The truth about weddings is that, in spite of the floral arrangements, music selection, and napkin colors, it’s ultimately about two people sharing vows of lifelong commitment to one another. And some couples, like Kelly and Nick, choose to keep the event simple in order to let their love shine.
“I wanted a low key event without a lot of extra bells and whistles,” Kelly explains. “That suits Nick and I’s vibe.”
Still, the ceremony and reception were the results of meticulous planning leading up to the wedding day. Kelly says she wanted to put in the effort beforehand to avoid last-minute stressors. As a result, she felt surprisingly calm and relaxed on the big day.
“It was a very relaxing and magical day with not a lot of stress, which is rare for me,” she says with a laugh.
Kelly and Nick had their wedding at the Dallas Arboretum, with the ceremony in the Lay Family Garden and the reception in the Camp House. It was a nod to Kelly’s love for nature, with flowers filling the airy and light environment. She grew up going to the Arboretum with her mom and having picnics on the lawn.
Kelly chose to get ready in the comfort of her mother’s home, with family and friends nearby. She donned a Mark Ingram dress for the ceremony with an oversized, gorgeous bow in the back. Her maids of honor wore blue and white floral gowns, while her bridesmaids matched in asymmetrical, subtly sky blue dresses.
Kelly’s grandfather had recently passed away. While they were all getting ready at home, a cardinal perched outside the window, which she felt was a sign that he was watching over her.
After the ceremony, Nick and Kelly sat in a room where they could look out on guests at the reception. “We could see all of our different walks of life mingling together, which was really fun,” she says. It’s one of her favorite memories from the day.
The couple has since received gushing feedback from guests saying that it was a beautiful day. And she says graciously, “All of the vendors that we had were so amazing and were a key part of what made the day the way it was. I don’t think it would have gone as smoothly without them.”
