Exclusive: MLB Pitcher Taylor Hearn Reveals His Full Wedding Album
Taylor Hearn has a lot to celebrate this holiday season—because he's officially married! The MLB pitcher, who currently plays for the Kansas City Royals, married his longtime love Andrea Hawkins in Texas on December 16, 2023. The couple's "modern luxury" nuptials took place at the Thomspon Hotel in downtown Dallas in front of 265 loved ones. The lavish affair was a highly personalized event, complete with a light-up display of Hearn's sneaker collection (which served as the seating chart!), interactive entertainment, and a milkshake bar—a "must" for the groom. Here, we share Andrea Hawkins and Taylor Hearn's wedding photo album, giving you a peek inside their nontraditional nuptials.
In this article:
- Taylor Hearn's Wedding Photos & Details
- Taylor Hearn & Wife Andrea Hawkins' Love Story
- Taylor Hearn's Wedding Vendors
Taylor Hearn's Wedding Photos & Details
Following their engagement in October 2022, Taylor Hearn and Andrea Hawkins already had a clear vision in mind for their big day. "We didn't want the traditional wedding that we always see," Hawkins tells The Knot. "We wanted something that would be an experience for our friends and family."
Knowing they wanted to push the boundaries with their wedding concept, the couple was intentional about finding the perfect pro to help execute their wildest dreams. "We interviewed multiple wedding planners, and ultimately hired Leslie Ochs with Alice and Apricot Weddings," Hawkins explains, noting that the three "clicked" from the start. "Her designs were out-of-the-box creative and exactly what we were looking for. Alice and Apricot specializes in unique, one-of-a-kind designs that have never been seen before, so it was a no-brainer to let her take the reins when picking all the design elements for our wedding."
With Ochs on their vendor team, the couple let her take the lead—though they were adamant about a few design elements from the start. "Everything about our wedding was meant to portray modern luxury," Hawkins adds. "We wanted something moody, but still bright."
When it came time to source their venue, the Thompson Hotel stood out from the rest. "Dallas is home for us, so we wouldn't have wanted to tie the knot anywhere else," the bride muses. "We looked at multiple venues, but the Thompson won us over with its convenient location and the modern design of the hotel. The beautiful ballroom was a blank canvas for Leslie to design something special for us."
That "something special" was a delight for the senses. Leaning into hues of black, navy and berry tones, Ochs transformed the ceremony space to feature a statement black and white checkered aisle. It led to a custom backdrop framing the altar, which was wallpapered in navy and black geometric print.
The couple's wedding attire perfectly complemented the sleek, architectural look of the ceremony. Hawkins opted for a Rita Vinieris gown that had "modern vibes with a fun flare."
Taylor Hearn's wedding ensemble was full of personal touches. He opted for a custom tuxedo by Don Sanders of Etiquette Don Custom Apparel. Matching the wedding decor, his white jacket featured a navy lapel and black velvet trim (along with a stitching of the wedding date under the collar).
After getting ready with their bridesmaids and groomsmen—who were outfitted in Morilee and The Black Tux, respectively—the couple shared a first look on the rooftop of the hotel. Leaning into one of The Knot's top wedding trends of 2024, the couple used this moment to exchange private vows ahead of the ceremony. "We wanted to have a moment to ourselves to share our personal vows before we said traditional vows in front of everyone," Hawkins reflects.
In front of nearly 300 loved ones, Hearn enjoyed his own walk down the aisle set to "Fire and Desire" by Rick James. Following him, Hawkins proceeded down the aisle on the arm of her godfather, Mike. The couple also arranged a surprise appearance from The Voice contestant Dana Harper, who provided music during the ceremony.
Ahead of the big day, Hearn and Hawkins told us that the moment they were most looking forward to was the first kiss at the ceremony—and it certainly didn't disappoint.
To transition their guests into cocktail hour, the newlyweds flew in Kyle Turner, a saxophone player from Houston, to provide live jazz music. No detail was overlooked, as proven by the branded ice cubes featuring the couple's monogram that decorated the signature cocktails: an Old Fashioned tea and a spicy strawberry margarita.
The couple's loved ones were treated to an extravagant surprise and delight moment as they entered the reception. Leaning into his love of sneakers, Hearn displayed his collection of shoes in light-up acrylic boxes—but a closer look revealed that this was *actually* the seating chart. Each guest's name was printed on individual shoe laces, which were woven together to create a geometric pattern across the wall. "It was the first thing guests saw when coming off the elevator," the couple recalls. "It was a grand entrance that no one will ever forget."
It was fitting, then, that the self-proclaimed "sneakerhead" changed out his velvet Steve Madden loafers and into a pair of Jordans for the reception. The bride also had an outfit change, working with Meghan Forrest Fanner of Ten Sixteen Style to change into her second look: a fun and flirty beaded cocktail dress by Majorelle.
The ceremony aesthetic offered just a glimpse of what was to come at the reception. Ochs covered the entire floor of the reception space—1360 square feet, to be exact—with a checkered dance floor. Lush velvet seating arrangements framed the edges of the venue which helped create a "speakeasy vibe." The couple's florist, Petals Couture, used blooms like peonies, roses, freesia, tulips, ranunculus, anemone, and delphinium to fill the space with texture, depth, and a bold, colorful flair.
The couple kicked off the party with their first dance, set to the tune of "Here and Now" by Luther Vandross. "I wanted something old and classic," Hawkins says of the song choice. "The lyrics spoke to what we want in lifetime partners."
Dinner was a selection of beef short rib and dijon-crusted chicken, which the couple knew would be "crowd pleasers" for their guests.
But perhaps the biggest crowd-pleaser—particularly for the groom—was the custom milkshake bar provided by Tongue in Cheek Ice Cream. The vintage 1950s-inspired setup was 16 feet wide, complete with personalized barstools and a neon sign that said "My Milkshake Brings All the Boys to the Yard." According to Hearn, it was one of his favorite parts of the entire day.
In addition to ice cream, guests also enjoyed a wedding cake that was expertly designed to match the wedding aesthetic. "I wanted to incorporate depth, pattern, and smooth lines without it looking too busy," says the couple's wedding planner, Leslie Ochs. Working with Julie Herrington from Refined Sugar, the duo dreamed up a four-tier confection with 3D geometric shapes and sleek modern lines. "It turned out better than her sketches and was fun for us to see come to life," Ochs adds.
Food and dessert aside, the couple's main priority was to create a truly unforgettable celebration. "Once we got to reception we had only one goal in mind. We wanted to turn that room into an epic dance party, one like you've never seen before," Hawkins reflects. "We chose a DJ to finish out our night creating an electric club vibe that drew everyone to the dance floor."
The party went late into the night—but as the event came to a close, guests lined up by the ballroom doors and tossed rose petals as the newlyweds made their way to the honeymoon suite. "It was the best night of our lives," they conclude.
Taylor Hearn & Wife Andrea Hawkins' Love Story
It's quite fitting that baseball brought Taylor Hearn and his wife Andrea Hawkins together. "According to Taylor, he has had his eyes on me since 2013," Hawkins tells us. "We had seen each other in passing since my cousin also played professional baseball."
But it wasn't until 2020 that the pitcher made a move—over Instagram, that is. "On Christmas Eve in 2020, Taylor responded to a picture I posted making small talk," she recalls. "I responded, but didn't think much of it at the time." The following year, Hawkins was attending an Astros game with her best friend. When they posted a picture from the game, Hearn left a teasing comment about their team affiliation. (At the time, he played for the Rangers, a known rival of the Astros.) "The heckling turned to small talk, which turned into Taylor asking me to dinner a week later. We had our first date at Roadhouse, and the rest is history!"
Two years later, on October 15, 2022, Hawkins' mother and best friend conveniently came to town at the same time. The group ended up enjoying a day at an escape room—and by the time they got to the final clue, Hearn had an unexpected surprise in store. "An employee came over the loudspeaker and said to open the box to find our last clue," she recalls. "When we did, I noticed a message read, 'I can't wait to spend forever with you. Will you marry me?'I turned around and Taylor was on one knee. After a minute of screaming, I finally said yes."
It was far from the only surprise that day. Hearn revealed he had an engagement party scheduled, but that they had to stop to drop off a housewarming gift for someone on the way there. Too wrapped up in making phone calls to share the happy news, Hawkins didn't think much of it…until they pulled up to a house where Hearn's best friend was sitting on the front step.
As they walked up, he gave them a key and encouraged them to try it out. "When we walked inside, there were candles and rose petals everywhere," Hawkins says. "I walked down the hallway and saw my closest friends and family waiting for me." In between tears, Hearn's mother emerged and said, "Why don't you give her one more thing to cry about?"
She continues, "Taylor casually said, 'Oh yeah, by the way, this is our house.'" Thinking back on the emotional day, Hawkins says, "I couldn't stop crying. I could not believe that not only did I get engaged, but I also walked into my brand new house that we would one day start our family in."
Now as they settle into newlywed life, the two couldn't be prouder to be husband and wife. "I have a live-in best friend for the rest of my life," Hawkins reflects. "I have someone I can always count on, and someone who will always feel like home."
Taylor Hearn's Wedding Vendors
Wedding Venue: Thompson Hotel; Photographer: Megan Kay Photography; Videographer: Austin Chick Collective; Wedding Planner: Alice & Apricot Weddings; Florist: Petals Couture; Officiant: Bishop David Martin; Wedding Dress: Rita Vinieris; Reception Dress: Majorelle; Bridal Salon: Circle Park Bridal; Bridal Stylist: Ten Sixteen Style; Bridal Accessories: SuReina Bridal, Dareth Colburn, Badgley Mischka, Groom's Suit: Etiquette Don Apparel; Shoes: Steve Madden; Engagement and Wedding Rings: Zadok Jewelers; Hair and Makeup: S Glam Pro; Bridesmaid Dresses: Morilee; Groomsmen Suits: The Black Tux; Invitations: Minted; Place Cards and Menus: Lane Love Paper Goods; Seating Chart: Vim and Venture; Menus: Daly Goods; Rental Equipment: Absolute Lighting, Center Stage Floors, Quest Events, Render Collective, Perch Decor, Party! Dallas, Bella Acento, Hoop Event Rentals, Shag Carpet Prop Rentals, BBJ La Tavola Linens, Nuage Designs, Posh Couture Rentals; Catering: Thompson Hotel; Wedding Cake: Refined Sugar; Desserts: Tongue in Cheek Ice Cream, The Kooke Bar; Entertainment: Dab the DJ, DJ Solo, Kyle Turner, Cean Robinson Music, Dana Harper, Jemarcus Bridges, Drew Collins; Content Creator: JD Rodgers; Favors: Whataburger