Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard’s Real Arkansas Wedding in El Dorado Follows Through on Something Blue

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard
June 15, 2013 • First Baptist Church of El Dorado & The Granite Club/Old McKinney O’Connor House, El Dorado

Photos by Amy Hough Photography

Love rang true at an early age for El Dorado natives Megan Gabrielle Smith, who goes by Gabby, and Brennan Pitard. The two first met through mutual friends at the historic Rialto Theater downtown at just 14. “The moment I saw the boy with that shaggy brown hair and gorgeous green eyes, I was hooked,” Gabby says. After four years of El Dorado High School Friday football nights, holidays and vacation, college came along. The two continued dating throughout college at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. Following Brennan’s graduation and eight long years of dating, they visited Costa Rica. During a short hike with friends, Brennan got down on one knee and proposed, completely taking Gabby by surprise. “It was the best week of my life and one I will never forget,” she says. “Yes, we are those South Arkansas high school sweethearts, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard

BRIDE’S INSPIRATION

Gabby has never really been a pink girl, so they knew they would go with her favorite color blue. “Since it was an evening wedding in the summer, we decided to add a lot of white to lighten things up for summertime,” Gabby says.

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard

HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED

One of Gabby’s favorite unique details had to be carrying her grandparents’ pictures on lockets in her bouquet. “My grandparents all passed away when I was very young, and to have them with me on my wedding day meant so much to my parents and me,” she says. Another unique touch could be seen in the party favors. The couple has a lot of family from California who came in for the wedding and weren’t used to the Arkansas heat. “What better way to help keep them cool at an outdoor reception than with a fan?” Gabby says. The personal design featured “TEAM PITARD, I’m a FAN of the Newlyweds” on the back. “They were a hit and we didn’t have any left over!” she adds.

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard

Gabby Smith & Brennan Pitard

MEMORABLE MOMENT

Gabby says the reception was the greatest party of her life. She enjoyed having family and friends let loose dancing to “Shout” and seeing her little brothers and sisters eating chocolate-covered strawberries. “Having everyone we know and love from near and far was … the closest thing to heaven I’ve ever experienced,” she says. “Everyone dancing, smiles never ending, and the cake being demolished by our guests tier by tier—I mean food, music, and family, you can’t beat it!”

  THE DETAILS  
  Photographer Amy Hough Photography, Little Rock
 ♥  Videographer Kimberly K./Cinéma Vérité, Little Rock
  Event Designer Susan Turbeville, El Dorado
  Florist All About Flowers, El Dorado
  Catering/Cakes/Drinks Kacee’s Sugar & Spice, Ruston, La.
  Stationery Girraffic Arts, Fayetteville
  DJ J-Street Entertainment, Arkansas
 ♥  Bridal Boutique Proposals Boutique, Little Rock
  Bridesmaids Attire Dillard’s, Little Rock
  Groom’s Attire Men’s Warehouse, Little Rock
  Jeweler Murphy-Pitard Jewelers, El Dorado
  Hair Almost Blonde, El Dorado
 ♥  Wedding vendor we love

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