If it is, in fact, true that good things come to those who wait, Korbin King and David Hudgens are bound for a lifetime of wedded bliss. After all, the couple met playing recreational volleyball over 20 years ago.
"Upon arriving to his apartment after that night of chatting at his car, David announced to his friends that he had met the boy he was going to spend the rest of his life with," Korbin says. "And, David will tell you, he is never wrong!"
The couple moved in together after dating for a year, and they became engaged in 2015 while vacationing in Fire Island, New York, just moments after the Supreme Court marriage equality ruling came down.
"It was an overwhelming victory for us personally, as we committed to wait to get legally married in our beloved Dallas, which has always been our home," Korbin says.
The pair worked with wedding architect Ricardo Tomás and instantly decided that buzz words for this special occasion should be unique, elegant, and fun. And with a vintage train travel theme, in honor of the couple's extensive globe-trotting, it seemed that Union Station Dallas was just the venue to pull off their dream nuptials.
The ceremony took place on June 11, 2016, on a custom-built, 12-foot circular gold platform with two aisles and 200 of their closest friends and family surrounding them.
In fact, it was the venue that helped them secure their favorite detail from their wedding. Rather than the traditional announcement of the newlywed couple at the reception, they elected to make a surprise entry onto a balcony that overlooked their guests enjoying the cocktail hour held in the Stationmaster’s Lounge. It was from that balcony that they announced that we were the first same-sex couple to be married at Union Station Dallas.
"We never experienced anything but full support from the wedding vendor community," Korbin says. "The Dallas County Clerk’s office and staff were so supportive of us and really made the marriage license application process easy."
Trains and travel of all kinds were on full display at the reception, along with hues of black, antique gold, and vintage sepia. From David's childhood train set to vintage luggage, the couple wanted the 47 countries and six continents to which they had traveled to have their place in the celebration.
Each guest was assigned to a specific table, which ranged from Italy to Peru to Russia. Floral creations of hydrangea, ranunculus, tulips, amaryllis, cymbidiums, hyacinths, and roses tied it all together thanks to the talented team at Todd Events.
Highlights of the reception included an open bar and dinner stations by Wolfgang Puck Catering; a showstopping cake by Dallas Affaires Cake Co., which served as a the center piece of the Grand Hall party; and electrifying tunes by the Jam Wows.
A confetti send-off was the only logical way to cap off the night. But that wasn't the end of their celebrating. The guests of the wedding and the horn section of the band led the two glowing grooms to an after-party at Monduel's at the Hyatt Regency to the terrific, classic tune "When The Saints Go Marching In."
"It’s as if the love in that building literally picked us up off our feet and had us floating on air," Korbin says. "It was the most surreal and beautiful experience of our lives."
Ceremony and Reception Venue:Union Station
Wedding Planner: Ricardo Tomás
Floral:Todd Events
Photographer:Tony Valadez Photography
Videographer:Elle Films
Lighting: Beyond
Vintage Rentals: Gold Dust Vintage
Invitations and paper products: Simply Mox
Cake: Dallas Affaires Cake Co.
Band: The Jam Wows!—THE. Party. Band.
Catering: Wolfgang Puck
Rings: Purchased from Helzberg Diamonds/restored by de Boulle
Grooms Tuxedos:Hickey Freeman
Alterations:Culwell & Sons
Groomsmen Formal Wear:Generation Tux
After Party Location: Monduel's at Hyatt Regency
David Hudgens and Korbin King were married at Union Station on June 11, 2016.
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Jason Lamoreaux and Black Tie Dinner beneficiaries.Photo by John Strange, Selig Polyscope Company