Lauren “Allyse” Whitmore & Lonnie Mitchell Gibbons
Nov. 8, 2025 | Robinson Center in Little Rock | Cameron and Elizabeth Photography
Allyse and Lonnie have known each other since they were kids, but they didn’t fall in love until much later in life. Their dads grew up together, attending the same schools and church, and later reconnected after having families of their own and attending the same congregation. Lonnie and Allyse quickly became friends until he left for college.
The two reconnected in 2021 when they ran into each other at the lake. Allyse had seen Lonnie and his mom walking along the shore, and he asked her if she’d like to join them. This was the start of their newfound friendship as adults, and they soon began their relationship.
Over the next four years, their relationship grew into something they knew they wanted to have forever. In February 2025, Lonnie decided to pop the question to Allyse at the Old Mill in North Little Rock!
WEDDING PROFESSIONALS WE LOVE
Florist: Silks-A-Bloom
Lighting and vinyl dance floor: Central Arkansas Entertainment
Photo Credit: Cameron and Elizabeth Photography
MORE WEDDING PROFESSIONALS
Planning and Design: Maggie Counce with Counce & Co.; Photography and videography: Cameron and Elizabeth Photography; Venue: Robinson Center; Catering: Double Tree; Stationery and custom paper: The Social Type; Rentals: White Door Event; Custom wedding hats: Cache River Creative; Band: Diamond Empire Band; Orchestra: Arkansas Symphony; Makeup artist: Kakki Jones; Hair stylist: Katherine Grant Salon; Wedding gown and alterations: Neiman Marcus Bridal; Watercolor art: Lucile’s Studio; Wedding cake: Michelle Mayer; Groom’s ice cream: Scoop Dog; Linens: BBJ La Tavola; Engagement ring: Jones and Sons; Wedding bands: Diamonds Direct Dallas
Q: Why did you decide to go with the theme of your wedding?
A: “At our first stationery meeting, Mickey Willett, of The Social Type, pulled colors that were deep, rich jewel tones that we instantly fell in love with,” Allyse said. “My wedding planner, Maggie Counce, that day coined the phrase ‘preppy, but moody’ to match the tones we were now working with, and the phrase stuck!”
Q: Did you incorporate anything sentimental on your wedding day?
A: “Allyse’s father, Bill, was someone very special we knew we wanted represented in a few different areas of the wedding, but mainly in the flowers,” Lonnie said. “There is a funny family story involving Bill and a blue hydrangea bush, and since his passing, they have seen and used blue hydrangeas as a representation of him. Allyse also wore his watch that day, and had one of his old Polo dress shirts sewn into her dress.”
Q: Was there something about your day that felt very unique to you guys?
A: “There are so many beautiful weddings that work with muted color palettes, but that did not feel like us,” Allyse said. “We knew we wanted color and warmth, and for a beautiful fall wedding feel; we felt like, with the help of everyone, that was accomplished!”
Q: What moment of the day do you wish you could relive over and over again?
A: “Honestly, we’d love to relive the entire day, but celebrating with all of our friends and family at our reception is a memory that stands out from the rest,” Allyse said. “Having everyone we love in one space to celebrate with us, and for us to be able to thank them for supporting and encouraging us, is a special memory that stands out from a perfect day.”
Q: What surprised you about wedding planning?
A: “What surprised us about wedding planning was how easy decisions became when the ultimate goal is getting married within the calendar year,” Allyse said. “This forced us to prioritize making decisions that could fit within the timeline and were available on our date.”
Photo Credit: Cameron and Elizabeth Photography
“Preppy, but Moody”
“The florals were inspired by the ‘preppy, but moody’ wedding colors we picked at that first stationery meeting,” Allyse said. “Maggie did a wonderful job putting together flower ideas with a lot of color and mixing in some blue hydrangeas for Allyse’s dad, as well as working to bring the outside colors of fall into the Robinson Ballroom. After meeting with Brittany with Silks-A-Bloom, we decided to incorporate Magnolia leaves and branches to bring even more of those brown and green colors into the space.”
