How They Met

Tony and Jeanelle were meant to be! Jeanelle knew his biological sister since freshman year in high school. Tony’s sister found out about Tony their Junior year and they began trying to hunt him down. Over a decade later, she called Jeanelle to tell her she had finally found her brother. Tony’s sister let Jeanelle know that her and her parents were trying to set Jeanelle and Tony up on a date. Jeanelle, trying to avoid that, refused to visit them for a while. Going into Christmas of that year, Jeanelle headed to their house full of the Christmas spirit. As she pulled up, they informed her that Tony would be joining them. Jeanelle was not prepared in the slightest. She had showed up in pajamas and she looked, in her words “unkempt.” However, that didn’t seem to bother Tony. It was love at first sight and they have been inseparable since. This all happened back in 2019, in Sacramento, CA. Jeanelle was very open from the start of their relationship that she would be moving back to Texas and would not be stopped. Tony decided to join her in Texas and is fully enjoying Texas life. Jeanelle said “He even has his own stetson hat!”

The Proposal

Tony proposed on Christmas Eve, 2021 after meeting Jeanelle’s parents for the first time in Galveston, TX. Tony, along with his and Jeanelle’s family had been planning all of it for a long time. On Christmas Eve, Tony suddenly wanted a pre-dinner beach walk so Jeanelle started to get on her bathing suit. He tried to kindly ask if she wanted to wear something cuter which really just made her roll her eyes and opt for jeans. When they got to the beach, Tony led Jeanelle to a lit fire pit and Jeanelle was suddenly concerned. She shared with Tony that she thought they should move in the case that this fit pit had been lit to keep the homeless people warm. Tony explained that they should stay and enjoy it and that they can move in the case of anyone needing it. Jeanelle then went to take off her shoes so she could go running into the gulf and swim. Tony quickly grabbed her hand and suggested they stand there and enjoy the sunset. What Jeanelle didn’t know was that Tony was waiting for her family to show up down the pier to witness it all and take secret photos. Once Tony realized the Jeanelle was not going to stay still, he panicked and decided to propose a little earlier than planned. It all worked out perfectly though and Jeanelle was over the moon with happiness.

The Ceremony & Reception

“How magical! I was somewhat numb (bride speaking) the entire day with nerves that I barely spoke. Our amazing coordinator, Amanda, came and checked on me often and helped me keep on track and keep my cool. As we were preparing for the ceremony, one of the staff was so sweet as to let me peek out the window to watch my groom and the party begin walking out. It was in that moment that I felt safe, calm, and ready to celebrate. Even though it was a tad chilly, the ceremony was absolutely gorgeous (The chilly day and grey actually made for great photos!!). The only decor we added were the aisle hanging jars with baby's breath because the ceremony site is stunning on its' own. I had my fire department Chaplain as our officiant which was so special! The sounds of the water fountain and the beautiful grounds made our hearts happy! It was so special to look out into the crowd and see all of our loved ones enjoying such a special time in such a special place. The reception was beautiful and it was a party! Our theme was a mixture of fancy and forest. We went with emerald green and gold colors, with redwood rounds, tons of white candles, gold chairs/chargers provided by IAQR, eucalyptus, white flowers, and many other elegant and natural decorations. We also had a fine mix of rock n' roll in our DJ selections which made it all the more fun and funky. The wedding march had a great guitar solo and we played acoustic/instrumental style classic rock while folks were waiting. The food was wonderful, our beloved IAQR team made sure Tony and I had food and beverages pretty much at all times. Stonehem hall is a magical site, there was fabulous eating and dancing in there. The multiple bars option was also a treat too so no big issue at all with lines. I wish we could repeat this weekend time and time again.”

Why the Inn

“We originally wanted to get married at my parents’ property which is less than a mile from the Inn. Realizing the magnitude of bringing power, water, a dance floor, shelter, food, etc. to the country, I began researching if there was anything close and, behold! Across the street was the venue of our dreams with all the fixings. We also had a lot of folks coming in from out of state in our wedding party so it was an absolute win to be able to have an all-inclusive venue to provide them a place to stay, vacation, eat, and celebrate!”

Advice From the Bride

“The wheels are in motion, no use in stressing during this time because at this point, it is what it is! I had quite the lead up of stressors before our wedding. However, when I saw my groom walking down that aisle amidst all our loved ones, I did not care if I had to wheel chair it at that point, all my worries washed away and I lived in the moment! Don't let the jitters or stressors take away from you being present :)”