Courtney Lee Bishop and Christopher Douglas Knight of Conway were united in marriage at 6 p.m., July 25, 2015, in Little Rock.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll A. Bishop, Jr., of Conway. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Betty Holman of Conway, and the late Charlie Holman and Carroll Bishop, Sr., of Forrest City, Ark.. Maternal grandparents are the late James Reginald and Alta Lee Bearden of Texarkana, Ark.
The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Sontag II of Vicksburg, Miss. and the late R. Douglas Knight of Germantown, Tenn. He is the grandson of Mrs. Agnes Johnson and the late David A. Johnson of Sheridan, Ark. Paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Knight of Germantown, Tenn.
Judge Ed Clawson officiated the double-ring ceremony held in the park of the Clinton Presidential Center. Deacon Gerald J. Harrison presented a blessing for the couple. As guests entered the park, they were directed to a welcome center set with a vintage hutch decorated with baskets of gypsophila and photos of the couple. Guests then followed the sounds of violin music to an area shaded by large trees and were seated in white garden chairs adorned with bouquets of gypsophila tied with lace. White and peach rose petals marked the aisle leading to an old oak tree and an altar with a rustic cross made by the bride’s father. A garland of gypsophila graced the cross and trailed to the lawn along one side.
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The bride, escorted by her father, wore an ivory fit-and-flare dress with lace cap sleeves. The deep Queen Anne illusion neckline featured lace; a Venice lace bodice fit to a dropped asymmetrical waistline and featured a sheer tulle and lace back with covered buttons; and the full ruffled tiered organza skirt spilled into a chapel-length train. She wore a simple ivory illusion veil and carried a bouquet of garden roses, gypsophila, brunia, and dusty miller tied with peach satin and ivory lace and adorned with a vintage locket containing her parents’ wedding pi
cture. A diamond pendant, the groom’s gift to the bride, completed her ensemble.
Whitney Allison of Little Rock served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids included Jennifer Bishop, Lauren Blansett and Mallory Lefler of Conway, and Ali Cuculic, Jessica Filipek and Lauren Griffin of Little Rock. Each individually chose their own cocktail dresses in shades of peach blush and carried bouquets of gypsophila. Honor attendants were Britney Hurlburt of Fayetteville, Ark., Ashley Kerksieck of Little Rock and Sonni Runnels of North Little Rock, Ark. The attendants wore rhinestone brooches, gifts from the bride. Flower girl Harper Bishop wore an ivory dress, a head wreath of gypsophila and ribbon, and a pearl bracelet, a gift from the bride.
Kel Clark of Conway served as best man. Groomsmen included Jeremy Atkins, John Bishop, Brad Bloomfield and Chance Lefler of Conway; Mitch Ferrell of Searcy, Ark., and Nathanael Irons of Kansas City, Mo. Ushers were Shane Elliott of Conway, Jonathan Evins of Little Rock and Zac Shipp of Texarkana, Ark. The groom and attendants chose traditional gray tuxes with ivory ties. Ringbearer Brady Bishop wore a similar tux with black Converse shoes and Spiderman cufflinks given to him by the bride. He carried a vintage doily pillow with the bride’s great-great-grandmother’s wedding band. The mothers and grandparents were seated to “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach. The mother of the bride chose a navy silk and lace tea-length dress, and the groom’s mother, a two-piece ensemble of silvery blue. Both carried bouquets of gypsophila pinned with vintage lockets containing photos of the bride and groom as children. Before the processional, Robert Evins performed “There Is Love” with the acoustic guitar. Attendants entered to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” and the bride and her father to “Trumpet Voluntary” by Clarke. Joe Snell, violinist, guided the exit with Mouret’s “Rondeau.”
The reception immediately followed in the Great Hall. A table adorned with roses spilling from a rustic steeple container greeted the guests as they entered the area. Trees covered in gypsophila flanked the doors of the hall. Inside, tables with gold Chiavari chairs and covered with ivory outlined the outer walls. Lace runners held a diverse collection of mercury glass candle holders that provided low lighting for dining. In the center, round tables were covered in lace and centered with silver tulip vases supporting massive balls of gypsophila. These tables created a focus for the bride’s cake table, which was covered in peach satin. The cake was a six-tiered butter-and-strawberry cake with butter-cream frosting featuring a textured design. Garden roses, gypsophila and dusty miller adorned the cake, which sat upon an antique silver plateau. The groom’s cake was devil’s food chocolate with chocolate-covered strawberries.
Cafe Forty Two catered the Southern buffet, offering mixed green salad, smoked blackberry glazed pork, chicken fried chicken, smashed potatoes, bacon braised green beans, and white cheddar mac and cheese. After dinner, guests danced, took fun photos in front of the lace and ribbon backdrop and enjoyed the sunset and skyline views from the balcony terrace. As guests prepared to send the couple off with a sparkler exit, they picked up personalized jars of peach jam.
Following a wedding trip to Puerto Rico, the couple is at home in Conway.
The groom’s parents entertained with a rehearsal dinner in the Gallery Room of Centennial Valley Country Club. Tables were covered with ivory cloths and burlap toppers and decorated with iron and glass candle holders and photos of the bride and groom. A buffet of prime rib and grilled chicken was served.
In addition, on Friday, the bride and her attendants were honored with a luncheon at Mike’s Place. Urns filled with gypsophila and roses along with a welcome sign graced the entrance to the private room. Tables were arranged around a large urn of hydrangeas and decorated with silver cups holding bouquets of gypsophila, “nest” placemats, personalized menus and place cards. The bride’s chair was covered with an antique ivory lace cloth tied with peach and lace ribbon and a bouquet of gypsophila. Her place setting included a monogrammed bread cloth, a gift from the hostesses. Guests enjoyed a lunch of Michelangelo’s chicken and sautéed vegetables, topped by a dessert of bridal cupcakes. Hostesses included Judy Clay, Debbie Creswell, Pam Curry, Kathy Glover, Pattie Howse, Carol Kymes, Helen Stanton, and Gail Strack.
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