October 12, 2019 - Texarkana, TX

Central Christian Church

Kendal Dockery Photography

THE PERFECT FOUNDATION

Michael and I both grew up in Texarkana and attended Pleasant Grove. We had always been friends, but Michael reached out my last year at UNT and charmed me with his humor. We became best friends and realized quickly that our friendship was the perfect foundation for a lasting relationship. We dated long distance as I attended grad school, and he began his career in IT recruiting. We knew if we were giving this relationship a go, it was for the long haul.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

After over four years together, Michael proposed in his apartment in Dallas. He had the entire living room covered in tealight candles, balloons and Christmas lights. He got down on one knee, and I said, “Yes!” Then he surprised me with all of our family and friends at our long-standing date spot, Terelli’s, for an evening of celebrating under the stars!

BACK TO OUR ROOTS

We knew our wedding would be in Texarkana as our roots are here. We chose to get married in the church in which my parents also wed. Accompanied by a trio of musicians led by Marc-André Bougie, our guests filled the sanctuary and balcony and watched as we became husband and wife. I cried the entire time (no shock if you know me) listening to our love letters that we had been writing for years knowing this day would eventually come. The ceremony was perfect, intimate and full of joy.

A TIME OF CELEBRATION

I planned our wedding and reception from the ground up with no real “wedding planner” other than my ideas and parents to bounce the ideas off of. We were a true team and managed to pull off a night that reflected mine and Michael’s personalities but also full of surprises that made our guests feel special. I think weddings should be a celebration, after all!

TODAY, TOMORROW AND FOREVER

We added a raw oyster bar, shucked to order on the half shell, a live painter who painted a progressive watercolor painting as the night went on (which Michael and I now have featured in our home), and a food spread unlike any other featuring gourmet crab claws stuffed in artichokes, boiled shrimp, crawfish étouffée, and endless charcuterie. I had always envisioned a large statement piece behind the band, and my Dad drew up the plans to create a custom boxwood wall to flank the stage. We built the piece by hand the week of the wedding, and it turned out to be amazing!