Kathryn Worrall & Grant Bauley
June 24, 2023

It’s not at all uncommon for graduate students studying advertising at Virginia Commonwealth University to pair up. “They call it ‘Brand-cest,’ ” says Kathryn Worrall with a laugh. “The first day there, you’re told to look around the room, because your future spouse might be there. I remember thinking, ‘Absolutely not.’ ” Still, she agreed to meet with second-year student Grant Bauley for a casual coffee to talk about the program. “I had done the coffees before as a first-year to get on some projects and make some real-world connections. They were never romantic. It was more like LinkedIn in real life,” explains Grant.

But in this case, coffee turned into dinner and drinks, and three dates later, the duo went from LinkedIn to linked up. After getting through school and a stint of long-distance dating, Grant planned a surprise proposal in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that involved dummy plane tickets, fake cat-sitting plans, and collusion with his bride-to-be’s parents. Kathryn figured it out but was totally on board, and plans for a wedding in the Land of Enchantment began in earnest. “I always knew I wanted to get married in Santa Fe, and Bishop’s Lodge was a no-brainer. My family has been going there for decades, so I have so many sweet memories there,” Kathryn says.

While based in New York, the former classmates relied on Dallas planner Emily Clarke to bring all the unique colors and flavors of the Southwest to their first-class affair. “It was the perfect blend of high-brow and laid-back,” says Kathryn. Agrees Grant: “Everything from the napkins to the luminaries and flowers and beyond felt very personal. Nothing about this wedding was copy and paste.”

Pot-ential:

“Color is always where I start, along with the location and understanding what’s around us. We grew tonally as we got to the tent,” says Emily.  “I wanted to engage with the footprint of the property, so I hunted for antique vessels. I needed the age on them to make it feel like they’d always been there.” The married couple crossed a threshold into the reception beneath a blanket of bougainvillea. “Walking in took my breath away. The entire room was full of surprises,” says Kathryn. “I think I blacked out a little,” Grant adds.

Love at (Almost) First Sight:

Although she was sure she didn’t want a dress that was off-the-shoulder or colorful, Kathryn ended up with something that was both. “I tried on this dress first, and my mom and sisters knew it was the one right away,” she says. “Even so, I still dragged them to four other places before coming back and getting it.” 

Table Talk:

Taking her cues from the Bishop’s Lodge adobe exteriors, Emily piled in plenty of Southwest-infused furnishings near the bar so guests could sit and sip in style. “I knew I wanted to create collections on the tables where each bloom had its moment, so I isolated ranunculus, roses, and reflexed tulips in blocks. Where we do mix flowers, it’s very intentional,” says Emily.

Sharing Is Caring

A lot of sisters would be less than thrilled about the prospect of getting a proposal in the same year, let alone getting married months apart. Kathryn and Elizabeth Worrall say that’s a mistake. In fact, Kathryn recommended they use the same people. “I made sure nothing got weird, and honestly, I only saw the benefits,” she says. “I had been working with Emily Clarke for months, and I knew no one else would do for Lizzie, because our visions for our weddings shared quite a bit of DNA, even though they feel so separate.” The siblings were able to confer about the guest lists, photography, hair and makeup, and rehearsal dinner dresses. “I love planning things—if I could plan a wedding every year for the rest of my life, I would. Lizzie does not. So it made sense for us to share resources,” says Kathryn. Adds Elizabeth: “We were able to lean on each other as we went through the process, and that actually made it fun.”

Guests:

225

Late-Night Snack:

Frito pie, which is said to have been invented in Santa Fe, and churros

First Dance:

“You Are the First, the Last, My Everything” by Barry White

Honeymoon:

A tour of France, including Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Nice

Special Touch:

During the planning process, Kathryn’s dad said, “All I want to do is have a drink at the bar with my friends.” Emily had it printed on cocktail napkins as a surprise to the bride.