Photography: Lela & Lyla Photography |
Lauren + Blake
Little Rock // 7.2.22
Sweethearts Lauren Alford and Blake Spilker met at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs and dated for seven years before Blake asked for Lauren’s hand in a surprise engagement. The story unfolds like this: Lauren’s friends invited her to have drinks at Agasi 7, a rooftop bar in downtown Little Rock. When they arrived, the venue was dark and vacant—until Lauren saw Blake outside waiting, along with a photographer to capture her look of surprise. “I looked at my friends and they just pushed me outside. I was in shock!” she recalls. The unforgettable evening set the stage for a summer wedding, and plans soon began to take shape.
The couple had almost a year to fine-tune the details and enlisted the help of JoBeth McElhanon of Lilias & Olive. “I was a typical girl growing up who always had a wedding Pinterest board, and it constantly changed as I grew into my personal style,” Lauren notes. “My own style and taste came out when JoBeth started helping us plan. She really encouraged me to be confident in my choices.”
The couple wanted to be married in the Catholic Church, and they selected St. Edward, a historic Gothic Revival church in downtown Little Rock. “It is so beautiful; it looks straight out of Italy,” Lauren says. After the ceremony, guests followed the couple to the nearby Clinton Presidential Center for an enchanting celebration. Candles and roses lined the main table while large floral centerpieces composed of roses, hydrangeas, and lilies filled the room. “We wanted it to feel magical and elegant,” Lauren says. Guests dined on a traditional Southern menu of chicken, pulled pork, mac ’n’ cheese, and green beans before enjoying a slice of strawberry wedding cake and chocolate groom’s cake. After one last private moment on the dance floor, the couple made their getaway in an antique car driven by the bride’s parents.
Moment to Remember
The first look is a favorite memory for both Lauren and Blake. “When I saw her, we both got very emotional,” Blake says. “It’s made the whole day really start to feel real!”
“Enjoy every moment—big, small, stressful, and happy. It’s all going to be perfect because you’re marrying the love of your life!” —Lauren’s advice for brides-to-be
The bride’s cake was styled with a modern flair in their favorite flavor, strawberry.
A Perfect Mix
Lauren notes that the traditional church venue paired with the more modern reception is a true reflection of her and Blake’s styles. Shades of light purple accented the invitations, table linens, and floral design.
Local Resources
Cake Custom Cakes by Michelle Mayer Catering 42 Bar and Table Entertainment (ceremony) Little Rock String Quartet Entertainment (reception) DJ Xavier Riley Floral design Tipton & Hurst Hair Jessica Crump and Mayra Godoy Makeup Adrianne Brooks, Whiplash Beauty Rentals Central Arkansas Entertainment, Eventology, Nüage Designs, Premier Event Group of Little Rock, and Roll’n Wrapz Rings Sissy’s Log Cabin Paper goods By Invitation Only Photography Lela & Lyla Photography Planning & design JoBeth McElhanon, Lilias & Olive Transportation Arkansas Destinations Venue (Ceremony) St. Edward Catholic Church Venue (reception) Clinton Presidential Center
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