Real Northwest Arkansas Wedding: Beth Anne Harrison & Adam Jones in Fayetteville

Elizabeth Harrison & Adam Grant Jones
June 29, 2019 / Fayetteville
Central United Methodist Church & Inn at Carnall Hall

Beth Anne Harrison and Adam Jones met in their AP Psychology class at Fayetteville High School. The high school love birds began dating during Adam’s junior year and Beth Anne’s senior year and they’ve been together ever since.

Adam popped the question at Mount Vernon in Virginia in 2018. Beth Anne was finishing her master’s degree at Georgetown at a summer institute and Adam hopped on a red eye flight to surprise her for a weekend visit. He proposed at a spot overlooking the Washington mansion, which was perfect for Beth Anne because she’s a history teacher.

THE INSPIRATION

Beth Anne had been planning her wedding since she was a little girl and knew exactly what she wanted for most of the big wedding day decisions. Erin with Erin Duncan Events helped make that dream a reality. Being a first-year teacher while planning a wedding became a little overwhelming at times, but Beth Anne’s dad reminded her that there were only three things the guests would truly remember, the “Three B’s” — the band, the booze and the bride. And because all of those things were accounted for, they were sure to have a great event.

Beth Anne’s parents were married at Central United Methodist in the same sanctuary 32 years ago, so it was a no-brainer that she and Adam would do the same. The couple even recreated some of Beth Anne’s parents’ wedding portraits in the entryway of the church.

As for the reception, the couple wanted to be outside with a “Steel Magnolias” feel. Once the idea of a tent at Inn at Carnall Hall overlooking Old Main was suggested, Beth Anne was sold. “We’re a big University of Arkansas family with lots of alums on both sides, so it made perfect sense to incorporate that into our big day with the reception location,” she says.

Her big day was inspired by outdoor Southern weddings and summer blues. She pulled inspiration from New England coastal weddings and put a Southern spin on them.

HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED

The couple had a custom watercolor wedding crest made and it became a common thread throughout all of the wedding paperie. It featured Beth Anne and Adam’s interlocking initials and hydrangeas in their wedding colors.

For her bouquet, Beth Anne kept it classic with a hand-tied bouquet filled with all-white hydrangeas, peonies and gardenias with foliage accents. Beth Anne’s mother actually carried the same flowers she did on her wedding day.

Some of her favorite décor elements of the reception were the custom-built stage front and bars that served the couple’s signature cocktail along with napkins that had fun facts about the couple and wedding details on them. There was also an area outside the tent with umbrella-covered tables and café lights strung overhead. “It felt so summery and relaxed,” Beth Anne says. “Like everyone had a space to dance, hangout, talk, eat, etc.”

Adam pulled off the perfect surprise when it came to their first dance song. Beth Anne has always loved Lionel Richie and Adam remembered a time during their second year of dating when Beth Anne said she’d love for “You Are” to be her first dance song. He had specially requested the band play it for their first dance.

“I wanted to cry tears of happiness because my life felt so perfectly surreal in that moment dancing with my husband in a gorgeous dress surrounded by all the people who love me most,” she says.

WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE

VENUE
Inn at Carnall Hall
Fayetteville

CATERER AND DRINK SERVICE
Ella’s Table
Fayetteville

JEWELER
Sissy’s Log Cabin
Little Rock

MORE VENDORS

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

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