Maggie and Clayton’s Family-Centered Wedding

When They Met

At the beginning of 2019, Maggie started attending the Preston Road Church of Christ. She had just moved back to Dallas and was so excited to begin a new chapter of her life. She remembered first laying eyes on Clayton while he was giving a wonderful communion talk and gushed to her roommate about the “cute redheaded boy at church.”

Similarly enough, Clayton developed a crush on Maggie at first sight. He was told countless times that church was the best place to meet your wife and how true that was.

After months of admiring one another from afar, Maggie and Clayton went on a Memorial Day weekend trip with friends to visit a small church. They met the whole congregation. Charmed by Maggie’s grace and genuine charm, Clayton asked her on their first date to Blue Sushi. Although their first date fashion choices were very different (we’re talking shorts and a baseball hat vs. a carefully curated, friend-approved outfit!) Maggie and Clayton clicked immediately and spent their time scootering around Dallas, going to weddings (one at The RoseMary Barn!), walks, and watching Casablanca.

On July 18th, Clayton asked Maggie to be his girlfriend on a bench at Winfrey White Rock Lake. And a year and a half later, on January 25th, he proposed to her on that very same bench.

The Special Day

On April 17, 2020, Maggie and Clayton tied the knot at The RoseMary Barn in McKinney, Texas and let me tell you, it was a day to remember!

As a close friend (I’ve known Maggie for nearly 30 years!), it was such an honor to witness and capture the precious memories on her special day. Family means everything and it was truly so beautiful to see the merging of their two families.

It was evident in all the details—in the carefully crafted decor and the photos of loved ones who had already passed—that family was at the heart of their celebration and drove every decision made in the wedding planning process.

The ceremony itself was simple and elegant. The decor was understated, airy, and perfectly complemented the bride and groom.

The reception was more laid back. They incorporated backyard games, like cornhole and a giant Connect 4, served ice cream sandwiches, and even had a bonfire to end the night with a bang!

All in all, Maggie and Clayton’s family-centered wedding was warm and inviting guests of all ages. They put family at the forefront of their special day and celebrated with a casual, activity-oriented reception that everyone enjoyed. It suited their priorities as well as their tastes and I just know they’ll look back on their wedding day with joy for the rest of their lives.

The Moment After the Moment

One of the most memorable moments of the day involved Maggie’s grandmother, who had passed before Maggie and Clayton’s wedding day.

We were in the middle of shooting bridal portraits when all of a sudden, a red bird flew onto the balcony, looked over at Maggie, and then flew away.

Maggie’s grandmother once told her, “Whenever you see a red bird, it’s me,” so that fleeting moment—a moment so brief I couldn’t grab my camera in time to capture it—brought all of us to tears. It seemed that all of the couple’s loved ones were there to witness the happiest day of their lives.