Olivia Huffman & Creed Beene
June 8, 2024 | Bella Terra Estate In Cabot | Sara Toki Photography
Olivia and Creed grew up in the same church, but it all started when Olivia needed a math tutor, and Creed filled that role.
“The first and only tutoring session quickly transitioned into an informal date and became the first of many dates to come,” Olivia said. Shortly after that first date, Olivia realized that Creed was the one.
During COVID, Olivia and Creed spent a lot of time at Creed’s family farm where they would fish, talk or have picnics. This would later become the spot where Creed popped the question with a ring that showcased Olivia’s love for vintage flair.
“Creed took my idea [for the ring] and with the help of Brooks Fine Jewelry in Conway, created the most beautiful and unique representation of this,” Olivia said.
Wedding Vendors We Love
Venue, planning and Florist
Bella Terra Estate
Wedding Dress
Unveiled Bridal Collection
More Vendors
Photographer: Sara Toki Photography; Bridesmaid’s gowns: Azazie; Hair stylist: Jordan at Salon 2104; Makeup artist: Amber at Salon 2104; Catering: Micki Phillips of The Mix; Groom and Groomsmen’s attire: Bell & Sward; Rings: Brooks Fine Jewelry
Q&A
Q: What was your vision for your wedding day?
A: “We had the vision of ‘Southern Elegance,’ Olivia said. “We loved the clean, crisp feel of a modern wedding, but that just didn’t fit what we were going for. So, we decided to add the warm southern elements while keeping the clean and crisp decorations. Something that inspired me to do this was the venue itself. Bella Terra is a beautiful venue that already has so much southern character, it made it easy to add elegance through light and airy florals.”
Q: What was wedding dress shopping like?
A: “Wedding dress shopping had the potential to be a disastrous time,” Olivia said. “After a few hours of looking through a shop and leaving feeling defeated, we stumbled upon Unveiled in Little Rock. As soon as we walked in, they treated us with such kindness and automatically understood my vision. As soon as I put my dress on, I knew it was the one and Unveiled helped me to really feel like a bride in it!”
Q: What was one thing that didn’t surprise you about wedding planning?
A: “One thing that didn’t surprise me about the wedding process was how overwhelming it can become,” Olivia said. “I knew that there would be plenty of options for everything, and it was so difficult to decide on anything. The only thing I did feel prepared to do was pick out my wedding shoes, and even that decision became a last-minute one! One thing that did surprise me was how fun making the decisions with my [now] husband would be. Creed really stepped up and helped me make decisions for our special day that made it feel that it was unique to us. I was so thankful that he got to enjoy this experience too, and now they are memories we can reflect on together.”
Q: What personalization did you love the most?
A: “One detail that I loved about our day was that, for our reception, I was able to wear my mother’s wedding dress,” Olivia said. “This was a very sweet and special moment for us that really brought out sentimental value. My mom is someone I have always looked up to and admired, and I hope that I will be as amazing as a wife as she has been over the last 25 years to my dad. This was a fun way for me to bring her with me into our new marriage, and we put a fun new twist on it by adding a few alterations!”
Q: Tell us about your color palette.
A: “We wanted to choose a color palette that made everyone feel confident!” Olivia said. “With a summer wedding, I knew that the light blue, white/cream and champagne would bring the perfect summer feel while also keeping it light. Something that inspired me to stick with this color palette was how beautifully the colors meshed together in the florals. I knew I wanted to use lots of greenery and baby’s breath, and with the light blue florals added in, it created the perfect look.”
Q: What was your favorite moment of the day?
A: “My favorite moment of the day was after the ceremony when Creed and I were eating a private dinner before we went into our reception,” Olivia said. “During this time, we got to give each other a recap of the whole day and talk about how we were feeling throughout it. It was so good to get to talk and laugh with my new husband about everything that had happened so far that day and get to really soak in the moment of our first meal as a married couple before the reception craziness.”
Q: What advice do you have for couples planning their own weddings right now?
A: “… Take it in small chunks and do not panic!” Olivia said. “For me, it was so easy to get wrapped up in the small details when, in reality, no one but you knows if something does or does not happen on the day of. Just enjoy the planning time even if it is chaotic, and do not stress because it will all get done eventually.”
A Fitting Tribute
Olivia wore her mother’s wedding dress to the reception, which made for a very sentimental moment. “My mom is someone I have always looked up to and admired, and I hope that I will be as amazing as a wife as she has been over the last 25 years to my dad,” Olivia said.
Southern Charm
The couple used the Southern character of their venue to achieve their theme of “Southern elegance.” “[The venue] made it easy to add elegance through light and airy florals,” Olivia said.
