Preston Harmon And Matthew McLaughlin Tie The Knot
By Lance Avery Morgan Photography by James & Jess Wedding Photography
In the City of Love, as Paris is known, Matthew McLaughlin, the son of Vicki and John McLaughlin of San Antonio, surprised Preston Harmon, the son of Shannon and Mark Harmon of Lubbock, with a heartfelt proposal during a stroll through the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg, amongst the hundred statues, monuments, and fountains that were scattered throughout the grounds.
“We chose the Argyle in honor of Matthew’s late father as our wedding venue,” said Preston Harmon. “After retiring from his career, he was President of the Argyle for a time. When we spend time there, we think of him and felt that having both the ceremony and the reception, there was a way for him to be included.” The ceremony was held on the lawn in front of the Club, and afterward, there was a cocktail hour there. The newly married couple had a cocktail on the upstairs porch overlooking their guests before joining them. “It was fun because most people didn’t see us. We were able to talk to one another and take everything in. Our guests then made their way to the tent for the reception,” shared Matthew McLaughlin.
From the beginning planning stages, Preston wanted the wedding to feel timeless. Their save-the-dates and invitations all followed the same overall theme. They used a chinoiserie pattern that MF Creative Designs developed, and the primary color theme was light blue, navy, and white. Julian Leaver Events in Dallas was their wedding planner, and Jackson Durham Events in Dallas created the florals and décor. After the gorgeous ceremony, there was a seated dinner for the 250 guests, who then enjoyed dancing to the band, Simply Irresistible from Atlanta, into the wee hours of the morning. The rehearsal dinner was the evening before at Club Giraud.
Preston’s older brother, Pierce Harmon, served as his Best Man, and his attendants were Kaylyn Adams, Jenny Bivins, Emily Callan, Audrey Cash, Hunter Haas, Maddie Weakley Haas, Luke Heytens, Jack Nelms, and Laura Rathmell. Matthew’s Best Man was his twin brother, Michael McLaughlin, and attending him were Tad Brittingham, Charlotte Cooper, Evan Golden, Bo Kamensky, Spencer Lewis, Shelby Maberry, Bryson Marshall, Philip Massari, and Bonnie McLaughlin. Harper and Jones and Studio Lakan custom-designed both of the groom’s tuxedo ensembles.
“Nobody can truly prepare you for the feelings that wash over you when looking around and witnessing nearly everyone who had individually supported both of us…and then joined together to support our relationship from its inception to this most cherished day,” shared the couple. “Having all those dear to us gathered in one place, celebrating our union, is a memory we will forever treasure. The air was filled with an almost touchable sense of joy that night.”
Preston graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, and Matthew graduated from Southern Methodist University. The couple, who reside in Dallas, had a brief honeymoon at Las Ventanas in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and are excitedly planning an extended honeymoon in the near future along the coast of Italy.
