Story by Shelbi LeMeilleur Photos by Ryan Price Photography
On a little island in the middle of the Mississippi River in St. Paul, Minnesota, John Byers asked his then-girlfriend Raquel de la Bastide to be his wife. After dating long distance for two and a half years, the couple was finally ready to start their lives together as man and wife.
John and Raquel met during a class at Baylor University. According to Raquel, they were friends for a while and didn’t start dating until after John (who is one year older) graduated. After college, John moved to Indiana, and Raquel moved to Utah. Eventually, John moved to Minnesota, and after two and a half years of dating long distance, Raquel began looking for jobs in Minnesota as well. It was during Raquel’s trip for job interviews that John proposed on the little island on Oct. 13, 2017.
As the couple began planning their wedding, the first step was deciding where to have it, since John and Raquel had family and friends all over the country and around the world.
“Both my parents live in College Station,” Raquel explains. “I actually grew up in the Caribbean in Trinidad. I had a lot of family there, so it made the most sense to have it somewhere where my parents were and have people stay in my parents' house.”
While they looked at venues in Houston and Bryan College Station, ultimately, John and Raquel fell in love with Miramont.
“The Miramont — the staff there is amazing,” says Raquel. “I like the fact that it’s not just a wedding venue. It’s more than just a wedding venue. It’s a little bit more exclusive. Their staff just really takes care of you.”
Raquel admits that planning a Texas wedding while living in Minnesota was tough, but she had amazing support from family and friends who were local. She wanted a traditional, classic look as evident by the flowers from Post Oak Florist. She also worked with Kelly from Ashley & Company to make sure everything would be perfect on her wedding day.
“Every bride will get to a point where they say everything is stressful, but it’s really nice to have vendors and family helping out,” says Raquel.
All the hard work was worth it, and quite a few things made the wedding day stand out, including Raquel’s best friend coming in from Trinidad, hearing her dad’s speech, and spending time alone with John as they took pictures.
Raquel also asked her dad’s best friend to officiate the wedding. “He had never officiated a wedding,” she says. “I asked him to do it just because of what he means to our family and the marriage he has with his wife. ... He did such an amazing job.”
Her advice for future brides is to try and find joy in the planning process and not let stress take over. “Enjoy the time while you’re preparing for your wedding,” she says. “You’re planning a day that you’re going to remember for the rest of your life. Lean on your bridesmaids, lean on your parents, lean on God. As much as it is about having a beautiful wedding day, it’s more about the marriage. ... Enjoy the time and be prayerful that you’re preparing an amazing union with your best friend.”
Byers Vendors Florist Post Oak Florist Photography Ryan Price Photography Venue & Catering Miramont Country Club Bride’s Makeup & Hair Sunny Hair & Makeup Artistry Bridesmaids’ Makeup & Hair MediSpa & Salon Pipe and Drape Ashley & Co. Wedding Planner Ashley & Co. DJ JJ Essen — Essen Entertainment Cake Sandee’s Sweets Dress Allure Bridal — Gowns of Grace Videography Zac Witte — Witte Idea Officiant Kent Laza
