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. has 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 began dating in high school after a smitten Witt asked Black’s best friend for her schedule so he could transfer into her physics class — says their winter wedding was “a long time coming.”

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

To bring their dream wedding vision to life, they worked with event planner Leslie Ochs of Alice and Apricot Weddings. “It made it super stress-free with us being busy during baseball season. She kept us on track so all we had to do was show up and enjoy,” Black says.

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

Aiming for a “timeless yet sleek and modern” aesthetic, they leaned into a color palette of black, white and fern green. “Bobby loves bold patterns so I incorporated a lot of fun pattern play into the overall design of the event,” Ochs tells PEOPLE. “There were so many fun details throughout the design that incorporated Bobby’s love for baseball and Maggie’s personality with the warm and classy atmosphere.”

While Witt and Black were keen to marry in a church, they ultimately decided to hold both their ceremony and reception at the Thompson to simplify the logistics, especially as they had a lot of out-of-town guests. As a compromise, they transformed a ballroom into a chapel with custom stained-glass windows by Vim + Venture, creating “the feel of a small, intimate church.”

Black’s stepbrother Ryon Phillips officiated the ceremony, during which the bride and groom recited traditional vows after having exchanged handwritten ones during a private first look. The processional featured several of the couple’s favorite worship songs.

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

She completed her bridal look with Christian Louboutin shoes and jewelry by Happy Jewelers.

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

Witt, who was drafted by the Royals in 2019 and made his MLB debut in 2022, looked dapper in a custom State & Liberty tuxedo with a tailored athletic fit. He accessorized with velvet Christian Louboutin loafers — to complement his black velvet jacket — along with a two-tone Rolex Daytona watch with a black dial. His groomsmen also sported custom State & Liberty tuxes.

Witt switched things up for the reception, donning a white dinner coat and white sneakers.

The newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a plated dinner with two entrée choices: Rosewood beef filet and Dijon herb-crusted chicken. The meal concluded with slices of the four-tier wedding cake, made by Refined Sugars Bakery, featuring almond, graham cracker and chocolate flavors.

But Witt and Black were not done treating their guests yet. After the ceremony ended, a team of more than 100 people secretly constructed a replica Whataburger restaurant in the venue, complete with booths and tables, a counter for ordering, a drinks and condiments station and real Whataburger employees to serve everyone.

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

Later into the night, guests were surprised with the unveiling of the pop-up restaurant — fittingly renamed Witt-a-burger in honor of the newlyweds — where they got to order all of Witt and Black’s favorite menu items.

Looking back 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 is looking forward to having “a lifelong partner through the good, the bad and everything in between.”

“For me, [marrying Black means] having my lifetime person and best friend to be with for the rest of my life,” adds Witt, before sharing what he admires most 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 it.”

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

The couple is now planning to travel to “somewhere tropical” for a honeymoon getaway. “We are so excited to unplug and spend quality time with each other on the beach,” Witt says.

“As for the future,” Black chimes in, “we look forward to expanding our family one day!”