On top of Petit Jean Mountain with a view of the farms and fields below, family and friends gathered to celebrate the marriage of Taylor Elise Stevens and Ensign Colin Kendrick Rockefeller on June 14 at the groom's family home, Winrock Farms.
The late-afternoon sun provided a warm glow for a dinner and dance after the wedding ceremony, and as the sun set, up-lights in the trees, rope lights and string lights illuminated the night. Guests enjoyed their buffet dinners on the lawn and in the home's courtyard at tables decorated with arrangements of pink roses, pink and white gerbera daisies, lavender asters and green Fuji chrysanthemums. After the buffet dinner guests danced on the lawn to music by the Greasy Greens. When it came time to cut the wedding cake, the new Navy wife used her husband's ceremonial sword for the first slice.
Wedding vows were exchanged just prior to the reception on the lawn of the home overlooking the valley, the same place where the groom's parents, Lisenne and the late Lt. Gov. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller were married. The Arkansas Symphony String Quartet provided the nuptial music. After the couple exchanged vows, they were required to kiss several times before being allowed to pass through an arch of crossed swords.
The bride wore a strapless gown of English tulle with a shirred Empire waist and a full skirt embellished with lace, rosettes, rhinestones and pearls. The groom wore his full dress white Navy uniform.
Serving as the bride's honor attendants were Heather Hartley Collins of Stuttgart and Elizabeth Joseph of Little Rock. Bridesmaids were Keely Bernock of Dallas; Emily Fitzgerald of Austin, Texas; and Amy Newby of Farmington.
Will Rockefeller of Little Rock served as his brother's best man. Groomsmen were 2nd Lt. Alex Chatman of Dumfries, Va.; Ensign Dan Kindervater of Indianapolis; and Vincent Reed and Strick Edwards, both of Little Rock.
Participants in the sword arch ceremony were Ensign Chris Davies of Doylestown, Pa.; 2nd Lt. Cody Dickson of Wann, Okla.; 1st Lt. Ciardi Glenn of Belize; 2nd Lt. Anthony Matacotta of Marietta, Ga.; 2nd Lt. Kevin Roth of Freeland, Miss.; Ensign John Rex Spivey of Rogers; 2nd Lt. Tripp Turner of La Porte, Ind.; and Lt. j.g. Graham Ziemba of Fairfax, Va.
The bride is the daughter of Malinda See and Danny Stevens, both of Little Rock. Her grandparents are Mary and the late Don Taylor of Conway and Glenda and Gene Stevens of Elm Springs. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and has a bachelor's degree in communication. She was a member and treasurer of Alpha Omicron Pi.
The groom is the grandson of the late Gov. Winthrop Aldrich Rockefeller and the late Barbara Rockefeller, and Grace and the late Louis Gordon Dudderar, all of Little Rock. The groom graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., and is in the Navy.
The couple will make their home in Pensacola, Fla., and plan a European honeymoon for a later date.
-- Story and photos by Cary Jenkins
High Profile on 06/22/2014