MLB Star Bobby Witt Jr. Marries High School Sweetheart Maggie Black in Dallas: ‘The Best Night of Our Lives’ (Exclusive)

MLB star Bobby Witt Jr. he made the ultimate catch!

The Kansas City Royals shortstop, 24, married personal trainer Maggie Black on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Thompson Hotel in Dallas. They welcomed 300 guests, including the entire Royals team as well as MLB all-stars Andrew Benintendi, Whit Merrifield, Cole Ragans and Rusty Greer.

The couple — who first met and started dating in high school after a smitten Witt asked Black’s best friend about her schedule so he could transfer to her physics class — say their winter wedding was “a long time coming.”

“We’ve been boyfriend and girlfriend for so long that it’s exciting for both of us to now call each other husband and wife,” explains Black. “We are very excited to finally get married.”

To bring their dream wedding vision to life, they collaborated with event planner Leslie Ochs of Alice and Apricot Weddings. “It was great without stress because we were busy during the baseball season. She kept us on track so we just had to show up and enjoy ourselves,” says Black.

Bobby Witt Jr. and Maggie Black.

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The couple’s primary goal was to provide an unforgettable experience for their guests. “We said [Ochs] that we wanted our wedding to be fun and something that our friends will never stop talking about,” notes the bride. “Our goal was to throw the party of the year.”

Wanting a “timeless, yet elegant and modern” aesthetic, they relied on a color palette of black, white and fern green. “Bobby loves bold patterns so I incorporated a lot of fun patterns into the overall design of the event,” Ochs tells PEOPLE. “There were so many fun touches throughout the design that combined Bobby’s love of baseball and Maggie’s personality with a warm and elegant vibe.”

Although Witt and Black wanted to get married in a church, they ultimately decided to hold both their ceremony and reception in Thompson to simplify logistics, especially since they had many out-of-town guests. As a compromise, they transformed the ballroom into a chapel with custom stained glass by Vim + Venture, creating “the feel of a small, intimate church.”

Bobby Witt Jr. and Maggie Black.

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Black’s half-brother Ryon Phillips officiated the ceremony, during which the bride and groom recited traditional vows after exchanging handwritten vows during a private first look. The procession featured several of the couple’s favorite worship songs.

Black walked down the aisle in an Elizabeth Lee wedding gown with a structured bodice and dramatic open back. “I knew I didn’t want glitter or lace, so I had a vision in my head before I walked into the bridal boutique. Together with the designer, I brought my vision to life in the perfect wedding dress,” says Black, adding, “I couldn’t wait for Bobby to see it.”

She completed her wedding look with Christian Louboutin shoes and jewelry from Happy Jewelers.

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Bobby Witt Jr. and Maggie Black.

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For the reception, Black changed into another Elizabeth Lee Bridal look, paired with Golden Goose sneakers. “I wanted something fun and flirty for my second look this evening,” she notes. “Keeping the structured bodice of my wedding dress, we added beading and pearls to add some flair.”

Witt, who was selected by the Royals in the 2019 draft and will make his MLB debut in 2022, looked dapper in a custom State & Liberty tuxedo with a tailored athletic fit. He added Christian Louboutin velvet loafers — to complement his black velvet jacket — along with a two-tone Rolex Daytona watch with a black dial. His best men also wore custom State & Liberty tuxedos.

Witt changed things up for the reception, wearing a white evening coat and white sneakers.

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The newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a dinner with two entrees: Rosewood beef tenderloin and Dijon herb-crusted chicken. The lunch concluded with slices of a four-tiered wedding cake, made by Refined Sugars Bakery, with almond, graham cracker and chocolate flavors.

But Witt and Black weren’t done honoring their guests yet. After the ceremony ended, a team of more than 100 people secretly built a replica Whataburger restaurant in the space, complete with booths and tables, an ordering counter, a beverage and condiment station, and real Whataburger employees to serve everything.

Bobby Witt Jr. and Maggie Black.

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The couple has a sentimental connection to the burger joint, having gone out to their local Whataburger after baseball and football games while dating in high school. Witt now has a partnership with the brand.

Later in the night, guests were surprised to discover a pop-up restaurant — aptly named Witt-a-burger in honor of the newlyweds — where they could order all of Witt and Black’s favorite menu items.

Reflecting on their wedding experience, Black says it was “the best night of their lives,” adding, “I wish we could do it again!”

Now that she and Witt have finally said “I do,” she’s looking forward to having “a lifelong partner through the good, the bad, and everything in between.”

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Bobby Witt Jr. and Maggie Black.

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“For me, [marrying Black means] to have a person for life and a best friend to be with for the rest of my life,” adds Witt before sharing what he most admires about his now wife. “I love who she is as a person, how kind she is to every person she talks to and how she lights up a room when she walks in.”

Black, who calls Witt her “best friend,” tells PEOPLE that she appreciates that the two can be who they are with each other. “I also love how goofy and fun he is with me at home, which is not a side everyone else gets to see from the spotlight,” she notes.

The couple now plans to travel “somewhere tropical” for their honeymoon. “We’re so excited to switch off and spend quality time with each other at the beach,” says Witt.

“As for the future,” quips Black, “we’re looking forward to expanding our family one day!”

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Source: HIS Education