Bridal

Notable Nuptials: Cunningham-Thibodeaux

by Erin Z. Bass

Photo by Lindsey Michelle Photography In Celebration Of the Wedding Of Erica CunninghamDaughter of Jim Cunningham and Melanie CunninghamandJudd Thibodeaux Son Of Tim Thibodeaux and Kelly Th

Photo by Lindsey Michelle Photography

In Celebration Of the Wedding Of

Erica Cunningham
Daughter of Jim Cunningham and Melanie Cunningham
and
Judd Thibodeaux
Son Of Tim Thibodeaux and Kelly Thibodeaux
Esprit de Coeur
Lafayette
May 15, 2015/7 p.m.
Photography By: Lindsey Michelle Photography

Judd Thibodeaux and Erica Cunningham have known each other since childhood. Judd is the first cousin of one of Erica’s childhood friends, and the two reconnected as part of her wedding festivities. Erica describes Judd’s proposal as “simple and wonderful.” The couple had spent all weekend with her nieces and nephews and when they got home, Judd proposed in the middle of the living room. Erica shed quite a few tears of joy before calling her family to tell them the good news.

Their wedding was just as simple and special. Keeping the invitation list to about 60 guests, Erica and Judd chose Esprit de Coeur for their ceremony and reception. The bride wore a nontraditional ivory dress with a gold sequin overlay, plunging neckline and cap sleeves. Her four bridesmaids wore gold sequin floorlength gowns, while the junior bridesmaid and flower girl wore party dresses with gold sequin bodices and champagne tulle skirts.

The groom, four groomsmen, junior groomsmen, ushers and ring bearer wore charcoal gray suits from Mary Ellen’s Tux Shop. The groom wore a charcoal gray tie, while other attendants wore gold ties, and the ring bearer sported a gold bowtie.

Gold was also featured in the décor, including Flowers by Rodney and centerpieces of old books and vintage tea cups picked out during a special trip to Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall in Washington. Erica loves children’s books and used “An Awesome Book of Love” as her guestbook. The cake table sign reading “I’ll eat you up I love you so” was also borrowed from “Where the Wild Things Are.”

Made by Sweet Sensations, the wedding cake was a simple ivory three-tiered confection accented with sugar flowers and the same cake topper that was used on Erica’s parents’ wedding cake. Family is important to the couple, and one of Erica’s favorite moments from the reception is of her 3-year-old nephew sharing their first dance. She incorporated the memory of her granddad into the ceremony by placing a photo of him on an empty chair next to her grandmother, and it was also special that Judd’s father, who passed away two months later, was able to attend the wedding.

“Celebrating with a small group of the most important people in our lives really showed us not only the amount of love, but the quality of love that surrounds us, our love, our marriage and our future,” says Erica.

The couple honeymooned in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and currently resides in Youngsville, where baby Thibodeaux is on the way.

See photos from the wedding here.