After going to high school together, dancing at Hurricane Harry’s, dating briefly in their early 20s, and then separating for almost a decade, Ashley and Matthew Menchaca married in September of 2019.
Their first dance was at Hurricane Harry’s: Matthew asked for Ashley’s hand, and while casually dancing and talking about their high school, they clicked. It wasn’t until about a decade after their brief relationship that Ashley sent a Facebook friend request to Matthew, wondering and thinking about what the past years were like for him.
“It was really serendipitous because I was thinking about her the night before,” says Matthew. “I hadn’t talked to her in a while, and I was wondering how she was doing. So the next morning I wake up to her friend request.”
The relationship dynamic that developed between them was unique. Matthew came into town from San Antonio to spend time with Ashley one Easter weekend. The determination to find the right socks for Matthew led them to the mall, where, in March of 2018, they were engaged.
“We end up at the jewelry store and they’re having a really good sale, like 10 years zero percent interest, and Matt was like, ‘Do you want a ring?’” says Ashley. “So we just went in there and bought an engagement ring. But the guy did make him
get down on one knee, we have a picture of that. Of him getting down on one knee inside the jewelry store.”
Ashley knew she wanted a fall wedding in their shared hometown of Bryan College Station. Her choice was 7F Lodge because of its elegant simplicity.
“Being in B/CS in the fall, you need to plan everything around football season,” says Ashley. “So the only date in the book at the time was our wedding date because that was the Arkansas game that was already way planned out.”
Ashley knew simple was the approach to take in planning her wedding. The couple used DIY methods for signs and other aspects of their wedding. Ashley’s dad built the centerpieces for the wedding, too.
Matthew and Ashley agree that the day of the wedding was chaotic. The couple almost forgot the polaroid camera for the guest book and Ashley’s wedding band was nearly too late. Her ring was a gift from her soon-to-be-husband’s aunt and uncle, who sent the band via FedEx.
“We got her wedding ring four hours before the wedding; nobody told us,” says Matthew. “The ring didn’t show up until about an hour before my aunt and uncle did.”
Ashley tried not to cry as she walked down the aisle with her father. For Matthew, the moment was surreal.
“I hear a lot of people say that they never saw their wife more beautiful, and I thought that w
as kind of cheesy until I saw her walking down the aisle,” says Matthew. “And I’m not a crier at all, but I was borderline bawling.”
The stand-out moment was Matthew’s dad officiating the wedding. He was able to reference his son’s prized Jeep Wrangler in the vows. He became ordained so he could marry them — and did so without crying.
“We were proud; that was the only thing we asked for, that he marry us, and the one stipulation was he couldn’t cry during the ceremony,” says Matthew.
Their advice for couples is to make a checklist. Relax and everything will fall into place, says Ashley. At the same time, expect everything to go wrong, says Matthew.
“Luckily all my groomsmen were already married so they kind of kept me calm, but they also helped so much,” says Matthew. “I don’t think that day would’ve gone nearly as well without them. ’Cause there were a lot of fires ... that happened that nobody told us about that they, my groomsmen, took care of like 90% of them.”
The wedding didn’t happen how Ashley expected it to, but it was everything she wanted, she says. The support of friends and family made a huge difference in the couple’s reaction to hardship and change throughout the process. What’s important is to have a good time, says Matthew.
“Just have fun with it,” says Matthew. “We stressed a lot; I actually got laid off for the first part of that year. That threw a huge wrench in our plans. Just having people around you to help, even just the moral support was so helpful because it got really stressful. At some point you have to say, it’ll be ok, things will work out.”
Menchaca Vendors: Photographer: All Heart Photography Coordinator: All Things Planned Venue: 7F Lodge Florist: Postoak Florist Caterer: DBQ Barbecue & Catering Dress: Coreena’s Bridal Suit: Men’s Wearhouse Groom’s Cake: H-E-B Wedding Cake: Cakes and More (Caldwell) Hair and Makeup: Naturally Flawless Linens: Party Time Rentals DJ: Cutting Edge Entertainment (San Antonio) Bartending: Laura’s Bartending Services
