Crashing the Botanic Gardens with Harvey Family, The Adventure Begins…

I received an email requesting information on wedding ceremonies through our website a few days ago.

Initially the Bride and Groom had expressed an interest in the Elopement Package which provides cake and champagne along with officiating the wedding ceremony for $175.00. A la cart photographer and photo or DVD packages are also available for an additional fee of $375.00 an hour with the option to purchase more photos or an additional DVD available.

Many of you might be thinking “wow, these prices are amazing.” You would be correct! These prices are military discount prices.

You see, Wendy Wortham and the Texas Twins Team believe that accommodating active or retired military members price breaks that give them a beautiful ceremony at an affordable price.

The Bride had expressed an interest in the Botanic Gardens and I told her the fee to the garden was extravagant during the week and worse on the weekend. My own husband and I had married at the Gardens and did not know there was a fee years ago and I had since learned of the charges for “simply showing up to have a wedding.” These fees range from $350-$1275.00. We still laugh about not knowing and how embarrassing it would have been to us and the children had we been caught!

Saturdays are “race day” at the Wortham Home and, my husband was looking forward to golf and Nascar. Normally, he goes to the 3rd living room or, “man cave” if I’m hosting an event at our home.

At 12:35, it was decided that we would just “show up” and quickly do the ceremony.

Arriving at the gardens at 1:30, I called the Bride to find out their location which was across the street from mine at the Rose Garden. Ironically , where my husband and I had been married by a Pastor from Gordon Church years before.

The budget for the couple was $75.00 so, I was “game” to try it with them. The Bride advised me she wanted to change and not have the Groom see her prior to the event so I picked her and her daughter up in my car and had the Groom and the son follow to scout locations.

Prior to locating the area of choice, I had found a bench in a wooded area and wanted a few photos of the Groom and his son as well as the Bride and her daughter separately. This went well and we found the location the Bride liked so I had the Groom park and wait on us to run over and change the Brides clothes at the Japanese Garden restroom.

When we came out, I took a few photos of the girls prior to meeting the boys and had then wait in my car with the engine running while the Groom and his son accompanied me to the location. I was wearing street clothing and had planned on changing when I went back to my car to fetch the girls.

However, we were BUSTED by a security guard who instructed me that taking photos required a “permit” from the Gardens. I had never heard of this requirement before and carefully read the document presented to me. Knowing that this beautiful couple could not afford the fee and well aware the Bride would be devastated- I had to come up with a plan, and fast!

I told the Groom to go back to our cars and follow me. This family did not know the west side area well and may have thought I was crazy but, went along with me in search of a beautiful and “free” venue.

Our search would wind through many parks and finally wind up at the Overton Lake area.

With signs reading “Private Property Video Surveillance” this couple was more worried than I was about “borrowing” the lake for 10-15 minutes.

After taking a look around, they were as pleased as I was with the location. I “tipped” the kids $20 of my $75 fee for being good sports about this unexpected adventure, which pleased them and me too.

Although this couple did not order a photographer or a photo package, I decided to take the photos myself and “gift” them to the couple as a surprise .

They were thrilled and thankful and, we all had a great time goofing around while I put them in various poses for their photos.

Often, the unexpected events you never expected turn out for the best. Today worked out wonderfully for this family and this Texas Twin.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Anthony Duan Harvey and their beautiful children who trusted me to find an outdoor area that although not as beautiful as the famous Botanic Gardens, was certainly scenic enough for lovely photos with a wonderful bridge and fountains to have a wedding.