Life. Love. Lipstick.

Tell us how you met.

I met Rhett at the University of Southern Mississippi.  He taught one of my television production courses.  We started dating immediately after that semester and have been together since.

Describe the proposal.

Rhett proposed to me at a Mardi Gras parade in Mobile, Alabama.  He is in an organization and when the parade started and once his float approached, some cops on motorcycles stopped the parade and were swarming around me.  Then all the guys on Rhett’s float held up signs saying, “Leigh Ann, will you marry me?”  Rhett was holding the “Me” sign and his mom was standing beside me at the parade and she handed me the “YES” sign.  When I met Rhett at the ball after the parade he got down on one knee in front of everyone and asked me to marry him and then he put the ring on my finger.

How long was your engagement?

9 months (February-October)

Did you enjoy the wedding planning process?

Yes, up until the week of the wedding… I had a virus that lasted all week and I was scared I wouldn’t be able to walk down the aisle.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in planning the wedding?

budgets, hoping my father would be there, my wedding coordinator was difficult to work with 

What went wrong on the wedding day, and how did you deal?

My wedding coordinator tried to change all of my music and she made my mom stay after the wedding to clean up, so my mom missed a lot of the reception.  My flowers were a big disappointment, because I order casablanca lilies and when I saw them in the church they were still buds!! 

What was your favorite wedding detail?

picking out the dress, veil, tiara, and shoes

Favorite moment of the day?

The anticipation the last few minutes right before walking down the aisle.  I was in a small room with the bridesmaids and at that moment my heart started to pitter patter. 

Was there a theme, mood, or certain colors you tried to incorporate?

I wanted a traditional, formal, and romantic mood.  I went with black and pale pink for the colors because of the classic elegance.

Tell us about the reception food. 

We had a buffet style reception, and the food served was:  blackened chicken alfredo, mashed potato bar, ham with croissants and creole mustard, spinach and artichoke dip, spicy shrimp dip, Sangria punch, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Miller Lite.

Describe the music of the day.

I had a classical guitarist (Michale Boyd) and opera singer (Glen Padgett) at the wedding.  Songs were “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”, “Panis Angelicus”, and “Ave Maria”. At the reception there was a DJ outside playing under the gazebo as guests danced.  While inside guests enjoyed songs from the Phantom of The Opera played on the beautiful baby grand piano. Rhett and I danced to Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore” for our first dance. 

Any special touches that made your wedding unique?

A special touch was the rosary passed down from my grandmother that I carried in a tussy mussy that I plan to pass down to my child.