Third Time’s a Charm

It's said that the third time's the charm, and for high school sweethearts Taylor Carpenter and Alex Gregory, nothing could be more true. “Alex and I both lived in Hot Springs until graduating high school, and actually grew up a mile apart,” Taylor said. “We both went to Lake Hamilton, where both our moms worked for a time, and had almost all of our classes together in the ninth grade.”

Taylor said the two didn't actually start talking to each other until they were in the 11th grade, and she had joined the cross-country team, which Alex had been a part of beforehand. They dated for a few months in the fall of junior year, and then broke up, only to date again for a year and a half starting in their senior year at Lake Hamilton and freshman year of college at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

“After breaking up again, we became serious starting our junior year of college where we decided to be married,” she said. “So I guess you can say that the third time's the charm.”

Alex took Taylor back to where they first said “I love you” during their senior year of high school on Hot Springs Mountain.

“A couple of our friends were there who took pictures and spent the day with us,” she said. “I had a feeling he was going to propose that day, but when I borrowed my friend's phone and saw a text from her mom about `the big event,' I knew that he would propose that day which was good, because I would've been happily bawling if I hadn't been aware. As it was, I was just overjoyed and the day was perfect.”

The big day: We were married on May 15, 2015,

which is 51515.

Best Man and Maid of Honor: The Best Man was Josh Grimsley, of Springdale, and the Maid of Honor was Taylor's sister, Kirby Calcagno, of Pearcy.

The location: We were married at DeGray Lake Resort State Park Lodge on their beautiful lawn overlooking the lake.

The reception: The reception was inside the lodge's conference center.

The look: Our colors were a dark blush and mint color with gold accents. The bridesmaids' dresses were in dark blush while the groomsmen sported mint ties and pocket squares. We also incorporated pink and gold into the table runners and tablecloths, and pink flowers were in the bridal bouquet and on the wedding cake. The bridal bouquet consisted of white hydrangeas and white and pink roses, while the bridesmaids held simple white hydrangea bouquets, and the groomsmen had white rose boutonnieres. There were also pink roses and white hydrangeas on the wedding cake and reception tables held pink and white roses and white hydrangeas.

The dress: The dress was Viera by Maggie Sottero, purchased at Low's Bridal in Brinkley.

Most unforgettable moment: The most unforgettable moment of the night was that it rained through almost the entire ceremony! The weather forecast called for no rain at the time of the ceremony but everyone who didn't bring an umbrella got wet. But it couldn't have been more perfect, and secretly we wanted it in the rain but didn't want everyone else to not enjoy themselves!

The honeymoon: The honeymoon was about 45 minutes outside of Portland, Ore., at Mount Hood, where we had a private cabin looking out on the snowcapped mountain. We went to the West Coast, hiked at the Oregon/Washington border, and ate a ton of fantastic food in Portland.