Rachel Kaniss and Andrew Fessenden met in the summer of 2012 while playing kickball on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Two-and-a-half years and a surprise midweek trip back to D.C. later, and Andrew was down on one knee in Rachel's D.C. home proposing that the two make it official.
Rachel, a native Dallasite, knew she wanted to get married "at home," which would prove to be tricky because she no longer lived there. But like most brides-to-be, she had an idea of what she wanted and wouldn't settle until that ah-ha moment hit her.
"When I came across the Carlisle Room, it was still under construction," Rachel says. "My mother did a hard-hat tour of the venue, and from a few cellphone photos, I knew this was going to be our reception venue. We visited [it] for the first time six months after we signed the contract."
Luckily, all of the wedding stars aligned, and the couple was more than pleased with both the venue and the big day as a whole. This, says the bride, is in large due to hiring a wedding planner. As someone who has had previous event planning experience herself, Rachel knew this was a must-have to pull off her special day.
"Events by Kristen brought everything together seamlessly. It was such a relief to know that even planning from afar, everything was taken care of, and it was exactly how I had envisioned our reception to be, except better."
The couple settled on a color palette of gold, pink, white, and cream to achieve the timeless, romantic wedding of their dreams. Hydrangeas served as the cornerstone for most of the bouquets and floral arrangements by Di Fiori, because they are the flowers that Andrew would always surprise Rachel with when they were dating.
After an intimate ceremony at St. Paul Catholic Church of Richardson, guests made their way to downtown Dallas to get the party started. The reception included dinner catered by the Carlisle Room, cake by Sugar Bee Sweets, and dancing to the tunes of the Royal Dukes. And what would a wedding be in 2016 without guests documenting the event at a photo booth?
Ceremony: St. Paul Catholic Church of Richardson
Reception Venue: The Carlisle Room
Wedding Planner: Events by Kristin
Floral: Di Fiori
Photographer: Elisabeth Carol
Videographer: O Brown Studio
Rentals: BBJ (linens)
Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets
Band: Royal Dukes
Catering: The Carlisle Room
Wedding Paper Calligraphy (Longhand Edition): Arts&Letters
Bridal Gown Retailer: Lulu’s Bridal
Bridal Gown Designer: Mori Lee
Bridal Gown Alterations: Altered for the Altar
Bridal Shoe Designer: Adrianna Papell
Makeup and Hair: Beauty by Emily M
Photo Booth: It's Your Night
Tux Rentals: Minksy Formal Wear
Lighting: Absolute Lighting
Rachel Kaniss and Andrew Fessenden were married on April 2, 2016, at the St. Paul Catholic Church of Richardson.
Blood Cancer United executive director Leah Swanson, Spirit of Tom Landry Award recipient Vivian Haddad, Lara Haddad and emcee Clarice Tinsley.Photo by Tamytha Cameron and Celeste Cass
