Real Arkansas Wedding: Kensel Spivey & Jeremy Green of El Dorado

Kensel Spivey & Jeremy Green
June 16, 2018 • El Dorado
El Dorado Municipal Auditorium

El Dorado natives Jeremy Green and Kensel Spivey knew each other for more than 10 years, but it was only two years ago that the “Going Green” love story began. The two began working out at Health Work Fitness Center. One day, Jeremy told his best man Dexter Jackson that Kensel was going to be his wife. Dexter told Jeremy he didn’t have a chance. A year later, Kensel approached Jeremy in the gym and joked with him that he was slacking on his workout. They exchanged a few messages and before they knew it, they were on their first date.

Kensel says she remembers the moment she knew she would marry Jeremy. They were sitting in the driveway after their third date and Jeremy asked her if she was serious about their relationship because he wanted to date with a purpose. “At that moment I knew that I had found my soulmate,” Kensel says.

THE INSPIRATION

Kensel was inspired by classic and elegant wedding styles. She decided on a black and white color scheme that translated as traditional with a decidedly modern twist. When it came to bridal fashion, Kensel kept it all chic and simple. The bridal party wore white and black and she dressed the mothers of the bride and grandmothers in silver to accent the bridal party. “I had a lot of people question the entire bridal party being in white because they thought I would not stand out as a bride, but I thought it was stunning,” she says.

Kensel transformed the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium into a black and white dreamscape. For the ceremony, the stage was draped with a white backdrop and had chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. A bistro table was placed in the center of the stage to hold the unity cross and floral arrangements with white columns were positioned on both side of the bistro table. For the reception, the venue was decorated in all white. Each table was uniquely designed with tall floral arrangements, candles, place settings and Chiavari chairs. White furniture and bistro tables were placed strategically throughout the reception venue for seating and standing areas.

HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED

Kensel decided to walk down the aisle by herself. When she reached the end of the aisle, she was joined by four of the most inspirational women in her life. When the pastor asked who give this bride away, her mother Zeddie Spivey, aunt Clara Daniels and godmothers Janice Zarebski and Edwina Taylor all responded: “We do.”

After dinner, the couple cut into a 3-tier almond and lemon sponge cake covered with traditional buttercream icing. Throughout the reception, the Front Cover Band and DJ Brandon Moore played a mix of R&B, soul, dance and hip-hop music that kept the crowd singing and dancing the night away.

Thinking back on her favorite moment from the day, Kensel says it was towards the end of the ceremony when Jeremy asked the pastor, “Can I kiss her yet?”

MUSIC TO OUR EARS

PROCESSIONAL

“At Last”
Rosetta Lusk (popularized by Etta James)

RECESSIONAL

“Signed Sealed Delivered”
Stevie Wonder

FIRST DANCE

“Tennessee Whiskey”
Chris Stapleton

THE DETAILS

See this Real Wedding as it appeared in the print edition of ARKANSAS BRIDE

Discover more inspiration in Arkansas Bride’s Real Weddings section.