Real Northwest Arkansas Wedding: Deanna Waller & Terry Prentice of Fayetteville

Deanna Waller & Terry Prentice
June, 17, 2017 • Fayetteville
The Chancellor Hotel

West Coast native Terry Prentice and Deanna Waller of Atlanta met in the middle and the rest, as they say, is history. It all started in 2014 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where they now both work in the university’s athletic department.

The couple had a lot of mutual friends, but Deanna thinks the first time the two really caught each other’s eye was that Thanksgiving break in 2014 — the two have been inseparable ever since. Terry proposed in June of 2016 and the couple celebrated with close friends at Powerhouse Grill.

“I had no idea he had flown to my home in Atlanta to ask my dad for my hand in marriage a couple weeks prior,” Deanna says.

The Inspiration

Deanna’s favorite color is purple and she knew from day one that she wanted it to be the main color in her wedding. She wanted an elegant and classic feel for her big day with a touch of urban elements.

“Terry and I both grew up in big cities, and we were not interested in getting married in anything resembling a barn!”

When Deanna’s wedding planner, Elizabeth Gorman, started designing, the only thing that Deanna said she knew was that she wanted lots of purple, flowers and lights.

“Obviously this is a rather broad start, but through getting to know the couple, I came to understand that they wanted an elegant and glamorous wedding that also felt very intimate and reflected their personalities,” Elizabeth says.

The final result included cool tones mixed with lush greenery and candles to create a welcoming and luxurious feel.

When it came to choosing a venue, Deanna and Terry wanted to show their families the best of what Fayetteville has to offer.

“Sadly, many people think we live in the middle of nowhere (compared to family in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.),” Deanna says. “We had thought about having the wedding in Bentonville, but we really thought it was important for our family to experience the city we call home.”

The Chancellor Hotel provided wonderful accommodations for the couple’s out-of-town guests, and provided the more modern, upscale feeling that they were looking for. In addition, the Chancellor’s central location allowed guests to explore the campus, the Fayetteville Square, and Dickson Street all within walking distance.

How They Customized

Elizabeth remembers that on the only thing that mattered to Terry was Deanna having her dream wedding. “Also, on the day of the wedding it was so touching how both Deanna and Terry kept asking about the other,” Elizabeth says. “They both were only concerned with making sure the other was happy and enjoying the preparation!”

The couple customized their ceremony by having Deanna’s grandfather lead the proceedings. He was able to share personal stories and add a more intimate element to the ceremony. One of Terry’s groomsmen surprised Terry on the day of the wedding with a custom track & field cake. Terry ran track for the U of A and finished in 2012. Deanna got her start working with the Razorback track & field program as a graduate assistant in 2014. The couple got to know each other quickly since they were always at the track. The cake was a fun homage to a big part of their relationship.

When it came to food and drink, the couple had a signature drink made called a “Marry Me Margarita. Terry and Deanna both love mexican food and margaritas, so it was only right. Instead of typical party favor for their guests, the newlyweds tried to think out of the box.

“Since we were welcoming our family to Hog Nation, we gave out chocolate covered bacon as favors,” she says.

The Details

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