Arden Brazzeal & Bill Baxter
May 17, 2019 / Bentonville
21c Museum Hotel
Rogers native Aren Brazzeal and Little Rock native Bill Baxter kicked off their wedding festivities with a colorful rehearsal dinner celebration at 21c Museum Hotel. Arden left the planning in the capable hands of Jonathan Parkey of J. Parkey and her in-laws, Lisa and Sam Baxter. The planning crew decided to keep many of the details of the rehearsal dinner as a surprise for Arden and Bill on the day-of.
THE INSPIRATION
Convenience was a big factor in choosing 21c as the rehearsal dinner spot. Most of the couple’s out-of-town guests were staying at the hotel, so it made perfect sense to host the party there. Color played a huge role in the evening and served as a springboard for the rest of the décor.
The centerpieces were a nod to the famed floral designer Jeff Leatham. Each table featured a different color scheme with corresponding bouquets precariously perched atop 3-foot cylinder vases. The signature flowers included pink peony, hot pink rose, lime green hydrangea, purple hydrangea, yellow calla lily, orange free spirit rose, orange tulip and yellow rose.
Below each bouquet, the glass cylinders featured floating candles that warmed the white gallery space and cast romantic flickering candlelight throughout the room.
Each table featured a different color scheme with corresponding bouquets precariously perched atop 3-foot cylinder vases.
HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED
The couple set the tone for the evening with colorful custom letterpress invitations from By Invitation Only. During the reception, La Tavola Linens draped the tables in swirling malachite green hues, while custom embroidered hemstitch napkins in a mixture of colors were tucked under gold-rimmed chargers and welcomed each guest to their place setting.
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Upon arrival, guests were greeted with champagne and passed hors d'oeuvres, including catfish to pay tribute to Bill’s family’s agricultural legacy.
Instead of numbering the tables, each guest found escort cards revealing their respective floral-inspired table. The color story continued with the custom-colored dinner menus that matched the escort cards.
After dinner, large sliding doors opened to reveal a game night-themed afterparty in an adjoining room. The space was filled with vintage board games, custom Baggo boards, cotton candy, 8-foot hanging balloons, giant Jenga and tabletop shuffleboard. And 21c’s signature green penguins were in attendance, dressed as bride and groom.
“Whether playing Baggo at the lake or board games on Friday night, Bill and I love a spirited competition and both play to win,” Arden says. “The after-party theme seemed like the perfect homage to us as a couple.”
WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE
PLANNING
J. Parkey
Little Rock
FLORIST
PIGMINT
Fayetteville
CATERER
The Hive
Bentonville
JEWELER
Sissy’s Log Cabin
Little Rock
VENUE
21c Museum Hotel
Bentonville
MORE VENDORS
| Photography | B.Matthews Photo |
| Furniture rentals | Hank's Event Rentals, Little Rock |
| Linens | La Tavola Fine Linens, Napa, California |
| Chargers | Randal Events, Fayetteville |
| Lighting | Lightworks Events, Fayetteville |
| Spirits | Rock Town Distillery, Little Rock |
| Paperie | By Invitation Only, Little Rock |
| Hair | Taylor Thompson with Crown Beauty Bar, Fayetteville |
| Makeup | Meghan Duncan with Crown Uptown, Fayetteville |
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