brenner’s was very generous and took great care of the couple and their guests.

The couple hosted an afterparty at another location so they could continue spending time with their guests in a more casual setting. They really made the day feel intimate and special, while still keeping the focus on their new marriage.

First Look and Couple Portraits

Wedding Ceremony at Brenner’s on the Bayou

Lunch Celebration in the Garden Room at Brenner’s on the Bayou

Houston Intimate Wedding Vendor Team

Venue: Brenner’s on the Bayou
Day of Coordination: Brey & Co.
Florals and Decor: Fauxtastic Floral Creations
Cake Artist: Michi’s Sweet Empire
Hair and Makeup Artist: Hairspray and Highlight
Bride’s Gown: Etsy
Officiant: Life Long Grace

Considering planning your own intimate wedding at Brenner’s on the Bayou or elsewhere in Houston? If these photos inspired you, let’s get photography checked off your list!