Natalie & Frank
Natalie Jenkins and Frank Vega
October 29, 2017
photography by: Koby Brown
Happy Together
Frank and Natalie met on a stormy Houston night at a neighborhood lounge. Natalie had attended a charity fashion show and was meeting friends. She exited a cab and came running in out of the rain, holding her garment bags. Frank immediately noticed the potential for disaster with the wet floor and overburdened Natalie, and came to assist her. The rest is history.
Frank organized a surprise engagement at the couple’s newly purchased home. Frank invited and coordinated out-of-town family members, friends, a caterer, bar, and furniture rentals… since their new home was empty! He brought Natalie to the house to “celebrate with a bottle of champagne” and when he opened the door, everyone was waiting in the rotunda to see the big moment. Natalie was immediately overwhelmed, since she had no idea her family was in town or that they were about to get engaged. Frank then dropped to one knee and proposed to Natalie in middle of the group and the celebration began.
Frank and Natalie decided on a Sunday, family-only wedding on Halloween weekend at Evelyn’s Park in Bellaire. The couple loves to host and still wanted to include their friends in their special weekend, so they organized an all-day costume party on Saturday before the wedding. They extended an open-door policy to their home and had friends and family come and go throughout the day to enjoy pumpkin carving, yard games, music, open bar and grill, and general camaraderie. To create an instant memory album, Frank and Natalie had a themed photo backdrop and encouraged everyone to pose for a Polaroid, stick it in the album, and write a sentiment.
Frank and Natalie love music. Their family, especially the Vegas, love music, singing, and dancing. Frank had the idea to have a singing dinner at their wedding, and Natalie loved it! To get the party started immediately and avoid a boring wait, they arranged the tables to encircle the dance floor so that everyone could be included in the singing dinner. They made a playlist of favorite songs and encouraged their guests to grab the microphone and join in. It wasn’t long before the entire group was singing at the top of their lungs and passing the microphone around between bites of short rib and salad. – Laurette M. Veres
Natalie’s advice
DON’T obsess about the details! Your family and friends are there to celebrate YOU and your husband – not the candy with your faces on it, or the outrageously expensive veil, or whether the flowers perfectly match your bridesmaids dresses. DON’T compare yourself to others. The reasons you and your wedding are special are not the same as anyone elses. DO have great music, food, and libations. In my experience, those are the key components for an amazing party! DO ask for help. Your loved ones will be honored to help address envelopes, pick up the cakes, or let you borrow decorations.