CHRISTINA DAY & RYAN ESSARY
March 16, 2024 | Private Residence | Little Rock | Kayleigh Ross Photography
Christina and Ryan met in 2013 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. They took a photo, followed each other on Instagram and went their separate ways. It wasn’t until 2022 that the two would reconnect, when Ryan was living in Dallas and Christina was there for work. She posted a photo to her Instagram story, and Ryan sent a message saying that she still had a beautiful smile. After messaging for a few weeks, Ryan flew to Little Rock to take her on a date.
The capital city’s Two Rivers Park is a special spot for the duo now. Not only is it where Ryan asked Christina to be his girlfriend, it’s where he asked her to be his bride.
He surprised her by getting down on one knee, then surprised Christina again with a celebration surrounded by their friends and family.
“Ryan and our families had planned a surprise party with all of our closest friends and family,” she said. “To this day, I am still shocked that they were all able to keep it a surprise since I am the planner in the relationship.”
WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE
Florist
Tipton & Hurst
Watercolor painting
Watercolors by Korry Jones, Live Wedding Artist
Newlywed accommodations
The Burgundy Hotel
MORE VENDORS
Wedding planner: Shelia Vaught; Photography: Kayleigh Ross Photography; Ceremony venue: Fellowship-Midtown; Reception venue: Private residence; Wedding dress: David’s Bridal; Jewelry: Nerces Fine Jewelry and Sissy’s Log Cabin; Bridesmaid’s dresses: Nordstrom; Groom’s and Groomsmen attire: Men’s Wearhouse; Rentals: Eventology; Lighting and sound: CWP Productions; Linens and chairs: Elegant Chair Solutions; Catering and bar services: Gina’s Catering; Cake: Mickey’s Cakes & Sweets; Stationery: By Invitation Only; Dance floor: Roll N Wrapz; Band: Bamboo Forrest of RAM Entertainment; Hair stylist: Hair Life Salon; Makeup artist: Bridget Baltimore; Transportation: Twin City Limousine
Q & A
Q: How did you pick your reception venue?
A: “My main goal was an ‘out of the box’ location. Being in the [wedding] industry, I wanted to have my reception somewhere different than where I worked all the time. I love so many venues in town but being able to use a family friend’s private property was a dream,” Christina said. “… It also was an added bonus that the space was blue and white, the colors of my wedding.”
Q: What wedding detail did you love most?
A: “I loved all of the decorations from the bouquet to the ceremony and the reception,” Christina said. “I knew that Tipton & Hurst, Chris Norwood and team would do an amazing job at making it look wonderful. The church was an area where we let Mr. Chris do his magic.”
Q: What was your most worth-it splurge?
A: “The invitations,” Christina said. “I fell in love with a recommendation that Erin Brady at By Invitation Only showed me, and once I saw it, I could not pick anything else. It set the tone for our guests to know the kind of event they were attending.”
“EAT MOR CHIKIN”
“I am a Chick-fil-A regular,” Christina said. “...So my mom and wedding planner were the only two people that knew that the Chick-fil-A cow was coming to the reception to pass out late-night snacks.”
MUST-HAVE DETAIL
“I wanted our guests to have a keepsake so that they could remember the fun night, and it not be thrown away once they got home,” Christina said. “What better way than a watercolor painting of their group from the wonderful Korry Jones!”
