Real Weddings

Couple weathers the storm with magical, muddy wedding at Fort Worth-area family home

You know a wedding was good when the bride leaves with six inches of mud on the hem of her gown.

Such was the case for Julia Bunch Fearis, who wed her longtime beau, Galen Fearis, at her childhood home in Waxahachie on April 6, 2019.

To be fair, the couple’s vision was for an “earthy, outdoor” wedding.

"A torrential downpour plagued Waxahachie on our wedding day," says Julia. "Though the hours leading up to the wedding were incredibly stressful and filled with unplanned hiccups, the clouds literally parted and the humidity broke just in time to celebrate."

Like Julia and Galen, it was meant to be.

Though the pair have known each other since junior high, they didn’t start dating until their early 20s. Five years later, wedding bells began to ring.

"We had already designed the engagement ring together,” says Julia. “So I was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to surprise me with the proposal, but I was so wrong."

Little did she know, Galen had planned a proposal straight out of a rom-com.

On January 6, 2018, Julia was visiting her mother in Austin, where she’d lived the first two years of the relationship. Her sister suggested a walk at Pease Park, where Julia had often taken her beloved Great Pyrenees, Rufus, and she obliged.

Much to her surprise, Rufus and his Irish Wolfhound brother Waylon — both of whom Julia had left at home in DFW — greeted her there and showed her to Galen, who was in a clearing, ready to propose.

"I was floored," says Julia. "After that, we went to my favorite taco joint, where Galen had invited a small crowd of family and friends. He said it was important to propose in Austin, where we fell in love."

The sweet proposal set the stage for an even sweeter wedding.

In lieu of traditional aesthetics and modern trends, the couple prioritized sentimentality, starting with the location. The spring wedding was held at Julia’s childhood home in Waxahachie, which has been in her family since the 1800s.

"The setting couldn't have been more significant to me, or to Galen, who has come to love the house after spending so much time," says Julia. "Galen's father married us on the front porch of my childhood home in the town where we both grew up. It doesn't get any more special than that."

Décor included lots of DIY and organic elements, like potted cacti, succulents, and herbs.

After exchanging vows privately — only Waylon the Wolfhound was present — the bride and groom held a short ceremony in front of a small group of family and friends.

The couple’s grandmothers, who have been best friends for more than 30 years, served as flower girls, and the groom’s father officiated.

Then, the newly married couple celebrated with Babe’s Chicken served on family china, signature beers from local breweries, wedding cake made by Julia’s Aunt Belinda, and a messy, muddy dance party under the stars.

"I loved that the wedding was elegant but also proved that we don't take ourselves too seriously," says Julia. "We had fancy charcuterie boards for appetizers and then fried chicken for dinner. We played Frank Sinatra and Spice Girls. It was very us."

Coordinator: Teresa Choate
Florals: Fresh Flowers & Gatherings
Photography: Rebecca Chesney Photography
Shuttles and transportation:Blue Diamond Limos
DJ:Infinity DJ Systems
Catering: Babe's Chicken Dinner House
Rentals: Lone Star Events & Tents
Wait staff:Silver Tray Staffing
Photo booth: Kornerbooth Photography
Hair:Top Knot Hair Studio
Makeup:Phoenix Beauty Team
Invitations:Kristin Hess
Groom and groomsmen's attire: The Black Tux
Bridal party dresses:Show Me Your Mumu
Bridal gown:BHLDN
Alteration: Bestfit Alterations
Bridal gown cleaning: Finto Bridal Cleaners

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To submit a wedding for consideration, email stephanie@culturemap.com. Weddings must have taken place around Dallas-Fort Worth since July 1, 2018.

The bride and groom's vision was for a wedding that was "outdoor, earthy, uncommon, and environmentally sustainable."

Photo by Rebecca Chesney

The bride and groom's vision was for a wedding that was "outdoor, earthy, uncommon, and environmentally sustainable."

weddings

Hot-to-trot party

Former Fort Worth mayor helps corral big bucks at New Hope Equine gala

Photo by Savanna Romano

Betsy Price, Scott Murray

As the sun set over expansive pastures north of Fort Worth, hundreds of city slickers headed up to the country, to Lucky Spur Ranch Retreat in Justin for the 2024 Hope Gala.

Benefiting New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy, the October 25 fundraising party went all in on the horse theme, offering guests "A Night at the Races."

About 220 attendees arrived donning Derby hats and fascinators, bowties, fedoras, and cowboy boots - it was on a ranch after all, and not Churchill Downs. They mingled and posed with New Hope horses, browsed an impressive array of silent auction items, tossed horseshoes at whiskey bottles, and wet their whistles at an open bar alfresco.

When the dinner bell rang, folks moseyed inside and filled up on a buffet of Southwestern favorites, including beef skirt steak, grilled chicken, street corn, and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. Nothing Bundt Cakes provided enough cake bites to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Master of ceremonies, former NBC5 sports anchor Scott Murray, welcomed guests and acknowledged New Hope leadership, including gala event chair Jason Hodson.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Claire Messerle, Betsy Price, Katie MesserlePhoto by Savanna Romano

Moments later came a rousing "Howdy, y'all!" - the familiar greeting from former Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price, who served as the event's honorary chair. She underscored the importance of the organization's mission.

"New Hope isn't just a service, but it opens doors for those who think they don't have the strength, they don't have the courage or the connections to regain their sense of independence," she told the crowd.

Photo by Savanna Romano

Hope Gala honorary chair Betsy Price with emcee Scott Murray.

Since 2012, New Hope has been healing through therapeutic horsemanship for people of all ages with physical, intellectual, or developmental special needs. In 2022, they debuted the Natural Horsemanship program for veterans and first responders grappling with post-traumatic stress.

Funds raised at the gala support the “New Hope” that riders need for a better quality of life.

But the horses benefit, too. The majority of New Hope horses enjoy a second life with the organization; some were even on local kill lists.

"This is Texas, folks! We ride horses in Texas," Price concluded. "And every dollar that you give tonight or that you invest somewhere along the way will be doubled or tripled in the returns to these folks who need the therapy and the ones who work in the barns and help us."

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Guests bid in the live auction.Photo by Savanna Romano

Auctioneer Mike Trent got bidding going fast and furiously in a live auction for one-of-a-kind trips and experiences, including a vacation to Hilton Head (sold for $2,600), a dinner with several Dallas Cowboys legends (sold for $7,000), and a luxury suite concert experience at Dickies Arena (sold for more than $10,000).

In total, the gala raised $95,000 for New Hope programs.

"The annual cost to care for one horse runs about $6,000, so your generosity will help us care for our horses that provide vital therapy to our over 40 participants," organizers said afterwards.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Champagne Yacht Club Band kept the dance floor lively.Photo by Savanna Romano

As some guests wandered outside to enjoy the fresh nighttime air, others got moving and grooving on the dance floor to the sounds of the Champagne Yacht Club Band.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the night were New Hope patrons, staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters, including Hamilton Sneed, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Nicole Matwijiw, Jennifer Morris, Pat Fultz, Red Fultz, Devan Peplow, Kathleen Beisly, Emily Rogers-Hicks, Susan Altshuler, Lauren Cobb, Ashley Cox, Mikenley Johnson, Blake Johnson, Kathleen Alexander, Melissa Howard, Claire Messerle, Katie Messerle, Sharla Kershen, Dave Kershen, Jason Hodson, Aaron Sturman, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Neal Bondy, Paul Barstad, Melanie Barstad, Mark Powers, DeAnna Powers, Kim Martin, Darlene Jacobs, Jim Jacobs, Debbie Thayer, and hundreds more.