Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Real Weddings Wedding Styles Seasonal Weddings Summer Weddings Just 10 Guests Joined This Couple as They Exchanged Vows at Their Home in Fort Worth, Texas By Nashia Baker Nashia Baker Nashia Baker is a skilled writer and editor in the journalism industry, known for her work interviewing global thought leaders, creatives, and activists, from Aurora James to Stacey Abrams. She has over five years of professional experience and has been a part of the Martha Stewart and Martha Stewart Weddings teams for the last 3 years. Editorial Guidelines Published on October 5, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Brittany Partain Five years after meeting in the dorms at Texas Christian University, Patrick asked Caitlin to be his wife at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 23, 2019. "We visited the museum many times prior, which made for a perfect surprise when Patrick took me there one fall night and got down on one knee," the bride says of their engagement. "He [flew] my parents in from Colorado to enjoy a celebratory dinner afterwards with his parents, as well." While the pair initially planned for a 300-guest wedding in August in the backyard of Caitlin's childhood home in Colorado, the COVID-19 pandemic caused them to rethink their big day. After deciding to have their larger celebration on their one-year wedding anniversary, they opted for a micro-wedding in their own backyard; the smaller event took place on July 31, 2020, and was attended by just 10 guests. "Brynn Swanson with First Look Events has helped us throughout the planning process for our Colorado wedding and has been an integral part in the pivoting process as we looked to not only postpone our larger Colorado wedding celebration, but also create an intimate wedding day at our own home in Texas," the bride shares. As they reimagined their nuptials, they looked to their future celebration for inspiration, drawing on their favorite details to craft their backyard ceremony and reception at Ellerbe Fine Foods. "Our Colorado wedding was going to be a modern take on a garden wedding with hues of blue and interesting patterns," explains Caitlin. "When my mom and Brynn saw the restaurant space and the amazing quaint vibe it had, we decided to pivot to a vintage garden wedding in Texas." To other couples planning their weddings during COVID-19, the bride suggests navigating these unchartered water with optimism and perspective. "We chose to get married regardless of the circumstances because the most important thing to us was to start our life together," she says. "Finding comfort in our decision to postpone and excitement in our new plans has made everything so much better." 01 of 20 Something Blue Brittany Partain For the backyard ceremony, Caitlin wore a pair of powder blue lace-up shoes from Beehive. "The heels certainly stole the show and quickly became the accessory I was most asked about," she says. Wedding Shoes That Won't Sink Into the Grass at an Outdoor Wedding 02 of 20 Dressed in White Brittany Partain Since the bride decided to save the wedding dress she originally selected for their bigger celebration down the road, Caitlin needed a new one—and quickly realized that this Ulla Johnson gown would be just right for her micro-nuptials. She loved that the cotton garment was comfortable and light, but still felt elegant enough for a backyard event. 03 of 20 Nice and Neutral Brittany Partain Neutral-toned blooms, including cappuccino roses, cafe au lait dahlias, and tweedias defined the bride's bouquet, which was arranged by Adriana Smith of Moss Floral. Which Wedding Bouquet Matches Your Personality? 04 of 20 Family Love Brittany Partain It was a hot one—with the Texas heat peaking at over 100 degrees, the couple's guests, the bride's father included, gathered indoors ahead of the ceremony. 05 of 20 Floral Accents Brittany Partain The couple kept their ceremony décor to a minimum, using just two bunches flowers to detail their altar. "We decided to highlight a modern arch structure with soft garden florals that complemented a large draping tree in our yard perfectly," Caitlin says. 35 Altar and Aisle Decorations We Love 06 of 20 Aisle Eye Candy Brittany Partain Each chair along the aisle was adorned with antique carnations and summer roses. 07 of 20 Beat the Heat Brittany Partain Guests were assigned seats and given a parasol for shade. 17 Ways to Keep Guests Cool at Your Warm-Weather Wedding 08 of 20 Groom's Getup Brittany Partain Patrick wanted his ensemble—a gray suit with a subtle checkered pattern from John L Ashe—to be a surprise, so the couple didn't see each other until they locked eyes on the aisle. "The blue in his suit ended up perfectly matching the shoes I was wearing," Caitlin says. 09 of 20 Tying the Knot Brittany Partain Though the pair decided to keep their service brief to reduce their time in the Texas heat, they exchanged intimate vows with the homily, which their pastor facilitated. 19 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Ceremony 10 of 20 Wedded Bliss Brittany Partain The pair formally became husband and wife in front of their 10 guests—and sealed their union with a kiss (and a dip!). 11 of 20 Cheers! Brittany Partain "Since we only had family attending the ceremony, we didn't have a specified cocktail hour," the bride explains, "but directly following the service, we had a Champagne toast in our backyard. Patrick and I thanked everyone for the sacrifices they made to attend our special day." How to Work the Room at Your Wedding 12 of 20 Just Us Two Brittany Partain After toasting to their marriage, the pair posed for a few portraits on a nearby golf course before rejoining their guests for the small party. They cherished this time together. "These were our first shared moments alone as husband and wife and the familiarity of the space made the day even more surreal," says Caitlin. 13 of 20 Private Dining Brittany Partain Ellerbe Fine Foods was the perfect space for the couple's reception—it is one of their favorite restaurants in Fort Worth and offers farm-to-table dining. Your Wedding Reception Etiquette Questions, Answered 14 of 20 Beautiful Blooms Brittany Partain Rose and peony centerpieces—arranged by Moss Floral—were placed atop each reception table, which were positioned to face each other. 15 of 20 Plate Perfection Brittany Partain Colorful dishware, including vibrant green chargers, blue watercolor dinner plates, and coral salad dishes, punched up simple white linens. The Prettiest Place Settings from Real Celebrations 16 of 20 Personalized Drink Brittany Partain Brenda Martin of BKGallerys hand painted the Veuve Clicquot Champagne bottle that was placed on the newlyweds' personal table. 17 of 20 Loving Guests Brittany Partain The intimate reception gave everyone a chance to talk, share speeches, and simply spend time together—a major plus of a pared down guest list, notes the bride. "The simplicity of the evening created an intimate environment for all involved," she says. Real Wedding Guests Share Their Favorite Wedding Memories 18 of 20 Moments to Remember Brittany Partain "Rather than a large reception where it is easy to lose track of your guests, our small dinner gave us the feeling of a close, warm family dinner," the bride continues. "We couldn't have asked for abetter end to our special day." 19 of 20 Two-Tier Treat Brittany Partain Crème de la Crème Cake Company baked a classic white two-tier with buttercream icing for the couple's cake. A large peony was the finishing touch. 48 Small Wedding Cakes with a Big Presence 20 of 20 Sources Brittany Partain Photography, Brittany PartainReception Venue, Ellerbe Fine FoodsWedding Planning, Brynn Swanson of First Look EventsFlowers, Adriana Smith of Moss FloralPaper Products, Mallory PettasOfficiant, Josh StorieBridal Gown, Ulla JohnsonJewelry, Foster & Son Fine Jeweler; Scully & ScullyShoes, BeehiveHair, Maeve KearneyMakeup, Samantha BropheyGroom's Attire, John L AsheEngagement Ring and Wedding Bands, Grissom's Fine JewelryCake, Crème de la Crème Cake CompanyRentals, Posh Couture Rentals; Taylor's RentalChampagne Bottle, Brenda Martin of BKGallerys Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit