A Colorful Evening at the Marie Gabrielle Gardens

Jessica and Charlie first met when in college at SMU. They dated throughout college before getting engaged in early 2022. Jessica shared “Charlie proposed in Austin, where I used to live, along Lady Bird Lake. Thanks to the Texas snow storms, I was in complete shock and we celebrated with dinner at our favorite Austin restaurant, Matties on Green Pasture.”

Following the proposal, the planning process began! Jessica worked with planner Chloe with All Day Events. On April 1st, 2023, all of the planning and coordination came to life when Jessica and Charlie said “I do” at Perkins Chapel at SMU, the same campus where they first met!

For her wedding, Jessica wore a gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown with a tool skirt, the dress was adorned with floral decals from the bodice down. She paired her look with a unique and colorful veil, also from Monique Lhuillier. “I found the Monique Lhuillier veil at Warren Barron, since it matched with my Monique dress. I thought it was the perfect pop of color while keeping my dress in theme with classic white. My dress originally had colored flowers, and I had it made into a strapless gown with soft white hue instead, to balance out the statement color veil. I absolutely loved it! It set the whole day’s vibe.” To finish off, she chose a pair of icy blue Manolo Blahniks. 

Jessica’s vision for her wedding was inspired by whimsical garden florals. The reception venue encapsulated this feeling exactly, with beautifully manicured hedges. “We really wanted an outdoor venue, to take advantage of Dallas’ spring weather. I gravitated toward the lights and greenery at Marie Gabrielle. It felt like a hidden gem of lush trees, lights and foliage, all located in downtown Dallas.” All Day Events brought the Fichtner’s vision to life through flower choices and pops of color. Jessica chose a bright and lively color scheme, perfect for the start of spring. The stage facade was topped with bunches of beautiful roses and hydrangeas. Along the tables were beautifully curated floral arrangements of a myriad of colors along with clear vases holding glowing candles. “The reception decor was full of color, since we wanted the reception to be light and fun. I drew inspiration from my wedding dress, our watercolor invite designs and springtime flower medleys. We wanted every detail to be personal and reflect us as a couple. From my mom’s hand-done calligraphy, family wedding photos, our dog napkins and our wedding crest incorporated throughout, we wanted every detail to be thought of!”  

String lights twinkled overhead as the sun filtered through the trees and dusk fell upon the Marie Gabrielle Gardens. On the outskirts of the tables stood a sleek five tier cake with three dimensional flowers and butterflies.