Maria Knowles & Thomas Marlow
July 13, 2024 | The Record in Bentonville | The Villar Photo Co.
Maria and Thomas met while spending a night out on the town! Maria wasn’t excited to go out after a long day at work, but she promised her best friend (future maid of honor!) that should would suck it up, and enjoy a night out of the house. Thomas also begrudgingly went out with his best friend, only to have his night totally turned around when he met Maria.
When asked about the moment she realized she loved Thomas, Maria couldn’t think of a single moment. There were too many to choose from!
“The fact we were going to get married simply emerged as we navigated our lives together,” Maria said. “We’ve been together for 8 years and 6 of those years we were doing long-distance in different countries. Even more, 3 of those long-distance years were during COVID and we were unable to travel and see each other at all … I realized that there was no one else I could imagine doing this with.”
When Thomas proposed, Maria was so caught off guard and surrounded by so many of her loved ones. The two traveled from the Middle East to Chicago for Christmas with their family so Maria’s father could experience snow for very the first time. Getting engaged was not on her mind, as she was happy to be spending time with her family.
“Thomas proposed to me with just our parents present and it was the sweetest thing,” Maria said.
Wedding Vendors We Love
Photography
The Villar Photo Co.
Planning and design
Anna with JLK Weddings
More Vendors
Ceremony Venue: Mildred B. Cooper Chapel; Reception Venue: The Record Downtown; Flowers: Kindred Blooms; Rentals: Kindred Provisions; Makeup: Karah Aleanna Artistry; Bridal Gown: Selkie; Catering: Cowboy Catering Co.; Cake: Alabaster & Cannoli; DJ: Ozark Mix DJ; Jewelers: (Earrings) Magaela, (Engagement and Wedding Bands) Point No Point Studio; Groom’s Suit: Bespoke Suits from Ascots and Chapel; Cheongsam: Beth and Brian Qipao
Q&A
Q: What was your vision for your wedding day?
A: “The description I used most during planning was a scene from the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movie,” Maria said. “It’s where they go to Rivendell and it’s just really dreamy. They’re surrounded by all this green and graceful architecture with those open windowed buildings nestled in nature, similar to Mildred Cooper Chapel.”
Q: What inspired your wedding look?
A: “I wanted to feel like I was stepping into a fantasy and the fluffy flowy dress was all I could see when I imagined that,” Maria said. “The veil was the final piece of the puzzle that pulled together the entire look … “I had to go to a local Souq where I live in Bahrain and lug around my dress to different stores to try and match the perfect fabric. Once we found it there were a few sessions with the seamster to get the size of the bow and the length just right. It was definitely one of the most memorable parts of my look.”
Q: What personalization did you love the most?
A: “I co-own a bakery specializing in cakes, so I was always going to design, bake, and decorate my wedding cake,” Maria said. “Aside from fitting into the larger wedding theme, I wanted the cake’s design to complement the topper. The topper was originally meant to be used for my parents’ wedding day but they didn’t get to. My mother gave it to me, which I thought was very special, and tied our day to my parent’s [wedding day] in a really meaningful way.”
Q: What was your favorite moment of the day?
A: “Seeing my mom dance,” Maria said. “My dad loves dancing and I’ve seen him enjoy dancing at many weddings during my lifetime. But for as long as I’ve known her my mom has always been shy of the dance floor. So seeing her and my dad both dance the entire night was super special to me.”
Q: “What advice do you have for couples planning their own weddings right now?
A: “If you are thinking of hiring a wedding planner and wondering if it was worth it, I say do it,” Maria said. “I didn’t think I wanted one in the beginning but after realizing how overwhelming it was to plan this wedding long distance I realized I needed one. It was the best decision I made for the entire wedding.”
Puzzle Boxes
Thomas’ grandparents made a habit of always gifting the couple puzzle boxes. When Thomas got down on one knee, it was her perfect ring inside a puzzle box!
Take a Hike
One of the first questions Thomas asked Maria that fateful night out was “Do you like to hike?” and ever since, the two have spent a lot of time outside. Maria wanted to incorporate the outdoors into their wedding as much as possible.
“I just really wanted it to feel ethereal like a fairy getting married out in the woods,” Maria said.
