A Glass Chapel Destination Wedding
When Matt + Morgan first reached out, they told me they lived in Washington, D.C., but had completely fallen in love with Northwest Arkansas. Instead of getting married close to home, they wanted to bring all of their favorite people to one of their favorite places. Honestly, after spending so much time with them, it totally made perfect sense.
The day started at 21c Museum Hotel in Downtown Bentonville. The morning was filled with excitement and the kind of laughter that only happens when you're surrounded by your favorite people! Every detail had been thoughtfully chosen. Nothing felt trendy for the sake of being trendy—it was timeless, elegant, and something I know they'll still love decades from now when they look back at these photos. Matt even brought along his grandfather’s film camera to capture some of the day from his point of view!
If you've never been to Mildred Cooper Chapel, it's one of those places that makes everyone gasp when they round the corner walking up the path and stop talking for a second when they walk in. Tucked into the trees with walls of glass and soaring wood beams, it almost feels like the forest is part of the ceremony. Spring had just started to spring, and the soft light coming through the windows couldn't have been more beautiful! I love how the light was coming through behind Morgan’s head during the ceremony. It was one of those ceremonies where you could feel how loved these two are. Their guests came from all over the country to celebrate them.
The cocktail hour and reception was every bit as beautiful as the ceremony. Incredible food, heartfelt toasts, candlelight, and a room full of people who were genuinely thrilled to be there. The Preacher's Son building is a beautifully restored 1904 Gothic Revival Church and I was bowled over by the details of the building and the gorgeous stained glass windows by painter George Dombek.
After visiting with their guests for a while, Morgan snuck away to get prepared— she had secretly learned to sing the groom's favorite song. Morgan had actually spent months learning it so she could surprise him (and her family) during the reception. When she started singing, you could almost hear the room collectively realize what was happening. Every conversation stopped. Every eye was on the two of them. I’ll never forget Matt’s face! That's what I love most about weddings like this. They're not about creating a perfect Pinterest board. They're about creating moments that become part of your story forever. Sometimes the most unforgettable part of a wedding isn't something you can buy or plan perfectly.
Sometimes it's simply a love song.
From the Couple
What memory stands out most to you from your wedding day?
Our first look was our favorite part of the wedding day. We never expected it to be as emotional as it ultimately was. We both cried, and we're especially grateful to have photos of this moment. It was so special. We both still talk about it over a year later.
Honorable mention moment from the groom: When Morgan surprised everyone by singing during cocktail hour!
Advice for future couples?
Finding ways to make our wedding day very specific to us made the day feel incredibly personal. It’s easy to get caught in a Pinterest rabbit hole and for your wedding to end up looking like everyone else’s on the internet. By focusing on what would be most meaningful to us, our wedding felt personal rather than a copy-and-paste of what’s currently trendy. As you're planning your wedding, think about what represents you most, not about what’s hot on Instagram.
Some examples from our wedding: sentimental jewelry; Matt, a woodworker, made the ring box; a college friend sang at the ceremony and played the family’s favorite love songs during cocktail hour; our cake toppers and cookies were our dogs; we thrifted antique ash trays to hold our matchbook favors; and we’re big foodies so we hosted the reception in a restaurant and focused a large portion of our budget on the food.
How was your experience with me?
April was, without a doubt, our favorite vendor. Neither of us is particularly comfortable in front of the camera, but you would never know by looking at our photos. April was a calming force on a busy day, making the photo experience comfortable and, dare we say, even fun.
Vendors
Venue(s):
Welcome Party: 21C
Music: Ceremony & Cocktail Hour: Dylan Earl; Reception: DJ Shortkuz
