It was a match made in Tinder heaven for Dallas' Abigail Adams and William Floyd. New to the Dallas area and looking for love, Adams downloaded the app as a sort of "social experiment."
"I thought it would be a good way to practice going on dates again without making a fool out of myself with someone I knew," says Adams. "William happened to be my third match."
Before long, the happy couple was vacationing in Barcelona, Spain, where Floyd studied abroad during college. There, Floyd dropped to one knee in front of the beautiful Parc del Laberint d'Horta.
A photographer hid just steps away, capturing the moment. And the couple spent the next 10 days celebrating their commitment before returning home to the craziness of wedding planning.
They returned home to a long list of planning to-dos and one more major surprise. Floyd had planned an engagement party for the weekend after their return — and even flew in some of Adams' best friends.
With the engagement properly fêted, Adams and Floyd got to work planning the February 3, 2018 nuptials.
While Adams knew she wanted a "big, fancy, and fun party," she didn't have a vision, per se, for the big day. So she enlisted the help of party planner extraordinaire Julian Leaver, who helped her hone in on a clear vision, including a navy and oxblood color scheme, personal touches at every turn, and fun surprises for family and friends.
"I'll be honest, I was never one of those girls who has had her wedding planned since seventh grade," says Adams. "The most important thing for me was to have a fun party for our closest family and friends. I wanted to create an intimate and special experience for our guests."
Highlights for the bride and groom — and their guests — included a performance by New York-based singer Natalie Williams, one of the bride's best friends, for the first dance, and Whataburger Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits served up on silver platters to satiate late-night munchies.
The dance floor stayed packed. And to ensure she kept step, Adams changed into a pair of Adidas sneaks — the same pair she was wearing the day they got engaged — for the reception.
From impeccable place settings to a stunning display for table assignments and cocktail napkins featuring fun facts about the bride and groom, not a detail was overlooked.
"I loved that I was able to focus on what really mattered: being married to William," says Adams. "I wasn't worried about the weather or if the bridesmaids' dresses would all match. I loved that I was able to enjoy a really sweet memory with my husband and family. Going home with leftover carrot cake was also a big highlight."
Planner: Julian Leaver Events
Ceremony: Perkins Chapel
Reception: The Room on Main
Makeup: Scarlett DeMoss
Cake: Bird Bakery
Live Painter: Renata Sharman
Band: Uptown Drive
Floral: We + You
Photography and Videography: When It Clicks
Rentals: Top Tier and Quest Events
Transportation: Premier Transportation
One of the bride's must haves was a performance by her longtime friend, singer Natalie Williams, for the first dance.
Texas Ballet Theater and The Dallas Opera performed together during cocktail hour.Photo by Can Turkyilmaz
Headliner Michael Cavanaugh and honorees Shannon and Ted Skokos.Photo by Can Turkyilmaz
Dinner was served on the Winspear Opera House stage.Photo by Can Turkyilmaz