Weddings In Arkansas
Lauren + Andy
Cave Springs // 5.14.21
Springdale native Lauren Collins and her future husband, Andy Brown, who is from nearby Joplin, Missouri, were an office romance before their marriage. The pair dated for three years before he popped the question in Seattle, where they live currently. In a grand fashion, Andy drove Lauren to a downtown building where they, along with their two Bernese mountain dogs, boarded a helicopter for Mount Rainier. Here, Andy proposed over a picturesque picnic. …
Mallory + Gray
Little Rock // 5.8.21
Mallory O’Quinn and Gray Millsap ran in the same circles throughout their time at Little Rock’s Central High; however, it wasn’t until years later that the two fell for one another. During the holiday season, they were both in town visiting family and hit it off on a bowling night with friends. A year and a half later, Gray proposed to Mallory on their back porch over margaritas….
Brooke + Jake
Roland // 5.15.21
Sometimes the thing—or person—you’ve been looking for has been there all along. This was the case for Brooke Borgognoni and Jake Lassiter. The pair have known each other their entire lives, with a formal introduction coming in elementary school; however, they never dated until after college graduation. Two years later, Jake proposed while the couple celebrated their anniversary at Cache Restaurant in Little Rock. …
Bailey + Chevy
Siloam Springs // 10.2.21
Texarkana natives Bailey Graves and Chevy Brock met through mutual friends one summer, and soon thereafter began an 8-year courtship. When the time came for a proposal, Bailey admits she was more than ready. “I had been wanting him to propose for a while and was always somewhat expecting it whenever we did anything,” she says. Chevy decided a trip to Chicago to celebrate Bailey’s birthday would be the perfect time to pop the question. “About an hour before he proposed, he basically told me that if I continued to ask, he wouldn’t propose because I would ruin the surprise. And then, on a walk around the city, he got down on one knee and all I could say was, Are you serious?” …
LaQuasha + Raymond
Conway // 11.6.21
Raymond Ross and LaQuasha Rosson’s love story has been almost a decade in the making. The two met and began dating in 2012 when they saw each other at a fraternity/sorority function at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Fast forward to 2015, and Raymond gave LaQuasha the surprise of her life when he proposed at his own birthday party. Raymond’s sister announced she had made a video to share at the party; it started with pictures of him, then faded to LaQuasha’s parents saying, “Yes, you can marry our daughter.” When the scene ended, Raymond was on one knee. “I am hard to surprise, because I am so nosy—but this was definitely a surprise!” the bride recalls. …
Lexie + Blake
Hot Springs // 12.11.21
Lexie Huddleston and Blake Sanders met at a high school football game and soon became close friends before they made their relationship official their freshman year at the University of Arkansas. The pair dated for seven years before Blake popped the question on campus in front of Old Main. “Both of our families were there, and it was very special. The U of A is where our relationship started and we made so many amazing memories during our four years there,” Lexie says….
Emily + Matt
Conway // 6.19.21
While they both hail from Mississippi, Emily Guntharp and her groom, Matt Hendrickson, have shared their love around the globe. After meeting at Millsaps College in 2017, Matt proposed two years later on a trip to Venice, Italy. “We were there on vacation with my family and had just been on a gondola ride,” Emily recalls. “When little girls dream of a fairytale proposal, they dream of something like ours. It was an absolutely beautiful place to propose.”…
Megan + Hayden
Bentonville // 9.26.20
Fort Smith native Megan Cowne met her now-husband, Hayden Cherry, who is from Midland, Texas, while the two were students at Texas Christian University. After graduation, they moved to Dallas and purchased a home there, which later became the site of their engagement.
“Hayden wanted to make sure the proposal was special. With the help of friends, he pulled off a complete surprise,” Megan says. Hayden told Megan he was headed out of town for the weekend, and Megan planned to grab dinner with friends. On the way to dinner, one of her friends asked if they could run by Megan’s house to get something she’d left there. While the girls were inside, Hayden rang the doorbell and got down on one knee. A photographer captured the entire scene, and the two then celebrated with loved ones at their favorite rooftop restaurant. “It was worth the w8—pun intended!” Megan says of the surprise after eight years dating.
After deciding on Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art as their venue, the couple opted for a fall wedding where they could take advantage of the beautiful grounds. “We love Crystal Bridges and thought it would be the perfect setting for a sophisticated yet classic affair,” Megan says. “We wanted our guests to be able to enjoy this great corner of the Natural State.”
The pair also wanted a “rocking band, open bar, and good food” to celebrate the occasion. Guests at the seated dinner enjoyed a delightful trio of appetizers followed by a meal of beef tenderloin and, finally, their choice of flavors from the five-tier cake which included vanilla, chocolate, hummingbird, and butter almond with strawberry mousse layers. Now at home in Texas, the Cherrys are planning a delayed safari honeymoon to Kenya and Tanzania later this year.
All in the Details
Megan drew inspiration for the floral design from her love of chinoiserie, accenting white blooms with blue-and-white accessories. The bride’s bouquet was filled with cascading orchids, her favorite flowers. Hayden proposed with Megan’s late grandmother’s engagement ring, and for the ceremony she wore the pearl earrings he had given her on her college graduation.
Modern Meets Southern
In an effort to blend the museum’s contemporary architecture with Southern details, the couple chose the Frank Lloyd Wright Bachman-Wilson House lawn for their vows, then moved indoors for the reception. Timeless white and green floral arrangements were a natural choice, allowing the beauty of the setting to be the focus.
Our ceremony was my favorite memory of the day. It felt so special to make a covenant to each other in front of our loved ones. And after that, I loved dancing on stage with the band!” —Megan
Resources
Cake Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe Entertainment (ceremony) Smoothman Music Entertainment (reception) Diamond Empire Band Floral design Silks A Bloom Makeup Beauty By Ballou Paper goods Paper Supply Co. Photographer and videographer Erin Wilson Photography and Films Rentals Eventology and Moonlight and Rust Venue Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Wedding design and coordination Natasha Gates Events
Jena + Jay-Michael
Little Rock // 11.27.20
Seven is a lucky number for Jena Harrell and her groom Jay-Michael Arnold; that’s roughly how many years the couple knew each other before their first date. “I was living in Little Rock at the time and Jay-Michael was in Memphis,” Jena explains. As fate would have it, Jay-Michael’s job brought him to central Arkansas multiple times a week. During one of these trips, he learned Journey and The Doobie Brothers would be making a stop in North Little Rock, and he finally took the opportunity to ask Jena on a date to the show. “From that night forward, the rest was history,” Jena says.
The couple dated for four years before their Christmas Eve engagement, which took place in front of the Christmas tree with Jay-Michael’s family there to celebrate. From there, the planning began for what they call a “timeless and intentionally intimate” wedding.
Never stop dating one another as if you’ve just met.”
—Jena & Jay-Michael’s advice to engaged couples
The couple knew they wanted a winter wedding and initially considered the bronze Tiffany & Co. doors at the State Capitol as their backdrop. Upon realizing the setting would be decorated for Christmas on their desired date, they turned to wedding planner and designer Jessika McCuin, who suggested the steps of the Pulaski County Courthouse. “Jessika played a huge role in making our wedding come to life,” Jena says. “She was instrumental in my having little to no stress…which really allowed us to enjoy our engagement and focus on preparing for marriage.” The venue wasn’t the only change from initial plans; because of the pandemic, their idea for a large reception after their honeymoon was put on hold.
However, these changes did not put a damper on their day. With 10 guests in attendance, the couple exchanged vows in the beautiful outdoor setting and later celebrated at The Burgundy Hotel with cake, champagne toasts, and a magical sparkler exit. While the two enjoyed a mini-moon stateside following the wedding, they plan to escape to Rome later this year for their delayed honeymoon abroad.
Resources
Bride’s gown Unveiled Bridal Collection Cake PattiCakes Bakery Entertainment (ceremony violinist) Honey Cashion Floral design Tanarah Luxe Floral Hair Devin Pate, DVP Hair Makeup Haley Hanna, Lashout & Makeup Photographer BJ Matthews, B.Matthews Photo Rentals Eventology Venue (ceremony) Pulaski County Courthouse Venue (reception) The Burgundy Hotel Videographer Forestland Films Wedding design and coordination Jessika McCuin Weddings
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