Sarah Connley & Brandon Allen
March 2, 2019
Sassafras Springs Vineyard & Winery, Springdale
Without knowing it, Sarah Connley and Brandon Allen both lived off of Rupple Street in Fayetteville during college. After being introduced by mutual friends at a concert, Brandon would ask Sarah to play with her dog Teddy just so he could see her. Sarah and Brandon bonded over their love of animals and regularly went on dates at the dog park.
The two were visiting family during NFL off-season in Arkansas when Brandon asked Sarah if she wanted to go to Sassafras Springs Vineyard & Winery for a wine night with friends. When they arrived, Brandon walked her over to the stables, which he had decorated with flowers and pictures of the couple.
“My favorite thing about Sarah is that I can always be myself around her,” Brandon says. “She is the only person I have ever wanted to hang out with every single day. We have fun doing nothing together and she will never say no to re-watching my favorite movies for the 100th time.”
THE INSPIRATION
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One decision that was particularly easy was the venue. The winery is owned by Brandon’s best friend Drew Gorton and his family. Sarah and Brandon knew from the moment the proposal was over that they’d have their big day at Sassafras.
Instead of a theme, Sarah planned around a specific color palette. Dusty blue and gold were her main points of inspiration, which were the perfect complement to Sassafras’ rustic beauty. When it came to flowers, Sarah chose airy bouquets with neutral blooms and hints of blue. Her bouquet included cappuccino roses, quicksand roses, Playa Blanca roses, white peonies, white anemones and waterfall spirea.
HOW THEY CUSTOMIZED
Sarah and Brandon went with gold accents for the table settings and lots of floating candles for a romantic feel. The couple’s main focal point was a huge wreath made of pampas grass and rose blooms made by Sarah’s cousin, Brittney Holland.
The couple’s four-tier cake featured a gold vine design made of sugar leaves floating up the side of the cake.
The couple’s favorite wedding moment was when the DJ requested all of Brandon’s former teammates and their spouses to come to the dance floor to call the Hogs together. “It ended up being about half the guests and the whole dance floor was covered with the largest humans you will ever see,” Sarah says. “We all had so much fun reuniting post-college.”
VIDEO
THE DETAILS
WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE |
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Venue and drink service | Sassafras Springs Vineyard & Winery, Springdale |
MORE VENDORS | |
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Planning | Wed By Meg |
Photography | Harold and Janie Alexander of Special Moments Photography, Fort Smith |
Videography | Austin Gilliam Cinematography, Mountain Home |
Florist | Brittney Holland with Blue Thistle of Chickamauga, Georgia |
Furniture rentals | Randal Events, Fayetteville |
Tents and heaters | Intents Party Rentals, Fayetteville |
Cake | Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe, Springdale |
Caterer | Fish City Grill, Rogers |
DJ and lighting | DJ Connection, Fayetteville |
Wedding dress | Pebbles Bridal of Woodland Hills, California |
Bridesmaid dresses | Lulu’s |
Groom and groomsmen attire | Mr. Tux, Fayetteville and Bentonville |
Hair | Olivia Blair Yeager with Dead Swanky Salon, Fayetteville |
Makeup | Adriann Duncan with Soul Beauty Salon, Fayetteville |
Transportation | Pinnacle Car Services, Benton |
Gown preservation | AR Gown Preservation, Bentonville |
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