Wedding Date: 6/22/2024
Ceremony Venue: First Presbyterian Church of Oxford
Reception Venue: The Lyric
Photographer: Keli Lindsey Photography
Entertainment: The Soul Tones
Caterer: A&N Catering
Floral Designer: Oxford Floral
Hair/Makeup: The Studio (Hair: Heather Holliday/Makeup: Bethani Zinzer)
Planner: Katie Naron
Dress: Justin Alexander from The Something Blue Shoppe
Cake: Bride’s Cake: Lisa Whitehead/Groom’s Cake: Ellen Baxter
How would you describe your wedding day’s overall theme or vibe and why?
The goal for our wedding day’s overall vibe was fun, vibrant, and whimsical. We wanted it to be modern but timeless while feeling easy and stress-free. It turned out better than we pictured it!
What inspired your choice of flowers?
I wanted lots of color to be involved in the wedding and our color scheme originated from some funky tapered candle holders that my mom and I found. They were the first purchase for decor for the wedding and I used them as inspiration for almost everything, including the florals! We wanted the florals to be beautiful and impressive but not overwhelming or over the top. I love orchids, so a beautiful orchid addition was included in my bouquet, which was one of my favorite details! David Naron at Oxford Floral is so talented; we knew whatever they came up with would be beautiful!
Did you have a first dance? If so, what song did you choose and why?
Our first dance was to Chris Stapleton’s “Joy of My Life.” The first concert we went to as a couple was a Chris Stapleton concert in Memphis, TN, for which my parents got my whole family tickets as a Christmas gift! It was such a fun and memorable night, and the lyrics of that song have always resonated with me. The Soul Tones learned the song and performed it live for our first dance, which also felt very special and unique.
What was on the menu, and why did you choose those dishes?
Our menu was Greek-inspired because we both LOVE Volta Taverna in Oxford! We wanted the menu to be light, summery, filling, and tasty. A&N created an amazing and unique menu for us that was to die for! On the menu was watermelon and feta salad with fresh mint, chili-lime grilled shrimp skewers, smoked beef tenderloin sliders with garlic aioli and baby arugula, bourbon-molasses chicken skewers, assorted dips including labneh, garlic roasted hummus, and tzatziki with grilled pita and cucumber slices, and a green bean panzanella salad with cornbread croutons. It was delicious!
Were there any funny or unexpected moments that made the day memorable?
I surprised my husband with the design of his groom’s cake, which was so much fun! He absolutely loves to snow ski, so I thought it would be funny to make his groom’s cake look like a little mountain with people skiing down it! He thought he was getting a standard chocolate cake with strawberries on top, so he was really excited when he saw it! He loved it and it was so funny to see his reaction! Ellen did a great job and it tasted great, too!
Did you have any unique flair/touch/elements that you added to your wedding?
The most unique thing about my wedding was that the church I got married in held a significant place in my family. I married in the church I grew up in, where my parents and grandparents married before me. Also, my aunt, who is a Presbyterian pastor, baptized me as an infant in the same church where she married my husband and me 23 years later. That was a unique and very special thing for us to experience. 
Besides saying ‘I do,’ what was your favorite part of your wedding and celebration?
My favorite part of my wedding and celebration was seeing parts of my family and friends making bonds and memories with my husband’s family and friends throughout the weekend. My husband is from Spokane, WA, so our two sides are fairly different, but they quickly found their similarities and had an amazing time getting to know each other and celebrating like old pals! It was so fun to watch and be a part of!
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding day?
My best advice would be to hire a wedding planner, if not only a weekend-of coordinator. Katie Naron was the chapter advisor for Ole Miss Tri Delta while I was a member and served as a vice president my senior year, so we had a great relationship before my wedding. Regardless of our history, she was an invaluable asset in the wedding planning process and an amazing coordinator for the entire weekend. My mom and I wanted to have someone who could sort of “run the show” the weekend of the wedding so that we could sit back and enjoy the experience after months of planning. Katie and her assistant did just that with ease and grace, making the weekend go by flawlessly and efficiently.
