Marisa Schieda and Chris Tindell can officially thank their Chocolate Labs for bringing them together. Although the two had known each other since elementary school, Marisa moved in fifth grade and the two only connected again after Chris commented on Facebook that their dogs looked alike.
After three years of dating, the two decided to celebrate their 30th birthdays (which happened to be only two days apart) in Amsterdam. It was during that trip, while out biking one day, that Chris dropped to a knee and proposed in front of the "i amsterdam" sign that they had stopped at for a photo op. She said yes, of course, and the selfie-stick came back out for the real memory making.
Back stateside, Marisa knew exactly what she wanted as far as a wedding vision. And then she went and decided on pretty much the exact opposite.
"What is funny is that I sort of wanted a late fall/winter wedding and really liked the Gatsby/art deco look. Think gold, gold, gold!" Marisa says. "But I also didn’t want a long engagement — and so the time-frame won out and I got married in the height of summer in Dallas."
The duo wed at Perkins Chapel on the campus of SMU on July 2, 2016, followed by a mile-high reception at the Tower at Cityplace. Once she saw the lofted space with its decorative ceiling draping and unmatched views of downtown, she was sold. She also loved the layout: It was ideal for guests to have fun and dance the night away, which was of utmost importance to her.
When asking Marisa about her favorites memories from her wedding day, she immediately recounts the times throughout the day that the couple snuck away to take pictures alone. These special moments, captured by Kristen Dee Photography, happened both after the ceremony and in the middle of the reception.
"Those moments were like a nice freeze in time in the middle of all the craziness that comes with your wedding day," Marisa says. "Plus, those are some of my favorite photos!"
Ceremony: Perkins Chapel at SMU
Reception: The Tower at Cityplace
Wedding Planner: Silver Lining Events + Co.
Floral: Stems of Dallas
Photographer: Kristen Dee Photography
Videographer: Marc Roberts Videography
Invitations: Pink Champagne Paper
Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets
Band: Ice House Band
Bridal Gown Retailer: Patsy’s Bridal Boutique
Bridal Gown Designer: Essence of Australia
Bridal Gown Alterations: Annette White at Bestfit Alterations
Bridal Shoe Designer: Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaids Dress Retailer: Bella Bridesmaid
Grooms Formalwear: The Black Tux
Makeup: Whitney Sain
Hair: Allison Brill
Photo Booth: Photomadic
Ceremony Music: Benjamin Kolodziej/SMU Perkins Chapel Musician
Wedding shoes were by Badgley Mischka.
Natalie Boerder, Kaleta Blaffer-Johnson, Meredith Connally, Jennifer Cifuentes, Nathalie Barrera, Hayden Hrncir.Photo by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio
A quartet played Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes during dinner. Photo by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio