As far as hidden gems of Grapevine go, the Laurel may very well take the cake in the wedding venue category. Nestled just off some main streets but back far enough that you don't deal with any of the traffic or city hustle and bustle, the Laurel has everything you need to pull off a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception without eating up all of your wedding budget. The Laurel is located at the heart of the Texas Hill Country in Grapevine and covers more than 6 acres of land. It was also the background for one of our most popular wedding films, featuring Mark & Hannah. But just in case you don't want to be burdened by 6-7 minutes of beautiful footage from this fantastic venue set to moving music with emotional moments throughout, we will stick to describing the wedding from a previous time we shot there, with Lauren & Jackson.

First up, Lauren and her girls getting ready in a very spacious bridal suite called the Magnolia Suite. Lots of space to get ready in here (Hannah's wedding had 15 girls in the dressing room, and it never felt too crowded), a full length mirror in addition to several wall mirrors and a vanity counter for all of the girls getting their details put in place, the large windows behind the couches let this room be nicely lit, which let us create beautiful, happy images.

Out the door, down the hall, and around the corner was the grooms Pecan Suite. Featuring its own entrance from outdoors, Jackson and his wedding party relaxed on the leather couch or multiple armchairs, and enjoyed the large flat screen tv, Bluetooth connectable audio and a nice glass of scotch as they got their navy blue suits ready for the big day.

Next up was the first look with Lauren and her dad, which we did in The Chapel. Almost hidden away at the Laurel, this chapel that seats 260 guests has windows behind the stage and to the side, wooden pews with comfy leather seating, and vaulted ceilings exposing a large wooden beam that runs over near the front of the stage. If you are trying to beat the Texas heat and want to have your ceremony indoors in a beautiful chapel, and you don't want your guests to have to leave one location to get to the reception, this is a great option.

After the first look, we took wedding party pictures inside the chapel and a few inside of the bride's suite. Lauren and Jackson chose to keep it traditional and wait until the ceremony to see each other, but they did get to spend a little time together with the "around the door" shot. This is a great way to both build anticipation and calm the nerves a little, as the couple got to hold hands and talk to each other a little bit before the ceremony. After both parties had said prayers with their section of the wedding party, it was ceremony time.

One of the greatest parts of the wedding day is the first time the bride and groom see each other on the day of, and this one was no different, Jackson was smiling from ear to ear, and I'm pretty sure I saw a happy tear from Lauren. It was a beautiful ceremony, and the couple planted a tree with their own soils to commemorate the two of them becoming one. After the family photos, the rest of the crew went to enjoy a cocktail hour out on The Lawn. The Lawn is 10,000 square feet of green space that rests right outside the Great Hall (the reception space.) A huge outdoor stone fireplace is the centerpiece of this space, and because of all of the trees and greenery around you, you forget you are anywhere near the city. While the guests enjoyed the lawn, we had a blast getting some really pretty portraits and bridal style photos of the newly married couple back inside the chapel.

The reception space inside The Great Hall was so nice and spacious, leaving plenty of space for lots of tables and a large dance floor in the middle. Lauren and Jackson had Mr. and Mrs. denim jackets on their chairs at their head table, that was a unique touch that we really liked. There were toasts, desserts, dancing, and fun had by all before it was time for the private last dance and a sparkler exit.

We had a blast working with Lauren and Jackson, and they chose a beautiful venue for their big day. The large amount of space, classy but not overdone decor, and ability to do both the ceremony and reception in the same location close to the city but still hidden away made this one of our favorite wedding venues in Texas. If the pictures pique your interest, go check out the Marh & Hannah video for another look at this beautiful space!