Helen never imagined she’d find love when she agreed to have dinner with her best friend’s brother. But a romantic Mother’s Day proposal (that involved her young daughter, Wimberly, and entire family) later, Helen + Johnny were planning an authentic Alabama wedding at the Five Star Plantation. We’re especially glad the uber-talented Leslee Mitchell was there to capture the whole day on film! Before their garden-inspired afternoon ceremony, the happy couple and their guests spent the afternoon horseback riding and skeet shooting. Later, the bride, in a flowy J.Crew summer gown accented by a blooming wildflower bouquet from Jeffrey Long, was escorted down the aisle by her daughter to her waiting groom. At their tented reception, Helen + Johnny treated their guests to a delectable three-tiered butter cream cake, courtesy of Pastry Art Bake Shoppe, before hitting the chic black-and-white tiled dance floor. I think I’m in heaven!
How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We were introduced by Johnny’s sister, a long-time friend of mine. One day she called me out of the blue and asked if I would meet her for dinner and if I would like to meet her brother. I immediately said no! I had recently ended a relationship and had no interest in meeting anyone new, but she promised it wouldn’t be a date. I reluctantly agreed and even had a pretty good time despite my initial misgivings. The next week she invited me to dinner again. This weekly dinner with the three of us for awhile before Johnny and I saw each other on our own!
Describe the proposal: Johnny planned a weekend at Lake Martin and even invited my parents and my daughter. It was Mother’s Day weekend, so I didn’t suspect anything. He took my family out on a boat ride to ask their permission to marry. After their successful boat ride, plans were set in motion for a surprise engagement later that evening. When it was time for dinner, I was the last to come to the table. As I approached my place, I saw a box wrapped in white with a white ribbon. As I looked up, Johnny asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes!
Three adjectives that describe the wedding are: Country, magical and joyful.
What was the design inspiration for your big day? The design inspiration for the wedding was a summer garden party.
What was your favorite design element? My favorite design element was the full day of horseback riding, skeet shooting and exploring the wooded property.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: The wedding dress was a story in and of itself. In my mind, I had a perfect (although non-traditional) dress picked out. It was actually a hand-sewn skirt that I just knew was the one. However, after trying it on a couple of times, I knew I wasn’t really happy with it. With only six weeks left out of the wedding, I started to panic. A friend had recently been in her sister’s wedding and suggested I look online at J.Crew’s bridal collection. I had all my favorites overnighted to see what I liked best. My very favorite was the last one I tried on. The simple lines of the gown really complimented our outdoor wedding and really suited me.
Describe your wedding flowers. My flowers were white and green with soft peach accents. We used white and peach roses and French green hydrangeas for the entryway wreaths, center pieces and bridal bouquets. My daughter carried a smaller version of my hand-tied bridal bouquet.
Tell us about your wedding cake. The wedding cake was a three-tiered white cake with buttercream iced with a swirl design. The bottom layer was surrounded with a wreath of fresh hydrangeas.
Did you incorporate any special traditions in your wedding? I did the something old, new, borrowed, blue and a 6 pence in your shoe tradition. My garter had a sterling charm engraved with my initials and our wedding date. I will pass it on to my daughter, Wimberly, to use for her own engraved charm.
What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day? The most memorable moment of the wedding was when my daughter and I left the “holding room” where we had been waiting for the ceremony to begin. The sun was low in the sky and filtering beautifully through the trees, giving everything a special golden glow. The string quartet was playing and, as we emerged, all our guests parted to make an a aisle for us. That’s when I first saw my groom! He looked so handsome and just seemed so happy. As my daughter and I approached the minister, the crowd of family and friends circled around us to show their love and support.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to? We have just moved into our new home and are busy completing the final construction. Our first holidays as a married couple are quickly approaching. We hope to start some new family traditions this year. Whatever they may be, we want a home filled with family and friends and fun entertaining.
Congratulations, Helen, Johnny + Wimberly! Enjoy your new home and the upcoming holiday season together!
Everything about this wedding is so special. You can tell it was an intimate and personal ceremony. LOVE the shot through the legs of horses and riders. And the over & under shot with the rings is very southern and a guy favorite. Great photographs that really capture the affection this couple has for each other.
This wedding looks like such a sweet story! It’s both elegant and natural at the same time. Such beautiful, magical photos. It looks like Helen’s wish for her wedding came true!
Now that’s a ring shot!!!!!!! Unbelievable. Who would ever think of that!!!
I love the "legs shot"! Very unique! Another fabulous job on capturing a special day for the wedding couple!
Wow !!!!!! I am a sucker for weddings and romance. It reminds me that love can be around the corner for everyone!!!! Sometimes you have to take a leap , say yes to a date and who knows a beautiful romance could be there waiting. They look happy to be with each other and also a beautiful day captured. i told you I was a sucker for this .
Everything about that wedding looks so crisp and fresh. The white tent with the sides tied back with hydrangea, the checkerboard dance floor and a beautiful blue sky in the background – perfect! Also, look at the guests as the bride and her daughter walk to the ceremony – almost everyone has their hands close to their heart in a joyous way – priceless!
I love this wedding and I also had a J Crew wedding dress. Very classic and timeless like Helen.
The pictures are breathe taking and what a remarkable way to start a life together!! It is just wonderful and so beautiful!
Love it! Now this is what I call a "southern wedding". What a spectacular venue for a wedding. Love how the couple incorporated the ammenties of the facilities into their special day. The photos of the couple crossing the bridge together is my favorite. How symbolic of a new life starting.
I liked seeing the mother and daughter shoes side by side. Then the shot of the mother/ bridal shoe with the six pence in it. It seems so sweet that she is passing down her garter with the engraved charm to her daughter to start a family tradition. I carefully packed and saved my garter from my wedding 17 years ago. I am going to "steal" that idea and do the same for my daughter when she marries.
This wedding looks so perfectly simple yet so elegant. I am sure it took a lot of planning to pull off something which matched the outside so well but seemed effortless and not one bit fussy. Great pictures of the day! My favorite is the couple going across that bridge. The tall pines are reflected in the lake and it looks like they are going to a cozy house in the woods to start their life together. That’s what I call a fairy tale!
Awesome!