Inside: A Timeless Wedding With Texas Charm

From a modern-day meeting on a dating app that quickly turned into hours of texting and FaceTime calls, to a cozy at-home proposal over takeout, step inside Payton Sartain and Joe Ross’s wedding weekend where hometown roots, Texas tradition, and effortless glamour came together beneath the chandeliers of The Fort Worth Club.

The story so far

We met on a dating app – a true modern love story. We quickly moved to texting and FaceTime calls because we genuinely enjoyed talking to each other all the time. About a month later, our schedules overlapped in Scottsdale for a weekend. I was there with friends and invited Joe to the house we’d rented. He showed up, and there was an immediate sense of ease – with me, with my friends, with the entire dynamic. He felt familiar instantly. We made plans to see each other a couple of weeks later and started dating very shortly after.

Joe proposed in December 2024 in our South Florida home – we’d just moved there that October for his off-season training. I had told him months earlier that I wanted our engagement to feel like everyday life, nothing performed or documented. He picked up dinner from Blackbird, one of our favorite local spots, set up a beautiful spread, and proposed right before we settled in to watch Landman (a show set in my hometown, Fort Worth, TX). Our dog Winnie was there, we were both in sweats, and after I said yes, we simply watched our show and enjoyed our meal. It was exactly what I’d asked for – normal, a reflection of our everyday life together, just the three of us.

My ring is a solitaire, elongated cushion-cut natural diamond sourced & created by Jay Freedman at Jonathan’s, a family friend’s jeweller based in Houston, TX. Joe and I both had a say in the creation of this ring – we had been fielding images of diamonds from Jay for a few weeks before we found the perfect stone. I wanted a diamond cut in an old mine style, with larger facets, and we found it! We had it set on a simple, thin-but-sturdy gold band – something clean and simple that will stand the test of time (and hopefully be passed down to future generations).

Venue

Because my husband’s career typically dictates where we live and spend most of our time, and because I spend so much time in his world, so to speak, we were excited to host our wedding weekend in my hometown. Over the years, through baseball off-seasons, I’ve gotten to know the place he calls home and the people he loves very well. This weekend was about welcoming them all into my world, and it was such a unique joy to do so.

Our rehearsal dinner was held at Joe T. Garcia’s – a Fort Worth institution that my family has frequented since I was a kid. There was something beautiful about welcoming our closest family & friends to our wedding weekend in a place already filled with so many wonderful memories. Sharing a pitcher of skinny margs at Joe T’s is a Fort Worth rite of passage if there ever was one.

The evening was intimate by design – we included around 40 of our nearest and dearest for dinner, chips & queso, fajitas, and mingling. We kept the speeches brief – my best friend from college, Laurel, spoke on my behalf, and one of Joe’s closest friends, Andy, spoke for him.

Returning to a familiar place for one of the most significant weekends of our lives was both nostalgic and exciting. Seeing my hometown from a new perspective and making new memories with my husband was so special. This is a reminder that the best celebrations don’t need to be grand – sometimes they just need to feel like home.

As the rehearsal dinner wound down, the tables came up and the welcome party began – out of town guests trickled in to join the party.

I slipped into my second look of the evening: a mini dress by Brandon Maxwell – one of my favorite designers who also happens to be a native of Longview, TX. My grandparents have a place in East Texas, just outside of Longview. It’s somewhere I’ve been going since I was two years old, where I’ve spent many-a hot Texas summer. East Texas has been woven into my life for even longer than Fort Worth has, and it holds just as much of my heart.

For a weekend that was so deliberately rooted in the places and people that have shaped me, wearing a dress by a designer who comes from East Texas felt right. I paired the dress with some Lucchese boots, because obviously. The welcome party was everything a welcome party should be – easy, warm, and full of people who traveled from all over to be with us on our wedding day. In life’s larger moments, I will always search for familiar ground – touching grass, if you will – and night one was exactly that.

My wedding venue, The Fort Worth Club, has been a foundational part of the city for 130 years and a place where my family has celebrated milestones for the last two decades. My hometown, Fort Worth, TX – recently gaining notoriety as the inspiration and backdrop for many Taylor Sheridan series – is steeped in Wild West history, unique character, and true Texas culture. I wanted my wedding, and the events leading up to it, to feel familiar and authentic.

My husband, Joe, was born and raised in California, where I was living when we met. Because I had been part of his West Coast world and community for years, it was incredibly special to share my Texas side with his family and friends. Watching our friends and families intermingle, laugh, and dance in the places that shaped who I am brought a unique sense of joy throughout the entire weekend.

Beyond the history of the location itself, the reception space was truly stunning. Our reception took place in the Fort Worth Club’s largest ballroom, featuring original 1926 architecture, soaring ceilings, and sparkling crystal chandeliers.

My wedding weekend was shaped more by a feeling than a strict visual aesthetic. Years ago, I found a photo by Slim Aarons taken at a ball held at Claridge’s Hotel in London, and I saved it knowing it perfectly captured the energy of the wedding I hoped to have someday -just with a Western edge. His work captured men and women moving through a large ballroom, socializing and sitting at tables overflowing with drinks, food, candles, and florals. The photo felt alive: opulent but warm, refined yet relaxed, authentic. That feeling mirrors the Texas spirit of my upbringing, and we kept it at the forefront throughout the planning process.

After the reception, we loaded friends and family willing to keep the night going onto buses headed to Billy Bob’s Texas, the iconic Fort Worth honky-tonk. By pure luck, Wade Bowen—one of my favorite Texas country artists since high school—was playing that night, so we bought tickets for the entire group. It felt like the only appropriate Fort Worth after-party.

I changed into my after-party dress by Netta Benshabu – a modern showgirl fantasy filtered through a couture lens. The strapless, corset-inspired mini sculpted my body with architectural precision, blooming into a softly structured skirt. The icy champagne-toned mesh shimmered with micro-crystals and sequins like a disco ball. I transformed the original attached sleeves into detached, opera-length glove-style sleeves, sheer and delicately embellished. It was the total opposite of my ceremony gown, intentionally so. I paired it with a cream Stetson bridal hat and silver pointed-toe Saint Laurent heels. We opened a bar tab – everyone drinking classic Texas beer, me sipping a Shiner Bock in contrast to the couture – and spent the night two-stepping, laughing until our stomachs hurt, and listening to Wade Bowen. It was rowdy, joyful, and unmistakably Fort Worth.

Fashion

I wanted to capture different elements of my personal style at each event throughout my bridal era. Many of the gowns I wore – from a crystal-adorned Ralph Lauren gown for my bridal dinner to a flowing Chloé cape gown at the reception – were statement pieces. For my ceremony, I wanted something simple, classic, and impeccably tailored.

My mom and I took a trip to New York City earlier in the year to find my gown, and I spent several days trying on various styles, silhouettes, and fabrics. I didn’t go into gown shopping with much of a plan. Ultimately, on the last day of the trip, I tried on a gown by Maison Margot and immediately knew it was the one. It embodied minimalism at its best – traditional and contemporary all at once. The strapless bodice was cut with precision, offering a modern take on a classic sweetheart neckline that felt both structured and romantic. The gown cinched at the waist before releasing into an A-line skirt with a modest train, and the fabric subtly caught the candlelight as I moved through the venue. The dress was form-fitted to my exact measurements. I wanted something that would look just as chic 30 years from now as it does today. I paired it with sky-high ivory Jimmy Choo platforms and a long veil that melted into the train behind me.

Jewellery

My jewellery was kept as simple as the dress itself. A pair of clustered diamond studs elevated my textured updo, and a diamond tennis bracelet adorned my wrist. For my “something borrowed,” I wore my grandmother’s yellow diamond ring on my right hand – a piece gifted to her by my grandfather, a true Texas oilman, to commemorate his first major success after starting his own company decades ago. It symbolized a moment that changed their lives forever and is incredibly meaningful to my family. Aside from my own rings, it was the most special piece I wore that day.

Bridal party

We opted out of a traditional wedding party at the altar to keep things simple.

The dress code for guests was all-black, black-tie. To differentiate themselves, I had five of my closest friends wear chocolate-brown gowns of their choosing. They selected silks and feminine, draped silhouettes. I wanted them to feel free to choose something they felt beautiful in, and each opted for a slightly different style, which added a sense of individuality I loved.

Tablescape

Aesthetically, we leaned into a traditional style, working with the Fort Worth Club ballroom’s original 1920s architecture. We kept the florals simple, mixed with floating candles on each table. The decor was meant to compliment the space rather than make it something different. The mix of roses and hydrangeas in the candle light softened the ballroom to make everything a bit warmer and cozier.

Food & drinks

After the ceremony, guests moved through candlelit hallways into cocktail hour, where they enjoyed ranch waters, whiskey cocktails, caviar, and expansive charcuterie displays. From there, the space opened into the main ballroom with soaring ceilings, original 1920s architecture, and opulent chandeliers. We draped velvet behind the live band and kept the florals simple, allowing the room to speak for itself.

Inspired by a Slim Aarons photograph I’d loved for years, we opted for an unconventional black-tie choice: a lavish buffet. Executive Chef Tim Prefonatine served slow-braised beef short rib, mac and cheese, queso and fajitas, pecan-crusted chicken with potato purée, and several elevated takes on Texas staples – we couldn’t limit the menu. The Fort Worth Club’s food is exceptional, and I’ve celebrated many milestones there, so it felt important for guests to experience it fully. The buffet kept everyone moving, mingling, and enjoying the evening at their own pace.

Entertainment

Joe and I sat at a long table with our friends, while our families shared another long table, surrounded by round tables throughout the room. The band – a local group known for their energy – was phenomenal. We were meticulous about the playlist to cultivate the right atmosphere. My toddler nieces changed into pajamas and were the first on the dance floor, inspiring everyone else to join them. Joe and I shared our first dance to “At Last” by Etta James amid it all.

Many of Joe’s friends surprised us by wearing tuxedos with bolo ties and custom cowboy hats, fully embracing the Texas spirit. At one point, one of his best friends, who works in music, borrowed the mic and performed for the room. The energy was interactive, joyful, and exactly what I had envisioned – filled with everyone we love.

Beauty regime & wellness

My ceremony makeup was natural and refined. I feel most like myself with a diffused, blush-forward look and an understated eye. My hair was pulled back into a classic bun with a touch of effortless texture. I wanted my hair and makeup to complement my features, and an understated approach always makes me feel my best. As I said before, this weekend was truly about feeling as much like myself as possible.

As far as wedding beauty prep, I didn’t really do much differently. In the year leading up to our wedding, we moved states twice, so staying on top of an extensive beauty procedure plan wasn’t realistic for me. Overall, I’m happy I didn’t spend too much time in prep mode– it ultimately made the wedding day feel more relaxed, in my opinion!

Favourite wedding gifts

Payton requested that her guests make a donation to Baby2Baby instead of receiving gifts.

Honeymoon

We spent a week in St. Barth’s – our first time on the island. Each day unfolded the same way: sleeping in, coffee by the ocean outside our beachfront villa, late lunches with some of the freshest fish I’ve ever had, afternoons in the water, and lively dinners each night.

It was especially meaningful because Joe and I rarely get uninterrupted time together. Baseball season spans eight months, and travel isn’t possible during that time. Past off-seasons were consumed by injury recovery and training, and in the five years we’ve known each other, we’d never taken a trip this long or peaceful. It was exactly what we needed – a calm conclusion to a year of planning and preparation, and the perfect way to begin our life together.

Advice

The best wedding planning advice I have is – do EXACTLY what YOU want to do. I opted out of so many things I “should” have done, from beauty prep, to the typical bridal shower, to having a traditional wedding party, and I don’t regret it for a second. In fact, I wish I would’ve opted out of more. The wedding industry is truly a wild place, and things get expensive very quickly, so don’t feel guilty for being a little selfish or unconventional (especially if you’re the one footing the bill). Otherwise, I’d say slow down on your wedding day as much as you can. Like everyone else always says, it goes by so fast.