Weddings In Arkansas
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
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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McKenzie + Matt
Little Rock // October 13, 2019
While Ouachita Baptist University is what brought McKenzie Gosser and Matt Savage together, the two began dating before they even stepped foot into class. They met through a group text of the university’s incoming freshmen and hit it off, even going to McKenzie’s senior prom together before officially beginning to date that summer.
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Laura Beth + Nate
Conway // July 25, 2020
After meeting through a mutual friend while attending a golf tournament in Stuttgart, Laura Beth Wortman and Nate Smith dated for nine months before he popped the question. On that special day, Nate told Laura Beth they were headed to the horse races in Hot Springs. While en route, his dad called and asked if they could stop by their farm to help him with a stalled truck. The story turned out to be a hoax, and Nate proposed on a beautiful bridge on the property on the spring day. “The proposal was magical,” Laura Beth recalls. Immediately following, the couple celebrated with a party at the bride-to-be’s parents’ home.
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