“We were both supposed to attend the same wedding in 2011, but it would actually take us two more years to find each other,” Allie Williams remembers of the beginning of her relationship with Matt Slocum. When the two finally met, they discovered how much they shared in common and instantly fell in love. However, dropping down on one knee wasn’t enough of a proposal for Matt. “He led me to the back of [one of our favorite] stores and then suddenly I see a sign asking me to marry him,” she smiles. “Matt made sure the sign reflected something we both loved, which is the Philadelphia Eagles, so the sign mimicked a draft pick. I was obsessed.”

The lovebirds commenced their fabulous wedding with a traditional Catholic ceremony. In addition to performing the religious matrimony rituals, Allie was so pleased to honor her family members throughout the mass. “My parents surprised me with a locket on my bouquet that had photos of my late grandmothers, so that they were with me during our wedding ceremony,” the bride remembers. Since the majority of their 250 attendees would be arriving from out of town, the couple decided to host the rest of their nuptials at a hotel. “We really wanted to be at a hotel so we could be near our guests for the whole weekend,” she explains.

“We wanted a wedding that was formal and classic, yet felt warm and inviting for all of our guests."

Attendees were enraptured by the reception décor that showcased a palette of white, gold, and navy blue hues. “We wanted a wedding that was formal and classic, yet felt warm and inviting for all of our guests. The look we hoped to achieve was for the room to have a romantic glow and the florals to catch the eyes of our guests as they entered the ballroom,” Allie reveals. Amaryllis Floral & Event Design designed the couple’s stunning arrangements that were beautifully illuminated by candlelight, as seen with a sentimental feature of the décor. “[We are] really close to our families, so on the credenzas there were photos from the weddings of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents with florals and candles adorning them,” Allie tells. Attendees were surrounded by flowers and candlelight as they danced the night away to the sounds of a live band.

Allie confides in the importance of personal time throughout the planning process. “Someone told us that we should always take time for ourselves as a couple during the process and make sure we were on the same page,” she confides. “If I was the only one able to attend a meeting, we would make time over dinner to make sure we were building the day we wanted as a couple.”