A Cowgirl's Wedding

Karyn and DJ Collins, Photo by Stephotography, Stephanie Kellaway, Grand Jct. CO.

A Cowgirl’s wedding day is something that will stay in her heart forever.  When she has finally found her Cowboy that makes her life complete, planning her wedding is the next step in completing the circle of love. Heather Lofstrom owner of Heather's WildRags located in Loma, Colorado explains, "Brides want to feel like a princess who has found her white knight." 

"A true cowgirl wedding is usually of a country theme, often including boots, wranglers, wild flowers and just about any other western decor that would make a cowgirls wedding complete.  She wants to have everything picture perfect for just one day in her life" states Heather.  

Although in a modern world where knights in shinny armor no longer ride to the rescue of damsels in distress, the American Cowboy reflects the same courage, honor and loyalty. Once called the code of chivalry where Knights rode in honor of thy lady taking the scarf as favours before competition, the cowboy is a synonymous reflection through the code of the west.

When the American Cowboy came on scene, the wild rag bandanas protected him from the elements of nature.  Blocking the dust from the trail, the scorching sun from burning upon his neck, or the shivering chill of winter, the wild rag was much apart of the cowboys everyday fittings.  "Although, Wild Rags are still used today by many Cowboys and Cowgirls who work out in the elements, the Wild Rags have also become a popular part of Western Formal Dress," states Heather.  

"Color throughout your wedding party is important.  This is why the bride’s maids are usually all in one color, the main color of the wedding theme.  Having the Cowboys, or grooms men in a matching colors is also an important part of the wedding plan where wearing matching Wild Rags can be just that added touch to complete the Western Dress theme.  A wedding party of Cowboys in pressed shirts, Wranglers, hats and boots, wearing Wild Rags to match the wedding colors will take any cowgirls heart and make it melt.  Even if you are not a Cowgirl, seeing Cowboys that are “Dressed to the Nines” will make your head turn.'

"We have used Wild Rags tied around a Cowboy boot with a vase of Country Flowers coming from the top of the boot as a table decoration.  This is a nice personal touch that helps tie the colors through out the wedding.  The Wild Rags are also still functional after any wedding and make and excellent gift to any wedding party." replied Heather who can create special details to make any wedding perfect.

Lynette Crites-Shaen Vincent Wedding

Lynette Crites-Vincent of Rhome, Texas also wanted a picture perfect cowgirl wedding.  Pursued by her handsome cowboy, Shaen Vincent, she was hesitate at first to go out on a date with him.  Not that Shaen wasn't the perfect cowboy, but Shaen was much younger than Lynette who finally gave into his bait and persistence several months later.  The bonding of friendship grew into love during the next three years before wedding November of 2009. 

Lynette, like any cowgirl wanted her cowgirl theme also.  Two special desires to complete her wedding was one, having a chuckwagon displayed and two, having her horses, (Rodeo and Socks) as part of the wedding.   Teresa Burleson of  Coyote Creek Chuckwagon, Weatherford, Texas provided the chuckwagon that manifest the symbol of home to the hard working cowboy.  

Lynette and Shaen Vincent Photo by LMR Photography

Talbert White and Sandra Julian of the Rafter TS Chuckwagon often cater weddings throughout central Texas. The Texas Monthly Award winning team fully comprehends great food, catering and working from their chuckwagon to provide the western flare of Texas tradition while provide an array of decor that has been referred to as cosmopolitan. 
  

Rafter TS Chuckwagon Catering wedding- Juanita Rodgers Photography

Weddings share many traditions.  The poem, "Something olde, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue, A sixpence in your shoe" are often tokens of love given by family or close friends to the bride on the eleventh hour before the wedding for good luck. Continuity of marriage through olde, optimism of the future through the new, purity, fidelity and love found in the color blue and good fortune and prosperity given with the coin in ones shoe. Although largely a British custom, the tradition carries into western culture. Some wedding simplex, others extravagant. 

As Miss Ida Steen,  served as the bride’s Maid of Honor for her first cousin, Capera Beggs Clement to Igor Borisovich Norinsky at King Ranch in April of 2011, she never imagined following her foot steps the following year wedding William Gaunt on March 31st, 2012.  The wedding also took place at the King Ranch.   Capera then served as Matron of Honor in Ida's Texas size wedding that included many special guest, including Texas Governor Rick Perry.

The event also included a lunch buffet of Texas style Barbeque and chuckwagon cooking demonstrating the early days of King Ranch as cowboys served up Pan De Campo.  Guest took opportunity to hone in roping skills as ranch wranglers demonstrated the art of working the lariat.

Ida Steen photo by Karlisch Photography

As all guest seated early evening awaiting the wedding, Ida known by her friends as Illa, would enter escorted by her father adored in a wedding gown fit for any princess.  The beautiful gown of natural white silk elegantly cut with a scoop back and cap sleeves.  The skirt topped with a pleated train at the waist, the underside adorned with pale blue silk ornamented with hand painted birds and flowers.   Lace taken from her mothers wedding gown adorn her dress and the veil trimmed with lace with a touch of Swarovski crystals.  As Illa and William vowed their bond of marriage, the wedding party and guest were then hosted by the brides parents at the King Ranch Main House.

Sharon and Kent Rollins 

Shannon Keller Rollins had likely heard many pick-up lines before she met Kent Rollins.  She is from Elko, Nevada where she worked with the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering held there annually.   Kent surely was not Shakespeare, but he was a cowboy poet and a chuckwagon cook.  Kent was conducting a cooking workshop along with entertaining.  Among many task Shannon was assigned too,  managing the workshops was one of them when she met Kent.  "We remain friends after that. Sometime later, I assisted Kent with some web stuff and marketing," states Shannon.  Kent perhaps is the closest example of a Knight Chivalry as he exemplifies the code of a true Cowboy.  The two were married last August now celebrating their first Anniversary.  Beside, who would not appreciate a cowboy that can cook?  Kent is the owner of Red River Ranch Chuckwagon and Catering  who grew up in the cattle business. Today, catering events with his chuckwagon across the nation he also is poet, humorist and entertainer that has been featured on the Food Network Throw Down with Bobby Flay and the Chopped Grill Masters Series along with the new release of a Cookbook.  Shannon assist Kent with catering weddings from their chuckwagon now that she has found her special cowboy.

Whether a princess, business woman or just a good ole country girl, there's always something warm about a cowgirl's wedding.  Simple to complex, each elegant,  the staples of   chuckwagon cooking, wearing jeans or a Tux, Wild Rags and hats, the Waltzing across the state on a star light night, when heart beats as one united as Husband and wife.   Something is to be said about a cowgirls wedding.

 From Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.   It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.   It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.   

Lynette and Shaen Vincent Wedding

White Horse and Carriage Company

As riding off into the sunset completes any story of romance, chartering a Vis-A-Vis such as White Horse and Carriage Company in South, Texas located in Corpus Christi can provide memories for the cowgirl at heart, the princess with in any woman who finds her Cowboy prince.           

If you are looking for a Chuckwagon to assist your needs, contact the American Chuck Wagon Association to find one in your area or contact those mention in the story above to assist your needs.