FEATURED WEDDING – January 2010

Jessica Carter and Grant Clawson

11.07.09

The double doors opened, and Jessica Carter looked up to see him, her Grant Clawson, standing at the altar. The gospel choir from Second Baptist Church in Conway took its cue and belted “I Will Rise” by Chris Tomlin as Carter started her walk to her fiancé.

“I couldn’t see anything but him,” she said. “My whole body was shaking, and all the adrenaline caught up with me.”

Carter walked a white and chocolate brown aisle runner to Clawson, where the couple said their vows. She ordered the aisle runner from A Southern Tradition in Conway. She said it helped keep the continuing “vintage” theme going in the wedding hall.

The wedding vows were highlighted when Clawson’s father, Judge Ed Clawson, was given the honor of pronouncing Jessica and Grant husband and wife.

The celebration was taken to the Conway Country Club, where disco balls and music from the 1980s dominated the sound system. DJ Talbot Entertainment emceed the reception. Jessica and her father danced to “My Girl,” originally recorded by The Temptations.

At the reception, Jessica changed out of her lace sweetheart wedding dress into a reception dress. Both dresses were purchased at Jodi-Marie’s Bridal in North Little Rock. Jessica said her bridesmaids’ dresses — A-line, strapless dresses made of taupe taffeta and worn with chocolate brown sashes — were also purchased at Jodi-Marie’s.

The bride and groom cut into a cake from Ed’s Bakery in Conway that was iced like lace. An antique brooch clasped a satin ribbon to the second tier of the cake, as an arrangement of white and yellow flowers graced the top tier.

Rob Haynie of Vintage Motor Cars in Little Rock escorted the newlyweds to the reception in a 1939 Cadillac La Salle. Jessica said it was a fun way to add to the vintage theme. Haynie said he owns two vintage cars that he rents for weddings.

Along with his 1939 Cadillac, he also owns a 1940 Cadillac. Haynie has been in business for two years. He said he typically picks up a couple from their wedding and escorts them to the reception.

“I think I’ve got the best job in the industry,” Haynie said. He said being in the car is usually the first moment the couple have to take each other in and have a private moment. Haynie says his business is open to any part of Arkansas, though the majority of his business is from Conway and Little Rock.

Jessica and Grant decided to uniquely save the memories from their wedding with a photo booth from Vintage Photo Booth in Tontitown, Ark. The booth makes old-school photo strips, with a duplicate of each strip for the bride and groom. Anne Foster, owner of Vintage Photo Booth, said the strips are taken and scrapbooked and burned to a CD for the bride and groom.