This Sophisticated + Charming Backyard Wedding Had Some Seriously Stunning Style Moments

Prepare to have your heart absolutely melted, cause this beautiful, flower-filled backyard wedding happens to be the happily ever after of two small town high school sweethearts 💕

Eleanor + Dillon grew up together in Dumas, a little city in southeastern Arkansas. They were instant friends in school, and in 9th grade Eleanor asked Dillon out. The rest was history, and, after eleven years together, the two gathered all their friends + fam in Dumas to say “I do” right where it all began. 

“We always knew we wanted to get married in Dumas in my parents backyard because it was where we grew up hanging out together, and it’s where we started,” Eleanor shares. “We have made a lot of friends along the way through college and post grad and it was so sweet to have all of these people in our life make a trip down to Dumas to celebrate us in my backyard. It just felt like a full circle moment.”

When designing + planning their Big Day with Amanda Reed Weddings, a lot of elements came into play. One was Eleanor’s love of NYC. “My favorite place in the world is New York City, and I find myself drawing from the city for everyday style and inspiration within my own life,” Eleanor says. “But I am an Arkansas girl at heart, and we wanted to somehow create a world where my love for both could be showcased!” 

This combo of sophisticated-yet-expansive city style came together beautifully with a charming hometown feel to create an elevated, one-of-a-kind aesthetic — Eleanor remembers: “As my vision started taking life through the eyes of all the vendors in the wedding planning process florist Dale Aldridge, from Silks A Bloom, said it best: it was like the vision was ‘Ralph Lauren meets English Garden Tea Party.’”

Your wedding can be so many things: a time to explore your own personal style, an opportunity to celebrate your roots, a tribute to your forever love story. Eleanor + Dillon’s day was all three, and these amazing photos from Caitlin Wilson are the proof. 

Every single detail was meaningfully + symbolically chosen. There were flawless fashion moments (there’s a swan dress at the rehearsal dinner that you NEED to see). And the curated wonderland that came to life in the reception tent in Eleanor’s parents’ backyard is something straight out of a dream.

Dumas, Arkansas was filled with love on Eleanor + Dillon’s wedding day, and we can’t wait to show you!

The Evening Before

“My rehearsal dinner dress, the swan dress, was and is the most iconic dress I will ever wear in my life!” Eleanor says of this AMAZING look. “My sister, mom, and I went to New York to dress shop the year before the wedding. During one of my appointments at Bridal Reflections, I tried on this Kim Kassas dress. It was the most stunningly detailed dress that had these beautiful swans on it. I was speechless. My mom and sister were speechless. The three of us collectively knew that this dress had to be worn during the wedding weekend.”

“The swan dress will forever hold a special place in my heart,” the bride says.

Us too, Eleanor. Us too. 🦢😍

“Once I showed Amanda the swan dress that I would wear for my rehearsal, we immediately started incorporating the swan detail into everything,” says Eleanor, “from the hand-painted liner art in my invitation suite to the butler towels carried by servers as they welcomed guests!”

“The swans just felt like a perfect symbol for our wedding. They just created this elegant and timeless symbol that just felt like our relationship.”

Have a chic rehearsal dinner like Eleanor + Dillon’s on the calendar that you need a pre-wedding look for? Check out our rehearsal dinner guest attire style guide!

The Wedding Day

To bring the New York-inspired element of the day’s design vision to live, the couple collaborated with Shindig Paperie to create these amazing save-the-dates inspired by the iconic look of The New Yorker magazine.

“The painting on the save the dates was supposed to emulate our last dance song, “New Years Day” by Taylor Swift,” Eleanor shares. “The song creates the image of the aftermath of a party with your significant other. The lyrics of this song were on the back of the save the date were another Easter egg. I wanted to create the feeling through the save the date of how you feel when you are with your person and you have had a good night with them – in the painting as you notice there are cups everywhere, polaroid pictures and confetti are on the ground – it’s not a perfectly set up picture – but you can tell that the evening is just about over and a good time was had! I hope that is what our guest saw through that portrait and hopefully it created excitement leading up to the wedding!”

We’re HUGE Swifties here at GWS, so you know we’ve got you covered with all sorts of Taylor style + wedding details, including our collection of The Best Taylor Swift Lyrics + Quotes incase you want to include something from your favorite era on your invites like Eleanor + Dillon did.

We spy more swans!! 🦢💕 “The swans just felt like the perfect symbol for our wedding,” says the couple, “and it was so much fun hiding little easter eggs along the way through the invitation suite that built up to how the swans would be used at the wedding!”

There’s nothing more adorable than all of your besties rocking cute + cozy bridesmaid pajama sets like these ruffle edge baby blue PJs on the morning of your wedding!

Wedding shoes from Jimmy Choo? A signature scent from Jo Malone? And wedding rings from Sissy’s Log Cabin? This details shot captures the warm + sophisticated charm of the day so perfectly.

“My wedding dress was Vera Wang,” Eleanor says. “Going into wedding dress shopping, I had no idea what I wanted- I just knew I wanted something unique that felt like me! I wanted to look and feel like a bride but also see ‘Eleanor’ within the dress. Vera Wang was the last appointment we went to in New York and I still had not found my dress. I had loved several but had not had that moment with one!”

“Once I put this dress on, I just knew! It made me feel like a bride and also feel like Eleanor- it’s hard to explain! I loved how big the dress was but also how light it felt on me.”

“Ever since I was a little girl, it has always been important to me to create an outfit or style that expresses me at that time during my life. I believe your style is the biggest scrapbook of your life – you can learn so much about a person’s life through their style. It felt like such a big task to choose a look for the biggest outfit choice of my life- but there is no doubt in my mind I chose the right dress!”

The MOB stunned in this floral sequin strapless mother of the bride dress by Helsi!

Dillon went for a timelessly elegant groom vibe with this Notch Lapel Tuxedo from The Black Tux.

You’re going to see a lot of beautiful floral creations from Silks A Bloom throughout Eleanor + Dillon’s day. This sweet baby blue and bright pink bridal bouquet is just the beginning.

We’re LOVING this bridesmaid dress color choice!! Misty blue is one of our favorite trending wedding colors of the moment!

All of Eleanor’s girls rocked either the Moon Dance Verona Dress or the Austen Strapless Maxi Dress (both in “Dusty Blue”) from Bec + Bridge.

Can we get a round of applause for these bridesmaid hairstyles?! Some half-up looks. Some perfect waves. A cascading pony! That flippy retro bob! The crew was all in one hue, but every girl had her own distinct vibe!

Oh, and Eleanor’s clean + chic ballerina bun bridal hairstyle by Nicole Riley? Elegant perfection — especially paired with her sophisitcated glam wedding makeup by Madison Domenick.

🎶 Going To The Chapel 🎶

Our Favorite Memory
I think the most special moment was truly just staring into Dillon’s eyes repeating our vows and grinning ear to ear that the day had finally come and that we were going to get married. I can just still feel how giddy I was on the church stage as I was committing my life to my best friend!

“My parents got married in the same church as we did,” Eleanor says. “In one of the pew seats my parents’ names had been engraved “Martin loves Amber” and before the wedding started my bridesmaids went and engraved “Dillon loves Eleanor” on the same pew seat!”

Our Musical Choices
Processional
"For Good" from Wicked, "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King, "Enchanted" by Taylor Swift 
Recessional
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered, (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder
First Dance
"True Love Travels on a Gravel Road" by Elvis Presley

A Breathtaking Backyard Celebration

“As a couple, we chose to get married where it all started,” says the bride. “And I believe the most special way we made the wedding about us as a couple is by inviting all our friends and family, from various different areas of our lives, to come to the small town of Dumas, Arkansas and celebrate with us.”

“My parents’ backyard holds so many memories and now that backyard holds even more: the night I got to marry the love of my life under a tent filled with our closest friends and family. It truly was such a surreal feeling and what a blessing it was that we made that decision.”

Guests enjoyed delicious reception fare catered by Vibrant Occasions at tables outfitted with contemporary table decor details from Eventology and Alchemy Event Rentals and charming, patterned linens from BBJ La Tavola and Nuage Designs.

“La Mercerie is a french restaurant in SoHo that has this moody vibe about it that I wanted to incorporate into our wedding. The restaurant has this gorgeous blue velvet banquette seating along with this seasonal flower arch that is heavy with branches and greenery that sits over the arch within their restaurant,” says Eleanor. “We eat there every time we visit New York City, and I always admire these aspects about the restaurant that create such a moody vibe and how they incorporate these branches and greenery to create such a beautiful arch as the centerpiece of their space, and I wanted to try to embody this vibe within my space at the reception with branches and heavy greenery!”

Furniture from White Door Events gave the tent the luxe, night-out vibe of a chic NYC restaurant. Oh, and how cute is that custom swan-adorned wedding date throw pillow!!

The signature swan artwork featured on the custom dance floor, the invites, and so many other wedding day details? That was the work of Chez La Mariée.

“The overall inspiration for the florals for the wedding day is that I wanted it to feel like they were growing out of my parents backyard,” Eleanor shares, “that the gorgeous arrangements could have literally been cut right from their garden. Again, I always envisioned my wedding day being in my childhood home and I wanted the florals to embody the nature of being outside – Dale from Silks A Bloom was able to incorporate beautiful branches and that heavy greenery to capture that look that I was going for.”

If Eleanor + Dillon’s day has you inspired and you need even more tent decor ideas, check out this bright California wedding and this enchanted garden wedding to see two of our other fave examples of the kind of magic you can make in a tent.

Loisrie Company was on hand pouring libations for all of Eleanor + Dillon’s friends and fam.

This Swan Takes the Cake

This towering creation Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe and its delicate sugar work swan have left us absolutely speechless.

It’ll be hard to top this SEVEN TIER masterpiece, but check out our collection of wedding cake ideas for even more stunning sweet treat inspo.

Dance The Night Away

“I knew I wanted a second look for the reception and I wanted it to feel very chic and not necessarily bridal,” says Eleanor of this off-white silk reception dress. “So I chose an Orseund Iris dress for the reception! They are based out of New York and I felt like this silk high low dress was the perfect dress to bring in more of my everyday style! It felt fun and effortless and I was able to dance around and twirl in it all night!”

How cute are these his + hers late night wedding snacks! Such a classic choice 🍟 Fresh and hot from McDonalds!

Our Advice
My biggest advice is to trust your wedding planner and vendor team to make the magic happen for you. Allow your team the creative freedom to make educated choices on your behalf during the wedding planning process and the days leading up to the wedding! The rain leading up to our wedding day created a MAJOR challenge for our backyard reception. But we trusted Amanda and the vendors to do their jobs without trying to get in their way and they made the MAGIC HAPPEN. So, all of that to say, do not let the little decisions stress you out because if you have the right team behind you and allow them the space to do their jobs - you will be just as blown away as we were with how our wedding day turned out! Just trust your gut and make decisions that are unique to you and your person and I promise your wedding day will be filled with smiles and teary eyed giggles!

Lost Wax was the band on hand, keeping everybody on the dance floor, and lighting from Central Arkansas Entertainment gave the celebration its the party-ready glow.

“A wow moment for me was our last dance,” Eleanor remembers. “We knew early on in the planning process we wanted to have a last dance to “New Years Day” by Taylor Swift. We were able to use the song on our Save the Date and the song was a constant thought throughout the planning process! When it finally came to dance to the song, we just melted. It was the most endearing moment because we were able to look around and see a reception that literally mimicked the song.”

“To me, the song creates a moment that speaks to how you feel with the person you love and how you never want to do life without them. I just loved our last dance and the emotions it brought with it!”

All these Taylor-inspired moments are music to our ears. And to all the fellow Swifities out there: Keep our Taylor Swift inpired nail guide, our Swiftie gift guide, and our TSwift tattoo idea roundup on hand as we all head into our Showgirl Era 🧡

Congratulations, Eleanor + Dillon! Your sophisticated hometown garden party wedding was a perfect example of the beyond-beautiful things that can happen right in your own backyard 🥰 All our very best from GWS!