“He was very southern and very loud, but he made me laugh more than anyone ever had,” said Loni. 

 

Over the next year they became inseparable, but didn’t take things any further than being friends. Once they realized that they only wanted to be with each other, they began officially dating, and have been together since.

 

The day Josh proposed, Loni was feeling sick. However, he persuaded her to go have a nice dinner at Truluck’s. 

 

“I actually told him no because I wasn’t feeling well, but he begged me to go and I caved,” said Loni. “How can anyone turn down a meal at Truluck’s?” 

 

At this point in their relationship, Loni was anxious to get engaged, but it had been so long that she had all but given up. Every time she and Josh went out to a nice dinner, she was positive a ring was going to be delivered in a glass of champagne or stuck in a dessert. By the end of the night, there was again no ring, so she was convinced that it was just another night that she was not going to get engaged. When they got home that night, Loni was anxious to go to bed because of her illness. She took off her shoes and was heading to the bedroom. On the way, Josh called her into her guest room, where she saw red roses and a little black box on the bed. 

 

“It was the sweetest moment of my life so far – when my best friend asked me to spend the rest of my life with him,” said Loni. “Turns out that it was the best way he could have proposed to me, just the two of us in the privacy of our home.” 

 

Josh opened the box to reveal the ring that Loni had shown him years earlier when he had asked, “If you could have any ring in the world, which one would you want?” 

 

“I couldn’t believe it! It was well worth the wait,” laughed Loni. 

 

Loni immediately hired Courtney Caplan of Caplan Miller Events to help her plan the big day. 

 

“She is amazing at what she and her girls do,” said Loni. “Courtney left no details undone. She planned the entire event from start to finish. She is the best!”

 

The ceremony, led by Michael Boles, was held at University Christian Church. It was short and sweet. Beautiful white rose petals were thrown all over the red aisle and across the altar, and black manzanita branches with white dendrobium orchids and hanging crystals were placed on the altar as well. The Arundel Ensemble played “What a Wonderful World” as the mothers were seated and “Moon River” was played during the processional. Loni walked in to the traditional bridal chorus.

 

The reception was held in the upstairs mezzanine of the Driskill Hotel. As guests arrived, Dysfunkshun Junkshun played while hors d’oeuvres and cocktails were served. Beautiful tables were arranged with custom menu detail descriptions with Loni and Josh’s monogram tucked into every napkin. The centerpieces were tall black manzanita branches with white dendrobium orchids and hanging crystals all sitting on a bed of white hydrangeas. As the guests were escorted in, they could see the amazing seven-tier bride’s cake, created by Simon Lee, complete with crystals, black ribbon and white hydrangeas. The cake was filled with white chocolate cream in some of the tiers and cream cheese with fresh strawberries in the others. The groom’s cake was a custom New York Yankees jersey and baseball hat that was an exact match of an original Yankees uniform. There was a full bar located in the center of the mezzanine, and another bar in the Red Room with a great television that had the Texas Tech/OU game playing. 

 

“The men at the wedding loved it,” laughed Loni. 

 

TVs were quickly turned off after dinner, and the father of the bride, matron of honor and the father of the groom all gave heartfelt and humorous toasts before the dancing got started in the pink ballroom. The lighting was a stunning, 

luminous pink, and Loni and Josh’s monogram lit up the center of the dance floor. Black sofas with hot pink pillows sat in various parts of the ballroom. The bride and groom danced their first dance to “First Dance” by Corey Smith, followed by the father/ daughter dance, “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman, sung by Loni’s brother. 

 

“It was an extra-special moment,” said Loni. “Dysfunkshun Junkshun was generous enough to learn the song and allowed a guest singer. It was beautiful.” 

 

The dancing and festivities lasted until midnight, when the newly married couple left in an antique Rolls Royce for the honeymoon suite at the Driskill. After a fun-filled evening with family and friends, and their amazingly beautiful wedding, Josh and Loni agree with Wayne Dyer that “happiness is the way.” 

University Christian Church

 

The Driskill Hotel

 

The Driskill

 

 

Amsale dress purchased at Serendipity Bridal

 

Al’s Formal Wear

 

Simon Lee Bakery

 

Stacy Sodolak, SMS Photography

 

Wildparrot Productions

 

Transportation Consultants 

 

Martha Lynn Barnes of Jose Luis Salon

 

Stacey Hogge of Petal Pushers

 

Dysfunkshun Junkshun

 

Officiant: 

Michael Boles

 

Eddie V’s

 

Moonshine 

 

Calvin’s Fine Jewelry

 

First In Last Out/FILO

Amazing Ice Designs

 

Distinctive Details

 

Tailored Tables