Laura and Dallas, met on a blind date and went on to date for two years before getting engaged.
Dallas, a cowboy, proposed to at the same spot where they went on their first date: his family’s company Christmas party. “He got on the microphone, during the speech portion of the party and asked me in front of everyone,” says Laura, a registered dental hygienist. “It was a great anniversary surprise.”
They married eight months later in a simple ceremony at Ironstone Vineyard in Murphys, CA. They love the atmosphere at the winery, which they go to often. They took photos all over the lush vineyard and celebrated their reception at the venue too.
Laura and Dallas did a first look photo session before the ceremony, which was a special part of the day, for both, especially Dallas who says excitedly, “I got to see my future bride for the first time.” He continues, “I didn’t and still don’t have words to describe how happy I was and how beautiful I thought she was.”
Laura felt excited and lucky too. “I got to marry my best friend and start a new life together as husband and wife.”
The bride’s favorite wedding memory was “walking down the aisle with my dad to my future husband,” she says. “My two favorite men in the world.”
Setting and managing the guest list was tough for the couple, who had 300 guests, with a quarter of all guests coming from out of town. “We would have liked to invite so many more people but there was only so many we could include,” explains Laura.
They had a large wedding party of 24 including bridesmaids, groomsmen and junior bridesmaids and junior groomsmen, as well as prayer reader, flower girl and ring bearer.
Another challenge: the majority of Dallas’ guys live out of state. Seven out of the nine groomsmen live in Utah. “It was difficult with being so far away to make decisions about things all together,” he says, explaining it was also stressful, “trying to coordinate travel plans so they were all together and on the same page.”
The stress disappeared on the big day. Dallas remembers this funny moment from the celebration: “ All of our friends dancing,” he says. “After a few cocktails, they were showing their good moves.”
