The New Braunfels Civic Convention Center

Wedding Day

Ceremony

The New Braunfels Civic / Convention Center

Reception

Our Wedding

As loved ones of Sunny and Dmitri know, they tend to walk to the beat of their very own, weirdly beating drum, so it follows they would choose to have a non-traditional wedding. Halloween, or Samhain, is their favorite holiday and seemed like the perfect time to host their unique wedding. Samhain is a religious festival originating from Celtic traditions. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time to honor ancestors and reconnect with those who have passed away, symbolizing a cycle of death and rebirth. A cycle which can be found many times throughout all our lives, regardless of our religious affiliations or lack thereof. For Sunny and Dmitri personally, the Hallowedding will be a time to honor their ancestors who are not here to join in this beautiful celebration of love, as well as an opportunity to share an abundant harvest in the form of a feast for their loved ones and community.&nbsp; There will be a traditional handfasting ceremony, as well as a handful of cultural ceremonies that speak to Sunny and Dmitri such as a wedding vase ceremony in place of a unity candle or sand ceremony. There will be an exchange of Buddhist vows to honor Sunny's closest faith, as well as a traditional ring exchange.&nbsp; This is not a celebration of the macabre or anything gory. There will be no blood, vampires, zombies, costumes, anything scary, or any outward celebration of death. This is their love story culminating in a long-awaited joining of lives and families in marriage, falling at their favorite time of year. What you will see are lots of fairy tale pumpkins, decor including black cats, bats, ravens, and cauldrons with glittery bubbles, and lots of LED candles. You'll see black fabrics instead of white, and rich, darker colored flowers. If you love Halloween, you will love this wedding! Instead of the trendy photo booths that have become popular at weddings, Sunny and Dmitri have created magical, fun photo opportunities that include stepping into an Alice in Wonderland area, or posing in front of beautifully crafted wings of pampas grasses and feathers. There will be a bunch of silly, fun yard games out in the courtyard, and of course, there will be music and dancing. And for those who may miss out on the trick-or-treating experience (including grown-up kids), there will be a Candy Bar with about two dozen candy brands you can scoop into treat bags to take home.&nbsp; This will be a very different wedding than most have seen. It will be family-friendly and fun, and they are so excited to have you all join them!

What is a Hallowedding?

Hallowedding 

Photos

Hallowedding Menu & Bar

We have worked to plan a feast that should accommodate most dietary needs including gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, diabetes friendly, etc. Hopefully, there will be something for everybody. We will be serving the following: Several appetizers Salad bar Cut veggies and fruit Taco bar/Nacho bar Several Mexican side dishes Grazing tables to include a wide variety of meats, cheeses, breads, crackers, nuts, seeds, dried and fresh fruit, herb butters and butter boards, jams, pickles, antipasto, and condiments for those who would like to make sandwiches or sliders Dessert charcuterie Candy bar featuring a wide selection of favorites We will have an open bar for our guests to enjoy responsibly, including beer, wine, meade, and three specialty cocktails. There will also be a wide variety of non-alcoholic drinks including mulled cider, water, coffee, sodas, juices, sweet tea, and two specialty mocktails.

For guests flying in from out of town, the closest airport will be San Antonio International Airport. You can rent a car there if needed. Please note that New Braunfels does not have public transportation, but of course there are ride share or taxi options. There are a number of hotel options in and around New Braunfels, as well as rentals through Airbnb and Vrbo.

Travel

Although New Braunfels is a relatively small city, there are a wealth of things to do in the area, especially if you have time to drive to San Antonio or Austin during your stay. We're listing a few links here to pique your interest, but a simple search online will give you a fuller picture of everything there is to do in the area from dining, theme parks, music performances, museums, historical sites, shopping, quirky attractions, to the famous San Antonio Riverwalk, and so much more! The links provided include attractions in New Braunfels, San Marcos, Seguin, San Antonio, and Austin, so please make sure to verify the area while planning your day trips. We hope you'll fully enjoy your stay in the area. Natural Bridge Caverns and Wildlife Ranch<a href="https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/</a><a href="https://www.wildliferanchtexas.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.wildliferanchtexas.com/</a> Alpine Coaster, New Braunfels<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4Ww9XEONFV/?igsh=MXBnNjc3dnJkMDNkcg==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4Ww9XEONFV/?igsh=MXBnNjc3dnJkMDNkcg==</a> Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo<a href="https://www.awsfzoo.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.awsfzoo.com/</a> Wonderworld Cave and Adventure Park<a href="https://www.wonderworldpark.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.wonderworldpark.com/</a> Landa Park<a href="https://newbraunfels.gov/3375/Landa-Park" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://newbraunfels.gov/3375/Landa-Park</a> Japanese Arcade<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqQqo33tgqJ/?igsh=MWE3aWJodDZncDEzMA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqQqo33tgqJ/?igsh=MWE3aWJodDZncDEzMA==</a> San Marcos Outlet Malls<a href="https://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/san-marcos" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/san-marcos</a> San Antonio Riverwalk<a href="https://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/</a> San Antonio Theme Parks<a href="https://www.visitsanantonio.com/theme-park-capital-of-texas/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.visitsanantonio.com/theme-park-capital-of-texas/</a> The Alamo<a href="https://www.visitsanantonio.com/things-to-do/alamo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.visitsanantonio.com/things-to-do/alamo/</a> McKenna Children's Museum<a href="https://mckennakids.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://mckennakids.org/</a> New Braunfels Railroad Museum<a href="https://newbraunfelsrailroadmuseum.org/nbrr/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://newbraunfelsrailroadmuseum.org/nbrr/</a> The Witte Museum<a href="https://www.wittemuseum.org/?msclkid=b7754493a9b617e628162c57616fc2e5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.wittemuseum.org/?msclkid=b7754493a9b617e628162c57616fc2e5</a> 5 Stones Brewery<a href="https://www.5stonesbrewery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.5stonesbrewery.com/</a> BS Brewing<a href="https://www.bsbrewingtx.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.bsbrewingtx.com/</a> Water 2 Wine Winery<a href="https://www.water2wine.com/newbraunfels/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.water2wine.com/newbraunfels/</a> 50s drive in theater, Stars and Stripes<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19PEvCSiHC/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19PEvCSiHC/</a> Austin Star Wars store<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ABgPDF2Wr/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ABgPDF2Wr/</a> SAS General store San Antonio<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EPyxLusCR/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EPyxLusCR/</a> Austin Tiki Bar - Tiki Tatsuya<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BLEV8HfRz/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BLEV8HfRz/</a> Free stuff in San Antonio<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7kc3QHRji6/?igsh=MTZlb3JyYmFydmg2YQ==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7kc3QHRji6/?igsh=MTZlb3JyYmFydmg2YQ==</a> 4 San Antonio experiences<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19MnhgiQFL/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19MnhgiQFL/</a> Wonder chamber<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzWjpApg0Z0/?igsh=bnRieDJvOHY0amFy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzWjpApg0Z0/?igsh=bnRieDJvOHY0amFy</a> Ghoulish Books<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOHce-3Dfnm/?igsh=cWVtbzZia3dmZ2I5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOHce-3Dfnm/?igsh=cWVtbzZia3dmZ2I5</a> Tiny Minotaur Fantasy Tavern, Austin<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNaxfYeA3rP/?igsh=dWUwb2NtZXRiNm1m" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNaxfYeA3rP/?igsh=dWUwb2NtZXRiNm1m</a> Darkside Pizza<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHzMOgexGm3/?igsh=bzlzbzUzNDd1Ym5w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHzMOgex</a> Star wars pizza<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/161zwDDdp5/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/share/r/161zwDDdp5/</a> SA Chocolate shop&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BAPWt5x1Z/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BAPWt5x1Z/</a> SA German restaurant&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHzMOgexGm3/?igsh=bzlzbzUzNDd1Ym5w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gm3/?igsh=bzlzbzUzNDd1Ym5w</a> Candycloud Company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLm9htlRg0N/?igsh=MWllNGlzeWpvOXBwNQ==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLm9htlRg0N/?igsh=MWllNGlzeWpvOXBwNQ==</a> The Baked Bird bakery<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DH1PkvfxY2w/?igsh=MTN0d3k1MTNkdWtwOA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/DH1PkvfxY2w/?igsh=MTN0d3k1MTNkdWtwOA==</a> Punk Gothic Raman spot<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLkzHXVxFu0/?igsh=MWJrZ3I0OTNlN2FxbQ==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLkzHXVxFu0/?igsh=MWJrZ3I0OTNlN2FxbQ==</a>

Things to Do

Registry

We would very much appreciate our guests sharing their photos and videos with us. We don't want to miss a thing! We have created a Dropbox link so you can easily send them to us. Thank you! To upload photos and videos, please click here:<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wo1a563vipaud17ep44l6/AE4z48t2rdq95hpF85fky2s?rlkey=4w5oimhloxv74lh8hpqchz9p4&amp;st=favhlmv5&amp;dl=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wo1a563vipaud17ep44l6/AE4z48t2rdq95hpF85fky2s?rlkey=4w5oimhloxv74lh8hpqchz9p4&amp;st=favhlmv5&amp;dl=0</a>

Sunny & Dmitri

Sunny & Dmitri

Registry