Jenni Gudahl & Kevin Schmidt
Sept. 13, 2014 • Heifer Ranch, Perryville
Photos by KB McElmurry Photography
Perryville girl Jenni Gudahl and Kansas City native Kevin Schmidt met in the Dominican Republic while in the Peace Corps. Years later, after many days on opposite ends of the country and finishing up their Peace Corps service, the couple decided to call Brooklyn home.
They love the city, but Jenni sometimes misses the open spaces The Natural State has to offer, so Kevin surprised her with a camping weekend in the Catskills where he proposed. When the ring they designed with the diamond from his grandmother’s set was ready, Kevin proposed a second time by the East River with the Manhattan skyline in the background.
The Inspiration
Much of the couple’s inspiration came from the venue itself. Jenni’s family originally moved to Arkansas when her parents got jobs at Heifer Ranch, so she spent most of her childhood on the grounds. They loved bringing out-of-state friends and family to the gorgeous space and wanted to really let it shine. They did this by building a relaxed atmosphere with subdued hues, including dusty shale, peach, gold and white and focusing on their natural surroundings.
How They Customized
The Schmidts’ wedding was packed full of special touches. As Jenni’s mother is originally from the Philippines, they incorporated Filipino traditions like draping the bride and groom in an infinity-shaped cord, exchanging coins representing the pillars of marriage and a menu full of exotic treats. The couple hung papel picado flags as a nod to their time in the Dominican Republic, and treated guests to Arkansas staples like Whole Hog Café barbecue—and they even engaged the old tradition of burying a bottle of bourbon to keep rain away (and it totally worked).
Family Treasures
Jenni included sentimental aspects like wearing the ruby jewelry her mother wore on her wedding day and leaving the wedding in the car that had belonged to Kevin’s late brother.
| The Professionals | ||
|---|---|---|
| Photographer: | KB McElmurry Photography, McRae | |
| Videographer: | Arkansas Wedding Cinematography, Conway | |
| ♥ | Florist: | ZIMMERMAN, Conway |
| Rentals/lighting: | Something Borrowed Events & Weddings, Morrilton | |
| Cakes: | Piece-A-Cake, Morrilton | |
| Pies: | Holly’s Country Cooking, Conway | |
| Caterer/drinks: | Personal Touch Catering, Morrilton | |
| ♥ | DJ: | DJ Mario Luna, Central Arkansas Entertainment, Little Rock |
| Wedding stationery: | Minted.com | |
| ♥ | Wedding gown: | Proposals, Little Rock |
| Bridesmaids’ attire: | J Crew | |
| Groom/groomsmen attire: | Banana Republic | |
| Jeweler: | Greenwich Jewelers, New York City | |
| Hair: | Leslie Zimmerman of Salon ID, Morrilton | |
| Makeup: | Jamie Lentz White OF Headhunters Salon, Morrilton | |
| Bridesmaids’ necklaces: | RiffRaff, Fayetteville | |
| Papel picado: | Ay Mujer via Etsy | |
| ♥ | Wedding Vendor We Love |
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