written by Christie L. Smith
photography by Brooks Whittington
There is a story, written several years ago, called "The Little Prince." In this story, the prince, who is travelling the universe in search of answers, learns the secret of life from the last planet he visits, which is Earth. He learns this from a character named the Fox. It's a story about what really matters and was Britain Hayes' favorite bedtime story when she was growing up. The story became a part of her family history, and over time the character of the Fox came to represent Britain's future husband.
Ceremony Location: Hayes Family Lake House
Officiant: Reverend Troy Hayes (bride's great uncle)
About five or six years ago, Britain says, her mother went on a spiritual retreat, and returned with a box she called her "God box". The "God box" seemed to take on a life of it's own, as it turned up all over the house. The "God box" was supposed to be a repository of prayers. Britain's mom told Britain that she had put the Fox in there. So the joke became that the Fox was in the Box.
Fast forward to Britain's ten year high school reunion. A classmate, who had had a secret crush on her for years, Todd Soechting, reluctantly traveled from out of town to attend the reunion, after a push from his father. He and Britain began talking and he confessed his secret crush from long ago. She had no idea. They started joking that wouldn't it be funny if they actually got married?
He returned to Virginia, but the spell was cast. They dated long-distance for three or four months before he moved back to San Antonio. On Valentine's Day, Britain's mother sent her a card, and in it she wrote, "Behold the Fox." When Todd asked what that meant, Britain told him the story.
"He got real quiet, and I thought, ‘oh, no, I've scared him off!" she says. But his reply sent chills through her. Todd said to her, "My first name means ‘Fox.' Todd is the English word for ‘Fox.'" And then she found out his middle name is Ryan – which means Little King or Little Prince.
"So my mother and I had been calling him by name all these years and we didn't know!" she said.
Britain's family owns a lake house and they spend a lot of time there. It was there that she and Todd were engaged and then married. "I've been in the wedding business for eight years so I knew it was coming. I used to ask brides, ‘how did you know?' and they'd answer me, ‘it's just a knowing.' I found out exactly what they meant."
Alone at the lake house, on a Sunday night, Britian and Todd were watching TV in their pajamas. Britain had just come back from a trip that weekend, and brought Todd some little gifts. He left the room for a moment, came back and said, "I have a little gift for you, too, but it comes with one condition. You have to marry me."
"I said, ‘Now? You're asking me now?'" Britain says laughing, "I looked awful. But at the same time, it was perfect. Because no matter how I looked, he wanted to marry me."
And, of course, how could they help but have a Little Prince theme at their wedding? The story was read aloud at the wedding, and the wedding program explained the significance of the story to their guests.
And the guests were the point, at least to Britain's way of thinking. As owner of Madame Make-Up, Britian artistically transforms beautiful woman into beautiful brides. She feels like the guests often get overlooked. "I wanted the whole concept to be for any couple that was there, that they could have a romantic night to fall in love or fall back in love. We set the scene with lighting – an ambience of candles, and music. Every 30 minutes to an hour the set list changed," she said. So while the guests mingled during the cocktail hour, they were treated to music from the Rat Pack, and during dinner, they enjoyed music from artists such as James Taylor and the Eagles.
"People should focus on the things that really matter and not worry about the details so much. Focus more on the guests – people who took the time to come should have a magical experience," she said.
The scale of the home, 11,000 square feet and nearly 40 foot tall ceilings in the great room, made for an interesting decorating challenge. "The best thing I came up with was concentrating the floral in one area around the buffet. It was a tower of flowers 16 feet high and it was phenomenal," she says.
The buffet featured Britain's favorites, beef tenderloin with béarnaise sauce, fresh potatoes au gratin, a mixed green salad, a tomato/mozzarella salad and a pasta bar.
The theme of the wedding was carried through in the colors of turquoise and chocolate brown – the colors of the book, Britain said. The bridesmaids wore turquoise dresses with brown sashes, and the groomsmen wore tuxes with tails. Britain's ring setting went along with the theme – instead of a diamond, her ring has topaz as the center stone.
A limo whisked the couple to Austin after the special event, to offer them a day of relaxation. "That would be my advice. After the wedding you're exhausted. Rest the next day. Sleep in. Then leave for your trip," she says.
The couple honeymooned in Lake Tahoe for a week. "It was perfect! No plans or itineraries. Just cozy and romantic," said Britian.
