Like many great love stories, Jennifer Stabach and Forrest Smith met in a bar. Having dated since 2008, they decided to make their love official, and we couldn’t be more obsessed with their big day!
The couple wanted to get married in May, so Jennifer planned the wedding in 7 months. Here’s what she said about the experience: “I relied a lot on friends and family to help make decisions and gather information. We really wanted this to be a family affair and tried to include our loved ones in our decisions – from food and wine tastings to choosing the venue and dress.”
The love birds said their I Do’s while surrounded by loved ones in a bohemian haven. Keep reading to uncover all the details of Jennifer and Forrest’s romantically rustic wedding at Sassafras Springs Vineyard & Winery.
On the rings: “I never gave any hints about the type of ring I would like. Forrest thought I would like an antique look, and searched several stores. On his way through Stuttgart, AR, he wanted a good reason to stop by Mack’s Prairie Wings and so also stopped by the local jeweler Wilkerson and found my ring. We returned for my matching wedding band. For the groom, Forrest didn’t want a metal band because he sometimes works around electricity. We searched Etsy and found a handcrafted ring made of elk antler, perfect for this hunter.”
On the dress: “I worked in bridal for many years when I was younger, and yet I never tried on any dresses. So, when it was my turn to play the bride, I loved trying on different gowns. I had fallen in love with a dress online, which I was lucky to find at Tesori bridal. Of course, I liked all the dresses at Tesori, but I was stuck on the one, a Ti Adora by Allison Webb. It was traditional in that it had long lace sleeves, but a unique geometric pattern on the bust and an open back gave it a more contemporary look. Like something that might have once belonged to my grandmother but that had been re-fashioned. The wrists had a row of dainty buttons (of which I completely forgot to button before the ceremony). The skirt had two layers of English Net. I had the skirt altered so that the under layers were fitted, and the shape could be seen through the top layer of netting.”
On the ceremony decor: “We were so lucky to have great weather, and so got married in the Sassafras outdoor chapel. It’s a beautiful space on its own with a stone ruin motif surrounded by trees and greenery. We brought in a few extra details – silver dollar eucalyptus chair aisle markers, white floral arrangements at the altar, and a hand-crafted chalkboard sign at the entrance to the chapel.”
On the wedding style: “When I was a kid, I fell in love with the wedding scene in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. It’s a romantic wedding in the woods.”
The Details
Photography: Awakening Photography
Venue: Sassafras Springs Vineyard & Winery, Springdale
Florist: Shirley’s Flowers, Rogers
Cake: Rick’s Bakery, Fayetteville
Pies: Fork & Crust, Fayetteville
Caterer: Catering Concepts
DJ/Band: Dakota Atchley
Invitations: Zola.com and Minted.com
Wedding dress: Tesori Bridal, Fayetteville
Bridesmaid dresses: ShowMeYourMuMu.com
Groom/groomsmen attire: Dillard’s, Little Rock
Jeweler: Wilkerson Jewelers, Stuttgart
Makeup: Crown Beauty Bar Uptown, Fayetteville
Rehearsal dinner venue: Mermaids Seafood Restaurant, Fayetteville
