Caroline and Will’s love story began during their high school years at Fort Worth Country Day. After graduation, the pair maintained their friendship despite going to different colleges, Caroline was at Auburn while Will was at TCU. Their first date took place at a local Fort Worth hotspot, Gemelle, known for their amazing Italian food and icon “LOVE” sign.
In October of 2022, Will popped the question at his grandmother’s home in Fort Worth. “We had plans to go to his parents’ house for a family dinner that evening, but we needed to pick up his grandmother on the way. When we arrived at her home, I immediately noticed beautiful floral arrangements outlining her patio and began to hear the clicks of a camera. After putting two and two together, I quickly realized Will was proposing! After the proposal, we celebrated with our family and friends at Will’s parents’ home in Fort Worth” Caroline shared.
With the whirlwind of wedding planning underway, Caroline enlisted the help of Melanie Tatum Events to bring her vision of a traditional and timeless wedding to life. To incorporate the traditional feel, the Kirtleys chose St. Patrick Cathedral, an easy choice since it is Caroline’s family’s home church. For these Fort Worth natives, it was important to find a reception venue that fit their desired look of elegance, and Fort Worth Club did just that.
Inside the Fort Worth Club, beautiful blue hydrangeas adorned every inch of the venue. The Kirtleys collaborated with Bella Flora to orchestrate all of the flowers and the picture wall that displayed their family history. “The wall of family pictures was very special to us, as we are fortunate to have so many role models who demonstrated what a good marriage entails. Bella Flora created the gorgeous floral arch installation leading to the dinner area. Our vision was for guests to feel as though the hydrangeas were growing naturally from the ground and blossoming into the arch, creating a seamless transition into the dinner space” Caroline explained.
While there were many favorite memories from their wedding day, Caroline expressed a standout moment being when the Texas Boys Choir sang during their ceremony. “Their voices perfectly complemented the elegant charm of the Cathedral!” she shared.
From the start of the reception to the end, the dance floor was a highlight. “Our favorite moment from the reception was undoubtedly our first dance! We wanted to share this intimate moment with our closest friends and family, and it was a magical way to begin our dinner. We were thrilled to create this cherished memory together” Caroline reflected. Since the Kirtleys’ wedding took place on May 4th, Caroline included a special surprise for Will. “To commemorate the occasion, we wanted to do something special. The stormtrooper outfits, which were authentic costumes from the Star Wars movies, arrived from London a few months before the wedding. They brought such a fun element to our wedding!” she said.
As the night progressed, the Kirtleys treated guests to an after party inspired by their first date at Gemelle. “To honor that day, we decided to replicate their iconic LOVE sign from outside the restaurant. We designed our own version of the sign and displayed it!”
The night ended with guests creating a tunnel and hoisting their lightsabers into the air as Mr. & Mrs. Kirtley made their grand exit. Congratulations Caroline + Will!!!
