Ashton Coleman & Zack Smith
October 26, 2019
First United Methodist Church and Grand Prairie Center, Stuttgart
For their first date, Zack Smith came to Ashton Colemand’s home in Little Rock and cooked her dinner. He thought it was only fitting that the proposal take place there, too. When he knocked on the door, he and their golden retriever, Ellie, came into the house. She had a small bag around her collar. He took the bag off of her collar, got down on one knee, and asked Ashton to marry him. “We popped champagne, ate dinner and celebrated just the two of us,” she says. “The next day was a Razorback football game in Little Rock. Zack planned a huge tailgate to celebrate our engagement with our families and friends. It was a day I’ll never forget.”
THE INSPIRATION
• • •
The couple decided to have their wedding in Stuttgart, where they both grew up and live now. The ceremony was held at Zack’s home church, First United Methodist, followed by the reception at the Grand Prairie Center. The center offered the couple a blank canvas to create a wedding unlike anything their guests had seen before.
Ashton chose a classic Southern style paired with a neutral color palette that let the flowers and décor shine. Lush arrangements banked the ceremony space and Ashton’s gorgeous bouquet was filled with ranunculus, O’Hara and majolica roses, phales, and lisianthus — and a gold charm was placed on her bouquet to honor her dad who passed away when she was 10.
“After my father passed away, my mom and I leaned on each other to get through the loss,” she says. “She is my best friend and my biggest supporter. It was very important for me to have her walk me down the aisle. My step-father met us halfway. It was such a special moment that I will never forget.”
HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED
Guests entered the Grand Prairie Center to see impressive florals from Tanarah Luxe Floral and a crowd-pleasing champagne area that was adorned with a large custom mirror that read: “A Toast to the Smiths.” The couple’s 9-tiered cake was situated in the middle of the room with a chandelier hanging above it.
Two floral rings were located above the left and right sides of the room, one above the dance floor and the other above the groom’s golf-themed cake area. A 36-foot gold bar made a statement at the back of the room with three smoky acrylic bar menus hanging above. The head tables on each side of the custom white dance floor were lined with hydrangea and floral garlands, tall arrangements and candles.
Kelli Marks of Sweet Love Bakes created a golf course cake inspired by Zack’s favorite hole at the Stuttgart Country Club. There was a replica of Zack on his golf cart with their dog, Ellie, running beside the cart.
The entire day went off without a hitch thanks to Ashton’s planner. But, she did have one wedding nightmare leading up to the big day.
“I dreamt that Shawna let Zack redesign the entire wedding reception,” she says. “The entire room had duck decoys flying overhead where the draping and floral rings were supposed to be hung. Instead of a champagne section, there was a golf simulator. Guests played carnival games and hit golf balls all night, rather than listening to the band. It was a pretty funny dream.”
VIDEO
THE DETAILS
| WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE | |
|---|---|
| Reception venue | Grand Prairie Center, Stuttgart |
| Photography | Meredith Benton Photography |
| Florist | Tanarah Luxe Floral, Little Rock |
| Wedding dress and veil | She Said Yes Bridal, Rogers |
| Groom’s wedding band | Sissy’s Log Cabin, Little Rock |
| MORE VENDORS | |
|---|---|
| Ceremony venue | First United Methodist, Stuttgart |
| Planning | Young Designs, Maumelle |
| Caterer | Corky's BBQ, Stuttgart |
| Cakes | Sweet Love Bakes, Little Rock |
| Drink service | Jerry McGuire |
| Menus & custom mirror signs | Paper Supply Co., Little Rock |
| Furniture rentals | White Door Events, Memphis |
| Other rentals | Confetti's Party Rental, Little Rock; |
| Lighting, draping, rigging | Central Arkansas Entertainment, Little Rock |
| Band | Memphis Soul Revue |
| Ceremony violinist | Beth Messa |
| Dance floor | Landers' Visions of Riverside, Missouri |
| Ice sculpture | Creative Image Ice, Little Rock |
| Videography | Supi Boonaphai |
| Invitations | By Invitation Only, Little Rock |
| Bridesmaid dresses | Kleinfeld Bridal Party |
| Groom's attire | TheBlackTux.com |
| Groomsmen attire | J. Duke & Co., Little Rock |
| Hair | Dennis Harris (bride) and Jessica Jacobs |
| Makeup | Artistry by Autumn |
| Party bus | Arkansas Destinations, Little Rock |
| Limo | A Posh Limo, Memphis |
| Rehearsal dinner venue | Stuttgart Country Club |
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