Mountain Home natives and high school sweethearts Sarah and Dylan Edwards love their hometown, especially in the fall. So when the couple got engaged in 2010, there was no question they’d have an outdoor wedding in scenic Mountain Home.
A week after their engagement, they visited Lydia’s Weddings in the Ozarks and were instantly smitten with the estate, which overlooked picturesque Lake Norfork and the rolling hills beyond. Seven months later, at the beginning of fall (Oct. 2, 2010), the couple exchanged vows in front of friends and family and a breathtaking view of their beloved hometown.
How They Customized
Fall-themed decor. Inspired by her favorite season, Sarah wanted to incorporate details that would give her guests a warm, cozy fall feeling while enhancing her location’s natural outdoor beauty. Ceramic pumpkins and gourds and antique oil lamps decorated the tables, as did runners and flowers in fall hues. Monogrammed pumpkins – hand-carved by the bride’s aunt and cousin – greeted guests in the entryway.
Meaningful favors. Guests were treated to jars of homemade spiced tea mix. Using Sarah’s grandmother’s recipe, the women of both families filled small Mason jars with the tea mix and embellished each with twine and a personalized label.
Homemade desserts. A close family friend (Dylan’s brother’s mother-in-law) made the 400 miniature fried pies that served as the groom’s cake. Flavors included apple, apricot and peach, and Sarah said they were all a hit. “There were none left!” For the kids (and the kids-at-heart), the couple set up an area on the dessert table with caramel apples.
Local wine. The couple decided to serve wine from a nearby winery at their reception. They’d chosen a red, a white and a rosé to be delivered on their wedding day, but little did they know, their parents had worked behind-the-scenes to have the bottles adorned with custom labels as a wedding-day surprise.
Glowing finale. After the bride/groom and father/daughter dances, the wedding party released five sky lanterns and watched them float away over the lake.
Ways They Saved
Family ties. The bride’s aunt and cousin (Becky Bradley and Natalie Slusser) served as wedding planners, saving the couple a hefty expense.
DIY details. Many of the special touches were handmade or assembled by family, including the wedding favors and all of the decorations.
Affordable printing. Sarah and Dylan saved by having the invitations and programs printed at a Mountain Home printer (H&S Printing) and by hand-tying them.
Q: What detail truly made the wedding yours?
“The beautiful outdoor, fall setting was the single most detail that expressed ‘me.’ My love of Mountain Home, the lake, the outdoors, and the fall – are all my favorite things, which I was able to share with my guests. The fried pies were a cherry on top!”
Bride’s Inspiration
“I thought of the beautiful color palette of fall, home cooking, a crisp chill in the air, caramel apples, pumpkins…all the things that make me smile that time of year.”
The Details
- Photographer: Blair Photography, Mountain Home
- Stationery: H&S Printing, Mountain Home
- Florist: Annette’s Flowers, Mountain Home
- Caterer: Sean’s Restaurant, Mountain Home
- Cakes: Jackie Gooch, Viola
- Wine: Raimondo Winery, Gamaliel
- DJ: DJ Connections, Tulsa, Okla.
- Rings: Gregory Jewelers, Mountain Home
- Bride/bridesmaids attire: Low’s Bridal & Formal, Brinkley
- Groom/groomsmen attire: Mark’s Fine Clothing, Mountain Home
- Bride/bridesmaids beauty: Megan Hudson at Studio West, Mountain Home
