Candice Laymance and Gunnar Heinisch were both in separate relationships when they first met. But as fate would have it, those relationships didn’t work out for either of them. They were introduced to each other at a friend’s house, but actually didn’t talk again until a month or so later.

Gunnar was diligently studying for his LSAT, and Candice was busy with her own career. After Gunnar finally took the LSAT, he asked Candice for a date, but she just wasn’t ready to get into another relationship at the time. After waiting patiently for a few weeks he contacted Candice again and asked her to join him and some friends at the Alamo Draft House. They went to a movie, had a few cocktails and then went roller-skating. “Not a good Combination,” laughs Candice. However, they had a blast in spite of a few bumps and bruises. Candice said, “that night something in my heart and my mind clicked and I instantly knew he was the one!” “I chalk it up to a woman’s intuition!” she says. Candice’s intuition must have been right; they have been together for four years now.

By the time Gunnar proposed they had been dating for over three years. Although Gunnar was at the University of Houston, they continued their relationship by keeping highway 290 “warm” traveling back and forth between Austin and Houston. By the end of his last year of law school, there was much anticipation as to when Gunnar was going to pop the question, and he eventually did on February 10th. Candice didn’t have a clue as what was going on, because it seemed like any other date night. They went to a little coffee and dessert place in Hyde Park, sat inside and ate their gelato and sipped a glass of port. “He asked me to go for a walk in 30 degree weather!” laughs Candice. As they walked around the quiet neighborhood, he turned to Candice and popped the question, and of course she said, “Yes!”

After much thought, the couple decided on September 8th. Candice’s mom found an advertisement for Old Glory Ranch in a wedding magazine. Gunnar and Candice toured the site and instantly fell in love with it. “My eyes filled with tears when I walked through the front door,” said Candice.

It had the exact look and feel that she had in mind for a Texas wedding. The rustic elegance was perfect! Gunnar and Candice thought that having the wedding at Old Glory Ranch in Wimberley would be a great experience for all the out of town guests because of the antique stores, gorgeous rivers with all the water activities and the many bed and breakfast properties available. Candice thought that the best part of the planning process was the fact that Old Glory Ranch had such great relationships with wedding vendors throughout the Austin/Hill Country area. When they started making decisions about flowers, cakes, photographers, and caterers, the staff provided them with a list of vendors that were experienced in working with Old Glory Ranch. Candice and Gunnar chose Judy Lee at Simon Lee Bakery to create their wedding and groom’s cakes. The wedding cake was a simple but beautiful design in fondant icing, and the groom’s cake was a Kansas State themed cheesecake that was a hit with the guests because of the white cheesecake covered with a rich chocolaty ganache.

The ceremony was held in Old Glory Ranch’s Chapel Hall which is a beautiful church-like room featuring rich woods, stained glass and heavy wrought iron details. It’s charm stems from being built of antique parts taken from old barns and other buildings. The altar had a credenza with cream-colored candles and flowering garland in between. On each side of the altar were tall candelabras, long satin champagne colored ribbon and beautiful flowers. Everything was just perfect. Reverend David W. Smith of the Austin Baptist Association performed their ceremony. Candice’s parents are divorced but both remarried and she has a very special relationship with both dads, therefore, both dads escorted Candice down the isle with a harp, horn and violin playing. After the prayer, both dads stepped back and pushed Gunnar and Candice together, as a symbol of showing that the two were united as a family at that moment. “I was very happy to have my grandmother’s hanky at that point,” said Candice. Once they were pronounced man and wife, it was time to party! The couple invited their guests to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the patio while the Chapel Hall was being prepared for the reception. Two minature donkeys greeted their guests; one donkey carried a basket containing juice and animal crackers for the kids, the other donkey had beer and water for the “big kids.”

They also provided cheese, fruit and wine as alternative options.

Little pecan roca candies with, “The stars at night are big and bright…Gunnar and Candice Heinisch, September 8th, 2007, ” printed on them were scattered throughout the reception hall for the guests as wedding favors.

The Chapel Hall was converted into the reception room. The rows of chairs were removed and tables setup for a dinner for 150 guests. The tables were beautifully decorated with several different layers of linens. Once the reception started, Gunnar and Candice danced their first dance to a song by Patty Griffin called Heavenly Day, followed by the father-daughter dances.

A wedding night in the Texas hill country wouldn’t be complete without a little dancing, so they cut a rug for the rest of the night. The couple paid tribute to their alma maters. The longhorn fans sang the UT fight song and the K-State fans sang their fight song and danced to Wabash Cannonball…“something only a K-State fan can understand,” laughs Candice.

When the time came to leave, Candice and Gunnar were sent off by running under a canopy of sparklers held up by the guests. The newlyweds were driven away in a blue 1967 Lincoln Continental convertible with white leather interior. “At the risk of sounding cliché, as we cruised through the windy Wimberley roads, I looked up at the night sky and couldn’t help but hum “the stars at night are big and bright…” said Candice.

“I sure am glad that I listened to my woman’s intuition!”

Austin Resources

Venue:
Old Glory Ranch

Caterer:
The Salt Lick

Flowers:
Old Glory Ranch on site florist

Wedding Cake/Groom’s Cake:
Simon Lee Bakery

Photographer:
Laura Kay Wootan/The Smile House

Videographer:
Crescent Video

Officiant:
Rev. David Smith

Invitations/Stationer:
Jennifer Heeren with Paper Alchemy Studio

Ceremony Music:
Patricia Hager (harp, horn, violin) – Old Glory Vendor

Reception Music:
Sam Rufenacth – DJ with Capital City Disc Jockeys – Old Glory Ranch Vendor

Honeymoon:
Hyatt Regency Spa and Resort in Maui, Hawaii