Vesper Point atop Mount Sequoyah -- overlooking the city of Fayetteville -- was the setting at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 8, for the marriage of Kara Ann Hilliard and Clayton Allan Willis. Officiating was the mother of the bride.
The bride is the daughter of the Rev. Mary and Anthony Hilliard of Little Rock. She is the granddaughter of the late Mabel and Richard Butt and the late Wadene and the Rev. Allan Hilliard.
Parents of the bridegroom are Donna and William Willis of Hot Springs. His grandparents are Mamie and the late James Glover of Hot Springs, Hugh P. Murray of Pine Bluff and the late Betty Katherine and Dr. Maurice Willis.
The asymmetrical stone altar topped with a cross held an arrangement of spring flowers. Music was by a string ensemble from Smoothman Music production; pianist Julia Hilliard Frost, aunt of the bride; and soloists Robert L. Frost of New York, cousin of the bride, who sang "The Gift of Love"; and Anna DuCharme of Fayetteville, who sang, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." Reading scriptures from the bride's great-great grandmother's Bible were Courtnay McCullars and Elizabeth Machen.
The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore a strapless trumpet-style gown of silk-shantung taffeta with a sweetheart neckline edged in Point d'Alencon lace. She carried an all-white bouquet of hydrangeas, ranunculus and roses.
Katie Hilliard Tacito of Fayetteville, sister of the bride, served as the matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Leanne Walker of Austin, Texas; Kathryn Smith of North Little Rock; Emily Townsend of St. Louis; Danielle Collie and Mallory Shiver, both of Little Rock; Sarah Gifford of Jonesboro; Molly Manning of Natchez, Miss.; and Kristin Dunn of Hot Springs.
They wore one-shoulder sheath-style gowns of garnet-colored luxe-knit and carried bouquets of white and blush flowers.
Laine Austin Tacito of Fayetteville, niece of the bride, served as flower girl.
Best man was Matthew Willis of Little Rock, brother of the bridegroom. Groomsmen were William Willis III of Fayetteville, another brother of the bridegroom; Adam O'Neal of Forrest City; Adam Smith of Jackson, Miss.; Jeffrey Holt of Hot Springs; William Matthews of Cabot; Zachary Glover of Fayetteville; David Hall of Hot Springs; and David Bartlett of Rosemary Beach, Fla. Serving as ushers were Channin Tacito of Fayetteville and Cole Mitchel of Rogers.
Fayetteville Country Club was the venue for a reception. Guest tables covered in white linens held numerous arrangements of wedding flowers. Music was by the Party Jammers of Memphis.
The bride is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville with a bachelor's degree in marketing and is an executive sales representative for SHI.
The bridegroom is a UA graduate with a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in business administration from John Brown University. He is an optical representative with Vision Source.
After a honeymoon in Jamaica, the couple will reside in Fayetteville.
High Profile on 04/16/2017