Jessica Allen and Brian Kelley met at a Saint Louis University basketball game where the two just happened to be standing next to each other in the student section. Jessica tried to spark up conversation, but Brian was very concentrated on the game—and ended up switching places with his friend because Jessica was distracting him. Two weeks later they met again, this time outside a local bar in Saint Louis. Things went better the second time around, and they went on their first date the following weekend. 

Three and a half years later, Brian surprised Jessica with a fairytale proposal in Laguna Niguel. He popped the question during a walk on the beach, complete with a hidden photographer to capture the moment. But the surprises didn’t end there. The photographer took them up to the Ritz-Carlton bar to snap some shots of the couple popping champagne, but little did Jessica know her family was waiting there to congratulate her and Brian.  

Jessica began planning her special day right away. She knew she wanted to get married in the springtime because that’s when peonies, her favorite flower, are in season. Both Jessica and Brian were members of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and wanted a church wedding, so their first step was reserving the Dallas Scottish Rite cathedral for April 27, 2019.  

Jessica describes herself as a “pink girl” and wanted to incorporate that into the decor. From the blush-and-rose-gold linens and peony florals to the berry champagne cake and rosy bridesmaids gowns, pink was a recurring theme.  

Each of the bride’s somethings old, new, borrowed, and blue were very dear to her heart. Having been adopted from Russia along with her twin sister at the age of 2, Jessica incorporated into her bouquet a handmade Russian pin—her “something old”—given to her parents at the time of the adoption. Her something new was a pair of earrings and a diamond bracelet her husband gifted her before the big day. Her something borrowed was her hairpiece lent to her by her sister-in-law. And her something blue was the monogram and wedding date her mother and sister had sewn into her dress.  

After all the planning was said and done, Jessica and Brian invited their guests to stay at the Adolphus for the weekend. Jessica recalls feeling that when her and Brian’s families and friends arrived the Friday before their wedding, that’s when it became real for them. They were able to relax and soak everything in.   

After saying “I do” and dancing the night away with their guests, the couple jetted off to Turks and Caicos, where they honeymooned with clear skies and sandy beaches. Jessica and Brian are enjoying married life in Colorado Springs and just welcomed a baby boy to the family. “We are so happy and more in love with one another than the day we said I do!” says Jessica.