FSLM Weddings: Anderle-Passariello

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AMBREE ANDERLE and MICHAEL PASSARIELLO
FEBRUARY 8th, 2025

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH JO WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

THE PROPOSAL

“Our proposal was definitely unforgettable,” Ambree said. “In the summer of 2024, Michael planned on proposing to me during a summer trip we had planned to the beach. However, a hurricane in the Gulf made us cancel our trip. We had already taken PTO and didn’t find out until the day before that we would have to cancel, so we booked a last-minute trip up to Broken Bow. Although most of the clothes we packed were for a sandy beach and not Broken Bow’s mountains and woods,  we made do and headed up to the cabin we booked. That evening, I wanted to take a few pictures, so we walked down to the river next to our cabin, and that’s where he popped the question. Although it’s not what he originally planned, it was one of the most special moments of our lives.”


THE DETAILS

First dance: “Crying in the Chapel” by Elvis Presley

“My favorite part of our wedding day was our vows,” Ambree shared. “We opted to do private vows, so we woke up around sunrise and snuck out to a private spot near the outdoor altar. We were able to share our vows and have a moment of peace and togetherness before such a chaotic, fun day. Definitely a moment I’ll remember forever.”

“I had my mom be my matron of honor and a bridesmaid,” Ambree said. “We are extremely close, and when she married my step-dad when I was a teenager, she asked me to be her bridesmaid. It was so special getting to wedding-dress shop for her as just the two of us, and I stood by her on her big day. I couldn’t imagine her not standing beside me on mine, too.”

“I started working at Gracyn Elizabeth Bride at the beginning of 2024, and [owner] Ashley Carlow and my coworkers immediately became like family to me,” Ambree explained. “I am originally from the North Texas area and moved to Texarkana when I got offered a scholarship to continue my education and play volleyball for TAMUT. This is where I met my husband, who was playing baseball for the school. I was living four hours away from my family while we planned this wedding. I met so many amazing wedding vendors through working at Gracyn Elizabeth; Ashley Carlow’s daughter, Shelby Stephens, owns the venue I got married at—which I had been obsessed with since I first saw it while attending a work event there. The florist was also a close friend of Ashley’s, and so the whole vendor staff felt like family. Everyone worked so seamlessly together, and they took such good care of me and the vision we had for our wedding. I made so many friendships through working at Gracyn Elizabeth. It was so reassuring to know that my friends at the boutique were the ones who steamed and transported my dress to the venue.”

“One of the reasons getting my dress at Gracyn Elizabeth Bride and getting married at Four Fifteen was so special for me is because of their missions,” Ambree said. “The name ‘Gracyn Elizabeth’ comes from the owner’s daughter’s name, who was sadly stillborn; she named the bridal store in her honor. The store takes donations of gowns that brides no longer want and uses them to create ‘angel gowns’ for other parents who experience infant loss. Likewise, the chapel that we got married in at Four Fifteen Estates is named ‘The Gracyn Chapel’ in her honor. My mom experienced four miscarriages after me and my brother were born, and although I was young, I remember the unimaginable feeling of loss. It was so special to me that we were able to honor that mission of loving on mothers who have endured such tragic events and in a way honor those sweet babies who are now in Heaven waiting on us.”


THE VENDORS

Venue: Four Fifteen Estates

Dress: Gracyn Elizabeth Bride

Menswear: GEB Menswear

Hair: Delainea Hubbard Hair

Makeup: Phe Michelle Beauty

Florist: The Curated Collective

Caterer: Tacos 4 Life

Cake: Carla Collier, Heavenly Sweets

Decorations: The Curated Collective

DJ: Lynn Roberts Entertainment