Tricia Gregory and Peter Morse
the venue. St. Patrick Cathedral + The Fort Worth Club
the photos. Tracy Autem Photography Sunset Florals
Vibrant pinks, corals, yellows, and soft greenery, featuring snapdragons, amaranthus, hydrangeas, ranunculus, roses, and bells-of-Ireland, filled the venue with sunset-inspired energy. “The unique bells-of-Ireland offered a touch of whimsy, serving as a special nod to where we exchanged vows, St. Patrick Cathedral,” said Tricia.
Puppy Love
A guest favorite was the custom matchbooks, featuring the couple’s puppy, Hattie. “They were a huge hit!” she said.
The Love Story
Peter and I sparked a connection during our very first week of classes at Texas Christian University in 2014 and married almost a decade later in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrating our love with a colorful late-summer celebration full of joy.
Between tailgates and football games, Aardvark karaoke nights, and marketing study sessions, we became fast friends during our time at TCU before eventually realizing we wanted something more. Upon graduation, we embarked on years of whirlwind long-distance visits between Nashville, Tennessee, and Dallas, Texas, before each moving to beautiful Austin, Texas, where we currently reside with our precious puppy, Hattie. All the while, we have loved traveling, cooking, attending concerts, and cheering on our beloved Horned Frogs together!
The Proposal
In December 2023, an unsuspecting Monday evening turned into a night I would never forget. Peter told me that we were attending a corporate holiday party, but instead, he completely surprised me with a romantic proposal in the candlelit courtyard of Hotel San Jose on South Congress in Austin. We shared a special night together basking in the excitement and celebrating with champagne, a lovely dinner, and live music.
Our engagement season was truly special, filled with celebrations in all our favorite places. My family hosted a lively engagement party in Austin; Peter’s closest friends toasted us at a sunset lakeside celebration in his hometown of Florence, Alabama; and I enjoyed a lovely bridal shower in my hometown of Tyler, Texas. For our bachelor and bachelorette trips, Peter celebrated in the Texas Hill Country, and I traveled to the mountains of beautiful Telluride, Colorado. We are so grateful for all the love and gracious support showered upon us!
The Wedding Venue
We chose to marry in Fort Worth, the city where we met and a place we both cherish dearly. It proved to be the perfect gathering place for our guests traveling from across the state and country. I always envisioned marrying in a Catholic Church to honor my family’s faith and traditions, and Saint Patrick Cathedral was perfect—magnificently beautiful, sacred, and full of historical significance. The nearby Fort Worth Club, with its unique architecture and rich heritage, perfectly complemented our vision for a classic and timeless celebration in a picturesque setting. We received impeccable service from the staff at The Fort Worth Club, and our family enjoyed staying in the convenient guest rooms onsite.
The Vibe
Our late-summer wedding was a classic, colorful, and festive celebration, brought to life with touches of pastel greens and vibrant sunset hues woven into the florals. We envisioned an ambiance that felt elegant and elevated, yet still wonderfully joyful and upbeat. Most importantly, we wanted it to be a fun time for all, and it truly was!
The Photography
We wanted our photos to capture our joy and be a true-to-life representation of the day. Our photographer’s portfolio stood out with exceptional clarity, skilled use of natural lighting, and a talent for capturing authentic moments in the traditional style we desired. Amanda with Tracy Autem Photography did a marvelous job providing us with keepsake images that we will always cherish.
The Dress
My wedding gown was one of the first I tried on, and I instantly fell for its fitted basque waist, asymmetrical structured neckline, and beautiful long train—a perfect blend of classic and modern styles. Even after visiting several other bridal salons in Dallas, that dress stayed on my mind. We ultimately drove to Tyler, where Elevated Bridal provided incredible service, including handling customizations.
The Accessories
As ‘Something Old,’ my bridal bouquet was wrapped in an heirloom handkerchief owned by my late paternal grandmother. My bridal gown was my ‘Something New’, purchased in my hometown. As ‘Something Borrowed,’ I wore my mother’s Cathedral-length veil adorned with pearls, previously worn by my aunt and older sister. I also wore my mother’s jewelry, including a pair of pearl drop earrings, and a sapphire ring as my ‘Something Blue.’
As a nod to Fort Worth, Peter completed his look with black leather cowboy boots and custom cufflinks handmade by his father.
The Bridesmaids
My bridesmaids, including my sisters, now sister-in-law, and very best friends, are hands down the funniest and most wonderful girls I know. I am incredibly thankful for their role in making my wedding day so fun and memorable. To ensure each felt confident and beautiful, I encouraged them to choose any dress they loved in a shade of soft green. Despite the challenge, they each did an outstanding job, and the diverse blend of shades, patterns, and shapes created a stunning final look that perfectly showcased their individual personalities.
The Groomsmen
Peter’s best friends from all stages of life stood by his side as groomsmen. They dressed in classic black tuxedos with colorful boutonnieres complementing the florals. Being in Fort Worth, many chose to wear black cowboy boots.
The Wedding Rings
Peter worked with a local jeweler in his Alabama hometown to design my dream engagement ring, a stunning oval diamond accented with baguettes. During our next visit, we shared the exciting experience of deciding on our wedding rings together, simple white gold bands.
The Hair and Makeup
I hired hair and makeup artists from my hometown who were familiar with my preference for clean, natural, and effortless beauty. They did a wonderful job tailoring gorgeous looks for each member of my bridal party.
The Stationery
Our letterpressed formal invitation perfectly set the tone for our elegant and cheerful celebration, featuring pastel greens, a custom pattern liner, and hand-calligraphed envelopes. To ensure a cohesive look and feel, we incorporated the same colors, classic fonts, and patterns throughout our additional pieces, including save-the-dates, cups, napkins, koozies, menus, and signage. Custom matchbooks featuring our puppy, Hattie, were a huge hit!
For a special touch, we purchased a watercolor rendition of the Cathedral by a bespoke artist, which adorned both our ceremony programs and a framed keepsake guests signed.
The Florals
Our florals were carefully curated to fill our celebration with color and joyous energy, evoking a vibrant sunset on this summer evening with a palette of soft greenery accented by bright pinks, corals, and touches of yellow. We used a diverse selection of blooms for texture and depth: upright snapdragons and cascading amaranthus added dramatic visual interest; voluminous hydrangeas provided a luxurious base; and ranunculus and blooming roses added intricate, colorful layers. The unique bells-of-Ireland offered a touch of whimsy, serving as a special nod to where we exchanged vows, Saint Patrick Cathedral.
In contrast, my bridal bouquet was dainty and delicate, featuring all-white, loose blooms, particularly ranunculus.
Guests were greeted at The Fort Worth Club terrace by lush floral arrangements blossoming from elegant vessels and a fountain focal display. The fountain was beautifully adorned with an abundant, organic arrangement, creating the illusion that the flowers were overflowing from the water.
Reception tables featured a mix of grand, elevated arrangements bursting with color and height, alongside more intimate clustered designs illuminated by pastel green tapered candles and candelabras, all contributing to a warm, inviting glow. Tami Winn Events Floral truly went above and beyond with every detail.
The Morning Of
Our wedding day was full of love, laughter, and excitement. Before our first look and portraits, we exchanged heartfelt notes expressing our vows and feelings.
My day began with ‘Breakfast with the Bride’ at The Fort Worth Club, a joyful gathering with my flower girls, bridal party, and family, serving as the perfect prelude to getting ready with my bridesmaids in matching pajamas.
Meanwhile, Peter spent his morning playing basketball with his best man before joining his groomsmen and ushers to watch sports and enjoy a lively lunch in the FWC Davey O’Brien Sports Lounge.
The Ceremony
Our Catholic Mass at Saint Patrick Cathedral was a beautiful and special event. Father Hank Lanik from my home parish officiated as we said our vows in front of family and friends, with light pouring in through the stained-glass windows. The ceremony was further enriched by lovely music and sentimental readings from both of our grandparents.
The Reception
Following Mass, guests were transported to The Fort Worth Club, where they ascended to the historic 12th floor for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and downtown views before entering the beautifully decorated reception space for dinner and dancing. Décor featured pastel green linens, blossoming floral arrangements, and a perfectly complementary green and white checkered dance floor.
We made our entrance as Mr. and Mrs. Morse to our guests standing and cheering as we began our first dance to “You Are the Best Thing.”
Following a delicious dinner, the dance floor remained packed with energy all night as guests in colorful cowboy hats danced and sang along, leading to some truly memorable moments. These included a groomsman hilariously splitting his pants, the crowd singing loudly to my favorite song, “Dancing Queen,” and, to emphatically end the night, us crowd surfing to “Sweet Home Alabama.” It was a dance party to remember!
The Planning
I am incredibly grateful to my parents for making our dream wedding a reality, especially my mother for her endless time and effort ensuring every single detail was perfect.
To bring our vision to life, we collaborated with Plan Revelry, whose knowledge and familiarity with Fort Worth vendors and our chosen venues proved invaluable. They truly worked tirelessly behind the scenes on our wedding day to make sure everything was executed flawlessly.
The Cake
Our wedding cake was both summery and refreshing, a lemon chiffon cake with white chocolate buttercream and raspberry filling, reminiscent of my childhood favorite. The cake, adorned with flowers, was accompanied by crystal and chinaware from our registry.
The groom opted to serve his favorite dessert, ‘Peter’s Apple Pies,’ a summertime must.
The Food
Given our shared love for food, Peter and I were delighted by the many compliments on the menu. The Fort Worth Club served delicious, fresh, and comforting options for all, including crowd favorites like cornbread-stuffed Texas quail, chef-carved beef tenderloin, and white cheddar mac and cheese.
Later in the evening, guests also enjoyed the groom’s favorite late-night snack: chicken biscuits.
The Entertainment
The Grooveline Dallas band delivered a fabulous dance party with their impeccable style, infectious energy, and fantastic sound. We loved that they played classic hits for all guests to enjoy.
The Favorite Moment
Tricia: The moment the Cathedral doors opened and I began my walk down the aisle was truly unforgettable. The triumphant sound of trumpets filled the space, and warm evening light poured in through the Cathedral’s windows. Walking with my father towards Peter, I teared up, overcome with love and pure joy.
Peter: My favorite moment was watching Tricia walk down the aisle. In a room full of our loved ones, it felt like we were the only two people there. Crowd surfing at the end of the night was a close second.
The Unexpected
Luckily, our day went mostly as planned thanks to months of dedicated, careful planning. I did not expect my 87-year-old grandfather to be on the dance floor at the end of the night in a pink cowboy hat, but I’m sure happy he was!
The Honeymoon
We honeymooned in beautiful Kauai, Hawaii, enjoying hiking, kayaking, and much-needed relaxation on the beach. It was the perfect blend of adventure and tranquility.
The Advice
To ensure you can fully enjoy and be present during your wedding week, take care of the fine details like seating charts and timelines well in long-distance advance. Your priority should be creating a comfortable and memorable guest experience, which includes providing clear details to your wedding party, family, and guests so they’re well-informed. Partner with great venues and vendors who make it simple and streamlined!
The Vendors
PHOTOGRAPHY Tracy Autem Photography
REHEARSAL DINNER Hotel Drover
PLANNING AND DESIGN Plan Revelry
VENUE St. Patrick Cathedral, The Fort Worth Club
FLORAL Tami Winn Events
VIDEOGRAPHY Turquoise Video Productions
RENTALS Imperial Floors, Lawson Event Rentals
CATERING AND CAKE The Fort Worth Club
HAIR Casey Rutherford
MAKEUP Malibu Greene
ENTERTAINMENT The Grooveline Dallas
BRIDAL SALON Elevated Bridal
TRANSPORTATION AJL International
INVITATIONS AND PAPER GOODS The Writing Horse, Chick Hill Designs, Designer Graphics
RINGS Mefford Jewelers