Hannah Hefley & Derek Raiford
April 27, 2024 | The Grandeur House in Little Rock | Lela & Lyla Photography
Hannah and Derek met through mutual friends at Oaklawn – Hot Springs while watching a race. They spent the entire day together and instantly clicked. Hannah doesn’t remember the first time she realized Derek was the love of her life, but she remembers gradually realizing she didn’t want to spend another day without him.
“Everything just clicked so easily with him,” Hannah said. “I never had to worry about how he felt about me and I never questioned my feelings for him. It was the first time that I felt certain that I really knew what love was.”
Hannah caught on very quickly the day Derek was planning on proposing. Her entire family was gathered at their beach house, setting it up for the perfect day. While Derek played it cool, her family was being more than suspicious about the surprise – so she knew it was coming. He walked her to the back of the house and proposed while they overlooked the lake at sunset. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
Photo Credit: Lela & Lyla Photography 
Photo Credit: Lela & Lyla Photography
Wedding Vendors We Love
Venue
The Grandeur House
Florist
Tanarah Luxe Floral
Catering
Heritage Catering
Wedding dress
Unveiled Bridal Collection
Rigging, Special Effects, Sound, Lighting, Dance Floor, Production Design, Custom Vinyl and Rental Design
Central Arkansas Entertainment
Photo Credit: Lela & Lyla Photography Photo Credit: Lela & Lyla Photography
More Vendors
Photography: Lela & Lyla Photography; Planning and design: Jessika McCuin Weddings; Videography: Lucy Camryn Heirloom Films; Stationery and signage: Dayflower Designs; Cake: Michelle Mayer; Ceremony music: AR Symphony Quartet; Cocktail hour music: Mariachi Americana; Rentals: Eventology; Linens: BBJ LaTavola; Transportation: AR Destinations; Band: Memphis Soul Revue; Makeup artist: Kakki Jones; Hair stylist: Carrie Woodbank; Bartender: Loisrie Co.; Live painter: Sasha Mirzoyan
Q&A
Q: What detail did you love the most from your wedding day?
A: “Derek and I had bonded over our love for animals and that was one of the first things that made me fall in love with him,” Hannah said. “We loved to spend time at my parent’s barn with the horses and especially the mini donkeys, Carl and Bernadette. We were lucky enough to get to include Carl and Bernadette at the cocktail reception, which was one of my favorite parts of the wedding.”
Q: What was wedding dress shopping like?
A: “I had gone to Unveiled Bridal Collection in Little Rock first and Betsy Manning was so helpful and just really helped me sort out my thoughts and narrow down my focus,” Hannahs said. “Even when I looked other places, she was still supportive in helping me decide between dresses.”
Q: What is one thing that surprised you about wedding planning?
A: “Wedding planning was completely foreign to me, so I think there were many things that surprised me,” Hannah said. “I think most of all, I was surprised by just how early you need to make certain decisions and have certain plans in place.”
Q: What was your favorite moment of the day?
A: “I really enjoyed quickly running through the [daddy-daughter] dance with my dad right before he walked me down the aisle,” Hannah said. “And then again with Derek in the bridal suite right before we were introduced at the reception. It was really special to have those quiet moments together and then to be able to go out and do it in front of everyone was really fun.”
Garden Party
Hannah wanted their wedding day to be an elegant garden party. “I was inspired by a variety of different weddings online – particularly, outdoor weddings in Lake Como,” Hannah said. [Which is] where Derek and I honeymooned following the wedding.”
Photo Credit: Lela & Lyla Photography Photo Credit: Lela & Lyla Photography
Dance the Night Away
“My favorite moments of the day were both the first dance and the father-daughter dance,” Hannah said. “I had both dances choreographed by Dennis Glasscock, and I worked on each of them in the weeks leading up to the wedding. It was a nice distraction from wedding-related stress and a good moment to spend one-on-one time together.”
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