Southern Weddings

Hey, summer brides: I know they’re traditionally fall colors, but what do you think of the scarlet and rust hues Jenifer + Kenny chose for their AL wedding at The Waters?  Personally, I think the colors are a wonderfully rich and romantic twist on more conventional summer shades, and I’m all kinds of crazy about the bridesmaids’ silk Watters & Watters frocks.  And Jenifer, in a classic Jenny Lee gown and cathedral-length veil, looks how I imagine a bride should look on her wedding day: stunning, dreamy and perfectly content.  Jill Sampson at Weddings by Jill designed the ladies’ full bouquets, and take a peek at those too-cute boutonnières from etsy-fave, Rationale.  My favorite image from Josh Moates of Kim Box Photography?  That serene shot of the bridal party in from of the all-white chapel.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. We met at a party for the University of South Alabama (USA) theatre department in March of 2002. At the time, I was attending Auburn University and had gone down to visit my best friend, Jean, on a whim. There happened to be a huge party that night, which is where I saw Kenny. We only spoke a few words to one another the whole night, but we were both smitten! After a long summer of asking about each other through mutual friends, I transferred to USA, and after a few weeks of crazy flirting, Kenny asked me out on our first date. Describe the proposal. In September of 2008, we took a two-week trip to Europe. It was incredible! We ate amazing food, saw beautiful art and spent the days exploring one enchanting city after the next. For our last night in Paris, we wanted to go all-out for dinner and experience the true art of French dining. Several of the locals recommended this rustic and ridiculously romantic place in the Latin Quarter, Le Coupe Chou.  After dinner, we decided to go for a walk along the banks of the Seine. We crossed under the Petit Pont and a moment later, Kenny took my arm and said, “OK, I think this is how itgoes… ” I had no idea what he was doing. He opened his jacket and pulled out a little, blue Tiffany’s box.  The minute I saw it, I went into hysterics! He got down on one knee in the middle of Paris and said, “Jenifer Rae Borntrager, you are my best friend and I love you. I’d like to know if you would do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me.” After several minutes of crying, hyperventilating and profuse giggling, I managed a resounding “YES!” This wasn’t a storybook… it was my very own fairytale come true.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Unique, FUN! and Glamorous
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The confetti canons were so awesome! That was one of the things we both wanted right out the gate. Our parents were pretty freaked out, but in the end, it was beautiful!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: One of my bridesmaids, who’s a wardrobe supervisor in the theatre, gave me the best tip: Try everything on, even the ones you don’t like it on the rack!  You’ll be surprised with what is actually flattering for your body. This became my mantra. The wedding dress I had envisioned I would wear was the complete opposite of the dress I ultimately chose.  I distinctly remember rummaging through the racks and pausing at what later ended up being my dress. I thought, “Hmm! That’s interesting.  Ok, try everything on!” I t wasn’t until we zipped it up that I had that “Oh my God, this is my dress” moment. Everything about it just screamed ME: the old Hollywood feel, the blush lining and the fact that it gave me a beautifully sculpted hour-glass figure.
Describe your wedding flowers: My wedding planner, Jill Sampson, was my floral designer. I wanted something romantic and vintage. We used a lot of peach, buttery yellows and rust-colored flowers. For my bouquet, I wanted a pastel version of my bridesmaids’ bouquets.
Describe your wedding cake: I actually found a photo of my wedding cake and said “That’s it!” I didn’t want a version of the cake, I wanted the same cake. I loved the asymmetrical tiers.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Walking down the aisle! There were double doors leading into the chapel that were closed before I entered. I remember standing there with my father, waiting for the music cue for those doors to open. I was so nervous and excited at the same time. It was pretty dramatic and really emotional. Neither of us had seen each other the day of the ceremony. And the wait was totally worth it!
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?   Kenny’s art, Kudu-lah, is really taking off, and we are looking at expanding into merchandising too. He is also writing a children’s book now. When not helping him in the studio, I’m co-producing with a non-profit theatre company based in New York City. I know it’s cliché, but we really want a dog! We recently got new landlords, so we are waiting to hear their thoughts on a pup. 

Congratulations, Jenifer + Kenny!  We’d love to hear what you name your new furry friend :)