Two SMU Sweethearts Wed in a Classic and Timeless Affair at Perkins Chapel

By Haley Arnold

Dale & John Thomas
January 28, 2023

For Dale and John “JT” Thomas, exchanging vows at Perkins Chapel was a heartfelt, full-circle moment—the venue is located on SMU’s campus, where the pair first met as students. Between running in the same circles at university and coincidentally moving to New York within the same month, their love story seemed inevitable. Bumping into each other a number of times in the Big Apple eventually led to a setup by their friends and later a proposal on Aspen Mountain in the summer of 2021. The now-Austinites toasted to their matrimony in an intimate and family-centered celebration that paid homage to where it all began. Says Dale, “It just felt right to have it in a place where we first met.”

Dale & John Thomas Wedding, Toast and Dining Setting

Fine Dining

“Dale and JT came to me with the request to have their wedding feel like a dinner party,” says planner Kelsey Booth Dell of KBD Events. They chose Arlington Hall’s interior to foster an inviting and residential vibe. “Bringing in tasteful linens, delicate florals, and taper candles was our approach to giving it a more intimate feel,” she says.

Dale & John Thomas Wedding, Groom & Bride Couple

Laced with Elegance

Dale didn’t have a specific dress in mind when she walked through the doors of Warren Barrón, but this open-back, long-sleeved lace gown from Monique Lhuillier stood out. “When I came out to show everyone, they were just in tears,” she remembers.