While Kelsea West, who works in real estate private equity, and Troy Alexander, a data analyst, met as juniors at Southern Methodist University, it wasn’t until they crossed paths in the City of Light that they began to date. It was the summer after business school, and while some of their first dates were less glamorous (they were both studying for the CPA exam), says Kelsea, “those clichés about Paris really are true.” The pair has been inseparable since.

The Parisian vibes didn’t stay in Paris, either. For their wedding at the Dallas Country Club, the overall theme was France. Bringing a bit of Paris was the heart of their décor, as well as every aspect of the day—merged with their traditional Southern upbringings, of course.

The couple became engaged over Labor Day in 2016 while in Vancouver with close friends. They had dinner at Seasons in the Park. “It has the most amazing views of Queen Elizabeth Park and the city of Vancouver,” says Kelsea. While walking through gardens afterward, Troy got down on one knee, and it was an obvious “yes.” Neither Troy nor Kelsea had cell service, so they were able to privately enjoy their engagement before sharing the news.

The couple’s family and friends flocked to Dallas for the wedding. The ceremony was held at University Park United Methodist Church and officiated by Matt Gatson, the former pastor of the church and whom Troy grew up with as his family pastor. Troy also went to the Dallas Country Club all his life, so it was a natural choice for the reception.

The color scheme for the day was simply white and light blue, complete with a macaron tower and French quotes on the program. While Troy is a Dallas native, Kelsea grew up in Atlanta, and so Southern touches were essential, down to the mini ham and cheese biscuit hors-d’oeuvres.

The couple wanted the attire to be elegant and play into the blue color scheme. The groomsmen wore navy tuxes, while the bridesmaids all wore the same light blue off-the-shoulder dress by Joanna August. “I wanted all bridesmaids dresses to be the same, as opposed to the recent trend of varying styles, to keep the look as classic as possible,” says Kelsea.

For the reception, the room was filled with classic French-inspired banquettes and furniture creating a welcoming and dynamic atmosphere. “I wanted the guests to walk in the reception room and feel as though they had been transported to a classic French Chateau,” says Kelsea. Kelsea and Troy’s first dance was to “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young. Taylor Pace Orchestra kept their guests on their feet the whole night.

Personal touches were also considered, including the toasting flutes hand-painted by Kelsea’s late grandmother, June Vandiver Adams, a live painting by Susan Moss-Cooper, and personalized grilled cheeses served by Ruthie’s Food Truck. A horse-drawn carriage carried them off into the night as they said bonne nuit to their guests, combining their French-found love with Kelsea’s memories of riding horses in Georgia.

While some of their first dates were less glamorous (they were both studying for the CPA exam), “those clichés about Paris really are true."