Margaret Wolcott is absolutely certain that a prayer led her to the happiest day of her life.

She had shared in the joy of many a friend’s wedding, and she had hoped. And she waited. “I was praying for patience, actually,” she says. “I would have waited 30 more years if I knew God had designed Mike just for me. I’m so glad I didn’t have to!”

Margaret and her now-husband, Michael Reinbold, a wealth manager at UBS, were set up on a blind date with two other couples. One of the two women worked with Margaret at a law firm, and the other knew Mike from college. They had a hunch. “At the group dinner, it was an instant connection for Mike and me. Later, he took me on a date, just the two of us. It was a magical moment,” she says.

Fast forward to about a year later, and Mike lured Margaret to the house where they had met; a heart-shaped balloon installation in the front yard gave away the question. Inside, family and friends were waiting to toast the couple that patience, intuition, and a divine hand had brought together. 

Margaret and Mike were married this past winter in a Valentine’s-inspired wedding, in which the red tones were a natural backdrop to their story. Red is Margaret’s favorite color; they loved the contrast between a chilly night and a warm party inside. “It was the happiest day of our lives, and we had the best people around us to make it the best day,” says the bride. She turned to planners Rachel Derman and Paige Chenault to help fulfill her vision.

“I had worked for the wedding industry in the past,” says Margaret, who now works at The Tot. “I knew that I wanted the reception at Brook Hollow. As for the church, it was Park Cities Baptist Church. That’s where I grew up sitting in the sanctuary and dreaming about my wedding day.” A call to John Cain Photography yielded an open date, and it was on.

Three Branches Floral worked with the planners and Charles Redin of Brook Hollow for magical tablescapes with an Old World feel. Vivid bouquets of red-, pink-, and orange-toned blooms, including ranunculus, roses, poppies, and orchids, were set between towering romantic candelabras on tables draped with lace. A seven-layer cake by Fancy Cakes by Lauren Kitchens added a sweet finish.

Margaret dazzled in a strapless Viktor & Rolf gown with a sweetheart bodice, French tulle shoulder wrap and full skirt, with an exaggerated bow draped down the back. In fact, the only unscripted moment came when she got to the church. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw men in tuxes approaching and was concerned she’d run into her groom. She hiked up her skirt and got ready to run, but was reassured the groom was nowhere in sight. “We did not do a first look; I wanted the first moment he saw me to be when the doors opened,” she says.

As if the day weren’t already perfect enough, plenty of sunshine added light and warmth to the preparation. “We prayed for sunshine and God provided,” she says. “It really added to the spirit and the joy of the day.” —Connie Dufner

Red is Margaret’s favorite color; they loved the contrast between a chilly night and a warm party inside.