The Couple

Amanda Michelle Bates and Shawn Lamont Echols married on March 23, 2018, at Hidden Pines Chapel in Highland Village, Texas. The bride, 27, works in pediatric neurosurgery at Childrens Medical Center in Dallas. She is from Kalona, Iowa and graduated from Missouri Western State University, where she played volleyball. The groom, 28, is a firefighter and paramedic for the Dallas Fire Department. He is from San Francisco and graduated from Houston Baptist University, where he played basketball and studied kinesiology.

The Story

The former college athletes enjoy an active lifestyle together and spend a lot of time outdoors with their dog Milo. They lived in Deep Ellum before buying a house in Fate, Texas. They met while out with friends, where it seemed to be love at first sight. “On one of our first dates, we went for a run and grabbed snow cones afterwards,” says Amanda. The two dated for two years before Shawn proposed while they were in the Dominican Republic for Amanda’s mother’s 50th birthday. Shawn popped the question while they were on the beach.

The Wedding

The rustic spring wedding was officiated by Shawn’s stepdad. “We wanted a personal and intimate ceremony, and he delivered just that,” says Amanda. “We incorporated stories from both sets of parents about growing up and our ideas of marriage throughout our lives.” The bride and groom walked out to “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole. Their families met for the first time that weekend, while all their friends from California and Iowa also had a chance to mingle. “It was really just a big party and celebration,” remembers Amanda.

See more with the wedding hashtag: #EndlesslyEchols