Most blind dates don’t always go according to plan, but such was not the case for Olivia Thornton and Andrew West when they were set up by one of Olivia’s future bridesmaids. “Olivia from the get-go struck me as unique,” reminisces Andrew. “She was clearly someone who was full of spirit, ambition, independence, and an unmistakable excitement for life.” Olivia, too, was impressed by Andrew. “Our whole first date lasted over six hours… I remember thinking how easy it was to talk to him and how much more I wanted to learn about him,” she shares. 

When it came time to plan their wedding day, Olivia and Andrew selected Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Northwest Arkansas as their wedding venue. Not only did they love the stunning art that filled the museum and the architecture, the site was also where the duo spent many dates throughout their relationship, including the night Andrew asked Olivia to officially be his girlfriend. “When planning my wedding, I knew I wanted the whole night to be elegant and timeless, and I was heavily influenced by the architecture of the museum,” confirms Olivia. 

The spring ceremony took place in an overwater space with incredible wooden arches and floor-to-ceiling windows. “I didn’t want to take away from that, [so] I decided on all-white florals with gold accents,” describes the bride of the décor, which included gilt chairs and vanilla-toned flower arrangements. 

A string quartet played contemporary love songs as guests took their seats, and the procession included two flower girls and two ring bearers holding pillows made entirely from the wedding gown of the bride’s grandmother, who had sadly passed away before the big day. “My mom surprised me with a little charm to add to the pillows that said, ‘Love, Grandma Jan,’ in my grandma’s handwriting,” Olivia adds of the sentimental touch. 

“I knew I wanted the whole night to be elegant and timeless, and I was heavily influenced by the architecture of the museum.”

The bride made her entrance in a striking gown featuring an asymmetrical couture bow on the back. She carried a bouquet of garden roses, peonies, ranunculuses, spray roses, hydrangeas, and ruscus down the monogrammed aisle runner by The Original Runner Company to “At Last” by Etta James. 

As the couple placed much importance on the ceremony itself, they had two pastors they each know well speak on the details of their relationship over the years. “Standing at the altar is something I’ll never forget,” remembers the groom. “Everyone is focused on you, but all the while, I could only focus on her.” After Olivia and Andrew were pronounced husband and wife, the string quartet played “Signed Sealed Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder to set the stage for a fun night ahead. 

The reception space was a vision of elegance with round tables strewn with neutral linens, surrounded by bullion-backed chairs, and topped with high and low centerpieces comprised of all-white hydrangeas, garden roses, larkspur, stock, and spray roses mixed with delicate greenery. The long head table was adorned with a sparkling patterned overlay in gold, pillar and taper candles on golden stands, as well as ivory florals in low gilt vessels and towering crystal vases. 

“One of my favorite parts of [the museum] has always been the massive gold heart created by contemporary artist Jeff Koons that is hanging with a ‘ribbon’ tied in a bow in the middle of where the reception would take place. I wanted the dance floor centered directly under the heart,” shares Olivia of the Hanging Heart sculpture, adding that the escort cards and menus were designed to honor the piece. After the sit-down dinner service, loved ones enjoyed slices of the four-tier wedding cake, which was decorated with a fondant bow inspired by the bride’s dress, and danced into the night. 

Before the newlyweds’ grand exit, they took part in a private last dance together, which was an incredibly memorable moment for Olivia and Andrew. “The calm after the storm, so to speak,” notes the groom. When looking back on their special day, the couple affirms their museum wedding went seamlessly thanks to their amazing team. “Everything was exactly how I pictured it would be,” smiles Olivia. “They truly did make all my dreams come true!”

This real wedding was originally published in the Spring 2024 expanded-digital issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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