{Bride} Johnna Elizabeth McDougal
{Groom} Reid Burke Strange
{Hometowns} Booneville, MS (Johnna), Hernando, MS (Reid)
{Wedding Site} Oxford University United Methodist Church- Oxford, MS
{Reception Site} The Lyric- Oxford, MS
{How did the two of you meet?} We have a lot of mutual friends. In fact 4 of his groomsmen were my high school friends and 2 of my bridesmaids were his high school friends. We were bound to meet sooner or later, but we met when I came to visit Ole Miss the spring of my senior year of high school. We hit it off right from the start!
{What is your proposal story?} On Valentines Day our first year doing long distance, Reid left an apple on my doorstep. He said it was a hint to my present which ended up being a trip to New York (the Big Apple) the following May. He said we were going to visit his best friend and he was going to go on a prime turkey hunting trip an hour outside of the city. So the weekend of the trip came and we headed to NYC. Everything went off without a hitch; Reid got up and went “hunting” the Saturday morning as planned. He got back to the hotel just in time to take me to dinner with his best friend who conveniently canceled as just as we were leaving the hotel. We arrived at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to make our reservations at the Asiate where we were sat at the best table in the house with the most amazing view of Central Park. We had the most delicious dinner and right before dessert our conversation turned serious and before I knew it he was on one knee and tears were flowing while the whole restaurant cheered as I promised to be his for the rest of my life.
{What inspired your wedding and reception locations?} Reid and I both went to school at Ole Miss and we visit Oxford often. It was an easy choice for the location and the fact that it was about equal distance from both of our hometowns was just icing on the cake. Oxford just has a charm about it that we couldn’t resist. We knew we wanted to have everything located on the square and the Methodist Church is so beautiful. The lyric was our venue of choice for reception because it allowed for everything to be held in the same room and I just love the style of it.
{What inspired your color scheme/theme/flowers?} I had many people tell me that my wedding and reception were so “me” and I loved that. I went with a champagne color and light pink. The reception décor featured sequins and chandeliers.
{How did you pick “the dress?”} My mom, Reid’s mom, and Reid’s sister Allie visited Lows Bridal. I always knew I wanted to go there to get my dress. When we walked in we were blown away with all of the wedding dresses. I tried on dresses for 4 hours but fell in love with the very last one I tried on, right before the salon was closing. We face-timed my sister-in-law Elizabeth to get the final approval and we were set!!
{What’s your favorite unique accessory? Is there a story behind it?} My favorite accessory was the birthstone ring attached to my wedding bouquet. When my mom and step-dad got married 15 years ago he gave me the ring so it was so special to have it with me on my wedding day.
{What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?} I loved it all! If I had to guess my favorite part it would be all the day trips to Oxford to visit with my fabulous venders.
{Besides the actual wedding, what was your favorite moment of the wedding day?} Oh, this is a tough one! I think it would have to be the minutes after our “first look” where we got to spend a few minutes just us two. It was our only few minutes to really soak it in.
{What was your favorite surprise detail/moment about your wedding day?} Since I did all the planning myself I didn’t expect have any surprises. However Reid had other plans. While getting ready on our wedding day a tiny white package was delivered with a very sweet note. Inside were a beautiful pair of diamond earrings.. the best surprise!
{Groom} Reid Burke Strange
{Hometowns} Booneville, MS (Johnna), Hernando, MS (Reid)
{Wedding Site} Oxford University United Methodist Church- Oxford, MS
{Reception Site} The Lyric- Oxford, MS
{How did the two of you meet?} We have a lot of mutual friends. In fact 4 of his groomsmen were my high school friends and 2 of my bridesmaids were his high school friends. We were bound to meet sooner or later, but we met when I came to visit Ole Miss the spring of my senior year of high school. We hit it off right from the start!
{What is your proposal story?} On Valentines Day our first year doing long distance, Reid left an apple on my doorstep. He said it was a hint to my present which ended up being a trip to New York (the Big Apple) the following May. He said we were going to visit his best friend and he was going to go on a prime turkey hunting trip an hour outside of the city. So the weekend of the trip came and we headed to NYC. Everything went off without a hitch; Reid got up and went “hunting” the Saturday morning as planned. He got back to the hotel just in time to take me to dinner with his best friend who conveniently canceled as just as we were leaving the hotel. We arrived at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to make our reservations at the Asiate where we were sat at the best table in the house with the most amazing view of Central Park. We had the most delicious dinner and right before dessert our conversation turned serious and before I knew it he was on one knee and tears were flowing while the whole restaurant cheered as I promised to be his for the rest of my life.
{What inspired your wedding and reception locations?} Reid and I both went to school at Ole Miss and we visit Oxford often. It was an easy choice for the location and the fact that it was about equal distance from both of our hometowns was just icing on the cake. Oxford just has a charm about it that we couldn’t resist. We knew we wanted to have everything located on the square and the Methodist Church is so beautiful. The lyric was our venue of choice for reception because it allowed for everything to be held in the same room and I just love the style of it.
{What inspired your color scheme/theme/flowers?} I had many people tell me that my wedding and reception were so “me” and I loved that. I went with a champagne color and light pink. The reception décor featured sequins and chandeliers.
{How did you pick “the dress?”} My mom, Reid’s mom, and Reid’s sister Allie visited Lows Bridal. I always knew I wanted to go there to get my dress. When we walked in we were blown away with all of the wedding dresses. I tried on dresses for 4 hours but fell in love with the very last one I tried on, right before the salon was closing. We face-timed my sister-in-law Elizabeth to get the final approval and we were set!!
{What’s your favorite unique accessory? Is there a story behind it?} My favorite accessory was the birthstone ring attached to my wedding bouquet. When my mom and step-dad got married 15 years ago he gave me the ring so it was so special to have it with me on my wedding day.
{What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?} I loved it all! If I had to guess my favorite part it would be all the day trips to Oxford to visit with my fabulous venders.
{Besides the actual wedding, what was your favorite moment of the wedding day?} Oh, this is a tough one! I think it would have to be the minutes after our “first look” where we got to spend a few minutes just us two. It was our only few minutes to really soak it in.
{What was your favorite surprise detail/moment about your wedding day?} Since I did all the planning myself I didn’t expect have any surprises. However Reid had other plans. While getting ready on our wedding day a tiny white package was delivered with a very sweet note. Inside were a beautiful pair of diamond earrings.. the best surprise!
Thank you Johnna & Reid for sharing your wonderful story with us!
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