LAURA BETH + NATE

Photography: Jo Johnson Photography  |  

Laura Beth + Nate

Conway // July 25, 2020

After meeting through a mutual friend while attending a golf tournament in Stuttgart, Laura Beth Wortman and Nate Smith dated for nine months before he popped the question. On that special day, Nate told Laura Beth they were headed to the horse races in Hot Springs. While en route, his dad called and asked if they could stop by their farm to help him with a stalled truck. The story turned out to be a hoax, and Nate proposed on a beautiful bridge on the property on the spring day. “The proposal was magical,” Laura Beth recalls. Immediately following, the couple celebrated with a party at the bride-to-be’s parents’ home.

Laura Beth had always wanted either a spring or a summer wedding, and while touring venues with her mom, Missy, she fell in love with the charm and classic setting at Conway’s Legacy Acres. Upon learning July 25, 2020, was the only date available in the coming year, they decided to go for it.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they had to make a few adjustments to their day; namely, reducing their guest list, transitioning from a buffet line to individual food stations, and rebooking their honeymoon to a domestic location. However, these changes could not put a damper on their day, which they describe as “classic, elegant, and romantic.” The couple exchanged vows amidst a garden-like backdrop of floral aisle runners bursting with seasonal blooms. They celebrated with guests by dancing and dining on a menu of Southern comfort food before leaving through a tunnel of sparklers for a getaway in Naples, Florida. 

Something Old, Something New
While Laura Beth’s gown was purchased new for the big day, she had pieces of her mother’s, grandmother’s, and aunt’s wedding dresses sewn along its interior. “All three of these women have played a huge role in my life and in my raising. Years from now, I will always be reminded of them when I look at my wedding dress,” she says.

Due to the July heat, Laura Beth and Nate opted for a faux cake with one layer they could cut into as a couple. Guests were given the option of strawberry, chocolate, or white sheet cake to please every palate.

Enjoy the moment! Don’t rush through the engagement process to get to ‘the big day.’

That day will come but there are special moments throughout the engagement

process that you will never get back.”

—Laura Beth

Dreamy Florals
A summer garden came to life in both the Smiths’ ceremony and reception. The aisles of the ceremony setting were lined with a mix of white and blush hydrangeas, garden roses, delphiniums, spray roses, and lush greenery. Inside the reception, floral-wrapped columns gave way to a cascade over the entry, while guest tables were in bloom with the same floral selections.

Resources
Bride’s Gown, groom’s suit, and groomsmen’s attire She Said Yes Bridal Bridesmaids’ dresses Bella Bridesmaid Cakes Mickey’s Cakes & Sweets Catering Heritage Catering Catering (signature cocktail popsicles) LePops Gourmet Ice Lollies Entertainment Central Arkansas Entertainment, Chinatown Band, and Jordan Kahn Music Group Floral design Silks A Bloom Hair Belle Cheveux Makeup Belle & Blush Photographer Jo Johnson Photography Rentals (equipment) Sunbelt Rentals Rentals (tabletop and décor) Eventology Rings Sage Fine Jewelry (Waco, Texas) Paper Goods Paper Supply Co. Transportation Arkansas Destinations Venue (ceremony and reception) Legacy Acres Videographer Britney Logan Photo + Video Wedding coordination and design Anne-Claire Allen Owens, Anne-Claire Allen Planning & Design