Fayetteville Arkansas Wedding: Andrea Dorsey & Phillip Stickney

Andrea Dorsey & Phillip Stickney
January 21, 2012 • Central United Methodist & Scarpino, Fayetteville
Photos by The Photo Love

Click here to view this Real Wedding spread and more photographs in our Fall/Winter 2012 issue.

As Andrea of Hot Springs was giving a presentation at a new-hire orientation, Phillip of Fayetteville was paying close attention. Because she happened to work for the same company, Phillip asked his mother about her co-workers, and ultimately Andrea. His mom then set up a first meeting for the two, where they hit it off and began dating. The couple held their 1950s-themed wedding, a decade Andrea has admired since she was a little girl, this past winter.

How They Customized
Since Andrea has been a fan of Elvis, Sinatra, Marilyn, and everything ‘40s/‘50s since she was a child, they decided on styling everything around the “Big Band Era.” She wanted the space to look like guests had just entered a swanky nightclub from that time-period. “We tried to make it feel as if our guests had stepped onto a movie set,” Andrea said. “We even had a light smoky-haze in the room to give it the feel of a real nightclub.”

Ways They Saved
Since Andrea has experience in planning events professionally for her job, she had knowledge of standard food costs and how to negotiate fees. In particular, she bought lamp shades, but rented bases. The rental company decided not to charge her for the bases in exchange for keeping the lamps.

American Idol
The groom’s cousin, Kris Allen (season eight winner of “American Idol”) performed “The Prayer” during the ceremony and “Stand by Me” for the couple’s first dance. And in honor of their grandparents, Angela and Phillip wore items in remembrance of them. For example, Phillip wore Grandfather Stickney’s Purple Heart medal.

What detail truly made the wedding yours?
“I actually used a lot of décor elements from my own house! We brought in some of my personal pillows and a rug; and my favorite Marilyn Monroe picture and Elvis hardcover books were on the coffee tables. I brought in my vintage decanters for the champagne bar and even used my great-grandmother’s ‘gossip chair’ with a vintage black phone as part of the décor.”

THE DETAILS
Photography: The Photo Love
Florist: Jules Design, Fayetteville
Cakes: Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe, Springdale
Caterer/Drinks: The Event Group Catering, Fayetteville
Rentals/Lighting: Eventures, Fayetteville
DJ/Band: Jack Mitchell Big Band, Bella Vista
Gown: The Bridal Cottage, North Little Rock
Groom/groomsmen attire: Mr. Tux, Fayetteville
Jeweler: Romance Diamond Co., Fayetteville