MARY GRACE HATHAWAY & RICHARD MEYERS
April 23, 2022 | Country Club of Little Rock | Kati Mallory Fine Arts Photography
Mary Grace Hathaway and Richard Meyers met in the Spring of 2018 in Washington, D.C., where they still live today. Richard proposed to Mary Grace on a Wednesday evening in May 2021 at the home she shared with her sister and cousin. Mary Grace has been nicknamed “Gladys” by her friends and family, from Bewitched, due to her curious and nosy (in a good way!) nature. She makes it her job to find out every detail of other people’s lives, so it’s typically very hard to surprise her–hence the mid-week, totally normal after-work engagement!
Q & A
Q: What were your florals inspired by?
“I wanted mono-botanical florals for a clean, simple, and elegant look,” Mary Grace said.
Q: What were your wedding colors? Why did you choose this color combination?
“I am always drawn to a light shade of blue so this was carried throughout the wedding celebrations,” Mary Grace said. “By Invitation Only did several of my shower and party invitations, as well as our rehearsal dinner and wedding invites. They did an amazing job of subtly incorporating the dusty blue/gray color throughout. My sister and cousin wore beautiful gowns that reflected this color but also brought in a beautiful spring green tone. The flowers and small details like cocktail napkins, bathroom hand towels, and drink stirrers also carried the color throughout the night.”
Q: Did you hire a DJ, band or make your own playlist?
“My father wasn't too involved in the planning details, but the one thing he did get involved in was the band selection,” Mary Grace said. “We researched and listened to a lot of bands from the east coast to Texas. We ultimately ended up going with the Atlanta Allstars, with the help of Prime Source Entertainment…My father loved them so much, he ended the night by asking them to play at my sister's wedding who wasn't yet engaged, but a good thing that changed two weeks later! The Atlanta Allstars will be back in Little Rock in January 2023 for another Hathaway wedding!”
Q: Did you hire a wedding planner?
“Yes, Shelia Vaught was our right-hand woman,” Mary Grace said. “We talked with several wedding planners in Little Rock and Memphis and it was obvious we would work with Sheila as soon as we connected while my mother and I were together on our annual family trip to Lake Michigan…Shelia and my mom both organize their lives with paper copies so they both had matching binders and handwritten notes everywhere. I am so thankful that both of them are so organized, full of knowledge, and are innately blessed with southern class that guided us along the way.”
Q: What is your secret to wedding planning success?
“Work with the best,” Mary Grace said. “I'm so lucky to have an awesome team of vendors surrounding me in the months leading up to the wedding.”
Q: What are some wedding traditions you incorporated into your big day?
“Thursday evening was my welcome party hosted by six amazing couples,” Mary Grace said. “It was a Southern Supper outside under twinkling lights at a beautiful home overlooking the River. It was perfect. In true Hathaway fashion, we had people over at my parent's house afterward to keep the party going. Things wrapped up pretty early and I got some good beauty sleep. Friday was my bridal luncheon hosted by my aunts at the Club. It was a beautiful sunny day.”
“My sister and I slept in our childhood room the night before my wedding,” she said. “Saturday morning was very lazy, with the smell of coffee and soothing music flowing through my family's home. I stayed in my PJs until late morning before we started getting after lunch. It was a great few days and I feel so lucky to have had my mother and father hosting everyone and supporting me and Richard the entire time. The Easter flowers and weather were the cherry on top.”
Q: What was your favorite moment of the wedding day?
“My favorite moment was sitting in the church facing the altar with all of our family and friends sitting behind us,” Mary Grace said. “It was one of the only moments where it felt like time stopped and everything wasn't moving 100 mph around us. The sun was shining, the music was beautiful, and Richard and I couldn't stop smiling. I also loved when Richard said "I do" before the priest was finished with his part - eager man!”
FAMILY HEIRLOOM
Mary Grace’s great-grandparents are from Madeira, Portugal, which is known for its lace and embroidery. They decided to dress the cake table with her great-grandmother’s linens, which have been used in her family's weddings over the years.
MOMENTS & MEMORIES
“It was all about my family and me and Richard,” Mary Grace said. “It didn't feel like we were doing anything for others just because... everything felt natural and very personalized. We didn't have a first look. We had a lazy morning in our PJs. We got dressed and pampered at my parents' home. My grandfather came over to deliver homemade lunch and a bucket of champagne, all my family and friends popped by while we were getting ready.”
WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE
Wedding dress: Unveiled Bridal Collection; Florist: Tanarah Luxe Floral; Rentals: Eventology
MORE VENDORS
Photographer: Kati Mallory Fine Art Photography; Venue: Country Club of Little Rock; Wedding planner: Shelia Vaught; Invitations: By Invitation Only; Rehearsal dinner venue: Capital Hotel; Cake: PattiCakes Bakery; Stage: Central Arkansas Entertainment; Band: Atlanta AllStars, Prime Source Entertainment; Music at the ceremony and cocktail hour: Arkansas Symphony Quartet; Cantor of Music: Susej Thompson; Bridesmaid dresses: BCBG; Makeup: Vanessa Russell; Hair: Heather Ezell; Exit Car: Rob Haynie Cars
