Mikela and Baines Kinnison met in what Mikela says is the most typical of Austin ways: at a dive bar.
"Dive bar karaoke staple Ego’s, to be exact," she says. Some singing and a lot of chatting later and Baines was down on one knee on the couple's two-year anniversary, quoting lyrics from the song "If I Loved You" by the Gabe Dixon Band.
"She quickly caught on to the engagement message in the lyrics I recited and got wide-eyed as she realized I was proposing," he remembers.
On May 14, 2016, in Salado, Texas, the pair tied the knot in front of a crowd of 150 guests at the same church where Baines’ parents wed more than 50 years ago.
"For me, that was really special," says Mikela of marrying in a setting so important to her husband's family. "We’re not religious, and certainly not very traditional, but to be able to have that tradition play such a role, and for it to mean so much to everyone, was really great."
After the ceremony, the festivities began at The Venue by Inn on the Creek, where the wedding party was introduced while the couple's engagement song played. Afterwards, the couple celebrated in true Austin style: with live music. Guests cut a rug all night long thanks to tunes courtesy of The Nightowls. Catering by Austin's Chi’Lantro gave guests the dancing fuel they needed.
Mikela, who describes her wedding style as a mix of midcentury modern and traditional, relied on the wealth of Austin’s thrift stores to find much of their decor. "We used vintage brass and milk glass for our centerpieces," she says, "and each of those pieces was found around town, all for under $15 each." Florals, by Zinnia & Co Flora, featured bright yellow and orange flowers, succulents in the bouquets and boutonnieres, and gold sprinkled throughout.
The day didn’t go exactly as originally planned though. Less than two weeks before the wedding, the photo booth company went out of business. The couple decided to wing it, making a DIY photo booth featuring a frame built by Baines, a glittery backdrop borrowed from a friend, and a couple of Fuji Instax cameras.
"It was a huge hit, and we are so happy with the way that things turned out," says Mikela. The hundreds of hilarious photos taken that day will soon be made into a collage to be displayed in their home. What better way to remember a picture-perfect day.
Ceremony venue: Historic Chapel at Salado United Methodist Church
Reception venue: The Venue by Inn on the Creek
Floral: Zinnia & Co Floral
Photographer: Pressman Studios
Rentals:Confetti Rentals
Invitations and paper products:Minted
Cake:Lily’s Cakes
Band:The Nightowls
Catering:Chi’lantro
Bridal gown retailer: Unbridaled
Bridal gown designer:Theia
Bridal gown alterations: Olga European Fashions
Bridal shoe designer:Seychelles
Bridesmaid dress designer:Adrianna Papel
Makeup: Conjure Beauty
Hair: Kerrie Kipp
Dance floor:Confetti Rentals
After-party location:Barrow Brewing Company
Mikela and Baines with their dog, Doug, who stopped by both the ceremony and reception for some photo ops.
