What Summer Wedding Season Has Taught Me After 13 Years of Planning Weddings

By Blake Herrera, Founder of Occasions & Co.

Photo by: Brittany Barclay Photography

There’s something about summer wedding season that gets me every year.

Maybe it's the long days, the Texas sunsets, the sound of laughter carrying across a reception lawn, or the way a couple looks at each other during those few quiet moments when they finally realize: we did it.

After more than a decade of planning weddings, summer still feels a little magical to me.

Most people see the finished product. The flowers. The dress. The first dance. The beautiful photos that end up on Instagram.

But what I see is the journey.

I see the bride who called me six months ago completely overwhelmed, wondering how she was going to pull everything together.

I see the groom who secretly spent weeks planning a surprise for his bride because he wanted the day to feel even more special.

I see the parents who have spent years dreaming about this moment and suddenly find themselves trying not to cry during the ceremony.

I see the friendships, the family traditions, the stories that brought everyone to that day.

That's what weddings have always been about for me.

Not the timeline.

Not the linens.

Not even the flowers.

People.

Every wedding tells a story, and one of the greatest honors of my life is getting to help tell it.

As I write this, our team is in the middle of one of our busiest seasons yet. We're traveling across Texas, building timelines, designing florals, solving problems before anyone knows they exist, and helping couples enjoy one of the most important days of their lives.

And honestly?

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Some of my favorite moments happen when nobody else is watching.

It's seeing a father take a deep breath before walking his daughter down the aisle.

It's watching a grandmother smile during the ceremony.

It's hearing guests talk about how much a wedding "feels like" the couple.

Those are the moments that matter.

When I started this company, I wanted to create more than a wedding planning business. I wanted to build a team that cared deeply about people and treated every wedding as if it belonged to a member of our own family.

Today, that's exactly what Occasions & Co. strives to do.

Whether we're planning an intimate gathering for 30 guests or a celebration for 300, our goal is always the same:

To help couples feel present.

To remove the stress.

To create an experience that feels authentic, meaningful, and unforgettable.

As we continue through another beautiful summer season, I find myself incredibly grateful.

Grateful for the couples who trust us.

Grateful for the families who welcome us into such an important chapter of their lives.

Grateful for the vendor partners who help bring these celebrations to life.

And grateful for a career that allows me to witness so much joy.

If you're planning a wedding right now, my biggest piece of advice is simple:

Don't get so caught up in creating the perfect wedding that you forget to experience it.

At the end of the day, your guests won't remember every detail.

They'll remember how they felt.

And years from now, that's what you'll remember too.

Here's to summer weddings, beautiful love stories, and all the memories still waiting to be made.

— Blake Herrera

Founder & CEO

Occasions & Co.