After meeting while both attending the University of Georgia, Megan Parra and Andrew Jackson Wells followed graduation with a move to Austin and then a proposal. They knew that with Megan’s family in Texas and Jackson’s in Georgia, guests would have to travel for the wedding. “Why not make it a vacation for all of our guests?” Megan muses. “After all, everyone was itching to travel after a year of staying at home.”
Park City, Utah was the only destination Jackson and Megan considered. “I grew up visiting Park City year-round for every activity under the sun—skiing, hiking, biking, snowmobiling,” she says. “After Jackson and I began dating, we shared so many firsts in Park City. It was the first time we told each other that we loved each other, the first time he skied, and a place that always brought us peace being surrounded by nature at the top of the mountains.” Additionally and most importantly to the couple, the city is convenient for guests to fly in and out of.
The Montage Deer Valley‘s breathtaking view from the Grand Lawn was the next obvious choice for their wedding. “The aesthetic was playful, modern but didn’t take away from the picturesque views,” Megan explains. They sent their custom Larsen McDowell watercolor invitations with vintage postage, which were sourced by Megan’s sister-in-law, and waited for the RSVPs to come in.
The late August wedding weekend began with a welcome celebration at their house. The bride wore an elegant floral applique Rachel Gilbert gown. The “Cowboy Cocktail”-themed rehearsal dinner was at a downtown whiskey distillery, and guests wholeheartedly abided by the wardrobe requirement. The bride and groom committed to their sophisticated western wear. Megan donned Miller White Bridal with Miron Crosby cowboy boots, a Bennedetta Bruzziches rhinestone belt, Jennifer Behr earrings, and a Larry Mahan cowboy hat. Andrew slipped on Tecovas boots, a Stetson cowboy hat, and a thrifted silver bolo tie.
Despite Megan’s love for fashion, she was not necessarily looking forward to finding the wedding dress. “In fact, I was actually more excited about creating looks for the other events happening throughout the weekend!” she confesses. She knew she wanted something interesting and unique, yet timeless and elegant. Megan practically scoured the entire state of Texas for something that fit this description, but it was one of her best friends who found the gown. She grabbed it off the rack at Casa de Novia Bridal in Houston and insisted Megan put it on.
It wasn’t until Megan had left the store and was looking back at pictures of the dress that she experienced an epiphany. She drove back to Houston to buy the dress, a Romona Keveza asymmetric strapless laser-cut gown with a structured opaque organza skirt layered on top. “I loved the way that the skirt softened the lace and created dimension without taking away from the fitted silhouette,” she shares. To complete the look, she paired the gown with a simple tulle veil, a.b. Ellie baroque stud pearl earrings, Jimmy Choo pumps, and her mother’s sapphire ring—a sparkling blue something borrowed. Styled by Lesley Lind Hair and Makeup, Megan’s sleek chignon and natural makeup were elegantly understated. “I loved the neckline of the dress and didn’t want to take away from it,” she explains. Meanwhile, the groom designed a custom tuxedo at the Knot Standard in Austin.
The bride had one goal for her bridesmaids’ dresses. She wanted all of her sisters and best friends to be confident and comfortable! She suggested a few colors, lengths, and floral prints but ultimately requested that they pick an outfit they would want to wear again. Megan and Andrew’s pup, Ziggy, was stylish in his tuxedo collar from Amazon.
On August 28, 2021, the Texas sky graced the wedding with perfect weather. Megan walked down the aisle with her father, a moment she will look back on as one of the most special in her entire existence. Megan’s grandmother read a Catholic prayer in Spanish, and after reciting their vows, Jackson slipped the Vada wedding band on the bride’s finger. Megan says, “I’ve never felt more joy than being able to marry my favorite person in the world!”
The newlyweds joined their guests for the reception. Megan switched into the custom dress of her dreams. She wishes she could wear the one-of-a-kind David Peck ensemble forever. “His team was just the best,” she dishes. The dress swished and swayed during the couple’s first dance to Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic.” Megan’s mother and father delivered an incredible toast, followed by her three sisters’ toasts, which Megan concedes felt more like roasts. “But I loved every second of it!” she laughs. Everyone dined on short rib, sea bass, late-night pizza, and servings and servings of wedding cake.
Towards the end of the evening, Jackson and his friends surprised everyone with their musical performance of “The Weight” by The Band. This sweet gift brought Megan to happy tears as the whole crowd danced and sang alongside them.
“We refused to let the night end and surprised our guests with a silent disco into the wee hours after the band finished playing,” Megan reminisces. When the dancing dwindled down and the music stopped, the newlyweds left for their Amalfi Coast honeymoon in their neighbor’s bright orange vintage Ford Bronco.
