The Lovely Elopement of Shannon Ponder & Bryan Speed

Shannon Speed

Shannon Ponder & Bryan Speed
April 24, 2021
Riverfront Park / Little Rock


“I love you, and I like you”

When Shannon met Bryan, he was a single dad working for Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, where he recently surpassed his eighth year. With the help of their son, Max, Bryan proposed at the beach in August 2020 nearly 3 years after they started dating. By February 2021, they knew they wanted to be married sooner than the pandemic was going to allow a big, safe gathering. On April 10, they decided they were going to do it just two weeks later. They landed on Riverfront Park for the location pretty quickly, with the help of Bryan’s sister, who happens to be an event planner. Shannon reached out to a few friends who dabble in photography and was able to get one scheduled within a week. They decided they’d keep things very intimate with only Max, their parents and their sisters, Allison and Brittany, in attendance. Otherwise, they kept the whole event on the down-low.

Within the week, Shannon was at David’s Bridal getting her dress and belt, and Bryan and Max’s seersucker suits were in the works. As for colors for their guests, Shannon wanted everyone in different shades of solid pastels, which turned out beautifully, like a spring garden party. The first flowers Bryan ever got Shannon were sunflowers, and she knew she wanted her bouquet and the boutonnieres to have sunflowers as the main element, along with her flower crown. Their friend John happened to have his ministerial credentials, and was more than happy to officiate the ceremony for them. John and Shannon worked out the details beforehand, and, unbeknownst to Bryan, Shannon asked him to add a line to the end of their otherwise traditional vows: “I love you, and I like you” (a quote from one of their favorite show, Parks and Recreation). Their photographer perfectly captured the moment Bryan registered what John had just said, and they shared a good laugh over it. After they exchanged vows, Shannon made vows to Max, too. 

“Hilariously, this was the same night as Little Rock’s prom, so me and a lot of seventeen year-olds were walking around the River Market in formal dresses,” Shannon says. “I looked like the one who showed up to prom in a wedding dress.” 

They celebrated after the ceremony with dinner at Arthur’s Steakhouse.

Shannon Speed

Shannon Speed

Shannon Speed

Shannon Speed

Shannon Speed


THE DETAILS

VENDORS
Gown         David’s Bridal
Celebratory Dinner       Arthur’s Steakhouse

Discover more inspiration in Arkansas Bride’s Real Weddings section.

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