Brook & Jeremy

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The week before Christmas, I headed back to one of my favorite out-of-state locations for Brook and Jeremy’s wedding, Kennett, MO.  I’ve had some fabulous clients from Kennett and it’s a fun place for a wedding.  Their service was at The Opera House and the reception at a nearby Church gymnasium.  While gyms are not the prettiest place for a reception, Brook and Jeremy’s decorators transformed that space into something really special.  They also proved you can have a wedding close to Christmas and it NOT be in the token red and green color theme.  Brook and Jeremy chose purple and silver and the results were so perfect.

 

 

The Wonderful Vendors

Dress: MAGGIE SOTTERO from Joy’s Bridal– Sikeston,MO
BM dresses: Alfred Sung from Dessy
Menswear: Calvin Klein also from Joy’s Bridal and formal
Hair and makeup: Brooke Hodges and Mandy Sutton of Ashley’s Salon, Kennett
Cake and Flowers: Lou Greer, Marked Tree, AR
Invites: Scherer Genius, Kennett
Programs: Mom, Inc.
Favors: Oriental Trading
Caterer: The Traveling Wisk, owner: Pat Mitchell
Coordinator/wedding planner: Tana Stewart (reception) Wedding: Becky Crawford
Photographer: Photography by KES Weddings

Shawna & Lee

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They say if it rains on your wedding day, it’s good luck.  If that’s the case, then Shawna & Lee will have a long and very happy life together.  For their big day at the end of November, it rained…and rained…and rained.  For Shawna, who had meticulously planned for months to make her OUTDOOR wedding a perfect event, the weather had other plans.

They chose An Enchanted Evening in Roland as their setting.  I was there the week before photographing Lisa and Zack’s big day.  But with the rain, everything had to be moved indoors.  Friends and family and the venue scrambled to get everything inside in time for the service. Shawna nearly cried when she saw how perfect everything was.  It was so perfect, you’d think she planned an indoor wedding from the start.

Rain or not, it was a perfect wedding and she looked stunning!!  Lee was pretty darn cute too!  Congrats to you both.

 

 

The Wonderful Vendors:
Dress: Allure Couture. Purchased at Conway Tux and Bridal
Mensware: Perry Ellis. Perry Ellis Outlet Store “Boston”
Hair: Utopia Salon in Bryant
Flowers: Tipton and Hurst
Cake: Blue Cake Co.
Music:  Mark David (acoustic guitar)
Invites: By Invitation Only
Favors; Homemade (Draw string bags with Hershey kisses)
Caterer: YaYa’s Euro Bistro
Lighted Orbs: Eventures
Rings: Kyle and Rochelle
Photography: Moi, at Photography by KES Weddings

Lisa & Zach

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Lisa and Zach had an absolutely lovely wedding on a late fall day in November.  Instead of using red, yellow and orange, the usual fall color palate, she chose to mix things up a bit with a deep fire orange and purple.  It was an excellent choice.

The service and reception was an An Enchanted Evening in Roland, Arkansas.  This was the first time I had photographed here and I really liked it.  With a near 180-degree view on Pinnacle Mountain, it was a very nice setting.

The hardest part of this wedding was waiting on the reception.  As Lisa and Zach said their vows, the caterer was grilling smoked sausages from the dining area below and the luscious scent was wafting upwards and it made everyone hungry.

A unique touch was Zach’s father gave them each a huge flower lei from his native home of Hawaii and it was an incredibly fragrant lei.  So so lovely too.

The best touch?  The music.  Lisa and Zach chose to do their own iPod playlist and any reception with CCR, Elvis and the Violent Femmes gets my vote for the most eclectic mix yet!!

 

 

Vendor Information:

Dress: Sottero and Midgley, Low’s Bridal and Formal in Brinkley
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Bridesmaids chose their own styles:  Bill Levkof;  Alfred Sung, The Bridal Cottage in NLR; Mori Lee, Low’s Bridal and Formal; Antonio Melani, Dillards.
Tuxes: Reaction by Kenneth Cole with Rio Chocolate Vest, Men’s Wearhouse in Little Rock
Hair and Makeup: Amber Westbrook (Bride’s Sister)
Bride’s Hair Accessory: Holly Sutton, Fancy Pants Hair Bows on Etsy
Flowers: Jo Stoltz and Sandra Curtis (Family Friends)
Ceremony and Reception Decor: Jo Stoltz
Catering: Jo Stoltz
Cakes: Debra Brown
Cake Topper: April Hiler, April Hiler Designs on Etsy
Favors: Homemade Caramels from Cat’s Candy in Rector, Arkansas
Music: Zach and Lisa’s Playlist
Invitations: Invitation Consulants
Programs: Designed by Bride
Guest Book: Emily Hendren, Lazy Lightning Art on Etsy
Photography:  Photography by KES Weddings
 

Kelly & Matt

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Oh how I love fall!  I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love fall weddings, especially outdoor weddings.  I don’t like the heat… not one single bit.  I got married myself in November for a reason.  But there are countless reasons to get married in the fall, aside from warm days and crisp nights.  Another obvious reason is the built-in color pallet.  But some brides choose to get married in the fall and steer clear of the hues of red, orange and yellow.

 

Not Kelly and Matt.  They used natures perfect colors and ran with it.  I shot their wedding on the last Saturday in October on the perfect day.  They chose the home of Matt’s parents and the venue for both the wedding and reception.  They live on a gazillion acres in Ferndale so there was no shortage of room.

 

With a service starting a sunset, and a smile on their faces that was endless, it truly was a perfect event.  See for yourself.

 

 

Vendor Information:

Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Low’s in Brinkley.
Belt: Proposal’s – Little Rock
Alterations: Connie at Natural Steps
Shoes: Vince Camuto, Dillards
Bridesmaids dresses:  Cynthia Rowley from Proposal’s in Little Rock
Menswear: Suits from Jos A Banks and ties from Greenhaw’s in Little Rock
Hair and makeup: Hair: Alicia Perry – Tower Barber Salon and Makeup: Angela Alexander
Flowers: Becky Clement – Inspired by Nature
Cake/cupcakes: Mary Moses
Music: Ceremony – Arkansas Symphony String Quartet. 
Reception – The Blue Silk Bank
Invites and other paper items: Molly’s Paperie
Doggie beverage napkins: Party Basics
Caterer: Catering an Affair to Remember
Coordinator/wedding planner: Mrs. Shelia Vaught
Hostess and family gifts: The Full Moon

 

Bridals with Kelly

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I shot Kelly and Matt’s engagement photos in late May at the location of their wedding.  WOW!  What a location!  I could not wait until October.  I knew it was going to be stunning.  But for the engagement session, it was such a sticky hot and miserable day, but we made it through.  You can see their engagement photos here.

 

So I was counting the days until it was time to shoot her bridals in the fall.  They were married at the end of October in what was a perfect wedding.  I’ll have their wedding posted in a few days, but here are her oh-so-lovely bridals.

 

 

Vendor Information:
Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Low’s in Brinkley.
Belt from Proposal’s – Little Rock
Shoes: Vince Camuto, Dillards
Hair: Alicia Perry – Tower Barber Salon
Makeup: Angela Alexander
Location: Whisperwood Ranch.  A private home.

Ashley & Adam Engagements

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I hate hate postponing photo sessions.  But on the rare occasion, the weather forces me to do so.  For our first scheduled session with Ashley and Adam, the weather geeks were forecasting 1-2 inches of rain and lots of wind.  So we canceled.  As you can imagine, we got no rain and it was a total wasted opportunity.

 

So we moved the session back a few weeks and oh my…the weather could not have been more perfect.  We shot at one of my all-time favorite locations, Scott, Arkansas.  I cannot tell you how much I love this place.  It was an overcast day which is perfect weather for photos and right as the sun was starting to set, the skies cleared for a perfect sky.  See for yourself.

 

Jessica & Curtis Engagments

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Jessica and Curtis contacted me a few months back seeking engagement photos and bridal photos.  They are getting married on a cruise in September 2012 so they were just needing the e-session and bridals.  I tried my best to convince them they needed to take me along for their photos but oh, well…it didn’t work.

 

Regardless, I loved meeting them and shoot their e-session in Roland.

 

Kathryne & Jeremy Engagements

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Kathryne met Jeremy when he and his Church traveled to her home state of Oregon for mission work.  For Jeremy, it was a long way from his home in Texas.  But from the time they met, a friendship blossomed.  And for three years, they spent hours on the phone and had an occasional visit.  But each knew they wanted to be more than *friends*.  So after a two-week visit, they decided to give this dating thing a try.  It worked.  On Sunday, March 4th they will be married in Roland, Arkansas.

 

 

Megan & Adam

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Megan and Adam were married on October 15, 2011 in Prescott. For me, this was the single most requested day of the year for weddings. I bet I turned away 10+ brides for this day. For months, I had NO CLUE as to why everyone wanted this date. Then the morning of the wedding it dawned on me…it was the off weekend for the Arkansas Razorbacks. DUH! Personally I can’t see planning a wedding around a football team, but if you’re avid Razorback fans, as Megan and Adam are, it makes total sense. I can kinda relate, being from New Orleans, people plan weddings around Mardi Gras.

Anyway, it was simply a lovely wedding. Megan hired Inspired Grace Weddings, led by Heather Pile and her assistant Farron Martin to transform the Prescott National Guard Armory from an unattractive concrete space to something so stunning. You be the judge.

I wish Megan and Adam all the best in their new marriage.

Vendor Information:
Dress: Allure Couture, Conway Tuxedo and Bridal – Conway, AR
Bridesmaids Dresses: Ann Taylor
Mensware: Tuxedo Junction, Little Rock
Hair and makeup: Heather Ratcliff, Style by Heather – Prescott, AR
Flowers: Prescott Flowers and Gifts – Prescott, AR
Cake: Ambrosia Bakery – Hot Springs, AR
Reception DJ: Central Arkansas Entertainment
Invites/program and other paper items: Printed by Something Blue – Conway, AR. Save the Date, Ceremony Program, and other paper details designed by the bride. Invitation Suite Designed by Karan Pierce, Something Blue
Favors: Mother of the Bride baked her famous “Dishpan Cookies” for the wedding guests, Couple made a donation to Heifer International in honor of their guests
Caterer: Dos Locos Gringos – Hope, AR
Coordinator/wedding planner: Heather Pile, Inspired Grace Weddings
Reception Lighting and Drapes: Central Arkansas Entertainment
Photography: Photography by KES Weddings

Bridals with Megan

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Megan was torn between having her bridal session at Marlsgate Plantation in Scott or her family’s home in Prescott.  Either way, she would have made a great choice.  In the end, she opted for Marlsgate and it was the perfect setting for her.  She and Adam Bartlett were married on October 15 in Prescott and the reception was held at the National Guard Armory.  Yes, you read that right…at the Armory.  But with the leadership of Heather Pile of Inspired Grace Weddings, and her assistant Farron Martin, they transformed an otherwise ugly space into something stunning.  Check back in a week for the pix!  You’ll be amazed.

 

 

Vendor Information:

Dress: Allure Couture, Conway Tuxedo and Bridal.  Conway, AR
Flowers: Tipton-Hurst, Little Rock, AR
Hair and makeup: Heather Ratcliff, Style by Heather.  Prescott, AR
Location: Marlsgate Plantation. Scott, AR
Photographer: Photography by KES Weddings