Katie Holt and Jim Traynor’s New York Love Blossoms Into a Romantic Dallas Wedding

By Meghan Lally

In a little Italian restaurant nestled in New York’s West Village, Katie Holt and Jim Traynor first met. It’s no surprise that the fateful spot, Malatesta, is now their favorite restaurant. After two years of dating, Jim took Katie to the Hamptons to celebrate their anniversary, and on a beach in Montauk, he popped the question. At the time, Katie was in graduate school in New York, but once she received her diploma, the couple moved back to her hometown of Dallas.

On May 11, 2019, Katie and Jim collaborated with DFW Events to transform the 19th Floor Ballroom at the Adolphus into a romantic haven, fusing French design and Asian-inspired florals. They filled the airy space with gold chiavari chairs and lined the aisle with cherry blossom branches. “For me, a cherry blossom branch is like an asymmetrical, soft piece of art, and every branch is so unique,” Katie says. “I could look at them all day, so I decided to just fill a whole room with them.”

While donning an Oscar De La Renta gown that unintentionally emulated the cherry blossoms, Katie wed Jim. Only the second dress Katie tried on, she discovered the gown at the Bridal Salon of Neiman Marcus, but didn’t realize it was “the one” for an entire month. “It took me trying on probably 50 dresses to realize I could have been done after the first 30 minutes of the first day,” Katie says. “I couldn’t stop comparing everything else to that second dress, so I finally I realized it was the one.”

Following the nuptials, their team rearranged the cherry blossoms and adorned tables with peonies and floating votives to kick off the reception. First, there were drinks, dinner, toasts, and cake. Then, there was the dancing. When “Shout” came through the speakers, Jim’s friends repeatedly threw him eight feet in the air, creating one of Katie’s fondest memories. “Our reception was all of our favorite people in the world dancing in one room,” Katie reminisces.

After the last song played, Katie and Jim jumped in a vintage ride and, popping through the sunroof, bid adieu to their guests.