Watson-Raymon wedding

Cassidy Watson and Clifton Raymond, both of Houston, were married Oct. 3 at the home of Dr. Jim Cook. Paul Hillier of DeQueen, Ark., former youth minister of the bride, officiated.

Parents of the bride are Tom and Ann Watson of Palestine, and parents of the groom are Gregg Raymond and the late Marcia Raymond of Houston.

The ceremony was held outdoors under an arbor made from reclaimed local trees draped with gray gauze fabric. The eclectic mix of seating for the guests was decorated with eryngium in rows of glass bottles tied to reclaimed branches and potted sweet olive trees.

Escorted by her father, the bride wore a two-piece Monique Lhullier gown from the Spring 2009 collection. The hand-tufted skirt in pistachio silk gazar had a short train and self tie sash. The fitted silk corset, also in pistachio, was re-embroidered lace embellished with tiny silk flowers and crystals. The bride’s engagement ring was designed by the groom with details to honor the joining of both families. Her wedding band was her maternal grandmother’s wedding band.

Maid of honor was Allyson Watson of Palestine, sister of the bride. She wore a sleeveless clay matte draped jersey knee length dress from the Derek Lam Fall 2009 collection.

Matron of honor was Grace Anne May of Austin. She wore a chiffon knee-length dress in graphite from the 2009 Vera Wang collection.

Bridesmaid Adrienne Johnson Yost of Houston wore a satin knee length dress in charcoal from the 2009 Vera Wang collection.

Bridesmaid Carlene Raymond of Washington, D.C., sister of the groom, wore a knee-length silk tricotine dress in pewter from the 2009 J. Crew bridal collection, which was embellished with vintage brooches.

The bride carried an ultra modern yet organic bouquet of white proteas lambs ear sage and silvery gray bersilla berries tied with twine.

The attendants’ bouquets consisted of globe scabiosas nestled between explosion grass also tied off with twine.

Will Condrey of Houston and Craig Stoker of Austin, friends of the groom, served the groom as his best men. Chris Valdez of Houston and Jamie Sapp of Atlanta, Ga., served as groomsmen. All groomsmen were outfitted with navy blue Gianluca Isaia tuxedos. In keeping with the bride’s color theme of shades of grey, the groom wore a made-to-measure charcoal grey tuxedo, also from Gianluca Isaia.

Following the ceremony the guests were treated to a cocktail reception on the backyard patio. A dinner catered by Adalante of Tyler followed under a clear tent on the grounds. Music was provided by Phillip Marshall of Houston under the outdoor pavilion.

Planning for the event was done by the sister of the bride. The ceremony was coordinated by Linda Dickens. The bridesmaids were honored the day before the wedding with a luncheon held at the home of Dr. Jim Cook, catered by Hollis Cook. A rehearsal dinner was given by Gregg Raymond, father of the groom, following the Oct. 2 rehearsal at the wedding site.

The bride is a 1998 graduate of Palestine High School. She graduated from Baylor University in 2002 with a B.S. degree in fashion merchandising. After a year in Houston, the bride moved to New York for five years where she worked in the fashion industry first for Isabella Fiore then for Chloe. Her Texas roots brought her back to Austin in 2008 where she worked for a former client of hers, By George. The groom is a 1998 graduate of St. Thomas High School in Houston. He graduated from Baylor University in 2002 with a B.A. degree in journalism/public relations.

Shortly after graduation the groom moved to New York for five years where he also was in the fashion industry, working for Ermenegildo Zegna then Eli Tahari Menswear. He also was drawn back to Texas where he is currently a partner in the marketing firm Primer Grey.

Following a wedding trip to a beach house in Akumal, Mexico, the couple will make their home in Houston. The groom will continue to build his marketing firm. The bride will work for Sloan Hall as well as build her wardrobe consulting/styling business.