Little Rock native Grace Dodson met her prince charming while they both attended Ole Miss. During her freshman year, she met Mac McAllister of Jackson, Mississippi and later asked him to her first Chi Omega party. The two dated for six years before Mac popped the big question — in a totally sweet way, might we add.
Mac took Grace to dinner at La Griglia in Houston. After dinner, the two walked across the street to see a movie at this retro movie theater called River Oaks Theatre that plays old movies (Grace's favorite).
"When we got there, I was so confused he had to tell me to look up," Grace says. "He had ‘Grace will you marry me?’ written across the marquee at the theater. Of course, I said yes."
After they became engaged, Grace starting planning her nuptials from afar. Since the couple lives in Houston, planning a wedding in Little Rock proved to be stressful. But after choosing their date and venue, things fell into place. The Country Club of Little Rock holds a special place in Grace's heart since it's a place she grew up going to with her parents. "There's nowhere else I would have wanted it to be."
Without further ado, here's a peek at Grace and Mac's lovely March wedding in Little Rock, filled with beautiful details and personal touches.
On her Sachin & Babi gown: "It was so beautiful. I saw a picture of it online and was ecstatic to find out that it was in the store the day I was trying on dresses. I bought it at Neiman Marcus."
On the rest of her bridal fashion: "I wore Stuart Weitzman heels. I wore my moms sapphire earrings that she and my sister wore on their wedding days."
On that amazing stationery: "We had an artist create images of cherry blossom blooms and branches to be on our save-the-dates and carried that theme into the invitation by making it the envelope liner."
On her wedding theme: "What I started planning at the beginning of my engagement was completely different than what I ended up doing! I thought I wanted all ranges of pink and oranges, but Little Rock in early March is still cold. I wanted to make sure we stayed in the winter/spring mood rather than the spring/summer mood."
On her reception style: "I wanted it to be on-theme with the invitations. I had branches and pale pink flowers. Mainly I just wanted it to be beautiful."
On her cake: "We had a strawberry cake with white buttercream frosting. It was four-tiers and had a very simple design on the bottom of each tier and had peonies in a couple of spots."
On the first dance song: "I heard Louis Armstrongs’ 'A Kiss to Build A Dream On' about two years into [our] relationship. When I heard it, I knew that is what I wanted to dance to with Mac. It is the sweetest song."
On wedding advice for brides-to-be: "Don’t sweat the small stuff. There are a million details to get hung up on, but it will all be great."
The Details
Photographer: Lyndsey Sullivan Photography
Event planner: Shelia Vaught, Little Rock
Florist: Tipton & Hurst, locations around Arkansas ♥
Furniture rental company: Hank's Event Rentals, Little Rock ♥
Lighting: Country Club of Little Rock, Little Rock
Cakes: Mickey's Cakes and Sweets, Little Rock
Caterer & drinks service: Country Club of Little Rock, Little Rock
Band: The SoulSations, Memphis
Ceremony music: Adam Savacool
Wedding stationery: By Invitation Only, Little Rock
Wedding gown: Neiman Marcus, Dallas
Bridesmaids attire: Bella Bridesmaids
Groom/groomsmen attire: JoS. A. Banks
Hair: Janet Ledford from Head Waves Salon, Little Rock
Makeup: Augusta Andrews from B. Barnett, Little Rock
Honeymoon: Vikki Koch at Sue Smith Vacations, North Little Rock
Rehearsal dinner venue: Capital Hotel, Little Rock ♥
