Wedding Date: 9/14/2024

Venue: Wedding: Paris-Yates Chapel, Reception: Oliver Hotel of Oxford

Reception Venue: The Oliver Hotel of Oxford

Photographer: Brian Flint, B. Flint Photography

Entertainment: Max Mayeaux (Shreveport, LA) and the Memphis Soul Revue

Caterer: The Oliver Hotel of Oxford

Floral Designer: Oxford Floral 

Hair/Makeup: Shanna Lopez, Styled x Shanna

 

How would you describe your wedding day’s overall theme or vibe and why?

We wanted our wedding to feel timeless and elegant with modern touches inspired by some of our family’s travels in France and England over the years. Inspired by the Chateau des Fleurs in Paris’s 8th Arrondissement, a design hotel with a posh lobby bar that blends warm neutrals with pinks, greens and touches of bold pattern, we selected a beautiful palette of soft colors to complement the bold patterns of The Oliver Hotel. We created a moody experience inside with bistro tables fitted with custom-cut pleated linens and tulips pouring out of their vases, lit by candlelight. In the ballroom, a riot of flowers covered the backs of the banquettes that lined the dance floor’s perimeter. Outside, the courtyard transformed into a beautiful garden-inspired space full of greenery, with charming bistro lights above.

What inspired your choice of flowers?

I wanted the ceremony to be traditional, so I selected white flowers to complement Paris-Yates Chapel’s beautiful organ and rich wood tones. I opted for a petite bridal bouquet made of tulips, sweat peas and stephanotis.
For the reception, I wanted to create textured floral designs while using a cohesive color palette, including pink, blue, and purple. The courtyard at The Oliver is already lush, so we played it up with a swath of beautiful ferns and herbs in vintage clay pots. 

Did you have a first dance? If so, what song did you choose and why?

“You’re All I Need To Get By” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. We were looking for a song with lyrics that represented us but also fun for our guests. It checked all of the boxes!

What was on the menu, and why did you choose those dishes?

Growing up in Louisiana, entertaining was a big part of our family traditions and Chef Joel Miller perfectly executed our vision of a Louisiana cocktail buffet. As guests arrived, there were mini BLT’s and crawfish cakes. The cocktail buffet included grilled beef tenderloin, boiled shrimp with remoulade sauce, asparagus with horseradish sauce, roasted citrus-marinated squashes, and delicious rigatoni pasta tossed in lemon cream sauce and garnished with black olives, spinach and feta. And at our house, you cannot have a party without Natchitoches meat pies, a savory meat pie that originated in north Louisiana where street vendors sold them. Our friends drove them to town from Shreveport, and Chef graciously prepared. They were – as always – the first thing to go! We also tray-passed late-night food from Four Corners Chevron, a staple after any night out in Oxford. 

Were there any funny or unexpected moments that made the day memorable?

We surprised people with our first dance! We had so much fun, and it set the tone for the entire reception. Everyone danced all night long!

What unique elements did you add to your wedding? 

The Save the Dates included an embossed acacia, one of the flowers in my bolero lace. Our wedding stationer, Please & Thank You, in Shreveport, Louisiana, created a beautiful crest of flowers that was used exclusively for the wedding day. My Maid of Honor and sister, a detail-driven creative, thought of the most special touches that reflected our personalities, including cocktail napkins, stirrers, coasters, and matches. Lastly, we passed out custom-designed tambourines complete with our crest and the marbled motif, along with “Party in the Sip” hats in the wedding colors. 

Besides saying ‘I do,’ what was your favorite part of your wedding and celebration?

Being with all of our favorite people! This is the only time in your life when your family and close friends are together, and it was such a joyous and special celebration. 

What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding day?

My top priorities were a great band and beautiful photos, so I tackled those decisions first. To develop a cohesive aesthetic, we enlisted the services of our family friend, Mary Caroline Chumley, of Happy Everything Events. The vision board she created was critical in bringing my vision to life. It guided all of the creative decisions. We were able to share her portfolio with our florist, wedding stationer, rental company, and everyone in between.