travel diaries : Palestine, part 3

For part 3, I'll share details of the whole reason we made the road trip to Palestine : Kelly and Kyle's wedding!

Kelly chose the beautiful Bella Sera Ranch as her wedding location. It was on 5 acres of land but was only a short drive from our B&B, so it was country AND convenient. On the drive there for the rehearsal, we came over a large hill with the turn in to the ranch on the left and I gasped and exclaimed how beautiful it was. It looked like a movie backdrop! My gasping must have caused us to miss the turn (along with my poor directions) and I snapped this picture as we were turning around:

Horrible photography, but still gorgeous.

The grounds of this ranch were so beautiful. The whole ranch is 80 acres, 5 dedicated to the venue owner's personal property and 5 for the wedding/event grounds. It was seriously impeccable. We had a chance to talk with the owner who lives on property and she told us the story of how they got there. She is from Palestine but was living on her husbands farm in upstate New York when she declared that she wasn't a farm girl and didn't want to farm. Her husband then told her to find her passion or her hobby and so she and her sister bought the 80 acres in Palestine and built the venue. They have the cutest log cabin as their main residence and her husband also helps out with the events. They were so nice! They had plans to build more cabins and a smaller event space for smaller parties and anniversary celebrations, etc.

The reception hall in the foreground and the chapel behind it.

The cute little white chapel!

Mark and I, at the rehearsal.

I didn't take too many pictures at the wedding so I'm stealing many of these from Instagram. Thanks, people!

The site of the rehearsal dinner was Elmwood Gardens, and it was gorgeous! Kind of shabby-chic.

Getting ready!

Kelly's sister and maid of honor, Katy.

Spying on the guys (wayyyy out there in the field) getting photographed.

It was a gorgeous wedding and a really fun weekend in Palestine, Texas. Congrats Kelly and Kyle, thanks for letting us share in your special day!!!!