Real Wedding in Arkansas: Natasha Hattabaugh & Eric Bailey in Fayetteville

Natasha began searching for the perfect location for her wedding to Eric two years before the ceremony. The couple wanted a venue that was laid-back and fun yet beautiful — something that would match the informal ceremony they had in mind.

They wanted guests to feel relaxed and have a good time. Natasha was excited to learn that a botanical garden would open in Fayetteville in time for her big day, so she booked the venue a year in advance, sight unseen.

“We decided to take a chance,” Natasha says. “We couldn’t have been happier with how everything turned out.”

The Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks paired well with Natasha’s vision for her big day. She had always dreamed of a simple outdoor ceremony.

“We were more interested in keeping things natural and using the garden’s natural beauty as the backdrop for the wedding,” she says.

Since Natasha and Eric wanted an outdoor picnic feel for their reception, guests sat at tables on the patio. Natasha chose red, white, yellow and aqua as the colors of the day, so the tables wore classic red and white gingham tablecloths, and the centerpieces featured bunches of daisies. She also paired daisies with red roses for her bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets, which were tied with gingham ribbon.

“My parents used white daisies in their wedding and I thought it was really beautiful and would be a special sentimental touch,” she says.

Keeping with that theme, the bridal cake had strawberry, lemon and vanilla layers and a summery yellow butter cream icing accented by daisies.

The bride walked down the aisle with her mother and father while wearing in an ivory lace halter gown by Watters & Watters chosen for its slim silhouette. Natasha kept the train bustled during the ceremony and reception.

“It was really important to me that I be able to walk with no problem since I had to walk across the huge great lawn at the gardens,” she said. Bridesmaids wore Watters & Watters gowns in aqua.

“Something that was really special to me was having my sister as one of my bridesmaids. She did great for a little girl who just wanted to eat cake and play with the other kids,” Natasha says. She wore her grandmother’s engagement ring, new shoes and an undergarment with a touch of blue to fulfill tradition.    

Special Touches

Natasha and Eric stationed a candy table filled with treats at their reception.

“We had a lot of kids coming and I really wanted to have something just for them to enjoy,” Natasha says. The couple offered rock candy, peppermint sticks and M&M’s in their wedding colors. “It was a big hit!”

The groom’s cake, a Mario and Princess cake, played on the couple’s sense of whimsy and brought back memories. “Eric and I dressed up as Mario and Princess for a Halloween party and we included the picture on the table for everyone to see. It was just something a little silly we thought would be fun to include,” Natasha says.

The best part of the day, Natasha says, was stealing a moment with Eric before the ceremony. “We had been rushed all day long and finally had a little time to stop and take a look around at everything together before walking to the ceremony.”

Photographs by J.H. Schroeder Photography

Bride’s Cake: Rick’s Bakery, Fayetteville 
Groom’s Cake: Harps Food Stores, Springdale
Florist: Zu Zu’s Petals & Gifts, Fayetteville 
Wedding Dress: HouseOfBrides.com 
Bridal Accessories: Shoes from Baker’s 
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: HouseOfBrides.com
Caterer: Penguin Ed’s Bar-B-Q, Fayetteville
DJ/Band: Thurman & Nesbitt, Little Rock
Tailor: She Said Yes Bridal, Rogers

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