Caroline and Christian’s Carnall Hall Wedding was originally scheduled for May, but because of Covid-19 the wedding was rescheduled for July… and it turned beautifully!

The Details…

This wedding dress from Low’s Bridal (Arkansas’ largest bridal shop) in Brinkley was stunning on Caroline. And her floral details from Jules Design Event Florals were breathtaking.

I was honored to photograph Caroline’s sister’s wedding. Jenny Kate is such a sweet sister and I loved watching her and Caroline share many special moments together on the wedding day. Her sister helped her into her wedding dress.

I’m big on first looks. First looks with grooms, with dads, and in this case… a first look with the bridesmaids and the bride. It was so sweet – just imagine having 14 hype girls screaming at how amazing you look.

Of course, it wasn’t just hype. Caroline was an absolute beauty. We took a few bridal portraits on the staircase at Carnall Hall as all the gorgeous light was pouring in from outside.

The Ceremony…

I can’t say enough about this Carnall Hall Wedding, and the details were a big part of it. Carol from Amanda Reed Weddings was on site all day working her magic.

Being a warm summer day, the bride and groom thought to have beautiful hand fans (that matched the reception floral vases) for guests to use. Also, how dreamy are the floral arrangements at the end of the wedding aisle?! Great job Julie from Jules Design Event Florals.

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: first looks have no bearing on the level of emotion the bride and groom experience as she walks down the aisle. The proof is here when the bride can’t hold back her tears of joy. Also, the set up of this looks stunning… all Carnall Hall Wedding ceremonies should have the gorgeous boutique hotel in the background.

After the ceremony, I took the bride and groom around the University of Arkansas campus for some wedding portraits. Always my favorite time of the day… it gives the bride and groom a chance to spend some time together being themselves before the wedding reception festivities ensue.

I took this next shot because everyone was honking and yelling out their car windows at the couple, who was enjoying the attention and made for a really pretty image.

The Reception…

I’ve already shared how obsessed I am with this Carnall Hall Wedding reception, but I can’t help to carry on about it.

This 5 tier wedding cake from Shelby Lynn’s is absolute perfection. She included the couple’s new monogram on it as a beautiful focal point.

Both speeches were amazing, and emotional. Here’s a photographer tip: every time you focus on action… remember to also look for the reaction. Below are two images that show what I mean…

I love this first dance sequence outside Carnall Hall. Make sure to scroll to the end to see my favorite dance shot from this special moment.

DJ Derrick was here to get the party started, and the guests had such a fun time! Of course when you have a bunch of Chi Omegas… you know it’s going to be a blast.

Sparkler exits have been around for more than a decade, but they never lose their magic. Just look at this beautiful getaway from our bride and groom.

And now for the closing shot… it’s the first dance picture I mentioned above. This Carnall Hall Wedding was everything I hoped it would be, and well worth the wait.

Vendors who made this day perfect:
Benfield Photography: Wedding Photographer
Carol from Amanda Reed Weddings: Coordinator
Jules Design Events: Florist
Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe: wedding cake and grooms cake
DJ Derrick: DJ
Videography: Houston Evans Films
Catering and Venue: The Inn at Carnall Hall
Eventures: Rentals
Lightworks: Lightin
Makeup: Emarie Taldo
Hair: Lauren Welnicki