Kathleen Ory & Griffin Hanna
April 21, 2018
Old Main Hotel in Fort Smith • Bosky Hill Farm (private residence) in Cedarville
It took relocating to Colorado for these Southerners to find each other. New Orleans native Kathleen Ory and Fort Smith native Griffin Hanna met after college in Denver after landing jobs in the city. A mutual friend introduced them at the Falling Rock taproom and they immediately gave each other a hard time about the Arkansas Razorbacks and LSU Tigers.
The two saw each other again, but one thing or another seemed to keep standing in the way of a relationship. The third time Kathleen saw Griffin, she went right up and kissed him. They’ve been together ever since.
THE INSPIRATION
The reception venue, Bosky Hill Farm in Cedarville, served as the ultimate inspiration for Griffin and Kathleen. The private residence was built by Griffin’s grandparents. The home has an unexpected English elegance to it and meaning behind each detail.
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Kathleen had planned for their ceremony to take place outside in front of the columns at the Old Main Hotel in Fort Smith. The weather had other plans, however, and they were forced inside due to the rain. The wedding was relocated to the Great Hall, which is lined with swords, suits of armor, historical artifacts, and a gorgeous hand-carved fireplace.
Kathleen, a graphic designer, created the invitation suite. She had a friend paint a photo of the farm that was used on the save-the-dates. Her friend also created a logo that incorporated the couple’s initials, their dogs, little nods to Bosky Hill and a magnolia flower — something that’s near and dear to the couple.
HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED
During cocktail hour, a champagne tour was served while guests found their place cards. The cocktails, named after the couple’s dogs Folly and Ranger, were displayed beautifully on four-tier shelves. Their napkins even had watercolor paintings printed on them of their dogs with royal crowns atop their heads. The shelves also held custom-wrapped cherry, Nutella and apple pie pops for guests to take home.
At the end of the night, the DJ played the traditional New Orleans Second Line song so Griffin and Kathleen could parade around with umbrellas as their guests trailed behind waving white handkerchiefs. “I always dreamed about one day being able to do the second line and it was such a special experience because it was so many of our guests first Second Line,” Kathleen says.
MUSIC TO OUR EARS
BRIDESMAID PROCESSIONAL
“This Must Be the Place”
Talking Heads
BRIDAL PROCESSIONAL
“Crazy Love”
Van Morrison
RECESSIONAL
“Take Me Home, Country Roads”
John Denver
FIRST DANCE
“Sound & Color”
Alabama Shakes
THE DETAILS
MORE VENDORS | |
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Photographer | Wood and Graine, St. Louis |
Event planner | Anne-Claire Allen Planning & Design, Little Rock |
Florist | Silks A Bloom, Little Rock |
Caterer, drinks service and groom’s cake | Boulevard Bread Company, Little Rock |
Wedding cake | Sweet Boutique, Van Buren |
Wedding stationery | Card & Cloth, Fort Smith |
Ceremony music | Allison Grace, Fort Smith |
Escape Tones | Fort Smith |
DJ | Groove Productions, Fayetteville |
Furniture rentals & lighting | Randal Events, Fayetteville |
Videographer | Tony Meoli and Lucian Matucheck, St. Louis |
Wedding dress | Ultimate Bride, Chicago |
Bridesmaids attire | Nordstrom.com |
Groom/groomsmen attire | TheBlackTux.com |
Engagement ring | Newton’s Jewelers, Fort Smith |
Wedding bands | Diamond Center, Fort Smith |
Hair | Andrew Vongnarath, Fayetteville |
Makeup | Katy Campbell, Bentonville |
Charter busses | Village Tours & Travel, Fort Smith |
Rehearsal dinner venue | The Bakery District, Fort Smith |
Pie Pops | Pie Scout, Fort Smith |
Bartenders | Bohemian Geeks, Fayetteville |
See this Real Wedding as it appeared in the print edition of ARKANSAS BRIDE
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