Shortly after Ross Reagan Milvenan approached Lauren Youngblood with a cheesy pickup line out on Lake Austin, they became high school sweethearts. Eight years later, Ross proposed at the waterside museum Laguna Gloria at sunset. “It was so romantic, and it felt so special to be proposed to where we had first met,” Lauren shares.
Once engaged, the pair planned two wedding celebrations. Lovingly dubbed “From Ravello to Rancho,” the events spanned the globe in Ravello, Italy, and Round Top, Texas. “Italy is my favorite place in the world,” Lauren says. “When my family and I visited Ravello in 2019, I knew this was where Ross and I should get married.” They booked Palazzo Avino for their alfresco summer ceremony, and The Amalfi Experience brought their vision to life.
For their more Western-forward autumnal party, Libby Rose planned everything and Lauren’s aunt, Sheila Youngblood, took on the role of creative director and hosted the fête at her boutique hotel and experiential retreat, Rancho Pillow. Kristen Kilpatrick expertly lensed both weddings. Sheila’s daughter, artist Reese Youngblood, hand-painted a whimsical logo for both events, which was later turned into a four-foot-tall neon sign by Austin-based artist Evan Voyles of The Neon Jungle. Happy Menocal Studio set the tone for both events with a colorful invitation suite.
On July 31, 2022, the bride got ready in Italy with Beautylivery and chose an Italian silk Ines Di Santo wedding dress, paired with blue Mach & Mach heels, Liza Beth diamond earrings, and her mother’s diamond tennis bracelet, to wear down the aisle. Bridesmaids complemented Lauren in orange floral dresses by Carolina Herrera. And the groom awaited Lauren in a custom-designed Marzoni suit from Austin-based atelier League of Rebels, Tom Ford belt, and leather Gucci shoes.
Lauren then walked down stone steps with her father to meet Ross in the garden amongst a colorful floral display by Malafronte. During the ceremony, Ross was “overcome with a profound sense of gratitude,” he says. “I felt immense pride and a level of happiness that I didn’t know was possible.”
On the top level of the hotel’s terrace, Lauren and Ross and their 28 guests found their seats via hand-painted oyster shells with each person’s portrait, by Reese, and enjoyed an incredible Italian dinner at sunset, followed by dessert on the pool level. Then, the party commenced on the seaside dance floor. “At one point in the night, the DJ played ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen,’ a favorite of my god sisters and mine, and all the girls jumped up on the top rock level next to the DJ and belted our hearts out,” the bride recalls. “Dancing to ABBA under the disco light by the ocean, we felt like we were in Mamma Mia!”
The next day, the newlyweds decided to send everyone off with a boat day and lunch at La Conca del Sogno, where they enjoyed the famous “Sgroppino” show, filled with sprays of Champagne and a saxophone.
Months later on November 26, 2022, the Texas celebration still included nods to Ravello via the menu, plentiful Aperol Spritzes, and design elements. Lauren’s aunt Sheila who spearheaded the creative for both events ensured her property, Rancho Pillow set the perfect scene for the day of. Austin-based florist Leah Pipes Meltzer of Serracinna arranged playful florals around the grounds and the clear-top tent, where a vintage disco saddle hung above the dance floor.
“We wanted the reception at Rancho to be a party, but I still wanted to feel like a bride,” Lauren shares. “I loved that we did both the destination wedding and at-home celebration because it gave me the opportunity to have two completely different looks.” After getting ready with Kristen of Lather Salon and Lux Beauty & Bridal, Lauren started the night in a “Rancho Glam” Galia Lahav dress with Miron Crosby “Yee Haw” boots.
During the evening, guests sat atop hay bales with vintage quilts to view a slideshow of the Italian wedding and enjoyed a gelato cart, when they weren’t dancing. “Ross and I wanted a band that could cover all different genres of music and The Drywater Band did just that,” Lauren beams. In both Italy and Texas, the newlyweds had their first dance to “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison. And then everyone was treated to espresso martinis and cotton candy to keep the energy high with deejay Disko Cowboy.
At the end of the night, Lauren and Ross made their grand exit, as guests lined the drive. They got into Sheila’s 1950 matte turquoise Studebaker pickup, draped in vintage textiles and sprawling florals and were driven through a “fireworks fountain” and into married life (for the second time).
