This Diamondbacks Pitcher Married His High School Sweetheart in an Iconic Black Tie Wedding

Ryne and Katie’s formal Arizona wedding was in a league all its own. The Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher and his high school sweetheart wanted their big day to feel elevated, elegant, and effortlessly stylish…and their design team hit it out of the park.

The venue? A historic church in Phoenix, Arizona. The dress code? Black tie elegance with designer details. The aesthetic? Vintage romance meets modern glamour, sprinkled with a few of our favorite wedding trends.

The entire celebration felt like a formal fairytale brought to life, and we can’t wait to show you all the dreamy photos captured by Shots by Shelbi! 🤍

A Vintage Meets Modern Wedding Day

The vibe for Ryne and Katie’s wedding day was simple and stylish, with a mix of modern details and vintage style. To set the mood, Made by Madi Design Co created these elegant black + white invitations. So timeless!

For his iconic groom style, Ryne rocked a custom tux from Suitsupply. “I loved that he kept it classic,” says Katie. “He added little details like his name and our wedding details to it.”

Katie also kept it classic, but with a romantic, vintage-inspired twist. “My dress was from Schaffer’s Bridal in Scottsdale,” she told us. “I knew as soon as I put it on that it was the one. I was obsessed with the sleeves and the underlayer of lace.”

A moment of appreciation for Katie’s designer wedding shoes! “We both had Prada shoes and all of our jewelry was from Happy Jewelers,” she said. (P.S. We found those exact Prada heels here!)

Before the ceremony, Katie and Ryne shared a private first look under the medallion of their church venue.

How chic are Katie’s wedding nails?! Proof that you can never go wrong with a simple and timeless French manicure.

Keeping with the timeless aesthetic, Katie opted for elegant black bridesmaid dresses for her bridal party. We’re especially loving the contrast of the dark gowns with the ivory bouquets from Snapdragon Bloom Bar — what can we say, we’re suckers for a classic black and white color palette!

Ryne’s groomsmen followed suit with their dapper tuxedos. They’re giving black tie vibes in the coolest way possible.

A Cinematic Historic Church Ceremony

No dreamy wedding ceremony is complete without an equally dreamy wedding welcome sign! This one welcomes guests in style with a simple and elevated draped design.

Now THIS is what we call an iconic wedding venue! Ryne and Katie tied the knot at the Monroe Street Abbey, a historic church left vacant after a devastating fire in 1984, now in the midst of a stunning renovation.

“We really wanted a venue that felt unique and different,” said Katie. “As soon as we walked into the abbey, we knew it was where we wanted to get married. Somehow you felt like you were in Europe and you were really just in downtown Phoenix.”

Ryne and Katie were one of the first couples to hold their wedding in the cinematic space since its reopening, and the venue’s dramatic architecture and historic charm were on full display.

To give the historic venue a modern upgrade, the couple traded a classic aisle design for this modern circular setup. So stylish and intimate! They also included a special chair dedicated to Ryne’s sister, who died of cancer when she was around 7 years old. Such a meaningful way to honor your loved ones during your wedding day.

A cathedral length wedding veil for a cathedral style wedding venue. Obsessed!

Have we mentioned how much we love Katie’s bridal beauty? From those loose waves to the natural wedding makeup, it’s an effortlessly glamorous look.

A Glamorous Old-World Reception

For their reception design, Ryne and Katie used their historic venue as inspiration with old-world details and enchanting decor…including these unique seating chart ideas!

Vintage-inspired frames + gorgeous calligraphy — an easy DIY look that makes an amazing first impression.

Simple and stylish were the two words the designers at Matchbox Event Co kept repeating to themselves as they created this ethereal reception space. The couple didn’t want anything over-the-top for their design, and the final look was a luxurious twist on a minimalist aesthetic.

From the dreamy drapery (one of our fave wedding trends for 2025) to the candlelit tablescapes, it’s proof that simple definitely doesn’t mean boring!

Some of our favorite details from the design? The stone block table numbers that matched the historic venue, and the modern ikebana arrangements that added a pop of green to the tables.

Get more inspiration for your reception decor with these unique wedding centerpiece ideas!

Lucky Devils Band was the soundtrack for the evening, and Katie and Ryne had their first dance under a canopy of glittering chandeliers and elegant linens.

The couple also incorporated our favorite wedding dessert trend (vintage wedding cakes!) with this two-tier white Lambeth style confectionery. It’s almost too beautiful to eat!

A Stylish Speakeasy After Party

After the reception, Ryne and Katie transported their guests to the Roaring ’20s with a stylish after-party at Tell Your Friends, an iconic speakeasy in Phoenix.

Nothing says “let’s get this party started” like a mini after-party dress…and some bright red party-ready heels!

We’re also loving that custom marquee sign! For Katie and Ryne, it was these small personal touches that made their day so meaningful.

“We worked with Natalia, our wedding planner, to help make our wedding ‘us,'” says Katie. “We had a lot of non-drinkers and wanted everyone to feel included, so we decided to have optional specialty mocktails that were a huge hit! My husband also plays baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks, so we made our guest book a jersey and had everyone sign it. It’s so special to us and we can’t wait to display it in our new home.”

The couple also hired content creator Socially Mee to capture all the iconic behind-the-scenes action. Consider this your sign to hire a content creator for your wedding day!

And that’s a wrap! Congratulations Ryne and Katie on your beautiful wedding day. From the opulent venue to the dreamy decor, it was a total home run! Best wishes from all of us here at GWS. 🤍

Looking for more inspiration for your big day? Check out our favorite unique wedding venues in the US for more gorgeous ideas!