An outdoor sunset dinner amid a bountiful backdrop of spring flowers is all Sara Bond wanted for her wedding celebration to Randy Griffin on May 4, 2019. A massive, clear outdoor tent at the Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork allowed for just that.
“Randy's family tries to watch the sunset every night — a tradition his late grandfather started,” says Sara. “So we loved that our reception tent allowed us to watch the sunset as we ate dinner. It was magical.”
The two met while working together at an oil and gas company in downtown Fort Worth, and were friends for three years before they started dating. Randy intended to incorporate Sara’s love of spring flowers into his planned proposal among bluebonnets at his family ranch. But in Texas fashion, temperatures dropped more than 40 degrees overnight before the big day. He proposed in his living room instead.
“It ended up being so special that it was the two of us and our dogs,” Sara says. “Randy flew in my entire family and friends to celebrate. He had set up a nail appointment with my mom and girlfriends for that afternoon, and then that night we had a wonderful surprise party with our friends and family at his parents’ house.”
But weather didn’t interfere with the couple’s wedding day festivities. After a ceremony at Robert Carr Chapel, guests headed to the Heart of the Ranch where a bright display of floral awaited amid tables dressed in light robin’s egg blue linens and white garden chairs.
Fresh Clementine oranges served as bases for place setting cards. There were also yard games and a live jazz band.
The couple worked with wedding planner KC Cloud of Cloud Creative Events to bring their vision to life.
“We loved the large trees and the fact that it was an empty canvas for us to work with," Sara says. "The clear-top tent allowed the beautiful trees and blue sky to be in view, and the amazing floral arrangements Moss Floral created made you feel like you were surrounded by flowers.
"We wanted our wedding to be Southern and elegant, but not stuffy.”
Upon arrival, guests were treated to two springtime signature cocktails crafted by bartenders from Pop Up Bar: a French 75 named “Riley” after Sara’s goldendoodle, and a mint julep named “Remi” after Randy’s black lab.
“The mint julep was in honor of the Kentucky Derby that was taking place that day, and my husband's favorite liquor is bourbon,” Sara says.
An elegant seated dinner was catered by Magdalena’s. Hors d’oeuvres included braised short rib tostadas, to satisfy Randy’s love of Tex-Mex, and mini lump crab cakes — an homage to Sara’s Maryland family background.
Dinner started with a spring salad garnished with blackberries and figs, and the main course offered a choice of chicken, salmon, or beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes and colorful roasted vegetables.
Crème de la Crème created their cakes.
“My first favorite moment was our cake cutting,” Sara says. “Randy and I both agreed that we would be nice and not shove cake in each other's faces. But in the moment, it ended up being a full-on cake fight, and it was hilarious.”
Boomtown band, of which Randy’s uncle is a member, played a mix of songs old and new. When a cover of Katy Perry’s “California Girls” began, Sara and her girlfriends were ecstatic.
“I grew up in California and my friends and I would blast that song on the way to high school,” Sara says. “So when the band played it, which was a total surprise, we all went crazy. It was so much fun to relive our old high school days.”
The newlyweds whisked off to a honeymoon at the Sugar Beach Viceroy Resort in Saint Lucia, and they're already planning a return trip.
Ceremony venue:Robert Carr Chapel
Reception venue:Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork
Wedding planner:Cloud Creative Events
Photography:Allen Tsai Photography
Floral:Moss Floral Design
Bridal gown: Legends by Romona Keveza from Neiman Marcus
Catering:Magdalena’s Catering & Events
Cakes:Creme de la Creme
Linens:La Tavola
Chairs:Coral Lane Specialty Event Rentals
Rentals:Perch Event Decor and Grand Events
Bar:Pop Up Bar
Band:Boomtown
Paper goods, cups, and signage: Illustrated Weddings
Sara Bond and Randy Griffin were married May 4, 2019.
Claire Messerle, Betsy Price, Katie MesserlePhoto by Savanna Romano
Guests bid in the live auction.Photo by Savanna Romano
Champagne Yacht Club Band kept the dance floor lively.Photo by Savanna Romano