21 Jun 2009 Tying the knot

501 LIFE is excited to present a new feature this month titled “Tying the Knot in the 501.”

Throughout the year, the magazine plans to feature a newlywed couple and photos of their wedding.

In addition, the magazine will also periodically feature couples and their weddings from years gone by.
Couples interested in having their weddings featured should send a brief description of their ceremony to [email protected].

Groom’s name and occupation: Anthony (Tony) Keith Orr of Bismarck, therapeutic specialty representative for Gilead Sciences.

Where did you meet? Friends introduced us at Cajun’s Restaurant and we met at the Riverfest fireworks a couple of days later. 

Popping the question: On Aug. 14, 2008, Tony prepared a picnic and took me to the lot where we were building our house. The foundation had been poured, we ate dinner and he proposed by the big oak tree that is now in our back yard! My 30th birthday party that weekend turned into an engagement announcement.

Wedding: 11 a.m. Jan. 31, 2009, at Anthony Chapel in Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. It was a morning celebration followed by a brunch reception in the Magnolia Room.

The wedding was just what we wanted – a beautiful January day surrounded by family and friends. The glass chapel itself was just beautiful. Hand-painted banners with our names, spiritual meanings, and Bible verses framed the podium and the aisle was lined with white rose pedals.  The bridesmaids wore bronze strapless dresses and carried metallic pearl wreaths. The three flower girls (my niece and Tony’s twin cousins) were dressed in metallic dotted brown organza dresses.

The foyer flowers were my favorite part of the reception! Curly willow intertwined with orchids was arranged in a large satin covered box with roses, calla lilies and white hydrangeas surrounding the base. They were breathtaking. A smaller version of the boxes decorated the tables. Wrought iron appointments, lots of candles and white flowers decorated the buffet table. We found these precious hot chocolate cones for our wedding favors that we displayed in a bronze drink bucket stand.   
Something unique about the wedding: My mother, Suzanne Kunkel, is an art teacher at Conway High School and she designed our wedding invitations and hand-painted the calligraphy banners that replicated the invitations. 
My sister, my maid of honor, and I made the wreaths that my bridesmaids carried…representing “O” for Orr.
My nephew rang a crystal bell announcing to Tony that his bride was coming. We used Swarvoski crystal-covered initials as our cake topper – an extravagant gift from my sister. 

Something unexpected that happened: It pretty much went as we planned! 11 a.m. came very early! Mother says that she needed to clone herself and Dad so that they could be in three places at once and that without family friends, we could not have made the garden’s tight time schedule.

Honeymoon: Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Future plans: We just finished building our home in Little Rock and plan on raising a family and living there happily ever after!

Advice to other couples: During all the planning of the wedding, don’t lose sight of the relationship! Nothing is more important than the love that you have for each other! Continue to date, communicate and most important laugh. 

An interesting side note: At our rehearsal dinner, Tony pointed out that between his parents, my parents and my grandparents that there were 150 years of marriage.