21c: Tell us your proposal story.
Madison: Josh knows that I am not one for overly romantic or sappy gestures, so he made sure to keep it simple and more ‘us’. We had just got into Hot Springs to be with my family for the Labor Day Weekend. My family was adamant about playing bag-o (aka. cornhole) so we quickly split into teams with my mom and dad and played around. When it was Josh’s turn to throw, he threw a bag with a little note taped to it saying “Will you Marry Me?” To his luck, it landed face up and when I read it I was in shock! He then walked over, got down on one knee, and popped the question! It was honestly pretty smooth!
21c: How did you meet?
Madison: This is a bit of a scandalous story, but we met in class at the University of Arkansas. The scandalous part being he was the Teachers’ Assistant! Though we really didn’t start dating until after the semester ended, so it’s all very innocent haha.
21c: What were you looking for in a venue? How did you know you found the one?
Madison: I learned about the Mildred B. Chapel during my first year in college. I obviously thought the architecture was beautiful, and interestingly enough it was practically identical to the chapel in my hometown of Hot Woodland Springs – a chapel I always assumed I would end up getting married in. However, with Josh’s family being from NWA, along with several other family and school friends, we thought the Mildred B Chapel was the perfect pick! It brought the same look and feel as the one in Hot Springs, to a more central location for all of the guests. For our reception venue, it was an easy choice. Since Josh and I both had the privilege of working with 21C while in college, we knew how well 21C puts on an event and tend to their guests!
21c: If you channel some magic penguin-godmother magic and relive your favorite moment from your wedding day, what would it be?
Madison: That’s definitely a hard pick, but I would have to say the reception! I guess that’s a lot of moments, but the venue was decorated so perfectly and the guests had the best time! Seeing everyone enjoy the space, the food, the cocktails, and the music made all the hard work worth it.
21c: What are people still talking about from your wedding?
Madison: The signature cocktail! While Josh worked at The Hive as a bartender, he would occasionally be tasked with creating a new cocktail for the bar menu. One drink he named the Sunburnt Ginger, inspired by me haha. We made that our signature cocktail and it was SUPER popular. People loved the back story and the drink itself was pretty delish.
21c: Which detail are you most proud of?
Madison: The hanging/spinning floral arrangement of the center of the reception space. It was absolutely stunning, and the florist at Pigment really brought their A-game with that piece.
21c: How did your wedding reflect who you are as a couple?
Madison: Our wedding was traditional, but still very us. We are a Christian family, but we also are a fairly laid-back couple. So we kept the ceremony sweet and to the point. As for the reception, we kept it loud and fun because that’s who we are. We love to entertain and make sure our guests have everything they could need to have a good time, and I feel like we accomplished just that!
21c: Which piece of art got the most Insta love?
Madison: Definitely our huge marque ‘The Sharps’ sign in front of the stage.
21c: Do you have any tips for brides-to-be to make their day as stress-free as possible?
Madison: Expect a bump or two on the big day! To expect anything to be completely perfect is unrealistic, and your wedding day is no different. Mimosas help too.
21c: (Out of town weddings) What did your guests love most about Bentonville?
Madison: The convenience of being on the square! Guests were very easily able to find their own entertainment or food the day before and the morning of the wedding.
