A Charming Southern Garden Wedding for Mr. & Mrs. Dunn

Eleanor and Hunter returned to her childhood home for their wedding celebration in the ‘Friendliest City in the South’. Eleanor had always known she wanted to get married in her hometown of Minden, Louisiana. “Everyone says there’s no place like home, and growing up in a small Louisiana town where friends and neighbors are like family really instilled that sentiment in me at a young age,” Eleanor shared. She wanted her guests to experience the historic downtown brick streets, quaint bed and breakfasts, and all of Minden’s small-town charm.

The Dunns’ ceremony took place at First Baptist Church, where Eleanor attended since childhood, and, even more special, where her parents had married 35 years ago. Eleanor and Hunter’s favorite moments from their ceremony were reciting their vows from Ruth 1:16-17 and the performance of ‘The Prayer’ sung by two of her cousins and played by her long-time piano teacher. Eleanor’s personal highlight was taking a moment to peek through the window into the sanctuary to see the guests inside before walking down the aisle with her father. “Matt captured this moment, which mirrors an image from my mother’s wedding day, when she peeked through the same window before walking down the aisle,” Eleanor remembered.

After the ceremony, the guests returned to Eleanor’s childhood home for their whimsical garden-esque reception. The reception was embellished with hydrangeas, roses, and petunias (thanks to the groomsmen’s help). Eleanor shared, “The flowers were very important to both my mother and me. My late maternal grandmother loved flowers and was happiest when gardening. That love was passed down to my mother, who takes great pride in the flower gardens at our home.” To involve guests in their floral passion, they created a flower arranging station called ‘Eleanor’s Flower Market’ where guests could make a small bouquet to take home as a favor.

The Dunns surprised their guests with a picture-perfect send-off orchestrated by a family friend who put on a spectacular fireworks show. No detail was spared in this hometown backyard wedding for the Dunns.

Here’s to a lifetime filled with happiness—cheers!