The Love Story
Some love stories start with a grand gesture, while others begin quietly, two people crossing paths without realizing just yet the significance. For Maci and Ethan, it started in 2019 during their freshman year at the University of Arkansas. They lived on the same dorm floor where everyone seemed to know everyone, yet the two barely spoke.
Everything changed sophomore year after one spontaneous lake day planned by Maci’s cousin. A simple invite turned into an unexpected turning point. From that moment on, they kept showing up in each other’s orbit. Friendship started to feel like something more, even if neither of them said it out loud just yet. That fall, Maci worked up the courage (with the help of a pep talk from her roommate) and asked Ethan to her sorority’s semi-formal. The night went so well that Maci and Ethan became official soon after, starting a love story filled with travel, snowboarding trips, a new puppy, and all the little moments that became the foundation of their life together.
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
The Proposal
What Maci thought was a casual birthday dinner for Ethan and his dad quickly turned into the best kind of plot twist. Ethan’s family suggested taking photos beforehand, so Maci dressed up and arrived “early” with Ethan to the meeting spot on campus, completely unaware of what was coming. There, surrounded by the campus memories that had shaped so much of their love story, Ethan got down on one knee and asked Maci to marry him. Afterward, they headed to the restaurant where all their closest friends and family were waiting to celebrate. A true surprise in every sense, and the happiest one.
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
The Wedding Venue
At first, Maci wasn’t sure she wanted another big life moment on the University of Arkansas campus. But once she and Ethan started imagining a tented celebration and an immersive wedding weekend, the venue suddenly made perfect sense.
The Inn at Carnall Hall allowed them to reserve the entire property—transforming it into a cozy, private retreat just for their guests. Add in the walkable campus, Fayetteville’s fall beauty, and a venue perfectly located between their families in Texas and Missouri, and it became the ideal backdrop for their “I do.”
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
The Vision
Maci and Ethan pictured a wedding day that felt timeless, airy, and softly romantic—a neutral garden aesthetic with just a subtle hint of fall. They wanted all the warmth and coziness of an autumn wedding without leaning into dark moody tones, so they built their palette around creamy whites, soft blush, layered greenery, and warm candlelight.
Their goal was simple: a day that felt elegant, inviting, and effortlessly beautiful.
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
The Ceremony
Maci and Ethan dreamed of a ceremony that felt timeless and softly romantic. Warm wooden chairs lined the brick aisle, and lush, asymmetrical floral arrangements framed the steps in creamy whites, blush tones, and airy greenery—elevated, organic, and beautifully understated.
[pull-quote data-cite-author="Person Name" ]
One of the most meaningful moments was an Irish blessing placed on every seat. Before they were pronounced husband and wife, guests read it aloud together, filling the space with words that wrapped the couple in a moment they’ll never forget.
[/pull-quote]
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
The Reception
Under the tent, the reception was designed to feel bright and inviting by day, and warm and glowy by night. Soft draping and string lights created a dreamy ceiling, while green linens, woven textures, and acrylic chairs kept everything fresh and airy.
On the tables, petite lamps, candles, and candelabras added that intimate, dinner-party glow Maci loves. Their favorite detail? A greenery installation with disco balls over the dance floor: whimsy meets romance, and the perfect celebratory centerpiece.
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
The Details
Instead of a traditional seating chart, Maci and Ethan wrote handwritten letters to each guest. Displayed on a round table surrounded by flowers, it instantly set the tone: thoughtful, personal, and deeply heartfelt. Their welcome table honored the long line of love stories before theirs, featuring photos and heirlooms from their parents’ and grandparents’ marriages.
Maci and Ethan toasted with brass goblets from her grandparents’ wedding, a sentimental touch woven beautifully into the day.
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
Favorite Moment
Maci and Ethan both admit the moment they won’t forget is seeing each other for the first time and exchanging personal vows. In that moment, everything else faded away. Another unforgettable moment felt more like a sign. Ethan’s grandfather, Pops, passed away just months before the wedding, and eagles had always reminded the family of him. During the ceremony, several guests noticed an eagle flying overhead, a powerful reminder that Pops was still with them on their big day.
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
The Fashion
Maci’s dress shopping experience was joyful and refreshingly open-minded. She explored different silhouettes early on to learn what she truly loved on her body. Then, during a Dallas shopping trip with her mom, grandmother, and maid of honor, she found clarity—and her dream gown.
[image-gallery]
The Alyssa Kristin Inez in Mikado
[/image-gallery]
Maci chose the Alyssa Kristin Inez Mikado gown, which also happened to be the very first dress she ever tried on. Some call it coincidence, we call it fate. Every gown afterward was compared back to it. Classic lines, modern structure, and that signature pointed neckline she instantly fell in love with.
She added buttons down the back and styled the gown with a soft, romantic neck scarf. Simple, elegant, and absolutely timeless—pure AK. Because the dress leaned clean and modern, Maci wanted her accessories to add a romantic, elevated touch. She leaned into pearl details, from her satin heels with pearl straps to pear drop earrings and delicate pearls adorning her cathedral veil.
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
Maci joked she would “never be that pretty again.” The gown was everything—elegant, flattering, and completely her.
The Groom
Ethan wore a deep green suit with personal touches stitched inside—his grandfather’s initials and their wedding date. True to his roots, he and his groomsmen all wore cowboy boots, and each received a custom belt buckle to wear the day of.
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]
Wedding Dress Shopping Advice
Don’t bring too many people. Too many opinions can make it stressful fast. Go to a few stores early on and try on lots of different styles before you start seriously shopping, because it helps you figure out what you actually love on your body. And one practical tip: look at a store’s inventory before booking an appointment. The worst feeling is showing up and realizing there isn’t a single dress that matches your style. There is a dress for you. You just have to find the right place to try it on.
[image-gallery]
[/image-gallery]