Rich and Nicole recall meeting “the old-fashioned way.” Nicole’s good high school friend, Ross, became best friends with Rich at college in New Orleans. After graduation, Ross moved back home to Dallas and brought Rich along. Nicole and Rich crossed paths many times before Rich finally asked Nicole if she “wanted to grab a bite to eat.” After a three-hour bite-to-eat while learning their immense amount of similarities, Rich and Nicole determined that they were soulmates.

After graduating from Ursuline Academy, Nicole attended the University of Arkansas. Today, Nicole works in software sales at the BirdEye technology company. Rich graduated from St. Louis University High School and went on to attend Loyola University New Orleans. Rich is now in residential real estate development for the Skorburg Company.

Nicole and Rich had planned a trip to St. Louis to visit with Rich’s mom for Mother’s Day weekend. The day after they arrived in town, the couple had a full sports-filled itinerary planned, beginning with watching the Dallas Stars versus the St. Louis Blues playoff game, and ending with attending the St. Louis Cardinal’s game. At the start of the day’s events, Rich and Nicole traveled through bumper-to-bumper traffic to have lunch at the Boathouse restaurant on the water in Forest Park. After the two failed to find a parking spot, Rich suggested he take Nicole to a “special place” instead. Rich brought Nicole to the park where a tree was planted in memory of Rich’s late father, who passed away in 2009.

The moment they reached the tree, Rich got down on one knee and went speechless. Overwhelmed with many emotions and happy tears, Nicole broke the silence and let out a big, “Yes!” Rich and Nicole then went downtown to 360 Bar where Nicole was surprised by all of their closest friends from Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

When it came to gaining inspiration for Nicole and Rich’s wedding day, held on June 24, 2017, Nicole decided on a timeless and simplistic look. “I really wanted a neutral color palette that would stand the test of time,” reflects Nicole. Blushes and ivories adorned the ceremony and reception spaces, bringing Nicole’s vision of elegance to life. Pops of golds and silvers were incorporated within the decor and on the bridesmaids’ dresses to add shimmer.

Nicole’s best piece of advice for future brides would be to integrate the “first look” between the bride and the groom in the few hours before the ceremony. Nicole admits that it “helped me get so many jitters out before walking down the aisle.” The shared moment between Nicole and Rich was a “special and intimate” memory the newlyweds will cherish forever.

—Lauren Kazemba

Rich got down on one knee and went speechless. Overwhelmed with many emotions and happy tears, Nicole broke the silence and let out a big, “Yes!”