Noel + Evan | A French Antique Wedding in Round Top, Texas

Featured on Together Journal

Photographer Jenna Brooke Clark | Florist The Bloom Bar | Venue Jardin De France | Food + Bar La Petit Dame | Cake Best Little Cake Shop | Paper Details Lauren Taylor O’Malley | Linens Table Manners | Tailor Topaz Thimble | Dress Danielle Frankel

Their Love Story

Before I dive into the wedding itself, you need to know a little bit about Noel and Evan. They’re both creatives to the core — Noel works with Leanne Ford Interiors and Evan is an Editorial Director, after years writing for publications like GQ and Esquire. When they first met in college, no one thought they’d last: a wild-hearted dancer and a thoughtful writer. But here they are, a decade later, building a life together that’s grounded in creativity, design, and choosing each other again and again. You can feel that history between them when you’re around them. They’ve grown up side by side, and it shows in the way they move together with such ease.

The Venue That Set the Tone

Their ceremony took place at Jardin de France, a French antique showroom turned venue, and honestly, my jaw dropped when I walked in. The space was dripping with character — old Parisian architectural details, layers of history in every corner, and antique furniture that felt more like art than rentals. Instead of the usual folding chairs and tables, they had access to this treasure trove of one-of-a-kind pieces that gave the whole day a soulfulness you can’t fake.

For the reception, guests moved to La Petite Dame, another Round Top gem, where the food was so good people were still raving about it days later. It was one of those rare times where everything aligned: the venues, the design, the food, and the energy of the guests.

The Design & Details

Noel has an incredible eye for design, and it showed in every detail. She envisioned a wedding that felt elegant but never stuffy — a place where guests could truly relax and enjoy themselves. The palette leaned into silvery blues, sage, deep greens, and touches of gold, which blended seamlessly with the venue’s French details.

The florals by The Bloom Bar were intentionally organic, with loose movement and natural shapes. They weren’t polished within an inch of their life — instead, they looked alive, almost as if they’d been plucked straight from the garden outside. It made the whole space feel soft, romantic, and completely effortless.

One of my favorite touches? Instead of hiring a DJ, Noel and Evan created their own playlist and had a Fiverr DJ mix it seamlessly. It gave the evening such a personal, intimate vibe — no awkward MC interruptions, just music flowing all night long. I’ve been to a lot of weddings, and honestly, this was one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard.

The Outfits

Let’s talk about the dress saga. Noel had her heart set on a Danielle Frankel gown, but with only three months to plan, her options were slim. She managed to find a sample online — two sizes too small. With the help of a determined seamstress, they made it work, but it was definitely a storybook scramble. She paired it with Christien Nicolaides pearl earrings, minimal makeup she did herself, and the most radiant smile. Later in the evening, she changed into a sleek cream Norma Kamali gown, paired with ivory boots and a Gigi Pip cowboy hat, which felt like the perfect nod to Texas.

Evan looked timeless in a tux from The Black Tux, grounded with cowboy boots — a blend of classic and country that suited him perfectly. Together, they looked like they’d stepped straight out of a modern editorial spread, but in a way that was still totally them.

The Imperfectly Perfect Moments

One thing I loved about this wedding is that Noel and Evan didn’t try to make everything picture-perfect — and that’s exactly what made it so special. Take the ceremony, for example. The music glitched. Noel’s veil started slipping off as she walked down the aisle. By the time she reached the doorway, she ripped it off completely. Somehow, a staff member ran it up to Evan, who was waiting at the altar. He asked if she wanted him to put it back on, and right there in front of everyone, he did. The crowd erupted in cheers. That little hiccup turned into one of the most heartfelt, joyful moments of the day.

Then there was the dancing. Noel comes from a dancing family — her mom owns a studio, and her little brother went to Juilliard. So when her dad surprised everyone with his moves during the father-daughter dance, it brought the house down. Later, her brother stopped the music and taught everyone line dances they’d learned from TikTok just two nights before. Watching everyone pile onto the floor, laughing and dancing, was pure magic.

And of course, the night ended with a spontaneous fountain jump. No sparklers, no staged send-off — just Noel and Evan, shoes off, diving into the water with their friends cheering them on, music blasting, and “Sweet Caroline” sung off-key under the Texas stars. It was messy, joyful, and completely unforgettable.

Reflections

As a photographer, these are the kinds of weddings that light me up. Not because they’re perfect, but because they’re real. Noel and Evan’s day was filled with beauty, yes, but even more than that, it was filled with heart. They embraced the chaos, laughed through the hiccups, and danced until the night ended in a fountain.

What I’ll remember most isn’t just how stunning the venue looked or how flawless the details were — it’s how it felt to be there. And that’s what I hope comes through in these photos: the feeling of two people who have grown together, chosen each other over and over, and created a wedding day that was unapologetically them.

If there’s any advice couples can take from Noel and Evan, it’s this: aim for special, not perfect. Your wedding day is one chapter in your story — let it be filled with love, laughter, and moments you’ll never forget.