Meredith Benton Photography

Victoria Ragland & Erick Isaacson
March 24, 2018 • Jonesboro
First United Methodist Church & Cooper Alumni Center

Friends really do make the best matchmakers. Jonesboro natives Victoria Ragland and Erick Isaacson began their love story when mutual friends set them up in 2016. Victoria’s friend asked her to come to a group dinner at the Jonesboro Country Club. Her friend also mentioned a single guy would be there that Victoria needed to meet. Two nights later, Erick and Victoria went on an official first date, and eight months later, they were engaged. “What’s funny, is that our moms play bridge together, and the weekend before Erick and I met, my mom told me Julie’s son was single and would be in town that week,” Victoria says. “I just laughed, not knowing I would actually meet him five days later!”

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

THE INSPIRATION

Victoria wasn’t one of those girls who had their wedding day mapped out since childhood. She didn’t have a Pinterest page or a binder full of wedding magazine tears. In fact, one of the only visions she had was for her bouquet to be a beautiful cascade-style creation. Fortunately, Victoria’s mom is a party planner; she helped Victoria map out her vision and make decisions.

COLOR STORY

Erick and Victoria were both were raised attending the First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro, having many of the same pastors, Sunday school teachers and youth leaders. It meant a lot to the couple to be wed in the place that helped shape them into the people they are today. “We wanted our ceremony to be traditional, elegant and most importantly, reflect our love of God,” Victoria says.

The ceremony florals were elaborate and brought a “flower garden” feel to the church. Victoria’s mom ordered dozens of votive candles in Victoria’s favorite scent, so the sanctuary smelled as pretty as it looked.

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED

During their ceremony, Victoria had family and close friends perform. Her cousin Charles Askew performed the song “Make You Feel My Love.” Her sister and close childhood friend performed “The Prayer,” accompanied on the piano by Kathy Abel, and on the violin by Victoria’s close college friend, Natalie Lasley. “Music has always been a big part of my life, so it was so special to have close friends and family perform at the ceremony,” Victoria says.

When they made their church exit, guests shook red pom poms as a nod to the couple’s favorite schools — Ole Miss, Rhodes, the Razorbacks and the ASU Red Wolves. They arrived in style to their reception in a bright red 1940s Ford pick-up truck borrowed from a family friend.

Above all else, Erick and Victoria decided they wanted their reception to be fun. A good band was at the top of their priority list, but other than that, they wanted our reception to be very “them.” They had an artist do a live painting of their cake cutting and Victoria’s aunt painted a picture of Erick in his ski suit for the backdrop of the bourbon bar. There was a champagne fountain and their wedding favors were custom koozies and shot glasses.

“Our buffet featured some of our favorites — oysters, sushi, chicken salad (and much more),” Victoria says. “And our late night food was a fried chicken biscuit. We tried to incorporate as much of ‘us’ into the reception as possible!”

Thinking back on the day, Victoria says she’ll always remember letting loose on the dance floor with guests and her brand new husband. “My favorite moment was when the band played Macklemore’s ‘Downtown,’” she says. “It’s our favorite song, and we had a blast singing and dancing with all our friends.”

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

Meredith Benton Photography

VIDEO


MUSIC TO OUR EARS

FIRST DANCE

"The Way You Look Tonight"
Frank Sinatra


"You Make My Dreams Come True"
Hall & Oates

Meredith Benton Photography


THE DETAILS

WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE
Photography Meredith Benton Photography
Jeweler Sissy's Log Cabin, Jonesboro
MORE VENDORS
Ceremony venue First United Methodist Church, Jonesboro
Reception venue Cooper Alumni Center, Jonesboro
Florist Deedra Stone Designs of Southaven, Mississippi
Rentals White Door Events, Memphis
Caterer,
Rehearsal dinner venue
501 Steakhouse, Jonesboro
Wedding cakes Cakes by Mom & Me, West Memphis
Videographer Lynn Productions, Memphis
Band Memphis Soul Revue, Memphis
Wedding stationery Shindig Paperie, Fayetteville
Wedding dress Maggie Louise of Collierville, Tennessee
Bridesmaids attire Bella Bridesmaids, Memphis
Groom's attire Walker Brothers, Fayetteville
Groomsmen attire TheBlackTux.com
Groom's wedding band Gotay's Gallery, Jonesboro
Hair Amber Stone, Jonesboro
Makeup Olivia Blair Yeager, Fayetteville

Meredith Benton Photography


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