OLIVIA CLAIRE SIMPSON & SAM DAVID LYLES
June 10, 2023 | Private Residence | Blytheville | Madeline Shea Photography
Olivia and Sam met during their freshman year of college at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. They had some mutual friends, but their paths didn’t cross again until a year later when Olivia found herself in search of a formal date for the annual Kappa Kissmas.
“[I] thought it would be fun to take the guy from class who I thought was charming, outgoing, kind and very funny. As they say, ‘the rest is history,’” Olivia said.
Olivia never believed the phrase “when you know you know” until she met Sam. They both often look back on their first date to the formal and say, “That’s when we knew!”
WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE
Wedding Dress
Unveiled Bridal Collection
MORE VENDORS
Photographer: Madeline Shea Photography; Wedding planner: JoBeth McElhanon with Lilias & Olive; Florist: Garden District of Memphis; Caterer: Draper’s Catering of Memphis; Late-night food: Pizza Inn; Cake: Mickey’s Cakes & Sweets; Tent and rentals: Mehaffey Tent; Videographer: Lexi Chase Media; Photo booth: ILO Photo Booth; Band: The SoulSations; Invitations: By Invitation Only; Groom’s suit: The Black Tux; Jeweler: Leslie Jewelers; HMUA: Jaydn Moore and Taylor Kinsey
Q & A
Q: What inspired your color palette?
A: “Our color palette was green - always considered nature’s neutral, one of my favorite colors, and perfect for a backyard wedding,” Olivia said. “My GranMolly, who also favors green, has a yard and garden filled with her favorite evergreens and, in summer, lush white flowers. Green exudes a timeless, elegant vibe - exactly what we were striving to attain.”
Q: Why did you pick your grandmother's home in Blytheville?
A: “My dream of a Southern wedding always included a garden-themed outdoor event,” Olivia said. “Blytheville holds fond memories from [my] earliest childhood, so it was a gift from my grandmother to have our Delta wedding in a place that has always been considered home!”
Q: What was your favorite moment of the day and why?
A: “There are so many memories to consider, but the unexpected rain was truly my favorite moment,” Olivia said “The shower came as the guests were arriving, so we swapped the ceremony and cocktail hour…As our guests mingled under the tent, Sam and I, our wedding party and family, had time to press pause and soak in the day as we waited for the delta rain to pass. This made the sun coming out as I walked down the aisle all the more memorable!”
Q: What was your main inspiration while planning your wedding?
A: “One of my favorite movies of all time is “Father of the Bride.” I showed it to Sam after we became engaged and he loved it, too,” Olivia said. “I wanted our day to feel as intimate and authentic as that backyard wedding. The idea of a tent and wonderful band felt like us - getting to dance the night away on a summer evening in June with friends and family.”
“Our first dance was “This Magic Moment” by the Drifters. I remember listening to the song once we had decided on it, thinking, “If our wedding day could be a song, I would want it to be this!” We also gathered inspiration from GranMolly’s home, with its classic style and southern charm.
WEDDING DAY SPLURGE
“Sam and I are avid music people, so having live music at our wedding was a must,” Olivia said. “The string quartet and band were certainly a worth-it splurge. The quartet played during our wedding ceremony and the cocktail hour.”
MAKE SOME NOISE
“JoBeth [our wedding planner] passed out [tambourines] after the band returned from their break,” Olivia said. “These fun keepsakes, [decorated] with our wedding crest, got everyone onto the dance floor and into a joyful, festive mood.”
