Lewallen-Manseau Wedding

Photos by Anna Davis of Key Elements

Sunday, April 8th, 2018, saw the marriage of Natalie Marie Manseau, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert (Bridgett) Newman of Collierville, Tennessee and Mr. and Mrs. Brent (Jayna) Manseau of Munford, and Parker Lewallen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray (Stefanie) Lewallen of Collierville. Both the ceremony and reception were held at Bellamia (formerly Carahills II) in Gallaway, Tennessee. Beautiful magnolias and roses decorated the aisles and staircases. Mr. Cary Vaughn of Love Worth Finding officiated the ceremony and Robert Newman read scripture.

Rebecca Manseau stood beside her sister as the maid of honor and Corley Franks, the groom’s sister, and Ella Carson rounded out the bridal party as bridesmaids. The bridal party wore floor-length blush dresses. The bodices were overlayed with blush lace and a knee-high slit added sophistication to the dresses from David’s Bridal. Their hair was braided back from their faces and silver heels completed their ensembles.

Zach Lewallen, Parker’s brother, was alongside him as his best man. Carson Manseau, the bride’s brother, and Nathan Franks were his groomsmen. They wore navy suits with blush vests and bowties. Parker, the groom, also wore a navy suit with a blush vest and tie. The suits were purchased from New York Suit Exchange. Pink rose boutonniére completed the suits.

To honor the ‘Something old, something new…’ traditions, Natalie placed sixpence in her shoe that had been passed down from her grandmother;  a very sweet tradition that started in 1968, it had been used by every bride in her family since then. The groom’s grandmother, Gloria Parker, lent the bride her beautiful diamond necklace. Her garter was blue, and her new wedding gown was the real showstopper.

Natalie was resplendent in her ballgown wedding dress. The bodice boasted intricate jewels that followed the underlying lace pattern. The skirt included tiny sequins under a few layers of organza that added some shimmer and shine. Delicate buttons lined Natalie’s spine. Behind her, a six-foot train and 72-inch veil edged in pearls and jewels created a stunning effect as she glided down the aisle. A pearl and diamond headband held the veil in place. Kelly Chambers applied the bride’s makeup, making Natalie’s blue eyes pop with black eyeliner and finished her look with a soft pink lipstick. Main Street Hair Group’s Allyson McLean styled the bride’s hair into soft curls pulled back from her face.

During the ceremony, Olivia Gray sang ‘Marry Me’ by Train and Rebecca Manseau, the maid of honor, sang ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran. The bridal party carried fresh bouquets of white, pink, and blush roses. The bride’s bouquet was made of white and aged silk roses, wrapped in lace and a diamond brooch pinned to the lace; the bride’s mother created the bouquet.

Anna Davis of Key Elements photographed the life-changing event and AJ Petersen was the couple’s videographer.

T he reception treated guests to a buffet catered by Pink Flamingo. There was a delectable choice of parmesan crusted chicken, roast beef in gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, a seasonal salad, and bread. For dessert, Mrs. Bridgett Newman (the bride’s mother) created a towering five-tiered wedding cake. Each tier was a different flavor— chocolate, vanilla, and marbled. The icing was alternating colors of pearl and blush and had jewels around the pearl tiers while lace buttercream decorated the rest of the tiers. Donna Enriquez of Aunt Donna’s Cakes in Collierville, Tennessee, topped cake’s tiers with white and pink roses, baby’s breath, and a cursive “L.”

Donna also made something special for the groom’s cake. It was a red velvet cake decorated with the Ole Miss mascot, with “Ole Miss Rebels” written on the sides of the cake. Parker is an Ole Miss alumnus.

DJ Epic provided music for guests’ entertainment. Garth Brooks’ “Make You Feel My Love” was the song to which Natalie and Parker shared their first dance as man and wife. Natalie and her father danced to Chuck Wicks’ “Stealing Cinderella.” Parker and his mother enjoyed “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack.

Stefanie Lewallen, the groom’s mother, hosted a surprise engagement party in the couple’s future home. Natalie’s bridal shower was thrown in the home of Bart and Shay Shepko; Shay Sepko and Martina Carol Carpenter hosted the shower.

Gloria and Jack Parker held Parker’s birthday party and groom’s shower in their home; the groom’s parents hosted the party.

The rehearsal dinner was memorable, hosted by Stefanie and Ray Lewallen, the groom’s parents, held on the upper floor of the Crescent Club in Memphis. An open-air balcony overlooking east Memphis; the room was decorated with softly lit floral arrangements; the tables sported silver and blush silk tablecloths with sequined navy runners. Guests feasted on prime beef tenderloin, pan-seared grouper, au gratin potatoes, glazed carrots, sauteed asparagus with creole mustard sauce, silver dollar rolls, horseradish cream, and pan sauce. For dessert, there was cheesecake with fresh strawberries and a caramel apple tart.

On the morning of the wedding, Shay Sepko hosted the bridesmaid’s breakfast. Gifts were exchanged and a lively breakfast ensued!  The girls feasted on pancakes, bacon, strawberries, melons, and mimosas. Gifts from the bride to her maids featured Everything Pink Bathbombs, candles, bridesmaid signs, wine glasses with ‘Bridesmaid’ on them, and Kendra Scott ‘Pink’ necklaces.

Natalie and Parker first met as children. They were both playing in the Grove at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. Both the Lewallens and Manseaus are avid supporters of the University. 15 years later, they were reintroduced by Bart, Natalie’s uncle, and Ray, Parker’s father. They clicked immediately! Both love the same movies, food, and college team—the Ole Miss Rebels!

On January 31st, 2018, Parker invited Natalie and their families to tour a house that he was thinking of buying. He pulled Natalie aside and presented her with a housing contract. He then dropped to one knee, proposing. Natalie got a fiancé and dream home on the same magical night.

Parker is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. Natalie works at Primary Eye Care of Arlington as an optometrist technician. They honeymooned in Destin, Florida and now live in Arlington, Tennessee.