Weddings In Arkansas
Ashley + Jacob
Little Rock // 9.18.21
Little Rock natives Ashley Owen and Jacob North met through mutual friends in high school. After dating for five years, Jacob proposed while on a family vacation to one of Ashley’s favorite places, St. George Island, Florida. “We were all supposed to be taking family pictures during the sunset. I turned around to see Jacob getting down on one knee,” she recalls….
Samantha + Cole
Conway // 8.22.20
You could say Samantha Buehler and Cole Thomas’s meeting came down to science: The pair first laid eyes on each other in a biology class at Arkansas State University in Beebe. From there, they dated for seven months before Thomas popped the question.
“We took a trip to the happiest place on earth, Disney World—or at least our happiest place on earth,” Samantha recalls. While there the couple posed for the traditional picture in front of the castle and then went on to ride the rides and see the sights. After a bit of time, Cole asked Samantha if they could go back to the castle to take a few more pictures. Here, he got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife. “I later learned that he had been too nervous to do it the first time,” Samantha says of the sweet moment.
During their engagement, which spanned more than 18 months, the couple hired wedding designer Jessika McCuin to bring the details of the big day to life. “Jessika was an angel and made everything such a breeze,” Samantha says. They envisioned a day that was bright and happy as well as intimate, romantic, and true to them. “Most of our dates consist of going out to breakfast or brunch, so having a super fun brunch-themed reception only made sense for us,” Samantha says. Of course, they also incorporated some of the more traditional elements, including a first dance (they chose Taylor Swift’s “Lover”) and a classic cake with their favorite flavors. The couple currently live in Austin, Arkansas, and are planning a tropical vacation as a delayed honeymoon and one-year anniversary trip.
Bright & Happy
“I knew I wanted a lot of color,” Samantha says in regard to the floral design. “Tanarah Luxe Floral made the magic happen for us!” Fresh flowers were woven into the draping across the front of Legacy Acres where the two exchanged vows, giving it the appearance of blooming vines scaling the building.
Glorious Gown
A dress by designer Hayley Paige was one of Samantha’s only must-haves for the wedding. “I saw so many of her gowns with so much sparkle, and I fell in love with them,” she says.
Brunch Best
Samantha and Cole treated their guests to a brunch like no other. “Cole is in love with hearty breakfast foods, while I tend to lean more towards the sweets,” Samantha says. “We decided a combination of both would be amazing.” The menu boasted everything from chicken and waffles to a cereal bar, served alongside mimosas.
Perfect Mix
The cake was a true blend of the couple’s tastes with Cole choosing a chocolate layer and Samantha opting for a strawberry one. This approach gave guests the option to pick their favorite as well.
Take the time to enjoy the process. Planning a wedding can be so exciting if you have the right help!”
—Samantha
Resources
Bridesmaids’ dresses Bella Bridesmaids Bride’s gown Inverness Bridal Cakes Patticakes Bakery Catering Vibrant Occasions Entertainment (reception) Boom Town Arkansas Floral design Tanarah Luxe Floral Hair Isabella Baker, Serenity Salon and Brittanie Wallace Makeup Haley Hanna, Lashout & Makeout Photographer Lauren Haley Photography Rentals Eventology Venue Legacy Acres Videographer Forestland Films Wedding design and coordination Jessika McCuin Weddings
New takes on traditional wedding gown shapes—for both the bride and the girls standing by her side
Anne Barge “Eiffel” strapless Mikado silk trumpet gown with detachable puff sleeves and Mignonne Gavigan winged earrings. Unveiled Bridal Collection, Little Rock, unveiledlittlerock.com…
Shelby + Grant
Little Rock // June 6, 2020
In 2020, even the best-laid plans were subject to change. However, Little Rock natives Shelby Snider and Grant Pickle didn’t let a pandemic postpone their plans to say “I do.” Instead, they considered what mattered most and adapted their big day to the circumstances at hand. Due to COVID-19, the wedding was put on hold until a couple of weeks before it was scheduled to take place. Thankfully, restrictions were lifted just in time, and they were able to pull together an intimate backyard ceremony and reception on the original date they had set.
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Caroline Ply Events sets the scene for an intimate gathering inspired by the Edgemont House’s Mediterranean charm
Growing up in a large family—she’s the second youngest of eight—Caroline Ply experienced her fair share of weddings early in life. “I have six sisters, and my first wedding was one of my older sister’s when I was 12,” she says, noting how much she loved being a part of every little detail of the festivities. “As we’ve gotten older, I’ve loved watching each of them make the day their own.”
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Lakin + Ryan
Conway // May 25, 2019
The top of the Eiffel Tower was the setting for Ryan Lofgren’s dreamy proposal to Lakin Snow. The pair were visiting friends who were stationed overseas at the time, and Paris was definitely a highlight of the trip. “It was truly a fairytale proposal that will never be forgotten,” Lakin says. Ryan, who grew up in the military and currently serves in the United States Air Force, was in Little Rock for training when he met Lakin, who is originally from Mountain View, at a local bar. From there, the couple dated four years before he asked her to marry him….