‘Bachelor’ Couple Katie Biggar, Zac Shallcross Throw Wedding Congratulations (Exclusive)

Five months after getting married in an intimate ceremony, Katie Biggar and Zach Shallcross hosted their Bachelor Nation family at their home for a big party.

The couple, who met and got engaged on season 27 of The Bachelor in 2023, tied the knot on May 23 at Chapel Dulcinea in Austin, Texas, with only seven family members as witnesses. And on Nov. 15, they invited about 100 loved ones to a day of celebration in Austin.

The celebration began with a welcome party at the Urban Pickleball Club from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Celebrations at Tiger Lily, a private event space and cocktail lounge, began at 7 p.m. and continued into the evening.

When planning the party, the couple envisioned a “giant party” with all of their friends and family in one room, Bigger, 30, tells PEOPLE.

“We had a very intimate wedding with just our immediate family, so it was a time to celebrate with all of our loved ones,” she says.

The guest list included many Bachelor and Bachelorette alumni, including Joey Graziadei and fiancé Kelsey Anderson, Charity Lawson and fiancé Dotun Orbeko, Gabriella Elnicki, Kyla Quinn Brelo, Nate Mitchell, Susie Evans, Jenna Parekh, and Connor Saeli. Also in attendance were Bachelor in Paradise stars Kathy Swartz, Kylie Russell, and Aven Jones, as well as actresses Christy Carlson Romano and Leven Rambin.

Bigger said she and Shallcross, 29, wanted a venue with floor-to-ceiling windows and a “fun, lively environment,” and they found it at Tiger Lily in the heart of downtown Austin.

Good food was also a top priority for this event. “I feel like when people leave a party, they always remember the food and whether the music was good or not. So those were the most important things,” Bigger said, noting that they worked with Word of Mouth Catering. “And of course we had to have an open bar!”

For the occasion, Bigger wore a Genc dress by Pronovias. This is a short strapless lace style with glittering embroidered tulle and beading. She and Shallcross had their first dance to Noah Reid’s “Simply the Best.”

Looking back on that night, Bigger told PEOPLE, “It was a dream come true.” But the best thing about it all, she says, is having Shallcross by her side as her husband.

“We’re both so excited to move forward in life as best friends, tackling all of life’s challenges and overcoming hardships,” she says. “And we can’t wait to have kids in the near future! We’re thinking of starting to grow our family in the fall of 2026.”

In the meantime, they are looking forward to enjoying their honeymoon in Italy.

Bigger previously opened up about her and Shallcross’ decision to marry in a small, simple ceremony. During an appearance on the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast on March 19, she explained that after learning how much their wedding would cost (it was said to be between $70,000 and $80,000), the couple decided to go simple instead.

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“And we’re going to have a big party later,” Bigger recalled suggesting to Shallcross. “And when I said that, he honestly lit up, because it wasn’t his idea. He was like, ‘If you want a big wedding, we’ll do it. If you want a small wedding, do whatever you want.'” And I said, ‘This is what I want,’ and he was like, ‘Right.’ ”