Real Weddings
Idyllic ranch sets backdrop for Dallas couple's dreamy rustic wedding
The first time Daniel Horohoe met his wife-to-be, Hannah, he spilled a drink on her and fled the scene in a wash of embarrassment. The future bride and groom were students at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and often bumped into each other at events.
Luckily for Daniel, that early faux pas didn’t deter Hannah. Before long, the two were dating.
Similar to their memorable first meeting, the couple’s engagement didn’t come to fruition without a few bumps in the road. First, Daniel planned to propose during a hot air balloon ride, one of Hannah’s dream adventures. But when the big day arrived, the vendor called with bad news: it was too windy.
“From that day on, I knew Dan was going to propose,” says Hannah. “So every time we were in a romantic spot, I thought he would pop the question.”
Finally, after a few false starts, Daniel proposed to Hannah underneath a lighthouse pavilion at the Kemah Boardwalk near Galveston. A rainstorm was rolling through and they ventured to the pavilion in search of shelter. It was a spontaneous moment and “oh so special,” says Hannah. Like the couple’s first meeting, the proposal was perfectly imperfect.
Prone to the occasional misadventure, Daniel and Hannah had no shortage of anxiety when it came time to plan the September 1, 2018 wedding.
“We had nightmares of all the things that could go wrong,” says Hannah. “But when the day came, it was perfect. Everything fell in place without any difficulties. I loved how relaxed I was the entire day.”
Wedding planner Lydia McConathy ensured everything went off without a hitch. And Honey Hollow Ranch — a rustic, 53-acre event venue in Runaway Bay, northwest of Dallas — provided an idyllic setting, bringing to life Hannah’s vision of a “simple and whimsical” affair.
As for a wedding wish list, Daniel and Hannah’s top requests were simple and straightforward. They wanted delicious food, a dreamy cake, and for guests to have fun.
With those boxes checked, the couple focused on incorporating special and sentimental details to make the day all the more memorable. One of Hannah's musts was an outdoor ceremony.
“I was born and raised in Texas and love the land dearly,” she says. “I knew I wanted to incorporate its beauty.”
Honey Hollow Ranch, a newer venue in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, quietly opened in 2017 for weddings and other special events — both outdoors and inside a 4,000-square-foot ballroom and lodge.
On this late summer day, large trees shaded guests from the Texas heat, and a soft breeze kept everyone cool. A friend of the bride and groom officiated the ceremony, and at one point, the bride’s sister read a letter from the Hannah’s grandmother, who was unable to attend.
“My wedding was everything we asked for and more,” says Hannah. “We felt like it was uniquely tailored for who we are as a couple.”
Venue: Honey Hollow Ranch
Catering: Fuzzy's Taco Shop
Flowers: Floral Support
Wedding planner: Lydia McConathy
Day-of coordinator: Royal Event Planning
Cakes: Blue Bonnet Bakery
Photography: Sarah Lanette Photography
Hair and makeup: Jennifer Goldman
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Know of a Dallas-area wedding to consider for publication? Email stephanie@culturemap.com. Weddings must have taken place since July 1, 2017.