Tiffany Thornton & Chris Carney
November 11, 2011 • Anthony Chapel at Garvan Woodland Gardens & MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), Hot Springs
Photos by Bryan & Serena Jeffries/Over the Edge Studios

Click here to view this Real Wedding spread and more photographs in our Fall/Winter 2012 issue.

Disney Channel TV star Tiffany Thornton not only picked Hot Springs as her wedding city of choice, but also Hot Springs-born Chris Carney as her groom. The “So Random” and “Sonny with a Chance” actress met Chris, the mayor of Hot Springs’ son, at a lounge in Los Angeles. After a two-year engagement, they tied the knot among 200 guests, including the casts of Tiffany’s TV shows and other well-known celebrities – like bridesmaid Demi Lovato (she caught the bouquet) and Demi’s now ex-boyfriend, groomsman Wilmer Valderrama.

WAYS THEY SAVED
Even celebrities look for ways to save on their own weddings, and it was no different for down-to-earth Tiffany, who in one example, saved by buying her veil at Hobby Lobby. “I think it’s really important to try to save any way that you can because, believe me, the total bills add up fast,” she said. “Also, having the wedding in Chris’ smaller hometown really allowed us to use people we knew wouldn’t overcharge us.”

STRESS-FREE STARLET
In spite of a couple little mishaps, like one bridesmaid scrambling to get a forgotten dress to the ceremony on time, Tiffany said her planner’s pre-wedding prep kept her grounded. “I knew to just take a deep breath and say a little prayer. God put Chris and I together, and I knew the Lord would take care of anything that went wrong.”

HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED
“I love jewel tones, so I worked with BCBG Max Azria to blend a few of their fabric colors to get the specific jewel purple I wanted for the bridesmaids dresses,” Tiffany said. “I also knew that I didn’t want any white flowers,” she said. “Our florist, Tanarah, surpassed even my greatest expectations of how beautiful each arrangement could be.”

Tiffany asked the owners of her favorite Hot Springs’ restaurant, Belle Arti, to cater their reception. “Joe and Penny did such a fantastic job with the food; they even made us a special ‘husband and wife’ meal.”

What detail truly made the wedding yours?
“Chris’ dad Ken Carney is a local pastor in Hot Springs and he married us. That was really special for the whole family.”

BRIDE'S INSPIRATION
Tiffany asked her wedding planner, Shay Freeman, to create for them an “Arkansas-Texas wedding, not a Hollywood wedding.” This down-to-earth approach was evident in everything from their use of mostly hometown, Arkansas vendors; their treatment of all guests as friends, not celebrities; and in Tiffany’s grand exit in her cowboy boots.

THE DETAILS
Photography/Videography: Over the Edge Studios, Texarkana
Event planner: Shay Freeman/Bells & Bows, Hot Springs
Stationery: Cute as a Button, Hot Springs
FloristTanarah Luxe Floral & Event Styling, Maumelle
Cakes: Mueller’s Bistro & Bakery, Hot Springs
Caterer/Drinks: Belle Arti, Hot Springs
Rentals: Confetti’s Party Rentals, Little Rock
Photobooth/Lighting: Dancenhance, Fayetteville
DJ/Band: DJ Doug Kramer, Northwest Arkansas
Transportation: Hot Springs Carriage, Hot Springs & Little Rock Limo, Little Rock
Accommodations: Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, Hot Springs & Embassy Suites, Hot springs