Amanda Phillips & Steven Maney April 9, 2011 Photography by Josh Malahy
The Proposal: We met at a mutual friend’s birthday dinner. As Steven tells it, it was love at first sight for him. He remembers thinking...”that will be the future Mrs. Maney.” I needed a little convincing :) After begging Deshawna for my number, Steven called and asked me out. Our first date was at the Melting Pot. I tell people that I knew I loved him within the first 10 minutes. Steven and I have always said that we are best friends first. I think that’s what makes our relationship work. When things get rough, we can laugh it off. We both seem to roll with the punches in life. We strive to always go to bed with a joke or a funny story. I think laughter is the key to our relationship. My father passed away a few years ago and Steven never had the opportunity to meet him. Father’s Day was approaching and knowing how much my father meant to me, Steven decided to propose to me at his grave site. By propsing at that location, he felt he had my father’s “blessing.” Wedding Details: We went for more of a vintage/romantic feel. We chose the Peabody because of it’s architecture. I loved the details in the continential ballroom. I chose a lace dress because I felt like it went with the aesthetic of the Peabody. My favorite DIY project from our wedding was a picture project. We asked our guests who were already married to send us a picture of themselves on their wedding day. With the help of my mother, sister, and grandmother, we framed about 50 pictures in different antique looking picture frames ranging in size from 4x6 to 8x10. We had Happi Names make name cards with the guests names on them (Mr. and Mrs. James Phillips or Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Maney) and we tied kelly green and lavander (our wedding colors) ribbon on each frame with there name tags. It was displayed on an 8 foot table at the cocktail hour and then moved to the reception area. I have sereval people tell me that it wa there favorite thing about the wedding. It certainly was mine. Our whole concept was to celebrate love, not just our love, but the love our guests have for each other. Another favorite thing about the wedding was that instead of doing your average party favors. We opted to make a donation to the American Cancer society in honor of my father, family friends, and other family members that have passed away due to cancer in the past few years. We typed up cards with a poem for our guests to take with them.
Behind the Story Photographer Josh Malahy, Florist Michael Doyle at Lynn Doyle Florist, Caterer and Cake The Peabody Memphis, Invitations & Calligraphy Wedding Paper Divas, Jewelry Ed Harris at Mary Beth Harris Jewelers, Bridal Shop Low’s Bridal, Formalwear American Tuxedo-Mike, Bridal Party Attire Low’s Bridal and American Tuxedo, Ceremony Location The Peabody Memphis Rooftop, Reception Location Peabody Memphis Continental Ballroom, Music/Entertainment e.Band-Erika Cobb, Rentals and Decor Hicks Convention Services, Officiate/ Minister Eli Morris, Hair and Makeup Jade Bartlett