A Woodland Navy-and-Yellow Wedding at Anthony Chapel in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Daniel and Jacob tied the knot during an intimate ceremony in a picturesque wood chapel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. To brighten the couple's woodsy wedding they selected a cheerful orange-and-navy color palette to thread throughout the celebration. With the choice of such a unique destination, the couple decided to center their whole wedding aesthetic around the nature-filled locale. "We chose that location because I had visited Anthony’s Chapel while on a college trip and absolutely fell in love. We decided to take a trip there together to visit Hot Springs Arkansas and enjoy a relaxing getaway. While there, we went to have a look at the chapel together. Jacob also loved the space and we decided it would be perfect for our big day. Overall, we just wanted everything to reflect the beauty of nature already surrounding the chapel."

Befitting the chapel setting, the couple wove religious components into their ceremony. "We experienced both Baptist and Lutheran weddings growing up, so our ceremony ended up being something in between the two. We pulled in what we liked and left out what we didn’t. We also opted for the inclusion of Unity Candles because of the clear symbolism they represent of joining our two lives into one. At the end of the day, we definitely ended up with a beautiful and unique experience to share with our friends and family," they say. 

For the second half of the day, Daniel and Jacob chose to add a bit more formality to their rustic affair. "The ceremony was decorated very simply with floral arrangements and white candles, but the reception to follow was done up quite a bit more with elegant table settings and classic sophisticated design elements throughout. Our guests travelled a short distance to a large, craftsman style Bed and Breakfast we had rented out for the weekend. We had been lucky enough to find this place on our first visit together to Hot Springs. This place was completely revamped to accommodate our guests for the reception, dinner, and of course dancing. There were flowers and candles throughout, but we also set outdoor furniture around the patio area and out into the yard to help merge the spaces and provide enough room for our guests to spread out, relax, and enjoy the cocktail hour. My favorite touch for the reception space was the custom Jenga set that we had engraved with our names and wedding date. People had a lot of fun with that, and it looks adorable in the photos. We also had an area in the grass covered by a large white tent with outdoor lights for lounging or playing corn hole. That game was customized with our names and wedding date as well and the bags for tossing were printed with bowties. Showing up to that space after the ceremony was something I will never forget. It was beautiful, full of such great energy, and everyone was clearly having a good time. The main thing we wanted for the entire event was for our guests to not have to lift a finger and to be able to enjoy the day as much as we were."

For current to-be-weds, the couple has this advice to offer: "Start early, save lots, and don’t underestimate the importance of hiring a skilled and talented wedding planner. We could not have made our day even half the success it was without the expertise of our planner, Madison. Most importantly, don’t get too caught up in the details, the hectic activities of the day’s events, or the “what ifs” of what could go wrong; instead remember to focus on what matters most: each other, your guests who love and support you, and the solemn meaning of the commitment you’re making to one another. That is a sure-fire way to create memories you will love and cherish. As far as marriage advice goes, be humble and always remember that your spouse’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions should matter at least as much as your own. This is a lifelong commitment and the best way forward is together."