Sadie and Baylor East Wedding
Q. How did you meet?
A. “Baylor and I first met when I moved to the Genoa Central School District when we were both in sixth grade. To say we’ve been in each other’s lives for a long time is an understatement. We mutually decided to try dating when we were in tenth grade and we’ve been together since then. Being with him has always been so easy and we fit into each other’s lives so well; there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that we were meant to last.”
Q. Who was in your wedding party and why?
A. “Our wedding party was full of people near and dear to us. Let’s start with the girls!
My Matron of Honor was Britnee Spears. Britnee is my cousin from Tennessee, but we’ve always been more like sisters. We used to sit around daydreaming about the day we would stand beside each other on our wedding days. I got to stand at her side in 2016, and she got to stand beside me on our day. It was truly special!
My maid of honor was Colleen Russell. Colleen and I have that friendship you don’t hear about too often. We have been inseparable since we were in the two-year-old class at Williams Memorial together. She was there with me through all the planning, pickups, and decorating. She and her mom, Rosemary Russell, also coordinated the most wonderful drive by bridal shower for me during the 2020 COVID wave.
Lora Davis was a bridesmaid. Lora and I became friends through our youth group at Williams Memorial when we were both in middle school! Lora is one of those souls you can’t help but be at ease with. She has a true heart of gold, not to mention the voice of an angel! Lora actually sang live, accompanied by Russell Martin, as my dad walked me down the aisle, which is a memory I will treasure forever.
Meredith Maynard was a bridesmaid. Meredith and I also became friends through our youth group at Williams Memorial. We have spent countless hours together on youth trips and one thing about Meredith is she is always the one to go to for a good laugh. She drove all the way from Mississippi State to be in for the wedding and I’m so glad she was by my side.
Nicole Mattina was a bridesmaid. Nicole and I haven’t known each other as long as I have known the other girls, but it sure feels like we have. I met Nicole my first semester at Southern Arkansas University while in prerequisites for nursing school. We bonded instantly over our drive to become nurses. We started together, studied together and eventually graduated together in December 2019.
Flower girls were Kacelynn Gardner and Sawyer Lawrence. Kacelynn is my little sister, and this was the first wedding she’d ever been to! Sawyer has always been a huge part of my life. I used to babysit her and her older brother throughout high school and college, so they became more like family. When I started wedding planning, I told Sawyer I didn’t think I was going to have flower girls. She was so surprised and excited the day I came over to ask her! The girls did an amazing job on the wedding day. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
The best man was Ethan Tolleson. Ethan and Baylor have been buddies since they were in kindergarten. It wouldn’t have made sense for Baylor to be up there without him on our wedding day! These two have a friendship that will last a lifetime.
Groomsman Brent and Brennan East. Brent and Brennan are Baylor’s younger brothers. We couldn’t have done our wedding without the infamous East boy trio up there together.
Groomsman Ty Reed is my younger brother and has been around Baylor since before he can remember. Baylor and I started dating when Ty was in elementary school! I was so happy to see my baby brother up there on our wedding day!
Groomsman Dustin Reed is my cousin from Tennessee, but he’s more like a brother! Our whole lives people have called us twins because we look so much alike! When Dustin met Baylor the first time when we were in high school, they became buddies almost immediately! Dustin gave us quite a scare when he got here and had to go to the hospital two days before the wedding, but everything worked out and he was there on the wedding day! We laugh about it now!
Ring Bearer Charlie Hoffman. Charlie is my little cousin, not only was he ring bearer, but he was the comic relief. If he wasn’t holding the rings, walking down the aisle, you could look for him under the “troll bridge” guarding the wedding in his full suit, or providing a hype up speech to all the groomsmen right before the wedding.
Ushers, Andrew LeGrand, Jackson Hlavinka, Luke Mueller, Parker Thomas, hold a very special place in my heart. These boys were in my small group at church from the time they were in the 5th grade until they graduated and left for college. It made my heart so happy to have them be a part of our day!”
Q. What was the favorite part of your wedding day?
A. “My favorite part of the wedding day is really hard to pick because it was the absolute best day ever, but I would have to say my favorite part was being surrounded by love the whole day. I enjoyed soaking in everyone’s company, grabbing hugs, hearing stories, etc. I also really enjoyed the reveal photo shoots with my dad and Baylor. Those will always be very special memories.”
Q. Were there any unique challenges planning your wedding day?
A. “I would say the huge challenge to planning our wedding was the COVID pandemic. There were so many uncertainties that went along with planning a wedding amidst the chaos. It got to the point where I had to let go and accept the wedding would be what it would be. The only thing that mattered was getting to marry my person!”
Q. Were there any unique characteristics to your wedding?
A. “One of the biggest things that set my wedding apart was our pastor. My Pepaw, Malachi Reed, was the one to marry us. I heard from so many how good the ceremony’s message was and how great the pastor was. It was truly so special and personal to me to have him be the first one to officially announce us as husband and wife. My wedding video even has his message voiced over in it, and I know it’s something I will hold near and dear to me for all my life.”
Q. Did you go on a honeymoon?
A. “We ended up on a plan C honeymoon, after plan A fell through because of COVID and plan B fell through because of plane problems. We drove to Panama City Beach and spent a week there on the beach. We ate, shopped, laughed, made lots of memories, and in the end, everything, though not as we envisioned, worked out with our honeymoon!”
Q. What makes our love story special?
A. “I think what makes the story of Baylor and me special is our ability to always support each other in our individual endeavors. There isn’t a time I can remember in my life when I didn’t have his full support. Our lives and families meshed so well, and it has been a blessing to become part of the East family and for him to become part of the Reed family. No matter what direction we turn in life, we will always have someone cheering us on.”
Q. What am I most excited about?
A. “I would say I am most excited about continuing to grow in our love for each other every day, take on new challenges together, make lots of memories and eventually grow a family together!”
BRIDE’S PARENTS’ NAMES
Brenda and Tim Reed
GROOM’S PARENTS’ NAMES
Kim and Jason East
VENDORS
Special Events Bartending
Sweet Treats by Sabrina
Wedding and Reception location—Off the Beaten Track, Nashville Arkansas
Rentals—Dot’s Rentals
Photographer—Alamond Photography
Videographer—Peyton Sims and Assad Malik
Groom’s cake—Cakes by Carrie
Wedding cake—Carol McDonough and Brenda Reed
Catering—Texas Roadhouse
Dress—Low’s Bridal
Hair—Sarah Kelley
Makeup—Sarah Kelley
DJ—Rusty Wright
