Elizabeth and Martin still wonder how their paths never crossed sooner, considering their many mutual friends and how interconnected their world was. It wasn’t until their first date that they learned just how much they have in common. From that point on, the pair was inseparable, creating new memories and shared experiences together.
On a beautiful Colorado day in June of 2023, Martin asked Elizabeth to be his wife. “We were in Estes Park, Colorado, where my family has been going on summer vacation since I was 3 years old. We were on a fishing trip, and he proposed at Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park!” Elizabeth shared.
Once wedding planning was underway, the decision on ceremony and reception venues was an easy one for the Spradleys. “I grew up going to Highland Park United Methodist Church, and Martin started coming with me early in our relationship. HPUMC plays such a huge role in our lives, and we couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else!” Elizabeth explained. For their reception, they chose the DCC, which held memories for Martin growing up. Elizabeth actually met his parents for the first time one evening at the DCC.
For the decor, the Spradleys wanted a classic and traditional look with personal elements woven in. “It was very important to us that the wedding display what is important to us, and incorporate elements from our relationship to best tell our story,” Elizabeth remarked. The save-the-date and the invitation used elements from HPUMC and DCC. The Spradleys incorporated the same elements in the bar facade, the dance floor, and behind the band. “Our groom’s cake was a replica of Keller’s Hamburgers. We had Keller’s on our third date, which ended up being a pivotal date in our relationship,” Elizabeth reflected. For a late-night snack, the Spradleys had the Hamburger Man as an ode to Keller’s. Their late-night event was called ‘Late Night with Cooper and Charlie’ in reference to their two dogs.
The reception was an all-out celebration on the dance floor. A true highlight of the evening for Elizabeth and Martin was standing up on the stage with the band as they sang “Friends in Low Places.” “We had been so focused on being present with all of our guests up until that point, and really hadn’t yet had a chance to look around. We stood up on stage together, arms around each other, and swayed along to the song. I think we both spent that moment soaking it all in and looking out at the beautiful ballroom filled with all of our closest friends and family,” Elizabeth reflected fondly. At this point in the evening, Elizabeth debuted her second look, an Alice + Olivia mini dress detailed with floral appliques. She coordinated her look with a pair of white Tecovas boots. Before the night was over, Elizabeth and Martin shared a private last dance in the ballroom. “We’ll never forget it. The evening we got engaged, we went to the Seven Keys Lodge in Estes Park, Colorado, which has become one of our very favorite places. Mark and Meredith Powell own the lodge, and they threw us a surprise engagement party. Mark Powell is also a country music artist, and he played a couple of songs for us that evening. One of which was Built to Last. They traveled to Dallas for our wedding, and Mark played the same song he played the night we got engaged, Built to Last, for our last dance,” she shared.
All good things must come to an end, and the Spradleys bid farewell to their guests as they took off in their vintage getaway car. We are honored to have been by your side for such a beautiful wedding weekend. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Spradley!
