A Grand Garden-Themed Wedding in Oklahoma

Katty and Chris

In December of 2011, the Oklahoma State University Cowboys were playing one of their biggest rivals—the University of Oklahoma Sooners—for the 106th year. But the long-running football showdown still managed to produce a first: It was while watching the game that Katty Jordan met a friend of her future fiancé́, Chris Gasbarra. The pal later told Chris that he had found the girl for him, and arranged for the two to meet. Before long, Katty and Chris were a couple.

Near their two-year mark, Chris, now a medical student at Oklahoma State, took Katty for a walk on the grounds of the Philbrook Museum of Art, a historic villa-turned-exhibition site in their neighborhood. There, she found 10 of Chris's friends in the back garden holding hand-illustrated cards. "For any holiday or birthday, Chris draws me something," says Katty, who works for her family's oil and gas company in Tulsa. "It's nothing professional, but it's sweet." On this occasion, however, Chris had illustrated and captioned a whole series of images showing how Katty had captured his heart. As Chris led her around, one guy read a message while another held up a drawing for her to see. After Katty completed the "tour," Chris dropped to one knee and popped the question.

The proposal's romantic setting made choosing the wedding site a breeze. "The Philbrook is really pretty, and it's special because my sister got married there, too," says Katty. After a Catholic mass at the nearby Holy Family Cathedral, the newlyweds, their army of attendants—34 in all, including Chris's proposal assistants—and about 425 guests made their way to the museum lawn for an epic eight-hour reception. "I've never gone to a party where I've known every single person," says Katty. "That was the coolest part." Sea bass and grilled tenderloin made up the dinner menu, and individual mini buttercream-frosted vanilla cakes were served for dessert. Once the band started playing, the dance party hit full force. Revelers paused only for late-night slices from the duo's favorite pizza joint—the final touch(down) on a winning day.

Watch Katty and Chris's Wedding Video

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A Calligraphed Invitation

Katty looked to her mom for advice on the calligraphed, powder-blue suite by Brown Linen Design.

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The Bridal Bouquet

Katty's bouquet included garden roses, Japanese anemones, and clematis recta vines that were tied together with a blue ribbon.

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The Flower Girls

Eight children, including Chris's three nieces, served as the pair's smallest attendants.

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A Church Ceremony

The ceremony took place in a 100-year-old Gothic-style Catholic church.

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The Fashions

Chris wore an Armani suit, a Tom Ford bow tie, and New and Lingwood slippers, while his bride glowed in an Elie by Elie Saab gown and Jimmy Choo heels.

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One Big Bridal Party

The wedding party made its way to the cocktail hour at the musuem.

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Appetizers in the Courtyard

Cocktail hour extended from the museum's patio down to the side garden. Guests noshed on chilled asparagus salad served in a Parmesan spoon, seared tuna tacos with Asian slaw and sesame aioli, quiche bites, Dungeness crab cakes, and mushroom phyllo with demi cream.

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The Reception Décor

"To keep a mostly blush color palette from getting too sweet, we brought in berry and brown tones," says floral designer Sarah Winward of the table settings. "All of the materials, such as the linen tablecloths, stone and iron urns, and marble trays, had natural textures to them." Seasonal fruit, gold candlesticks, and tea lights further decorated tables.

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The Centerpieces

Crab apples and Asian pears surrounded concrete urns of 'Café au Lait' dahlias, Japanese anemones, clematis, and roses.

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Let Them Eat Mini Cakes

Individual desserts let each guest have their (own) cake and eat it, too. The barrel-style vanilla cakes were iced in a lightly-textured buttercream and topped with delicate fresh flowers.

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