Last June, Olivia and Collin Mangrum wed in an intimate ceremony in the Adolphus Hotel’s Century Ballroom. (The classic affair was featured in our Spring/Summer 2020 issue.) In the year since, the pair have done a little traveling and a lot of working—Olivia as a model and Collin in commercial real estate. And then there’s the small matter of a global pandemic thrown in the mix. “We’re trying to enjoy the slowness and extra time together,” Olivia said of quarantined newlywed life, during which time she also brushed up on her cooking and tennis skills. We caught up with the pair to learn what they remember about wedding planning, memorable moments from their big day, and the most surprising parts of married life.
What was the smartest thing you did while planning your wedding?
Olivia: Hiring people that understood our vision for the day and people I’d truly want to work alongside for the duration of our engagement. I owe all my sanity to Kristin Mullen, Samantha Landis, Nathan Johnson, and Sophie Epton.
Collin: Get out of the way.
What was the hardest part about wedding planning?
Olivia: Prioritizing areas to invest in and areas to compromise on.
Collin: The guest list.
What was the most fun part of wedding planning?
Olivia: Creating ambiance. I loved planning and pairing the venue with florals and decorative details.
Collin: The food tasting.
What was your most worthwhile wedding splurge?
Olivia: Quality photos to cherish for a lifetime. I look back at our proposal, engagement, and wedding photos all the time.
Collin: New luggage.
What was your biggest takeaway from the wedding-planning process?
Olivia: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Also, make a decision and move forward. The day will still be equally as perfect regardless of what you’re wearing or what song plays as you walk down the aisle—trust me!
Collin: It’s a lot more time-consuming than you’d think.
What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?
Olivia: Seeing his face when the doors opened and I walked down the aisle. Everything around us stopped. It felt like it was just the two of us in that room.
Collin: Seeing my wife walk down the aisle.
Anything unexpected happen?
Olivia: My veil almost caught on fire when exiting as bride and groom, our perfect day turned to pouring rain just as we stepped outside to take post-ceremony portraits, and my dad’s reception speech was accidentally skipped over, but our wonderful vendors took care of everything. Makes for a good story, too.
Collin: Not that I can think of.
What has surprised you most about married life?
Olivia: Moving in after our wedding day and finally living together has been so much fun.
Collin: It’s been surprising to discover that my wife talks in her sleep—not the most pleasant surprise for a light sleeper.
Where did you honeymoon, and what was the best part?
Olivia: We stayed at Hotel du Cap Eden Roc. I loved exploring Monte Carlo, Cannes, and the rest of southern France. The endless croissants and ice cream weren’t too bad either.
Collin: Hotel du Cap in the south of France. I loved soaking in the beauty.
If you had one piece of advice for engaged or newly married couples, what would it be?
Olivia: Do yourself the biggest favor and read The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller. It will be such a blessing in your marriage.
Collin: Pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ first and foremost. The result? A well-loved and well-served wife. (Ephesians 5:25)
