Ann Marie Hickey and Blake Waltrip met on a trip to the Dominican Republic during their senior year of high school — and while neither imagined their spring fling would set the groundwork for wedding bells, that was precisely the case.
On February 24, 2018, Hickey and Waltrip tied the knot with a traditional church wedding followed by a very modern, very raucous reception.
“My main priority was to make sure all my guests had a good time,” says Hickey. “I just wanted everyone on the dance floor the whole night, so we had a large dance floor with fun dance-floor favors and rubber flip-flops for guest to change into when their feet started to hurt.”
It couldn’t have been more apropos for the couple, who had danced the night away at the “Disco Teca” the first night they met. Following a weeklong spring break fling, the would-be Mr. and Mrs. returned to their respective homes in Dallas and Fort Worth but never strayed far from each other’s minds.
Time and time again, Waltrip made the trek to Dallas to take Hickey out, and when the time came to go away to college, the couple both ended up at The University of Texas and began dating in earnest.
Five years later, Waltrip invited Hickey to celebrate his birthday with family and friends at his family ranch in Weatherford and gave her the surprise of her life by dropping to one knee and asking her to marry him.
“I was shocked!” says Hickey. “It was the biggest surprise. Our families came out the house, where they had been watching, and we had the whole night to celebrate. It was truly the best weekend. I was on cloud nine the entire time.”
When the time came to plan the big day, Waltrip and Hickey sought to re-create the element of fun their relationship was built on. Seeking a classic aesthetic with a modern twist, Hickey opted for a traditional ceremony at Park Cities Presbyterian Church followed by a fun-filled evening at Dallas Country Club.
Elegant white floral arrangements with hints of blush (tying into the bridesmaid dresses) adorned the space and a stunning tiered cake featuring cascading flowers acted as a centerpiece. But the highlight, by far, was the large dance floor brimming with family and friends. TOP provided live music while guest showed off their moves — even participating in a flash mob.
When the night came to a close, Hickey gave Waltrip the surprise of his life by bringing in DJ Adante Mayo to end the party with a bang.
“My very favorite part of the wedding was surprising Blake at the end of the night with an extra hour of music,” says Hickey. “He absolutely loves a DJ and was totally surprised."
DJ: Adante Mayo
Ceremony location:Park Cities Presbyterian Church
Reception venue:Dallas Country Club
Event coordinator: Katie Crow with Collins Coordination
Band:TOP
Cakes:Creme De La Creme Cake Company
Bridal gown:Liancarlo from Stanley Korshak
Florist: The Garden Gate
Hair and makeup: MaiteeMiles
Photography:Sara Donaldson Photography
Videography:Soulbox Productions
Bridesmaid robes:Piyama
Linens:La Tavola Fine Linen
Invitations:Ellis Hill
Calligraphy: Laurie Harper
Dance floor: DFW Dance Floors
Transportation:Premier Transportation
Furniture rentals:Perch Decor
To surprise her groom, Hickey hired a DJ to close the night out with one more hour of music.
Gala chairs Meredith Land, Lori Jones.Photo by Tiffany Sage
Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Octavia Castillo.Photo by Tamytha Cameron
Sophie McGuire, Maddy McGuire, Natalie McGuire, Mike McGuirePhoto by Tamytha Cameron