CARLLEY RIGGAN & TURNER HURLEY
Aug. 6, 2022 | Walton Arts Center | Erin Wilson Photography and Films
Carlley and Turner met through mutual friends in college. Turner would be in Little Rock for the summer completing an internship, and Carlley lived there at the time. He asked her on a date, and they’ve been together ever since. Now, 3.5 years later–they are married!
When Turner proposed, Carlley’s family asked her to come over to their condo on Dickson street for a drink. She met them on the roof, only to be surprised by a proposal setup by Turner himself. “Following the proposal we had a family dinner at Cheers then came back to the condo where all of our closest friends were there to celebrate,” Carlley said. “It was the best weekend ever!”
Anyone that knows Carlley, knows that she loves color. She couldn’t just pick one or two for their wedding day, so she selected bold pops of green, orange and hues of pink. They decided to have simple white floral arrangements for their ceremony at Central United Methodist Church and leave all the vibrant florals for the reception. They had a marching band walk them from the ceremony space to the Walton Arts Center where guests were submerged in color and unique lighting.
Q & A
Q: What was the inspiration behind your florals?
“[The Walton Arts Center] was the room that brought all of my dreams to life,” Carlley said. “I could have lived in this room forever, it was beyond any expectation I could have ever had. The framed greenery boxes were an original inspiration that I had found and Silks found a way to incorporate. The spiral was something that Dale envisioned and him and his team hand-built custom for our wedding day!”
Q: What is your secret to wedding planning success?
“Every week, I would look at my to-do list and try to knock out a couple of things,” Carlley said. “I feel like doing a little over time helped make everything more fun and relaxed! Also, go with your gut and don't second guess decisions, it only makes it more stressful…beyond all the beautiful decor, food, drinks, and dancing it is truly a day to celebrate our love and I wanted everyone to leave the night feeling how much Turner and I love each other.”
Q: How did you customize your wedding?
“Turner and I are both big fans of BAM at the Dickson street food trucks – our first date was also at an Asian restaurant,” Carlley said. “We incorporated Asian food into our late night snack and had a sticker on the boxes that said ‘BAM! They are married!’”
Q: One of your favorite moments of the wedding day?
“After the ceremony, it was so fun to know of the reception fun to come,” Carlley said. “We danced all night long and ended the party on the stage which was so fun to see all of our best friends having so much fun at the event that we worked so hard to plan! It was such an unforgettable night, we are so grateful.”
Q: Did you hire a DJ, band or make your own playlist?
“I hired a band and this was a top priority of mine,” Carlley said. “I feel like if budget allows- band is the way to go! My band (Lost Wax from KC) was so engaging with the crowd and they were able to feel the energy of types of music that our guests liked and curated the playlist as they went along.”
Q: What made your wedding day perfect?
“The day truly would have not been possible without the amazing hardworking vendors and their teams,” Carlley said. “I found it most helpful to put together inspiration for all of my vendors and instead of micro-managing, let them use their creative abilities to bring it to life – after all, they are the professionals…because of the trust I had in my vendors, I was able to enjoy the weekend and focus on the love that Turner and I have, and spend time with all of our loved ones that traveled near and far to celebrate! It was truly a weekend that I will never forget.”
WELCOME PARTY
Carlley and Turner hosted a welcome party at Cheers in the Old Post Office. It gave them the chance to say hello to family and friends they hadn’t seen in years.
MOMENTS & MEMORIES
Carlley’s favorite moment of their wedding day was seeing Turner for the first time that day as she walked down the aisle.
REMEMBERING HER FATHER
“My mom went above and beyond to make this the absolute best weekend of my life,” Carlley said. “My dad passed away six years and five days before my wedding date, and we all knew how incredibly hard the weekend would be without him. In remembrance of him, my mom gave me gifts to let me know he was there with me the whole way.”
- Diamond earrings he’d given Carlley’s mom
- A diamond tennis bracelet he gave her mom on their one-year anniversary
- Turner took aspects of her mom’s engagement ring and created a new, unique ring with her mom’s original diamond.
- She sewed her dad’s favorite blue pocket square on the inside of her dress, and it read “I am always with you Love, Dad August, 6th 2022.”
WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE
Wedding planner: Amanda Reed Weddings; Florist: Silks-A-Bloom; Custom rings jeweler: Romance Diamond Co.; Guest accommodations: Inn at Carnall Hall
MORE VENDORS
Photography: Erin Wilson Photography and Films; Ceremony venue: Central United Methodist Church; Reception venue: Walton Arts Center; Rentals: Eventology; More rentals: White Door Events, BBJ La Tavola and Nüage Designs; Guest accommodations: The Graduate Hotel; Custom hats: Alibaba from China; Second Look dress: Reformation; Dance Floor: The Dance Floor Man; Stage facade: Stage King; Catering: Catering Unlimited; Cake: Shelby Lynn's Cake Shoppe; Photo booth: Social Photo Booth; Lighting & Production: Lightworks; Reception entertainment: Lost Wax; Invitations: Shindig Paperie; Graphic design: KMM Design; Large format printing: Quality Plus Printing; Wedding dress: Reem Acra design; Hair & makeup: Boun Vang; Transportation: Pinnacle, High Society
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