Maggie Russell & Paul LaHue
Married
Jan 6, 2024
Memphis ,
Tennessee
Photo Credit
Kevin Barré Photography
Style Guide
Color Palette
Style
Formal
Season
Winter
The Proposal
After dating for seven years, Maggie and Paul moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma for Paul’s job in 2019. A few years downtown and a Goldendoodle later, they decided it was time for a yard, a bigger closet, and a kitchen! They found a beautiful house on a golf course in Broken Arrow (Paul’s dream) which is more commonly referred to now as “Hole 11.” Without hesitation, Paul made an offer, and two months later Maggie and Paul were first-time homeowners. As they began decorating, Paul was persistent on getting a “family photo” of them and their dog, Eloise, on Hole 11 to go above the mantle. Because Maggie is a planner of all the things (which takes time!) his patience wore quite thin and he took matters into his own hands! He reached out to one of Maggie’s photographers via Instagram and set up a photoshoot. At some point between then and December 17th, Paul decided this was his golden opportunity to turn the photoshoot into a proposal, and with the help of family and friends, he pulled it off. To say Maggie was shocked is an understatement!
In Preparation
From the very beginning, Maggie knew she wanted to design all of the elements for their wedding. Being a graphic designer, she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t been thinking of the perfect monogram and fonts for their logo and invitations for quite some time!
Paul and Maggie both are very allergic to pretty much anything that grows, so they knew they wanted minimal florals and lots of lights and candles. When their family florist heard of the engagement, she and Maggie’s mom immediately had a vision and worked together until the day of to bring it to life. Orchids are special for their family and Maggie knew if they insisted on florals, it had to be orchids. And boy did they deliver! Maggie always knew she wanted a cascading bouquet – think, Princess Diana – and Rachel delivered on that too. It meant the world to have a piece of Rachel, Maggie’s mom, and Maggie’s family walk down the aisle with her that day, complete with the handle wrapped in her maternal grandmothers handkerchief.
Living in Tulsa during the planning was difficult at times but Maggie came home every chance she had, while her mom and wedding planner Michelle held down the fort.
The rehearsal dinner was held at a very special location to them, Restaurant Iris in East Memphis. The day Maggie found her dress, which is located just a few doors down, they gathered for a cocktail and the “Second Line Band” started playing. It was a sign! They were with Maggie’s mom and Paul’s family and they knew right then they had to have the rehearsal dinner there and have the band. It was the perfect kickoff to the best weekend.
The Big Day
The overall theme for the wedding was “tying the knot” so it was only appropriate to begin the day with a “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” themed brunch with lots of bows and gifts for all of the girls. The ceremony was the most meaningful as it was held in a traditional ceremony at St. John’s Episcopal Church where the bride’s parents grew up, and later married, and raised their family. This was a full-circle moment for the whole family.
The reception was held in the Ballroom at the Memphis Botanic Garden and was inspired by New Year’s Eve in NYC. The guests were greeted with a champagne display featuring an ice sculpture and a saxophone musician. Twinkling lights lined every wall and white orchid florals with tiered candlelight on every table. The bride’s one must-have turned into the most epic balloon drop to Whitney Houston’s “I Want to Dance with Somebody.” The garden grounds were also covered in twinkle lights giving the most beautiful photo ops.
Dinner was served at three separate food stations from Iris Etc. by Chef Kelly English highlighting the couple’s favorite cuisines: Asian, Italian, and classic American. The bride surprised the groom and guests with a hometown celebrity bartender from the club where the bride and groom met. Mini late-night dessert drinks were passed in honor of the couple’s dog and their new home; “The Eloise” (chocolate martini) and “Hole 11” (brandy alexander).
The wedding cake was a five-tiered, fondant-covered design with a classic bow cascading down the front. The groom requested the outdoor patio be transformed into a bourbon bar with a rare selection of bourbon and cigars instead of a traditional groom’s cake.
The famed DJ Derreck Dansby kept everyone on the dance floor until the very end. Guests lined the walkway waving their rally towels in honor of the bride and groom’s beloved Memphis Grizzlies as the couple exited through cold sparklers in a vintage Rolls Royce.
The Retreat
The couple does not yet have honeymoon plans.
