Mallory Sharp and Rhomes Aur are both from Memphis originally and ended up back there again as adults. They met by pure happenstance at Art Bar at the Crosstown Concourse in January 2019 and have been inseparable ever since.
On May 21, 2022, at 6 p.m., Mallory married the love of her life in her parents’ backyard. Her happy place.
In March of 2021, Rhomes had just been accepted to the Memphis Fire Academy, and his thoughtful girlfriend Mallory took him to Catherine and Mary’s to celebrate. She had no idea she’d leave the restaurant as his fiancé. “Rhomes used the opportunity to surprise me with a proposal over dessert,” Mallory says. “Now we love going back to Catherine and Mary’s to celebrate all of our special events.”
Rain didn’t stop this party, but it made for a barefoot dance floor!
Mallory’s childhood home in their mutual hometown was the couple’s dream venue — they didn’t look elsewhere.
Mallory and Rhomes embarked on a fourteen-month engagement and quickly hired Katherine Benson of Bella Baxter Events to take the planning lead. “She was a lifesaver,” Mallory says. “And it was the perfect amount of time! Nothing felt rushed, and we really had the opportunity to think deeply about every detail and choice for the wedding.”
Mallory infused her love of gardening, her strong family ties, and her husband’s Brazilian background into one of the most unique backyard weddings we’ve ever seen.
As soon they spoke of marriage, Mallory and Rhomes never talked about a single venue other than Mallory’s family home. “We wanted our wedding to feel like a fun dinner party at home,” she adds. And, can we just say, we envy everyone invited! Mallory, Rhomes, and their team of planners transported guests into a Jane Austen novel with all the trappings of English countryside elegance mixed with some Southern flair.
From the first printed correspondence by Ms. Post, Mallory treated the day like a cozy garden dinner party. The vintage stamps by Enfield Post are just dreamy.
When it came to picking the color scheme and aesthetic, Mallory was inspired by botanical illustrations and prints from the 18th and 19th centuries. “I wanted the day to reflect my love of gardening,” she adds. “We incorporated lots of greens and floral prints wherever possible, from the stationery to the day-of ambiance.”
It sure helps your garden party vibe when your venue is replete with stunning raised beds and plants of all kinds.
“We chose a clear tent — in part to allow the beauty of the backyard to be seen, but also because it mimicked a giant greenhouse,” Mallory says of her spectacular tent. Memphis florist John Mark even created a giant faux orange tree, around which they built the bar. “This was probably my favorite detail of the day!” Mallory says.
The orange tree seems quite at home in the middle of the action — who would have guessed it was fake!?
The soft pink and orange florals by John Mark surprised guests at every turn, but there was no bigger showstopper than the bride’s bouquet.
“Our photographer Maggie Braucher (truly the best in the world and the first decision we made after getting engaged was to hire her!) described our wedding day as ‘teeming with life,’” Mallory says. “I think that’s the perfect phrase to describe how joyful and full of nature the day felt!”
Bountiful rustic charcuterie trays welcomed guests as they found their potted plants and took a seat.
“Teeming with life” is, indeed, an apt descriptor of this scene.
It was important to Mallory that her wedding gown felt unique. “My gown was the first one I tried on at Maggie Louise, and nothing else topped it,” she says. The three-dimensional lace evokes flower petals that perfectly complemented the backyard garden wedding.
Mallory added a dramatic, super-long veil from the same designer. The petals rhymed those of her dress.
Mallory soaked up the comfort of home on her big day.
Silk-covered buttons are one of Mallory’s favorite features on a dress, so she added them. And she added the most stunning veil that made the whole outfit seem alive.
“I’m tall — almost 6 feet! — and I felt like this dress really played to my features,” Mallory says.
“It was starting to rain, so we took our clear umbrellas and had our first look on my parents’ back patio, where we have shared many fun evenings. I love that now, when we go to my parents’ house, I remember how we had our first look in that spot,” she adds.
Mallory and Rhomes opted for a special first look somewhere they have spent (and will spend) a lot of time together.
They knew the weather was a risk when they decided on an outdoor wedding and reception in May, but the rain made the wedding memorable and fun for everyone. It stopped raining long enough for the ceremony to happen in the planned location, but the rain came back in full force during the reception.
The Aurs were married by one of Rhomes’ uncles — a touching addition to the day’s lineup. “Before the wedding, I had no idea how moved I would be by the ceremony, but it is such a special memory from the day,” Mallory says.
The couple wrote their own vows but kept them short and sweet.
For the first time: the Aurs!
After a heartfelt exchange of vows, it was time to trade the stringed tunes for some DJ-spun ones. Mallory admits she was incredibly picky about the DJ but could not have been happier with Fred Tian at MixPro ATL. “He did a great job playing all of our favorites and throwing in some fun surprises,” she adds.
Their first dance was to Leon Bridges’s “Coming Home.” “Leon was the first concert we went to together,” Mallory says. She danced with her dad to Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers.” “My dad loves music, and I can never hear Tom Petty without thinking of him.”
During a lively cocktail hour, grilled oysters, compressed watermelon, and goat cheese tartlets were passed as guests sipped on Aperol spritzes (Mallory’s favorite!) and caipiriñhas (in honor of Rhomes’s Brazilian heritage).
We’ll have three, please!
When it was time to sit for dinner, a cart of potted plants held each guest’s table card.
Mallory always wanted a seated dinner where everyone could really focus on and enjoy the food. They served an arugula and burrata salad, ribeye from their friends at Home Place Pastures, and seared halibut with spring vegetables.
This tablescape transported guests to the English Cotswolds.
Two cakes by the talented Rachel Dressman of A Piece of Cake topped off dinner. The bride’s cake was a traditional almond cake with blackberry filling. The groom’s cake was white chocolate raspberry. “Our caterer makes ice cream, too, so we served their Georgia olive oil fig balsamic butterscotch flavor with our cakes. It was divine!” Mallory adds.
The orange grove motif sneaked into many details throughout the evening — including this cake from A Piece of Cake by Rachel Dressman.
After dinner, the dancing continued with gusto, but so did the rain. “At one point, the ground was so wet that everyone had to move to the dance floor,” Mallory says. “I’ll never forget seeing so many men with their shoes off and their pants rolled up, dancing the night away!”
The pure joy emanating from these two throughout a fickle, wet day shows the depth of their union.
After a 16-day honeymoon through Positano, Rome, Florence, and Lake Como, the newlyweds settled back into their Memphis life. As for tips for couples planning a wedding, Mallory suggests hiring a planner! “Interview a few different options to make sure you’re on the same page as the planner you hire. Katherine was the perfect person to execute my vision.”
They departed through a sea of sparks that made for some truly fun photos.
Thank you, Mallory and Rhomes, for taking us back to your magical backyard wedding. And thanks to Maggie Braucher for the stunning photos.
RESOURCES
Ceremony and reception: The bride’s parents’ residence
Planner: Katherine Benson from Bella Baxter
Photographer: Maggie Braucher
Videography: Pixel Love Films
Flowers: John Mark Enterprises
Bouquet Preservation: Alchemy Atelier
Stationery: Mrs. Post
Vintage Stamps: Enfield Post
Calligrapher: Booth Sartain McGee
Hair: Anna Fortner from Sage and Honey
Makeup: Alicia Lee
Bride’s gown: Made With Love from Maggie Louise Bridal
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Reformation
Groom and groomsmen attire: Custom suit and groomsmen’s choice
Catering: A Moveable Feast
Cakes: A Piece of Cake by Rachel Dressman
Entertainment: Fred Tian of MixPro ATL
Strings: Beth Luscombe Strings
Rentals: Mahaffey, White Door, Ila Vivian, & Eventology
Linens: BBJ La Tavola & I Do Linens
Transportation: Southern Valet
VIP Portalet: Safety Quip
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