MCKENNA MOORE & JOSIE BATES
October 28, 2023 | Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art | Bentonville | Emily Road Photography
McKenna and Josie met during a recruitment event for new members of their sorority at the University of Arkansas. McKenna remembers laughing with Josie, and the two quickly became best friends.
“Looking back, there is no specific moment when I looked around and realized Josie was the one,” McKenna said. “From the second Josie and I became friends, I knew that I wanted her in my life forever. What that ‘forever’ looked like took time to grow into the forever we celebrated on our wedding day.”
Josie planned a proposal that was sure to be a home run! She got down on one knee in front of McKenna on home plate at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Later, McKenna proposed back to Josie at “Lighting of the Ozarks” in Fayetteville right when all of the Christmas lights turned on for the first time that holiday season.
“Our proposals were so special to us because, although we got to enjoy an intimate moment between us becoming engaged, we also got to share our joy with so many of our family and friends that joined us.”
WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE
Venue and catering
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Planner
Taylor Hight with Amanda Reed Weddings
Rentals
Posh Party Co.
Florist
PIGMINT Floral Studio
McKenna’s wedding dress
Low’s Bridal & Formal
MORE VENDORS
Photography: Emily Road Photography; Videographer: Jessica Whalen Films; Josie’s custom white suit: Blazé Milano; Cake: Rick’s Bakery; Lighting: Lightworks Events; Ceremony music, cocktail hour and reception music: KC FLO (Patrick Lentz Entertainment); Dance floor: Center Stage Dance Floors; Rentals: Alchemy Event Rentals; Linens: BBJ Linens and Nuage Designs; Invitations: Shindig Paperie; Day-of signage: Dayflower Designs; HMUA: Catie Vanlandingham; Getaway car: NWA High Society
Q & A
Q: Tell us about your wedding look!
McKenna: “We walked into Low’s and were greeted by a sea of gorgeous white gowns. However, [my mother] saw my eyes go directly to the one pink floral dress in the back of the room and knew right then and there we would be going home with that dress.”
Josie: “My suit was custom-made by Blazé Milano. I had no specific inspiration for my wedding look other than wanting to feel like me on such a big day in my life. As a woman who embraces a more traditionally masculine style, it was important to me that I felt bridal on my wedding day in a way that felt true to who I am.”
Q: What personalizations did you plan for the wedding day?
McKenna: “Our vendors did an incredible job of making sure each and every aspect of our day reflected our personality as a couple. One of our very favorite personalizations was done on our wedding cake. Rick’s Bakery added our cats to the different tiers of the cake, and I cherish the photos of their little fondant faces!”
Q: What was your most worth-it splurge?
McKenna: “From the first day of wedding planning, Josie and I knew we wanted to splurge on our florals. Josie and I love to send bouquets to each other for even the smallest occasions, so we knew that the flowers on our wedding day had to be the ultimate expression of all the flowers we could send to one another in one day.”
NAME CHANGER
McKenna and Josie decided to nix tradition and combine their last names to create the perfect name for their new family: The Mates!
PLANNER PRAISE
“Taylor Hight with Amanda Reed Weddings was truly a fairy godmother to Josie and me,” McKenna said. “When we first met with Taylor, the vision for our wedding was—to put it mildly—all over the place. We knew we wanted color, pattern, fun—and lots of it. She brought all of our dreams to life (plus so much more).”
