Jenae + Mason by Pics by Cam Jae

Touring our venue for the first time, we just knew it was the one.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Jenaé: I’m graduating from medical school this May and will be starting my neurosurgery residency this summer. Outside of medicine, I’ve always loved being creative. Growing up, I adored Fancy Nancy, and I still try to carry a bit of that whimsy and attention to detail into my everyday life. I love thrifting and often turn my finds into completely new pieces through sewing. Designing and planning our wedding became such a meaningful creative outlet for me.

Mason: I work in sports marketing, where I get to meet and interact with so many different people every day, which I really enjoy. I’ve loved soccer for as long as I can remember, and it’s still a big part of my life. In my free time, I’m always on the hunt for vintage t-shirts and sports jerseys while thrifting, and I love playing beach volleyball whenever I can.

Together, we love spending time with our golden retriever, Neji- whether that’s going on walks or just being outside, throwing the ball around.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We first met at the bus stop in 7th grade. I thought he was so cute, and he thought I was being mean to him, which we still laugh about today. We quickly became close friends, and that friendship quietly became the foundation for everything that followed.

By our freshman year of high school, we went to homecoming together as “just friends,” but in reality, we both had crushes on each other and were too shy to say it out loud. A little over a year later, I told him I was interested in playing soccer and asked him to coach me. I was actually a swimmer and cheerleader at the time, but really, I just wanted an excuse to spend more time with him.

Our first date was at Olive Garden, where we finally admitted our feelings to each other. Then, on June 24, 2015, he asked me to be his girlfriend during a picnic just a short walk from my house, a moment that still feels as special as it did that day.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

Touring our venue for the first time, we just knew it was the one. It feels like a magical escape tucked away in the Texas Hill Country, truly reminiscent of being transported to Tuscany. We often said it felt like “Tuscany in Texas,” and that feeling became the inspiration for everything that followed.

Once I saw the space, I had a clear vision for our day: I wanted it to truly encapsulate our love and feel like Jenaé & Mason’s wedding in every detail. I’ve loved swans for a long time; they’ve always felt incredibly romantic to me, so over the past few years, I thrifted and collected a few dozen swan pieces to incorporate into the design.

Our florist brought that vision to life beautifully, incorporating every swan I had collected into the design. The tables were filled with romantic, dramatic florals, swans, and fresh fruit, creating a layered and intentional tablescape that felt both whimsical and elegant.

I also spent a lot of time throughout the planning process focusing on personalised details. From napkins printed with excerpts from our old love letters to custom drink stirrers, cups, koozies, and personalised bar menus, I loved designing every element. Even more than that, I loved seeing it all come together on the day and watching it feel so uniquely us.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

I really enjoyed the introspective aspect of the wedding planning process. It was so special to sit down together and think intentionally about what we wanted our day to feel like, not just how it would look.

My biggest piece of advice would be to take inspiration from social media, but not let it define your vision. Instead, really take the time to sit with your partner and talk about what matters most to you both, how you want the day to feel, what memories you want to create, and the kind of experience you want your guests to have. Once you’re grounded in that, everything else becomes much clearer and more meaningful.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

Our venue truly speaks for itself; it was absolutely incredible. From the moment we toured it, we knew it was the one. It set the perfect foundation for everything we envisioned and more.

Our florist played such a pivotal role in bringing my vision to life. I had a clear idea of what I wanted, but it took someone truly talented to execute it. He absolutely blew it out of the water. He saw the vision and brought it to life in a way that exceeded anything I could have imagined. He truly made all of my dreams come true.

Planning a wedding while I was in medical school and living out of state initially felt overwhelming, but Kristi with Eclipse Planning completely changed that experience for us. Nothing would have been possible without her guidance, organisation, and support throughout the entire process.

For photography and videography, I chose Cam Jae Photography and Branches Film because I wanted our wedding day to be captured in a way that felt timeless and emotional, something that would transport us right back into the moment every time we looked at it. Their work is truly art, and they accomplished exactly that.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

I found my wedding dress at an estate sale, tucked away in a preservation box. It was a few sizes too big, and the structure was very different from what it is now, but I immediately recognised the beautiful canvas it could become.

Although I love to sew, this was by far the most ambitious project I had ever taken on. I knew I was a little in over my head, so I partnered with a talented seamstress to help bring my vision to life. Together, we transformed the dress into something that felt entirely my own.

What made it so special was not just how it looked, but the process behind it, taking something with a past and reimagining it into my dream dress, which made it feel incredibly personal and meaningful.

Second look: For my second look, I went all in, green sequin galore. Green is my favourite colour, and I always knew I wanted something bold and colourful for the reception. Since Mason wore an emerald green suit, it felt perfect to change into a green look to match him. It was such a fun moment and completely shifted the energy of the night.

Mason also changed into a silky, cream-colored button-up, which felt a little more relaxed but still elevated. We both loved having that outfit change—it made the evening feel even more celebratory and gave us a chance to express a different side of our style together.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

My engagement ring is an emerald stone with moissanite on the sides. I’ve always loved green, so I knew I wanted something with that colour, and those who know me often say it feels very “me,” which makes it even more special.

My wedding band is an anniversary ring that my grandfather gave my grandmother, which holds so much meaning for me. It feels incredibly special to carry a piece of their love story into my own marriage.

Mason’s wedding band is also deeply meaningful; it was his grandfather’s ring, so we both get to wear pieces that connect us to the generations of love before us.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Photography and videography were at the very top of our list when it came to where we wanted to invest a little more. As I mentioned before, it was so important to us that when we look back, we feel completely transported to our wedding day.

The day itself goes by so quickly, and memories naturally fade over time, so capturing it in a way that feels emotional, intentional, and true to the moment meant everything to us. Knowing we’ll be able to relive those moments for years to come made it more than worth it.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

One moment that will always stand out to us was our entrance into dinner. Our DJ had all of our guests stand up and wave their napkins in the air, and we walked in to “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” by ABBA.

Looking out and seeing everyone on their feet, cheering and celebrating with us, gave us both chills. In that moment, it truly felt like we were in our own movie—completely surreal, full of energy, and surrounded by so much love.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

Mason and I have been together for almost 11 years, and some of our friends even joked at our rehearsal dinner about how funny it felt to be celebrating a wedding for a couple that already seems like they’re celebrating their 50th anniversary.

To us, being married is an intentional and official way of saying we are choosing to be teammates for life. It feels especially meaningful right now, as we’re about to move away from home and start this next chapter together. After years of long distance during medical school, my graduation marks the end of that season and the beginning of a new one, finally in the same place.

We’ve dreamed of this day and of marriage for a long time, and it feels incredibly special to step into this next phase side by side. We’re so excited to take on life together.