Jordan Arrington & Alan Herrerarueda
June 15, 2024 | The Edgemont House in North Little Rock | Nouvel Photo & Film
Jordan Arrington and Alan Herrera met the old-fashioned way – through a dating app during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“I was the independent woman who never thought I’d settle down any time soon, and he was the sweet, somewhat shy guy who made me wonder if he even liked me,” Jordan said. “We went on three dates, and by the third one,
I was about ready to pull the plug. His manners were so good, I thought he just wasn’t into me!”
Luckily for Alan, a friend could see the writing on the wall and told him to hurry up and make a move.
“We can honestly say we owe our entire relationship to that moment (and his friend, of course),” said Jordan.
A 2020 visit to Northwest Arkansas ended up being Alan’s inspiration for his proposal. When he was ready to pop the question in 2022, he tried to recreate the trip, but nature had other plans.
“As we made our way to Fayetteville, the snow started to fall, the temperature dropped into the negative degrees and our carefully planned dinner reservation was promptly canceled,” Jordan said.
Undeterred, the couple continued their vacation, with Jordan none-the-wiser about the impending proposal. When the photographer Alan had hired to capture the special moment came down with the flu, it seemed like everything was officially going wrong.
“The day we visited the Momentary, Alan surprised me by getting down on one knee and the stand-in photographer captured the perfect shot,” Jordan said. “It was one of those rare moments where everything just clicked into place.”
Wedding Vendors We Love
Rehearsal Dinner Venue
The Baker
Rentals and Florals
A Perfect Bloom Florist & Wedding Rentals
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Planning and design: Ramsey & Co. Weddings and Events; Photography and videography: Nouvel Photo & Film; Venue: The Edgemont House; HMUA: Lavonne Beauty; Groom’s hair: Natural State Hair Studio; Bar stools: Eventology; DJ: DJ Afrosia; Harpist: Alisa Coffey; Catering: Gina’s Catering; Bartending: Pour Sisters; Cake: Michelle Mayer; Wedding dress: Ultimate Bride; Alterations: Altered for the Altar; Groom’s attire: Barakat Bespoke: Transportation: Emmett Parker Limousine Service
Q&A
Q: What was your favorite part of the planning process?
A: “Alan and I had a very clear vision of where we wanted to tie the knot: a Spanish-style mansion, surrounded by our closest friends and family. We were dreaming big, and honestly, we thought it might be a stretch to pull off in Arkansas,” Jordan said. “But to my shock, there it was–a Spanish-style mansion just 10 minutes away in a historic neighborhood in North Little Rock. It felt too good to be true!”
Q: What inspired the vibe of your wedding?
A: “Our wedding was deeply inspired by our cultures. As a couple with both African-American and Mexican roots, it was essential to us to create a celebration that honored both of our backgrounds,” said Jordan. “The result was a beautiful combination of everything we hold dear, a wedding that felt completely us – rooted in our cultures and celebrated with love.”
Q: Did you incorporate anything sentimental into your wedding day?
A: “One of the most special moments was when Alan’s godparents spoke a traditional blessing over us in Spanish,” said Jordan. “Another incredibly sentimental moment came from my maid of honor, a singer-songwriter. As a special gift to us, she wrote a song and performed it on our wedding day.”
Q: What was your favorite moment?
A: “It was the after-party! We finally got to let loose and truly enjoy ourselves with our guests,” said Jordan. “We took weeks of dance lessons with April from Club 27, and we ended up performing a traditional salsa routine. It was a blast, and the moment we hit the dance floor, the party really [started].”
Love in Two Languages
Jordan and Alan chose to have a bilingual wedding ceremony to recognize Alan’s Mexican heritage. “It was incredibly meaningful for us to honor both of our cultures in such a personal way and tie our families together with our union,” said Jordan.
After Party Vendors We Love
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Planning and design: Ramsey & Co. Weddings & Events; Photography and videography: Nouvel Photo & Film; Venue and bartending: Club 27 (614 President Clinton Ave); Catering: Iriana’s Pizza; Tres leches cake: Mercado San Jose; Bride’s after-party dress: BHLDN (Anthropology Weddings); Groom’s after-party attire: Barakat Bespoke; DJ: DJ Afrosi; Bar stools: Eventology; Dance instructor: April Jones (Club 27)
