[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Every shade of pink!
& Sage green[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]
For years, I dreamed of a garden party wedding. The soft florals, whimsical fabrics, and fresh air always felt like the perfect vibe. But I also had my heart set on Crystal Bridges as my venue—which, of course, is indoors. Still, what I love most about Crystal Bridges is how it brings the outside in. With its stunning floor-to-ceiling glass and light, airy architecture, it felt like the perfect blend of elegance and nature. It’s been my dream venue since the first time I visited. As someone who adores interior and event design, I’ve basically had my wedding planned out on Pinterest since high school. I knew I wanted to incorporate playful, romantic fabrics and a color palette that felt soft and fresh—think pink and green (or “blush and bashful,” if you ask my mom). My incredible wedding planner, Terri Court with Amanda Reed Weddings, helped bring that vision to life. She worked magic with the color scheme, layering different shades to add depth and dimension to the space. It was everything I imagined and more. Florals were a huge part of creating that garden party feel, and Samantha’s Garden absolutely blew me away. Their arrangements were breathtaking—guests are still talking about them! The team poured so much love into every detail and made us feel so cared for throughout the process. I truly couldn’t imagine our day without them. Every vendor on our dream team helped make our wedding not just a reflection of our vision, but something even more beautiful than we imagined. It was the garden party I had always dreamed of—an incredibly beautiful reflection of Josh and me, our love, and the beginning of our forever as husband and wife.
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[field title=”Proposal Story”]
It was April 2024—my 24th birthday weekend! Many of my friends had moved away after college for jobs, and my parents live in Texas, so having everyone in town felt extra special. The weather was warming up, spring was in the air, and it seemed like the perfect time to celebrate. My friends planned a little birthday get-together at City Park in Fayetteville, and it was such a fun Friday night filled with cake, drinks, and so many of my favorite people. While I was flattered that friends flew and drove in just for my birthday, I had a feeling something else might be happening that weekend… but I played along. When my parents arrived, they told me they had made a reservation at Atlas—a beautiful, upscale restaurant off the Fayetteville square—to celebrate. That definitely tipped me off a little, but it also made me dress up, which I was thankful for later! Josh picked me up from my house, and we started driving toward “Atlas.” As we passed Old Main Lawn, I saw one of his friends—who’s a photographer—standing there with a full proposal setup. I immediately started crying. Josh grabbed my hand, walked me to the spot, and dropped to one knee to ask the best question ever: “Will you marry me?” It was the easiest yes of my life. Right after, our friends popped out from behind the trees, and we all celebrated together. Later that evening, we headed to my parents’ Airbnb in Bentonville, where our families and friends were waiting to throw us the sweetest engagement party. We popped champagne, shared stories, laughed, and dreamed about the year of wedding planning ahead. Josh and I met at the University of Arkansas, giving campus tours, so getting engaged on Old Main Lawn was not only beautiful—it was deeply meaningful. He couldn’t have planned a more perfect proposal.
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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]
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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]
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[board_carousel title=”First Look”]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]
My wedding gown was designed by Reem Acra, and we found it at Warren Barron Bridal in Dallas. From the moment we walked in, the experience was absolutely incredible. The team at Warren Barron made every step—from dress shopping to multiple rounds of personalized fittings—feel so special. The women there were warm, attentive, and made me feel truly beautiful and like a bride. As it turns out, my dress was the very first one I tried on. It was called “Baby’s Breath”—a sweet detail that perfectly matched the floral, whimsical vibe of our wedding day. The gown featured stunning floral lace and 3D embellishments that gave it a feminine, romantic, and timeless feel. It was everything I had envisioned: soft, whimsical, and classic, yet with a modern, structured silhouette that felt so fitting for a wedding at an art museum. When I first tried it on, it brought tears to everyone’s eyes. And on our wedding day, when I finally got to show Josh, it brought even more. Marrying the love of my life in a gown that felt so “me,” yet so elevated, was truly unforgettable. I wish I could wear it every day.
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]
The best girls deserve the best dresses! My gorgeous group of best friends all wore matching gowns from Dessy Group in the shade Ballet Pink. The dresses were one-shoulder with the sweetest, most subtle little bow detail. They looked absolutely stunning, and we couldn’t have been happier with the fit, quality, and personalized sizing options. One of my favorite touches was the getting-ready look—I found hand-sewn silk pajamas on Etsy in the same shade of pink, with bows tied on the shoulders to match the dresses. I loved that they got to get ready in those, and that their looks coordinated so perfectly from start to finish!
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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]
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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]
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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]
One of the best parts of choosing Crystal Bridges as our wedding venue was the convenience and care that came with it. The food, beverages, and staffing were all handled in-house, which made the planning process seamless. But more than that, every person we worked with was incredibly kind and thoughtful — it truly felt like they were invested in making our day special. Josh, my sweet husband, knew how long I had been dreaming about our wedding and how much I cared about the design and details. He was so supportive of my vision and let me take the lead on most decisions. That said, food was one area he felt strongly about, and it was so much fun to share that part of the planning with him. Our tasting, several months before the wedding, was one of the highlights of the process. We were both blown away by the variety and quality — everything was so delicious that narrowing down the menu was genuinely difficult. During cocktail hour, we offered a curated selection of passed hors d’oeuvres that reflected both our tastes and the local flavor. Guests enjoyed crab cakes with Southern remoulade and fresh dill, stuffed peppadew peppers filled with pimento cheese (Josh’s absolute favorite), Humboldt Fog crostini topped with Amarena cherries and toasted almonds, and smoked Arkansas trout pâté served on rice crackers with cucumber and chive. As guests entered cocktail hour, they were greeted with glasses of champagne and wine, and we had a fully staffed open bar where they could order their favorite cocktails or try local Arkansas beers — a fun and personal touch, especially since we’re a big brewery family and had lots of out-of-town guests. Dinner was just as memorable. We started with a harvest salad made with baby lettuce, dried blueberries, chèvre, toasted pecans, and a maple balsamic vinaigrette. For the main course, guests chose between a beef tenderloin filet with rosemary-cabernet demi-glace, garlic whipped potatoes, and asparagus, or peppercorn-brined chicken served with chipotle sweet potatoes, broccolini, and chimichurri sauce. Tableside wine service added a lovely touch, allowing guests to relax and enjoy the evening without leaving their seats. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about the food — it was one of the most complimented parts of the night. Everyone was well-fed, happy, and ready to dance, drink, and celebrate. The joy in the room was palpable, and having all our favorite people together made it the most unforgettable night.
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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Where to begin?! Dreaming up June 21st with my incredible wedding planner, Terri, was everything I could’ve hoped for and more. I came in with a ton of ideas — a clear vision, color scheme, and vibe — but Terri’s attention to detail and creative talent took everything to a level I couldn’t have imagined. Seeing the ceremony and reception space for the first time brought my mom and me to tears. It was breathtaking and exceeded every dream I had. From the moment Josh and I got engaged, I knew florals would be the centerpiece of our wedding design. I had this vision of sage green ginger jars filled with lush arrangements, and once I nailed down our color palette, I began the hunt for the perfect jars. They became a signature element throughout the space — in the cocktail hour lounge, as part of our stunning seating chart display, and trailing the end of the head table. Terri sourced beautiful rattan jars to mix in, and we repurposed our floral arch from the ceremony to frame the head table, creating a gorgeous statement piece and photo backdrop for guests. Another design detail I poured my heart into was the linens. I’ve always had a passion for design, and mixing patterns was a way to bring our colors together and make the space feel uniquely ours. The first linen I fell in love with was from Nuage Designs — a sage green lattice pattern with white embroidery that we used on the head table. Another favorite was a floral pattern from BBJ La Tavola that tied all our colors together beautifully. We used it on the entry table, guest tables, cocktail tables, and most memorably, on our custom seating chart. Mary Claire Pfeifer of Modern Details NWA created a wallpaper-style backdrop using the fabric, and it was one of those small but impactful details that brought the entire design together. We even matched pillow covers in the lounge area to our table linens — no detail was missed, and it was one of my favorite aspects of the wedding. And then there were the florals. Samantha’s Garden created arrangements that were nothing short of magical. Their passion for their work and the people they serve was evident in every moment — from Diana, the owner, praying over me in the makeup chair, to the joy on their faces when they saw our reactions to the reception space. Their character and care were just as meaningful as their artistry. The ceremony space featured a floral arch, aisle flowers, a custom watercolor runner from Original Runner Co., and the most beautiful summer light streaming through the glass — it was ethereal. Cocktail hour was another area I put a lot of thought into. We had a stunning circular bar from Alchemy Event Rentals, wrapped in custom vinyls featuring our wedding crest and a sweet floral trellis pattern. It felt like a garden party dream. The bar was adorned with rattan cone lamps (which now live in our home), lush florals, and personalized touches like custom stir sticks, napkins, and koozies — all made by me! The lounge area was perfect for guests to relax and mingle, with ginger jars, floral arrangements, and custom pillows that matched our linens. The standing cocktail tables featured a mix of our favorite patterns, and our seating chart — again, thanks to Mary Claire — was a showstopper, featuring the “Maya Duck Egg” linen from BBJ La Tavola. As we moved into the reception at Eleven at Crystal Bridges, the space was transformed. We repurposed all the ceremony florals, including the arch, which made the room feel lush and full. Flowers lined the stage façade, the head table, guest tables, and even created a floral bay around the cake table, complementing our 3D floral cake that mimicked my wedding dress. The tables featured linens from Nuage Designs, BBJ La Tavola, and Stradley Davidson, with soft pink napkins that matched the cake table linen. Samantha’s Garden created what they called a “candle garden” — clusters of floating candles that added a romantic glow. One special detail on our head table was the charger plates. We rented feminine, scalloped chargers from Posh Couture Rentals in Dallas that had a trellis-like pattern, perfectly blending with our overall design. And then there was the dance floor — a true labor of love. The entire Amanda Reed Weddings team helped bring it to life. It featured our crest in the center, surrounded by a subtle floral trellis pattern in our wedding colors, with a sage green trim that tied everything together. We carried this pattern into the stage and bar vinyls as well, creating a cohesive and beautiful look. We danced the night away until our final dance and streamer exit. Designing our wedding with Terri was truly a dream come true. It felt like us in every way — intentional, joyful, and full of love. It was over a year of behind-the-scenes work poured into one unforgettable day, and not a single detail was missed. June 21, 2025, will forever be one of the most cherished days of our lives, and we’re endlessly grateful to everyone who helped make it the perfect start to our forever.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]
Our wedding cake was from Shelby Lynne’s Cake Shoppe in Springdale, and it was such a fun part of the planning process — especially for Josh, who was just as excited about cake tasting as he was about food tasting (we both have a major sweet tooth!). The cake was five tiers, and the design was modeled after the texture and lace of my wedding dress. Jennifer, the owner of the most charming little shop, looked at just two photos of my dress (with Josh waiting outside, of course) and somehow brought it to life so beautifully through the cake design. There were delicate floral embellishments that looked like cascading baby’s breath, and the whole cake became a stunning focal point in our reception space. One of my favorite parts? It stayed up all night — because it was actually fake! We cut into a small section that was real, and Shelby Lynne made several sheet cakes behind the scenes to serve our guests. That way, instead of having a torn-apart cake sitting out, we got to keep that gorgeous piece of edible art on display the entire evening. We did our cake cutting to “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers — a special request from my dad, since it’s one of his favorite songs. We used the most beautiful personalized cake forks, gifted to us by the Amanda Reed Weddings team, and they’re something we’ll cherish forever. Before we know it, we’ll be using them again to enjoy our anniversary tier! As for flavors, we went all out: brown butter pineapple (Josh’s favorite and the one we cut into), Hummingbird (my favorite), lemon cream (our anniversary tier), and chocolate ganache. Every bite was just as delicious as it was meaningful.
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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]We had live music throughout our entire celebration, and it was one of those touches that guests absolutely loved. For the ceremony, we had a local cellist — Cello by Austin — play all of our music, which added such a beautiful and emotional atmosphere to the moment. After the ceremony, a jazz trio from Smoothman Music led us into cocktail hour, with the saxophone setting the tone as guests transitioned into the next part of the evening. They played throughout cocktail hour, and it was such a hit — everyone loved it. For the reception, we did all of our special dances to recorded songs that were meaningful to us. Josh and I had our first dance to “At Last” by Etta James — a romantic classic that felt so timeless and perfect. My dad and I danced to “Letting You Go” by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit. Jason Isbell is from my dad’s small hometown of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, so it was a sweet and personal choice that we both loved. Josh and his mom danced to “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman, which was such a fitting and sweet moment — the Rhodes family loves all things Disney, so it couldn’t have been more perfect. Josh and I cut our cake to “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, which was a special request from my dad since it’s one of his favorite songs — and it truly was the loveliest day. For the rest of the reception, we had an amazing local band, Funk Factory, and they kept the party going all night long. The dance floor was packed, the energy was incredible, and we truly never wanted it to end.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]
One of the most meaningful details from our wedding day was a small but deeply sentimental keepsake. My mom lovingly transformed my baptismal bonnet — handmade by my aunt when I was a baby — into a delicate handkerchief. She embroidered Josh’s and my initials along with our wedding date in soft blue thread, adding a “something blue” that was both personal and symbolic. That handkerchief wiped away many happy tears throughout the day and became one of the most cherished items from our celebration. We plan to pass it down to our children for their own wedding days, adding their initials to it over time and continuing its legacy as a treasured family heirloom.
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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]
For our reception party favors, we wanted something fun, personal, and memorable — so we had trucker hats passed around the dance floor that read “All Rhodes Lead Home.” If wedding hashtags are still a thing, that was ours. But more than just a clever phrase, it holds a sweet story. Back in college, Josh and I had only been dating for a couple of months. I was living in the sorority house with one of my best friends, Caroline, who later became one of my bridesmaids. I was already completely smitten and convinced we were going to get married. (Fun fact: after our first date, my maid of honor recorded a video of me saying, “I’m going to marry that man”… and well, here we are!) Caroline was fully on board with my daydreaming and helped me imagine the perfect wedding. She came up with the hashtag “All Rhodes Lead Home,” and it instantly stuck. It felt so right — a play on Josh’s last name and a reflection of the life we were building together. I knew I had to include it in our wedding somehow, so I hand-made trucker hats with the phrase printed on them. Seeing our guests dancing with them is such a fun and meaningful moment.
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[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]
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Photography: Emma Farr Photography | Cinematography: BYRD CREATIVE | Event Planning: Amanda Reed Weddings | Event Planning: Terri Court - Amanda Reed Weddings | Floral Design: Samantha's Garden | Cake: Shelby Lynne Cake Shoppe | Invitations: Shindig Paperie | Invitations: Modern Details NWA (Seating Chart) | Wedding Venue: Crystal Bridges Museum Of American Art | Beauty: Ghlam Beauty | Rentals: The Original Runner Co.
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