It all started with an Instagram follow. Track and field Olympian Gabby Thomas and Kaviva non-alcoholic beverage brand founder Spencer McManes had mutual friends, but it wasn’t until Gabby followed Spencer back that he made his move. “He slid into my DMs almost instantaneously,” the sprinter and three-time Olympic gold medalist remembers. What began as a direct message soon led to a first date at a speakeasy in downtown Austin, where the two spent three hours talking about everything from pizza to Game of Thrones.

“Looking back, it’s wild to think our story started with a phone notification that could’ve just been a fleeting message,” Gabby says.

Spencer proposed nearly two and a half years later, in March 2025, on an Austin rooftop overlooking the city. “I had planned a staycation for us to celebrate the start of her season, as I had done the previous two years,” Spencer explains. “Gabby’s friends were a huge help getting the flowers and candles set up on the rooftop, and then they hid as I walked her up.”

The Ballgown Wedding Dress Is Back – And Bigger Than Ever

“I was so surprised,” Gabby remembers. “When I say I did not see it coming, I truly didn’t. Celebrating the start of my track season isn’t out of the ordinary, so it was the perfect cover. Looking back, though, I’ll admit there were clues leading up to it – like my friends’ RAV4s parked outside the Airbnb and someone leaving the front door open to set up the flowers… but I was none the wiser!” Following the proposal, the couple celebrated with an intimate dinner alongside close friends at J. Carver’s, Gabby’s favourite spot in Austin.

A year and a half later, on 30 October, the couple exchanged vows at Garza Blanca Resort & Spa in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. “It was important to us that the celebration felt like one big, ongoing party, where our friends and family stayed at the resort together,” Gabby says. “We actually booked the venue before either of us had ever set foot in Cabo – and it all worked out!”

The couple approached wedding planning with an equally easygoing attitude. “I really wanted the process to be a fun, shared experience between the two of us,” Gabby says. “Every decision felt natural and organic. Instead of worrying about what would look good to everyone else, I imagined myself on the day: What would Gabby really value and appreciate? Since we’re both pretty chill, we hired the wedding-planning team at About Love to help so we could focus on the personal touches that meant something to us.”

“We focused on what made sense for us and what would keep us happy – and relaxed – on the day,” Spencer adds. “We made sure to weave in the things that matter most, from the cities we’ve explored together and our dogs to our family, friends, and, of course, pizza.”

For the festivities, Gabby wore three custom looks by Galia Lahav – one each for the ceremony, reception and after-party. “I went dress shopping over a year ago in Austin to get a feel for my personal style,” she says. “I was expecting to fall in love with a simple silhouette, but once I put on my Galia Lahav lace basque-waist gown, I knew it was the one. I felt like a princess. It was romantic, elegant, and dramatic. I added sleeves and a veil, which gave it a Victorian-esque vibe.” She accessorised with Maria Elena earrings and Jimmy Choo ballet flats.

Spencer opted for a white tuxedo jacket paired with black trousers. “I wanted to wear white for the occasion because I probably won’t get to wear a snazzy white dinner jacket again,” he says. While his groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos, Spencer introduced an unexpected heirloom element: “I wanted to help my groomsmen stand out from the sea of suits, so I surprised them with bolo ties to wear in place of black bow ties,” he explains. “My great-grandfather passed down his bolo tie to me, and it has become a staple in my wardrobe for weddings and black-tie events. I thought what better way to honour my groomsmen than to give them each a bolo tie for our wedding.”

The bridesmaids wore dresses by Austin-based brand Revelry – a nod to the Texas city the couple calls home. “I spent time with their founder, Michelle, to find a colour that felt right,” Gabby says. “We landed on honey beige, which was stunning. The women chose their own silhouettes; it was important to me that while they matched in colour, they showed up authentically as themselves. I didn’t want rigid rules around how they wore their hair, their jewellery, or even their shoes.”

The ceremony unfolded directly on the sand with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop. “It had been raining all day,” Gabby recalls. “But right as our ceremony began, the rain cleared, and a vibrant rainbow appeared behind us just as I reached the altar.”

Guests took their seats along the draped aisle under soft, overcast skies that lent an ethereal quality to the setting. “Walking down the aisle escorted by both my mother and father, there were so many emotions,” Gabby says. “The best way to describe it is grateful, excited and completely anchored in the moment. Having my grandfather officiate made it that much more personal. I spent most of the service gazing into Spencer’s eyes, but I remember pausing to look out at everyone who had travelled to celebrate with us – and just being overwhelmed with love.”

“Gabby completely stole the show,” Spencer says. “We locked eyes for the entire ceremony. It was unforgettable.”

After the vows, the newlyweds stole a quiet moment to take sunset portraits along the water. “It was misty and wet on the beach, but we embraced it,” Gabby says. “We even filmed a few TikToks with the wedding party before sending everyone off to cocktail hour.”

Before making their grand entrance into the reception, Gabby slipped into her second Galia Lahav look – a design she had initially tried on as a ceremony contender and couldn’t stop thinking about. “It was flashy, sultry and unexpected, which was exactly the vibe I wanted for dinner and dancing,” she explains. “I had a bustle added so I could execute our choreographed first dance effortlessly and hit the Dougie all night long.”

The dancefloor remained packed from the opening track to the final send-off. “Even though weather forced us to move inside at the last minute, our guests brought incredible energy,” the bride says. “It was a diverse crowd, and the playlist reflected that – a mix of hip-hop, throwback classics and a little country, but mostly heavy on hip-hop. Everywhere I looked, someone was smiling or dancing. There was truly nothing like it.”

Just before the late-night saxophonist took the stage, Gabby changed into her third and final ensemble: Galia Lahav’s playful, short Hazel dress, paired with custom New Balance sneakers. “It was flirty, fun and let me dance completely freely,” she says. “I felt like the life of the party.”

Reflecting on the weekend, Gabby adds: “I feel like the luckiest person in the world. Not just because rain is good luck, but because the people in that room made it the best day of our lives. There wasn’t a single second where we weren't smiling, dancing, or celebrating. We’re just so grateful.”