Katy Roden & Landon Tujague
November 18, 2023

Wedding designer and florist Katy Roden was well-versed in the world of weddings even before Landon Tujague, her boyfriend of a year, proposed while on a ski trip in Vail, Colorado. But the experience of planning her own nuptials still proved eye-opening. “As a bride, you have so much pressure and opinions coming at you. And goodness—the amount of bills to keep up with!” says Katy, who serves as the director of company relations and operations at Branching Out Events. “It is so much to balance, and you don’t know it until you experience it!” The bride worked with her vendor team, led by planner Meaghan Cody of Sweet Pea Events, to achieve the “warm, inviting, and high-energy” wedding of her dreams. In the end, the day was everything she could’ve imagined. “It’s absolutely true when anyone tells you it’s one of the best days of your life,” she says. Following their honeymoon in Saint Lucia, the couple have enjoyed settling into their new house in Far North Dallas with their dogs, Hilde and Umphrey. They reflect on the splurges, surprises, and stressors of wedding planning. 

Had you thought about your wedding day before getting engaged?

Katy: Being in the industry for 10 years, I noticed things that I didn’t want to do or spend my budget on, as well as things that I did. But other than that, I really didn’t. I always knew I wanted my wedding to be representative of us as a couple, not just what I wanted. So I wasn’t too set on anything until after he proposed and we started talking about how we wanted the day to be.

Landon: Yes. And I thought about it even more after I got engaged. I thought about how awesome the party was going to be!

What was the smartest thing you did while planning your wedding?

Katy: Hiring a wedding planner! Even though I have 10 years’ experience in floral and event design, there are so many aspects to a wedding, and a planner is indispensable.

Landon: I listened to my bride!

What was the hardest part about wedding planning?

Katy: Getting started! It feels like a big leap, even when you “know what you’re doing.”

Landon: Listening to my bride!

What was the most fun part of wedding planning?

Katy: Designing my wedding with my team at Branching Out Events! I had a general vision, but they did an amazing job executing it and even had some surprises in there for me.

Landon: Just getting to know Katy better. Affirming I’ve chosen the best person for me.

What was your most worthwhile wedding splurge?

Katy: The private helicopter ride we took to our reception! When the idea popped into my mind, I didn’t think I’d be able to afford it—but got an estimate anyways. It ended up being manageable within our budget, so I moved forward with it and surprised Landon! It was so nice having that quiet time together and arriving to our cocktail hour in style!

Landon: My new tux!

What, if anything, would you do differently if you had to do it all over again?

Katy: Come up with a game plan with Landon for sticking together a bit more during our reception. We were both so excited and greeting guests and running around. We managed to get it together after about an hour of trying to find each other and then decided to stay closer.

Landon: I would’ve invited a few more of my friends—increased the guest list.

What was your biggest takeaway from the wedding-planning process?

Katy: Working in the industry, I know that surprises will come—from family; from your fiancé; and from the capabilities of your budget, your venue, and your vendors. So I think that that made the whole planning experience much smoother. I rolled with the punches, and it felt like there were very few because I didn’t expect everything to be picture-perfect. Landon and I kept saying, “As long as you and I and the pastor are there, we’ve got everything we need.”

Landon: My affirmation in Katy.

What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?

Katy: That walk down the aisle. That is such a special moment you’ll never get to experience again. The church was so peaceful and [to have] everyone you love smiling at you, and your dad on your arm—it’s something I’ll keep in my heart forever.

Landon: The morning of, Katy and I shared love letters at our new home. It was really special.

What has surprised you most about married life? How (if at all) does it feel different?

Katy: Marriage gets a bad rep for being boring. That is not the case! It’s a huge difference when you have someone who is always on your team, supporting you, and tackling and enjoying life together.

Landon: I don’t know if I’ve been surprised or feel different; I’m just happy I made the commitment.