KATIE MELODY & CAMBRE AWTREY
September 30, 2023 | The Nest at Prairie Creek | Rogers | Elizabeth Salazar Photography
Katie and Cambre met while working at Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe in August 2014. Cambre was training Katie, who was starting her first day on the job, and the two hit it off from the start. Cambre’s sarcasm and quick wit won Katie over, and the two quickly became the best of friends. Shortly after, they decided to “give it a shot” and nine years later, they decided to start forever.
“We knew within the first week of ‘giving things a shot’ that this was it for us,” Katie said. “I mentioned how scared I was to tell my family about us, if ever, and just the split thought of a day without Cambre already felt impossible. We knew pretty instantly.”
Emily McClain of Aura Events + Rentals asked the couple to be the models for a styled shoot, and Cambre took this as the perfect opportunity to plan a secret proposal. Emily even asked Katie and Cambre to write fake vows for one another to really bring out the emotions of a wedding day for the styled shoot.
As a thank you for being models for her styled shoot, Emily scheduled an extra set of photos of Cambre and Katie to take at Sam’s Throne, a breathtaking overlook in the Boston Mountains of Northwest Arkansas. At the overlook, Cambre got down on one knee and proposed with a paper ring (“Paper Rings” by Taylor Swift is their song, so it’s only fitting!).
After the surprise proposal, the couple celebrated surrounded by their close friends with champagne around the campfire.
“It was the most ‘Katie and Cambre’ day,” Katie said. “We couldn’t have dreamt it up any more perfectly.”
WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE
Photographer
Elizabeth Salazar Photography
Gown
Joon Bridal
Catering
Tazikis of Catering Arkansas
MORE VENDORS
Venue: The Nest at Prairie Creek; Design & coordination: KDT Brides & Events; Florist: Thistle Florals; DJ: Elite Beats; Tux: William & Lauren; Makeup artist: Hannah Groom; Hair stylist: Hair by Taylor Nicole; Baklava: Tangiers; Coffee: Confident Coffee; Stationery & signage: KDT Brides & Events; Katie Medley; Zola
Q & A
Q: What personalizations did you plan for the wedding day?
A: “We walked down the aisle to instrumental Taylor Swift, my actual idol,” Katie said. “Cambre and her dad did a ‘first corn hole toss’ instead of a first dance because that felt so much more them…We did a Slip-N-Slide as our grand exit because we can’t show up to a barbecue without one, and every moment together is pure fun.”
Q: Was there a special detail from your decor that sticks out to you the most?
A: “If you ask Cambre, she will without hesitation say our florals,” Katie said. “Ragan from Thistle Florals truly knocked it out of the park, all while being the most relatable, helpful human…I especially loved our details table which explained the meaning behind every detail of our wedding. We were so intentional about every vendor we [hired], every song we played, every item of food we had, so this table truly spoke about us and what our wedding was all about.”
Q: What was your favorite moment of the day, and why?
A: “The entire day was exactly what we hoped it would be,” Katie said. “Fun, sentimental, and completely us. I feel so fortunate to be able to say that, but we couldn’t recreate a more perfect day if we tried.”
Q: What inspired your color palette?
A: “I feel like everyone has their own unique color palette in their life,” Katie said. “You may not even realize it, but there are always colors you gravitate towards that just make you happy. Ours are very much the colors we picked. We love nature, and we always lean towards very cozy colors.”
Q: More personalized details you loved?
A: “We had Tazikis for dinner because that’s where we met,” Katie said. “We had baklava for dessert instead of cake because every first date of ours ended in trying out a new baklava place. We had Confident Coffee with our baklava because we go there every Saturday morning together, and we adore the owner. One of Cambre's old rugby teammates was our bartender.”
OUTFIT DETAILS
Katie had no idea what she wanted to wear on her wedding day, all she knew is that she wanted to look hot! She had a fantastic experience at Joon Bridal and picked the first dress she tried on. Cambre knew she wanted something between feminine and masculine, and the suits at William & Lauren in Oklahoma City were the perfect combination!
WORTH-IT SPLURGE
Katie and Cambre agree that their most worth-it wedding day splurge was hiring Elizabeth Salazar Photography! “She took the time before our wedding to ask us what we wanted represented from our day,” Katie said. “And we [answered] fun, but sentimental. That’s exactly what she did.”
