A Love Story On Capitol Hill

From a first kiss and eventual proposal in Washington D.C. to getting married in the Utah State Capitol, McKayla and Conley’s wedding day was nothing short of a timeless romance that will make your heart melt.

When McKayla was living in D.C. for an internship as a press secretary on Capitol Hill, all it took was a quick trip back to Utah and a friend convincing her to download a dating app for her to meet the love of her life.

“Back in D.C. I finally took a peek at the app and saw this cute boy had reached out to me. Too handsome to pass up, I replied, and we instantly hit it off! He asked me on a date for that weekend and I sadly had to tell him I actually lived in D.C… but that didn’t stop him!”

After a few weeks of talking, phone calls, and FaceTimes, Conley said, “That’s it! I have to meet you,” and away to Washington he flew.

“From the first time ever hearing his voice, I knew I had to meet him too. Both of us felt something so different. So, this sweet, small-town boy from Utah flew all the way to D.C. just long enough to take me on a date and fly back home.”

Ladies, if he wanted to, he would!

“We spent the night walking around the city and took our very first picture at the base of the reflecting pool. We walked and talked until we ended up under the Washington Monument and had the most picturesque first kiss! We’ve been inseparable (long distance and all) ever since.”

And that very spot is where they would eventually end up getting engaged! Talk about a movie moment.

Engaged in Washington D.C.

McKayla had been planning to move back to Utah to be with her sweetheart, but Conley had planned just one last trip to visit her before she would leave the place where they fell in love.

“We made our way to the Lincoln Memorial to kill some time before dinner. While walking down the Lincoln steps, I expressed how sad I was to be leaving D.C. before my parents could see me here. The next thing you know, I look down the stairs to see the most beautiful setup of my favorite flowers, white roses, in front of the reflecting pool, exactly where we’d taken our very first picture together.”

But that wasn’t all! Conley had planned the perfect “coincidental photographer” moment for McKayla.

“Amazingly, a photographer happened to be standing there taking pictures of cute couples and asked if she could take ours. I was so giddy as he took my hand and led me inside the flowers… I knew what was coming. He had the biggest smile as he looked at me and said, ‘McKayla Montgomery… I am so in love with you. Will you marry me?’ Easiest yes of my life.”

“It truly felt like we were the only two people in all of D.C., so when I turned and saw both of our families there, I was beyond shocked. He knew how important it was for me to share the city and this moment with my family, so he made it happen. There are no words to describe just how special that place will always be to us, and how magical that day was.”

The Bride Becomes the Planner

And if that magical proposal doesn’t have you tearing up yet, just wait until you hear about how magical their Utah State Capitol wedding day was!

As someone who had always dreamed of being a wedding planner, McKayla was more than excited to jump into planning her own dream wedding day.

“I have always dreamed of being a wedding planner, so to plan my own, every detail, and see my vision come to life was such a treasured part of the process for me. It inspired me to know it doesn’t have to just be a dream, but can be a reality for me. So that is my next journey, and I look forward to pursuing that further!”

We can say with certainty that if these very details aren’t evidence that she’s got an eye for magic, we must be blind!

“I wanted everything to be centered around our intentions for the day, which were love and connection. I am such a sentimental person that I wanted every detail to be something personal to us, our story, and our love. It was also extremely important to me that I was able to be fully present on this day celebrating our love, so I did extra planning to make that happen, and boy am I glad I did! I remember every detail and feeling, and that’s something we will always cherish.”

Take it from this bride turned wedding planner, it’s worth those day-of coordinators to make everything run smoothly.

Saying Yes to the Dress

And planning wasn’t the only amazing part of the process for McKayla; spoiler alert, she was one of those brides who fell in love with the first dress she tried on. Let’s be real, when it looks that good, how could she not?

“The moment I walked out to show my mom, sister, and aunt, we all knew it was the one. I tried on the other nine, but none of them were the first. So, I put it back on, but this time I couldn’t pull myself together. I saw myself, and I was a bride. It was beautiful and so surreal. I will never forget how tender and precious that moment with my people was. I cannot recommend Frankie Jane enough for this special day!”

We’d like to extend our own thanks to Frankie Jane for this look alone!

Utah State Capitol Wedding I Dos

On the day of their I dos, they chose the Utah State Capitol building to commemorate the beginning of their love story taking place on Capitol Hill.

“It was magical standing with my husband in the rotunda, quite literally surrounded by those we hold most dear. We chose to seat everyone in a circle with us standing in the middle, which we absolutely loved. It helped the most important part of the day feel whole and full of connection.”

Couples, take this as your sign to incorporate circular ceremony seating into your big day for that special, surrounded-by-love vibe to your wedding!

Conley’s vows were McKayla’s favorite part of their Utah State Capitol wedding. “That’s what the whole day was all about, and in that moment, we could have been the only people in the world. I fell in love with him all over again listening.”

And we’re falling in love with all of it too just looking at these pictures!

But that’s not the end of it. From a special surprise traditional Tongan dance, complete with the full Tongan outfit, that McKayla performed for Conley to commemorate the time he lived there, to the first look with her bridesmaids, the special details McKayla planned into their big day have us raving over every moment.

Oh, and let’s not forget that incredible custom white suit the bride changed into. Forget a second dress, this girl’s got a second suit!

And the details just keep going; the couple even rode off on a motorcycle as a nod to Conely’s love for powersports! This is where the white suit really comes in handy.

Advice From the Bride

Through it all, McKayla’s biggest advice is to hire a coordinator. “They had my book, of all my plans, instructions, and contacts, so Conley and I and our families could be fully present while they handled the flow of the day and anything that came up.”

She also chose not to go with a bouquet toss, which she loved. “It’s ok to break tradition!”

Whether you’re breaking tradition or opting for the wedding detail you’ve been dreaming about since you were young, at the end of the day, it’s about the love you share with your new spouse. “This is about the two of you, your love story. Center it around that and tie in things that remind you of why you’re here in the first place. Be fully present and close to one another all day.”

We couldn’t agree more! From their stunningly romantic love story beginnings to the gorgeous moments captured in these photos, it’s clear that McKayla’s advice holds true.

Here’s your sign to lean into the details like McKayla and Conley did for their magical Utah State Capitol wedding day. It really is about the special moments you’ll have to celebrate together!