Story by Skye Lovelady Photos by Ashley Medrano Photography
Hailey Noble attended a casual dinner party with her Texas A&M University organization, Aggie Angels, thinking it was a night like any other. Little did she know it would end with an engagement to the love of her life, Clayton Halliburton.
Hailey and Clayton both worked at Central Baptist Church and often saw each other around the church. Hailey was an intern in the Family Activities Ministry and coached a boys’ basketball team through the Central Sports program. Clayton worked with the Facilities Crew, and would cross paths with her work, but he had never really spoken to her, Clayton says. He finally found the courage to introduce himself properly and ask her on a date. He asked Hailey to get coffee with him, thinking all girls liked coffee, but surprisingly Hailey didn’t. “I had to get really creative,” Clayton says. He resorted to plan B, which was Chick-fil-A, and planned a night picnic for Dec. 14, 2016.
About eight months after their first date, Hailey made evening plans to attend an Aggie Angels dinner party at Napa Flats Wood-Fired Kitchen. After dinner, she was blindfolded by the vice president of the organization and was told there was another surprise for all the girls. Unbeknownst to Hailey, she was the only girl blindfolded and was taken by car to a new location, Hailey says.
Once at the new location, her blindfold was removed and by this point she knew this had something to do with Clayton, Hailey says. A video slideshow prepared by Clayton played and then she was led out to the fountain in the front of the church where Clayton stood in a circle of lights.
“I’m terrible at surprises, but I had to make sure that at least the proposal was a surprise,” Clayton says. Hailey was indeed surprised and she enthusiastically said yes.
Hailey and Clayton decided since they were both Aggies, they would use maroon and navy for their wedding colors. Unlike many couples, they only visited one wedding venue and signed the contract during their visit, Hailey explains. They fell in love with Brownstone Reserve and chose the only day available, May 28 — Memorial Day. Hailey and Clayton both knew most people would be off work anyways due to the holiday.
Hailey and Clayton hired Wonderfully Wed as a day-of wedding planner to help alleviate stress.
“I was originally against the idea of a day-of coordinator, not for any particular reason, I just didn’t think it was necessary,” Clayton says. “After having done it, I wouldn’t change a thing now, because it was nice having our family just be able to attend our wedding and then go home after. That was my favorite thing. Everyone who was there, including our family, could just relax, have a good time, celebrate with us, and not have to be stressed where things go.”
While the couple still had the traditional bride and groom’s cakes, they also decided to include a donut bar. The day of the wedding, Clayton was nervous and to distract himself he arranged the donut bar entirely by himself, he says. Hailey tried to help the morning of as well but she was sent away to get ready.
“I was like a princess locked in a tower basically, kept away,” Hailey says. “It was nice. It was one of those things I’m never going to have the chance to do that again and it was cool that I got to do that.”
A bit untraditionally, Hailey and Clayton decided to use Clayton’s brother Corey, to marry them. Hailey explains they wanted to choose someone they both knew, and Corey was the perfect fit. “He’s not a minister or anything, he’s just an awesome guy,” Clayton says. “We asked if he would marry us, and he was ordained online and performed our wedding. He did a fantastic job too.”
The proposal may have begun as a journey to an unknown location, but it transitioned into a journey of a lifetime. Life is not about looking towards the destination, but focusing on the journey, and for both Hailey and Clayton, their journey has just begun.
Halliburton Vendors
- Venue Brownstone Reserve
- Appetizers Fruit Your Fancy
- Day-of Coordinator Wonderfully Wed
- Photographer Ashley Medrano Photography
- Florist Petal Patch Florist
- Cakes Cakes by Blondie
- Donuts Daylight Donuts
- DJ DJ Rio
- Wedding Dress Bridal Galleria of Texas
- Bridesmaid Dresses David’s Bridal
- Groom’s Tuxedo and Groomsmen’s Attire Men’s Wearhouse
