Allison Hawks & James Templeton
October 30, 2021

Engineers are by definition measured, so this is not a love-at-first-sight story. In fact, Allie Hawkes and Jim Templeton weren’t even all that friendly back when they graduated from SMU’s engineering program back in 2014. That all changed when they both ended up taking jobs at AT&T. But even as they warmed up to one another, neither was all that anxious to throw caution to the wind. “We were friends for a long time before we started dating, partly because we were coworkers, and we didn’t want to complicate things,” explains Allie. “It took Jim moving to Denver for us to realize that we wanted something more.”

For their first date, Jim organized a sweet outing that included dinner and a walk around White Rock Lake. Two-and-a-half years later, he achieved a near-perfect Christmas Eve proposal at another urban park—a very famous one at that. “He surprised me with a secret trip to New York City, which is my very favorite place in the whole world,” says Allie. “He proposed at Belvedere Castle in Central Park.” 

When it came time to start planning the big day, the pragmatic pair found they were already on the same page about the venue. “We both always knew we wanted to get married at Jim’s family’s house,” says Allie. “There’s something really special about getting married at a place where we’ll continue to spend a lot of time and make future memories.”

Dressed to Impress

Even before Jim popped the question, Allie knew she wanted a dress with a big, flowy skirt—“something that would make me feel like a princess,” she says. “I knew I wanted a wedding that felt like something out of a storybook.” The couple exchanged vows in front of a stunning square arch teeming with white roses, which was designed by florist David Kimmel.

Book Smarts

Molly Rasmussen of Pop Parties has planned events for the Templeton family for years, but when Allie and Jim came to her for help with their wedding, she wasn’t content to rest on her laurels. “It’s always a fun challenge to try to outdo ourselves,” says Molly. While the setting was nothing short of grand—the wedding and reception took place in a 10,000-square-foot, split-level tent—every last detail was tailored specifically to the bride and groom. “Allie and Jim are both incredibly intelligent. Both graduated with honors at SMU,” says Molly. “Reading, education, and adventure are all traits I associate with them.” In that spirit, the couple decided they wanted to detail their love story for the wedding programs complete with illustrations by Color Box Design & Letterpress. From there, Molly took the literary theme to new heights with a massive index-inspired table assignment piece and personalized bookmarks at every place setting. “I love that Allie let me take some super cute risks along the way of this totally unique, incredibly elegant wedding,” says the planner.

Fine Tuned

The 10,000-square-foot tent was a split-level build. Dinner was served in one portion, while an elevated section provided plenty of room for lounging, dancing, and dessert. A piano adorned in plentiful flowers provided a bold focal point. Pianist and vocalist Jennifer Perryman set the mood for quieter moments, and later, the band took the stage with a range of classics and new tunes. “There really was something for everyone,” says Allie.

Guests: 230

First Dance: “La Vie En Rose” by Louis Armstrong

Honeymoon Destination: Maui, Hawaii 

Cake Flavor: Champagne cake with a mixed-berry mousse and puree filling