Leah + Stephen
Floral // 10.3.20

Love was in the air one winter day when Stephen Longinotti walked into Leah Wallace’s workplace to find her decorating a Christmas tree. “We immediately hit it off in the short amount of time we spoke, and eventually exchanged numbers,” she says. 

Years later, the holiday season also played a part in their engagement. After attending a church service with Stephen’s family in downtown Little Rock, they decided to go see the iconic Christmas tree at the Capital Hotel. His parents asked to get a picture of the two of them in front of the tree. Stephen took the opportunity to tell Leah he loved her, then dropped to one knee to ask her to marry him. “It caught me so off guard,” she says. “I was thrilled.”

However, perhaps the biggest surprise came in finding the venue for their big day. Leah’s aunt and uncle approached her with the idea to build a minimalist-style, open-air chapel on their farm. “With a team of guys, they made my wildest wedding venue dream come true,” the bride says. 

Leah had lost her mom years before and wanted not only to honor her memory but also feel a closeness to her on this special occasion. A framed sign that read: “Reserved for Mother of the Bride: Cheryl Wallace” sat on the front row of the bride’s seating side. 

Music also played a big role in the couple’s day with non-traditional choices like “This Feeling” by Alabama Shakes and “I’m With You” by Vance Joy for wedding party entrance songs and “Somewhere Only We Know” by Simply Three for Leah’s walk down the aisle. “We absolutely live and breathe music, so having our unique taste intertwined in our ceremony allowed us to make the wedding truly our own,” she says. The two, who are now part owners in The Chapel at RidgeRunner Farm where they were married, are at home in Batesville and planning a delayed honeymoon to Greece. 

Leah’s vision of a colorful, bohemian-style soirée came to life with deep-hued florals, pampas grass, and greenery along with vintage-look rugs.

Rather than a traditional groom’s cake, Stephen opted for fried pies from Millie’s in Cave City. 

Resources
Bride’s gown Low’s Bridal Cake Love+Flour Catering The Anderson Sisters Catering (Sweets) Millie’s Entertainment (reception) PartyTime Productions Favors RidgeRunner Farm Floral design and rentals A Perfect Bloom Florist & Wedding Rentals Groom’s and groomsmen’s suits Men’s Wearhouse Hair Larkin Young, Hair by Larkin Makeup Yoseline Selena Roy Perez, Leenna’s Make-Up & Beauty Photographer and videographer Key Moments Photography Rings Jonathan’s Fine Jewelry Venue The Chapel at RidgeRunner Farm Wedding design and coordination Melissa Etheridge, Weddings By Melissa E