There are some wedding videos that are just so emotional, so over-the-top or so absolutely stunning, we feel they deserve a bigger accolade on our site, like the title of Love Story of the Week! Anna and Travis love road trips so they decided it was only right they take one to their wedding! They drove all the way to California from Dallas for their elopement, which included disco balls, lots of dancing and a vintage getaway car!
Watch the video by The Quail & The Dove and then scroll on for an inside look at Anna and Travis’ planning process, tips and vendors!
1. How did you two meet?
We met initially in high school when Travis was drumming in a local church band that Anna was attending and we just knew of each other, and never really were close. Our paths crossed again in later life, and the rest is history.
2. How did the proposal happen?
For Anna's birthday, Travis invited some friends and family to dinner at their favorite restaurant. After dinner was over we walked outside to Denton's lovely tree lit square, got down on one knee and proposed in front of everyone.
3. What are each of your favorite things about your relationship?
Anna: I just love how easy we are. We are total opposites but yet somehow we mesh so seamlessly.
Travis: I love our mutual drive to lift each other up. We are each other’s biggest fans!
4. What was the first thing you did as an engaged couple?
We had brunch at our favorite Denton brunch spot, Hannah's, and literally bunkered up in our house for the weekend singing, dancing and enjoying each other’s company.
5. What was your budget?
Uuuuuuuhhhhhh, what budget? lol. We aren't very good planners, so we just kind of went with the flow as our ideas came along.
6. What were your top three priorities when planning your wedding?
To have fun, see sights and please ourselves!.
7. What did you each think the first time you saw each other on your wedding day?
Anna: I just felt like the luckiest girl alive to have found this amazing man who accepts all of me & goes along with my crazy ideas!
Travis: I thought I needed to be pinched because I thought I was dreaming. I felt overwhelming joy that I got the chance to marry the beautiful woman standing in from of me.
8. Did you write your own vows? If so, what personalized details did you add? If not, how come?
Anna: I touched on some memories on our first road trip together, because we were ultimately making the greatest road trip of all time to get married on that day! We LOVE road tripping!
Travis: I included notes of body positivity and personal struggles that we relate on and how that brings us closer together.
9. Anna, who designed your dress and can you talk about your dress shopping experience?
My dress designer was Theia from Lovely Bride Dallas! Being a wedding photographer myself and already having a relationship with Lovely Bride, I knew that was the perfect place for me. My friend Brooke at the shop got it right on the VERY FIRST one I tried on. It was perfect. Lovely Bride employees definitely are the pros and I would recommend them to anyone! I got my dress in 3 weeks!
10. Can you tell us about your venue and why you chose to get married there?
We got married at Salvation Mountain after seeing the Vice documentary of the place. Travis and I attend a church called Open Worship that believes God's love is open to all sexual orientation, gender and beliefs so the narrative and colors of Salvation Mountain really mirrored that part of our lives that we are very passionate about.
11. We love the energy and the overall \"uniqueness\" of your wedding day! What would you consider as your \"wedding theme\" and how did you land on that?
We really just wanted it to be totally US. All of it really just came together as a result of us just truly enjoying ourselves and being true to us.
We both really have a love for Disco music and listening to classic records, so that was the driving force.
12. Anna, you're a photographer—how do you think your professional eye helped you plan your wedding?
It definitely helped us know what we wanted and didn't want. We knew that all we wanted was to please ourselves with what we did.
13. Anna, you're an advocate of body positivity—can you talk about your experience as a plus-sized bride? What were some things you think you did differently and do you have any tips for other plus-size brides?
My experience as a plus-size bride was honestly not that different than others, you have to pick the right bridal salon for you and trust that they have the perfect option for you. Not making sacrifices to your style because of your body is key, know your style, and find a designer that provides plus and you'll be golden!
14. Why would you suggest hiring a videographer?
Video was SO important to us because that's what we debuted before our grand entrance at our reception when we returned home. As a photographer, photos are so important. But, there’s nothing like getting to relive the moving parts of the day.
15. What is your favorite memory from your wedding day?
Driving around in the Cadillac on the day of our wedding & the feeling of driving up to Salvation Mountain after the one-hour drive while listening to “Space Oddity” by David Bowie! We had chills pulling up—we were so excited!
16. What's your top tip to all soonlyweds out there planning their weddings?
Do it YOUR way! Trust your vendors' creativity, give them your vision and trust them to totally fly with it creatively.
17. Who were your favorite wedding vendors and why?
Our videographers, The Quail & The Dove, photographer Local Nomad Photography, and florist, Ramblin’ Rose Floral Co., because they all went out of their way to make our day perfect and used their own imaginations with my direction to create a perfect day. It was a total collaborative effort.
See all the vendors here
18. Anything else you'd like to share about your wedding or some details I didn't ask about?
We stayed at a large Airbnb for four days with family and friends in Palm Springs. This was another favorite part of our wedding. The togetherness was like no other experience. When the family left after the four days, we road-tripped through California and returned home after a week. Two days later, we had a reception in Dallas where we debuted the film before our grand entrance. We hadn't shared any photos or videos online so to see everyone’s reactions was so cool. It was like all our guests were there & everyone was so surprised. This was a super unconventional way of doing a wedding, but I suggest it to anyone who is looking to please themselves, but also make all your family and friends feel included.
To watch more wedding videos by The Quail & The Dove, click below.