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Alex may not be a born and raised Southerner, but if she isn’t a Southern belle at heart, then I don’t know who is! As she and Andrew planned their Louisiana wedding, their minds were never far from their goal of making their guests feel cared for and part of the celebration. As a result, everything about this chic day, from Alex’s gorgeous Amsale dress, to the late-night passed doughnuts, to the bridesmaid cake pull, helped guests get to know their love story and personalities even more. We were overjoyed to learn that Alex and Andrew found their talented photographer, Kelly of Spindle Photography, through our very own Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory, and we think she did a fabulous job of capturing every sweet moment and gorgeous black and white detail!

My something new was my dress, veil, and Kate Spade shoes! Originally, my something old, borrowed, and blue was going to be my mother’s garter, but 30 years did not yield a usable option. She had one made with the same silks and a blue pearl that had our initials and wedding date, which was even more perfect. I also had the sixpence in my shoe that all the women in my family since my great-grandmother have worn.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Believe it or not, this was probably the easiest part of my wedding planning journey! My mother, grandmother, and matron of honor accompanied me to Mia Bridal Couture in Houston days before Christmas. I told our wonderful consultant, Tina, about my traditional-with-a twist-style, love of horsehair-trimmed veils, and that I wanted a full skirt with “twirlability”–a very important dressing term I coined in my toddler years. I put on her first selection (an Amsale dress I had pined over–and pinned!) and instantly knew it was the one. I was hesitant to say “Let’s pop the champagne!” after only one gown, so I asked to try on everything I said I did not envision: fitted skirts, strapless, lace, beading… just to make sure that I was positive. Finally, I put on the first gown with a double horsehair-trimmed veil and triumphantly announced that we were done! The stars truly aligned when we found out the name of the dress: “Newport”–the name of my mother’s hometown in Rhode Island, where my parents were married almost 30 years ago. The whole experience felt surreal!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? Yes! While Andrew was a little hesitant in the beginning, we eventually decided it was the best way to try to prolong a day that everyone had told us would end in a flash. We are forever grateful we made this decision. We were able to savor the day together, and the photos are just divine. One of our favorite memories of the day was when Alex’s father accidentally crashed our first look. We forgave him since he was looking so dashing in his uniform!

We said traditional Catholic vows used during the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. It was such a powerful moment to repeat the words that entered us into the same covenant as so many couples before us. During our vows, we experienced what a sacrament truly is–a physical sign of God’s grace. It was the most impactful feeling we have ever experienced.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Choosing one favorite detail is simply too hard! All of the details that reflected us as a couple were our favorites because our guests saw our personalities throughout the day. Andrew wanted me to point out the “snack tables,” meaning the oyster bar, antipasti bar, Meche’s donut display, and the Maryland favor table of Berger cookies, Fischer’s Popcorn, and Utz Crab Chips. We loved watching our guests enjoy all of our favorite treats!

During our first meeting with our florist, Mia from Root Floral Design, we told her we wanted an effortless garden look without too much symmetry. She used a neutral color palette of garden roses, jasmine, anemones, scabiosa, ranunculus, lisianthus, and astilbe to bring the vision to life. My mother and I used our silver collections for all the flowers (an idea that came from SW’s own Emily Thomas’ wedding!). The entire wedding’s inspiration started with an image I found of a boxwood garland draping a cocktail bar. Mia recreated the bar swag, miniature boxwood wreaths were used at the church as pew markers, and large wreaths were placed on the historic home’s doors. The boxwood garland now sits on our fireplace mantel, and we have a wreath hung in our home as well.

“Southern” in our eyes is a mindset that embodies hospitality, love, and celebration. I did not grow up surrounded by magnolias or eating grits, but I’ve always identified with Southern values and charm. The entire day was designed to feel like the perfect Southern fête, honoring us, family, and the friends that feel like family. A large clear-top tent with bistro lighting was pitched in front of one of A. Hays Town’s historic, Southern homes (the architect is one of the area’s most famous). Bridesmaids received well wishes through cake pulls. A soul band with an excellent horn section resulted in a packed dance floor the entire evening.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? At one point, Andrew led me off the dance floor to the lawn space in front of our tent, and we stood hand in hand, watching our reception. He said, “You’re my wife! This is our wedding!” The twinkling bistro lights, clinking of glasses, laughter of family, and seeing dance moves galore is a sight we will never forget.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. From Alex: I moved a lot as a military child, but our adventure to the Gulf Coast would eventually lead me to Andrew. After moving back to Annapolis, Maryland, I knew I would return to Louisiana for college. I received my LSU acceptance letter not only on my birthday, but also on the night that the Tigers won the 2007 National Championship. It was fate! From Andrew: I was born and raised in South Louisiana, but I grew up in a wonderful combination of Polish (my mother is a Polish immigrant), German, and Cajun cultures. This diverse (and entertaining) upbringing is probably the reason I was rather accepting of Alex’s northeastern roots when we first met. We formally met when a group of fraternity and sorority presidents came together to design and facilitate leadership development programming for the Greek community. We became fast friends–the type of friends that suddenly shared everything with each other very easily. We laugh now because this was in large part due to us thinking we would NEVER become more than friends. Within months, that friendship took us both by surprise and evolved into a great love of true understanding, compassion, and FUN.
Tell us all about the proposal! I am very much hoping that my little sister will follow in my footsteps and attend LSU, so a college visit was planned for the whole family during Homecoming Weekend. Andrew thought that weekend was the perfect time to propose, but if we’re being honest, so did I! I was slightly perturbed when I arrived at Andrew’s house to discover he was not yet ready to leave for the trip, making us late for our dinner reservations with my family. After storming up the stairs, I found Andrew standing in his living room holding a very small box. After tears and laughter and the slowest proposal ever (I made him pause and repeat everything so I wouldn’t forget any of his words), we heard knocking on the door. It was our dearest friends, who sent us off to Baton Rouge with cupcakes and wedding magazines! Those few hours were so special. We took time to soak in the moment and call some of our loved ones. We were supposed to pick up my best friend in Lafayette on the way, and when we exited, Andrew took the scenic route and drove by the historic home (now a museum) that I had always said would be the perfect wedding reception site. He wanted to get out of the car so we could have a moment, and when we walked up to the museum, he handed me an envelope with the date “October 17, 2014” inside. He had already secured the museum and the church! When I turned around, both of our immediate families were there. I was told that we were not actually going to Baton Rouge that night, but would be having dinner with our families in Lafayette instead. When we walked into Andrew’s family’s house, a beautiful engagement party was in full swing!
When did y’all get married? October 17, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 275
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Our biggest challenge was learning to understand and compromise on our own list of wedding “normalcies.” With a born and raised Southern gent and a military child raised on the East Coast planning a wedding, we quickly realized we had grown up with different experiences regarding everything from the size of the guest list to the reception dinner service. We exercised more patience, listened more intently, and sought clearer understanding. In the end, compromises were made, and new traditions were embraced.
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Our biggest cost savings was having the talented people in our lives share their talents with us rather than ordering items from a rental company or the endless possibilities of Etsy. All of our table runners were sewn by a family friend, others were always on the lookout for extra pieces of silver to use, and our signage was crafted by one of our supper club ladies. This made the day increasingly more special.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? Our remarkable photographer, Kelly! I looked at Southern Weddings’ Blue Ribbon Vendors in Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama for options that were still relatively close. Within seconds of being on the Spindle Photography website, we knew the creative genius behind these photographs was it. I am also grateful for finding someone who loves dresses that twirl as much as I do.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? This was a big year for us! After getting engaged, I finished graduate school and started work, Andrew began a new work assignment that takes him away from home half of each month, we built a house, and we got married! We are now welcoming the holiday season with rest and enjoying waking up on Saturday mornings with nowhere to be. I also hope we will have a dog by the time you read our story!

Photographer: Spindle Photography / Planner: Southern Fete / Ceremony Venue: St. Genevieve Catholic Church / Reception Venue: Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum / Florist: Root Floral Design / Cake Baker: Crystal Weddings / Catering: Sam Trahan / Rentals and Lighting: Event Rental, Lafayette / Band: Phat Hat / Chalkboard Signage: Amber Hicks / Donut Table Signage: Anna Broussard / Paper Products: Val Marie Paper / Bride’s Gown: “Newport” by Amsale / Bridal Salon and Veil: Mia Bridal Couture / Bouquet Ribbon: Hyman Hendler & Sons / Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Heather Veillon of Bleu Coiffure / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “G837U” in black by Amsale / Menswear: Mary Ellen’s Tux Shop / Bow Ties and Cummerbund: High Cotton Ties / Cups, Koozies, and Coffee Cups: Inkling Design Studio / Calligrapher: Patricia Leith

lisa Written with love by Lisa
9 Comments
  1. avatar Robyn Van Dyke reply

    LOVE this wedding! Especially all the striped accents, and polka-dotted bow tie and cummerbund!!! :D

  2. avatar Kelly Cummings (Spindle Photography) reply

    Thank you so much for sharing Alex and Andrew’s gorgeous wedding! Since Alex found me through Southern Weddings I am thrilled to see their beautiful love story shared here! Hooray for kindred spirits!

  3. avatar lena reply

    L O V E this gorgeous celebration!

  4. avatar Amy reply

    It’s an absolutely gorgeous wedding to behold!

  5. avatar Kyla Fetzner reply

    Such a beautiful wedding and a radiant bride! I especially love the striped ribbon bouquet wrap and the personal touches that were put on the foods served.

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After “the first time around,” Robert had to work hard to win Brittany back, and after reading their sweet interview below, especially their proposal story, it’s clear that he certainly did. Upon their engagement, these two set out to not only show their love to each other, but also to their friends and family. With a guest list of 650 strong, I’m sure it was hard to make everyone feel welcome, but Brittany and Robert are the kind of couple who could do it! Everyone not only felt welcomed by this darling couple, Brittany also said that after the wedding, people didn’t talk about details or colors–they talked about their love! I can completely see why–it spills right out of these gorgeous photos from Spindle Photography.

I had found a dress I liked while looking with my mom, but since my aunt (also my matron of honor) and my grandmother weren’t with us, we didn’t buy it right away. When we went back to get the dress, my aunt poked around and picked just one other dress off the rack for me to try on. I tried on the dress we came back for, then tried on the dress my aunt picked out, and the dress my aunt picked definitely had the wow factor. It fit like a glove, and suited me, my personality, and the feel of our big day perfectly!

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The guest list. Robert is a youth pastor to a group of around 400-500 kids, and we both went to a smaller college where we had close relationships with a lot of people. We both grew up in Birmingham, went to school and church in Birmingham, and now work in Birmingham. If money grew on trees, we would have just had an open invitation to our wedding.

Our families are both really involved in two Methodist churches in Birmingham, so it was a little hard to decide which church to get married at. Robert and I started attending another Methodist church, Trinity UMC, when he first started interning with the youth department almost five years ago. We really grew into the people we are today while we were attending that church, and we started dating when we started going to Trinity. Robert started working there full-time as the middle school youth pastor while he finished his senior year in college. The people at Trinity watched our relationship grow and helped foster that growth, so we chose to get married there. As for the reception, I had photographed a couple of weddings at Swann Lake Stables, and I was in love with the venue. Robert wanted a reception where people felt comfortable loosening their ties and relaxing, and as soon as he and our families saw Swann Lake, we knew it was perfect for the feel of our wedding.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? From Brittany: I loved the ceremony. The pastor that did our homily had watched us date and grow together over the last four years. He asked Robert and I to write letters about each other and give them to him. He surprised us by incorporating parts of those letters into the ceremony, and it was so special to us. From Robert: The one thing I don’t think I could ever forget was when the church doors opened and Brittany began to walk down the aisle. We had already had our first look, but that was the moment where it all really came together, and for the first time, saying “this is my wife” really hit me.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? I loved having my childhood table and chairs tea set for the kids to sit at. I also LOVED our welcome baskets for our out-of-town guests. My grandmother made kitchen towels to go in the baskets with a cutout of the state of Alabama sewn on them. We are a little obsessed with Birmingham, so it was fun to pick out treats, drinks, and items unique to our city to share with others. I think what made our wedding feel Southern to me though was having so many people we loved talking, dancing, and congratulating Robert and I under the twinkly dance floor lights. It just doesn’t get much better than that.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: My mom is a retired art teacher and my grandmother is a master seamstress and the queen of crafts, so we loved being able to make a lot of details that were special to Robert and I and our families. My favorite details were the drawings and watercolors my mom did of our favorite places in Birmingham. Another favorite detail was the portrait my mom painted of me trying on my wedding dress. She loved doing these so much that she is now starting her own watercolor business!

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? In the end, the little decisions don’t matter. No matter what color the flowers are, what band is playing, what food is served, or where you are, you will still be marrying the love of your life when it’s all said and done, so don’t stress! After our wedding, people didn’t talk about the details or the colors–they talked about our ceremony and our love.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Robert’s family has a long-time family friend, Pam, who has made every birthday, wedding, and family event cake for years. It was a no-brainer that Pam would make the cakes for our big day! The groom’s cake was a family tradition: chocolate peanut butter cake (I wish I could virtually send you a bite of this cake!). The bride’s cake was strawberry with vanilla icing, which was equally good, of course :)

Don’t miss their wedding video by The Film Poets!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We knew each other in middle school and high school, but our paths didn’t cross too much. When the time came to look at colleges, I contacted Robert and some of his friends to ask about what life was like at Birmingham-Southern College. Fast forward a few months, and I was a freshman at BSC, still keeping in touch with these boys. Unfortunately for Robert, I was a little oblivious, and after months of telling friends and family that we were “just friends,” Robert asked me to dinner. We dated for five months, which became known as “the first time around” because one break up, a sad summer apart, and several life lessons learned later, we got back together, and the rest is history!
Tell us about the proposal! After our breakup, I had to “work for it,” as we joke now, to get Brittany back. One of the ways was to show Brittany that I wasn’t just telling her “I love you” because it was convenient or would make seeing each other less awkward. So, almost every day for a month and half, I wrote Brittany a letter. We then decided to continue writing to each other, especially when one of us was out of town. We typically wrote the letters in a journal we share. In March, when Brittany went to Mexico for a mission trip, I decided to write to her, but this time, I wrote about the journey of me picking out a ring, talking to her parents, and finally saying “Today, I asked you to marry me. Look down.” I proposed on April 20 by the lake on Birmingham-Southern’s campus. I gave her the journal and let her read through it, and then popped the big question! She said yes! I gave her a Bible with her new name engraved on it and said a prayer for our future life and marriage together. The best surprise was her reaction afterwards, when our families and a few of her best friends came running up after hiding on the other side of the lake. Brittany’s two best friends are photographers, so the whole experience was captured perfectly.
When did y’all get married? June 14, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 650 at the ceremony and probably 550 or so at the reception
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had two readings read by two dear friends. The first was Colossians 3:12-17 and the second was Colossians 12:9-18.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something blue was the ring my parents gave me as a graduation present from high school. My something new was my Kate Spade heels. My something borrowed and something old were two pins from my grandmother. One was a spoon that my grandmother got when she was engaged and picking out her china, since girls used to get a pin of the china and silver that they picked out. The other was a pin that my grandmother’s Aunt Pearl used to wear.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? Since I know how to use Photoshop, we were able to do a lot of things ourselves. Our wonderful design company, Empress Stationery, gave us our logo to use for many other things we were making for the wedding. I used the logo on the cotton candy bags and the fans that we had at the reception. I designed the wedding programs, bridesmaids luncheon programs, and welcome basket tags myself as well.
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? That’s so hard to say! I had an incredible team of vendors, but I have to say, what I was most excited about was the photography and videography. Kelly is not only a mentor, but also a friend and partner in crime, so I couldn’t wait to go through my own wedding day with her capturing and experiencing each moment with me. Robert and I do a lot of video work with his youth ministry, so we looked around a lot before we found The Film Poets. To say we are obsessed with them, is an understatement. We were (and still are) blown away by the brilliant video they created for us.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We’re just excited about living life together, as simple as that is. We have great friends and great family, and we’re happy to have a home to welcome them into after they have housed and hosted us for so long. I had been looking forward to getting a dog, and finally convinced Robert to adopt a dog a couple months after we were married! Just one day after adopting a hound-lab mix, Sadie, Robert and I went back to adopt her brother, Cooper! Now we just love spending nights on our back deck with our two precious puppies, family, and friends.

Photographer: Spindle Photography / Videographer: The Film Poets / Planner: Brittany Lott of Elle Affairs / Ceremony Venue: Trinity United Methodist Church / Reception Venue: Swann Lake Stables / Florist: Lillie’s / Caterer: Shindigs / Rentals: Event Rentals Unlimited / Lighting: Design Productions / Band: 2nd Coming / Watercolors: SArias Creates / Paper Products: Empress Stationery / Bridal Salon and Veil: Diane’s Formal Affair / Bride’s Jewelry and Getaway Shoes: Kate Spade / Hair Stylist: Lynze Prater of Click Salon / Makeup Artist: Lisa Phillips / Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Joanna August / Bridesmaid Dress Salon: Bella Bridesmaids / Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Spindle Photography is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
3 Comments
  1. avatar F. Hays reply

    I am still reliving the wedding. It was my grand daughter’s and it was so meaningful to us. One of the ministers was a long time friend and his part in the service was a treasure. Faith, family and friends are truly what the South is all about and Brittany’s wedding was a showcase for these things. I simply loved being a part of it.

  2. avatar Occasions In Print reply

    Such a sweet wedding! And they sound like a very sweet couple too!

  3. avatar Stacy {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    This was a large wedding that still manages to feel intimate with the warm space of the reception to touches like cotton candy and custom fans for each guest.

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I couldn’t help but smile when I read Laura and John’s love story. After he offered to help her carry boxes up five flights of stairs (she refused!), they didn’t get to know each other until a year later, when he stopped her in the hallway in search of googly-eye stickers! This unconventional conversation-starter led to a beautiful relationship, a surprise proposal, and ultimately, a delightfully Southern wedding. Since Laura and John met in Oregon and he grew up in Indiana, this Alabama bride sure had her work cut out for her! The azaleas were in full bloom by the time they held their deeply meaningful ceremony in her parents’ backyard, followed by a reception full of Southern foods and treats. I can only imagine how many of their Northern guests fell in love with the South that night! Just like Laura and John’s adorable love story and beautiful wedding, it’s easy to love, don’t you think?

Many thanks to Kelly of Spindle Photography for sending Laura and John’s wedding our way!

John was the first guy I met when I moved to Portland, Oregon. He was the only person (besides a fireman) who offered to help my friend and me move boxes up five flights of stairs to my new apartment. I stubbornly turned down his offer to help. I later found out that he lived down the hall from me, but our schedules were pretty different and I barely ever saw him. A year later, fate and googly-eye stickers brought us together. One night, when I returned home from dinner with my friend, John approached us in the hall and asked if I had any googly-eye stickers that he could use for a model he was building for a science class. Oddly enough, I did. He invited my friend and I over to his place that night (where she quietly told me that she thought he might like me), and we’ve been side-by-side ever since.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. Finding my wedding dress was such a special experience. My parents flew me back home to Alabama the summer before my wedding so that I could find my dress with my loved ones by my side. The first place I visited was The White Room because two of my older sisters had had their beautiful dresses perfectly altered by Carolyn Kelley, the owner. I searched around for something unique and picked out a variety of styles to try on. The first one I put on was perfect, and it was floor sample in perfect condition! I tried on about ten more dresses after that, but kept thinking about that first one. Also, my dad (who has impeccable taste) kept saying, “That’s pretty, but I’m not sure that it’s as special as that first one.” Finally, I put the first dress back on. We added a very simple veil and everyone in the room teared up—it was definitely THE dress. Then, on top of everything going so well that day, my amazing grandparents surprised me by purchasing my dream dress. It was just one of those incredibly lucky and lovely days.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We did decide to do a first look. I really felt like it would be more special to see each other that day without a crowd of people watching (though my sisters and bridesmaids were stealthily watching from a distance). Plus, I knew that if I saw him for the first time while walking down the aisle, I would have been so overwhelmed by emotion that I probably would have cried through the entire ceremony (which I basically did anyway, but it would have been more intense). It was so comforting to see him, and so sweet to see him see me. I’m glad that we set aside time to do that and let that moment sink in.

What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? We had three readings. John’s mom read an excerpt from “The Bridge Across Forever” by Richard Bach. My step-mom read “A Marriage” by Mark Twain. Then, I had our officiant (who is also one of our best friends) read an excerpt from a letter my mom wrote me before she passed away about finding real love.

This picture might be my favorite out of all of them. They look like they just adore each other!

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? It was really important to me that I married John in my hometown. He grew up in Portland, but most of his family is from Indiana, so I wanted to make sure that I showcased the charms of the South for all of our Oregon and Indiana guests. Fortunately, Mother Nature cooperated with us and our spring wedding showed off Alabama’s most gorgeous time—my parents’ backyard was filled with blooming azaleas! Of course, we made sure to highlight Southern food: candied pecans, sweet tea, mint juleps, shrimp and grits, crab salad and fried green tomatoes were some of the highlights.

Tell us all about the proposal! John was determined to surprise me, which was a difficult undertaking since we designed my engagement ring together. Actually, I had been anticipating a proposal for almost three years when the time finally came. He had a few elaborate plans that involved us being outdoors, but each fell through due to many strings of rainy days. After a handful of failed attempts at creating an ideal situation, he came up with a low-key plan. He told me one weekend morning that he had to go down to Eugene for business (which isn’t unusual). I kissed him goodbye and went about my day fixing up things at the house. Many hours later, as I was taking a nap, John came through the door with a nervous look on his face. At first I was startled because I didn’t expect him and was half asleep. Then, he got down on one knee, took out the ring (a beautiful combination of two family heirlooms) and told me why he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I was stunned! I quickly realized that I was so stunned that I did not hear his proposal, and I asked him to propose to me again, which he did. Obviously, I said yes. We spent the rest of the day together doing things we love doing and being totally excited.
When did y’all get married? April 13, 2013
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? About 75
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Yes, we did. My favorite part about our vows was that we wrote them separately, but they ended up being very similar. My favorite line from both had to do with our desire to help each other fulfill our dreams.
Describe your wedding flowers. My wedding flowers were gorgeous! I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted, but I found a vendor I could really trust (thank you Mandy and the HotHouse team) and left most of the decisions up to her. I told her what colors I wanted, and that I wanted ranunculus and poppies—the rest was up to her and her team. I didn’t ask for roses, but I’m so glad they included them since John and I live in The City of Roses.
Describe your wedding cake or dessert. Much of my wedding was focused on highlighting things that I love about the South. I knew that I wanted several regular cakes instead of one large one, so we chose a couple of uniquely Southern cakes (strawberry and coconut) and a beautiful chocolate cake (because you have to have chocolate). I also included two cheesecakes because John isn’t really into regular cake.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: My favorite detail is that we had an intimate ceremony in my parents’ backyard. When I asked John what his favorite detail was, he said, “My bride.”
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Distance! Planning a wedding from nearly 3,000 miles away comes with many challenges. Luckily, I have lots of awesome family members and friends in Alabama that stepped up to the plate and really made the wedding possible.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What is the one detail or vendor that you were so happy to have as a part of your wedding? I was happy about pretty much everything involved in our wedding, but our photographer, Kelly Cummings, was exactly what we needed throughout the day. She made sure the whole day flowed the way it should, and ended up being the person I turned to for just about everything. Also, she has given me the most beautiful photos that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Our wedding really would not have been the same without her.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The most memorable moment was probably the fire. Right as we were leaving, one of the sparklers set the guest book tablecloth ablaze. We were already in the car, but watching that happen and seeing all the guests scramble to save the guest book (which was heroically saved—thank goodness) was an interesting and memorable end to an eventful day.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Don’t try to live up to anybody’s expectations—make the day about you and your husband. At the end of the day, you aren’t going to have a perfect wedding or meet everyone’s expectations of what it should have been. Though, if you let go and make decisions that feel right, y’all will have a happy day to look back on. For some more practical advice: get that guest list hammered out as soon as possible! Putting together that list with all the correct details was one of my biggest hurdles. Also, don’t fret over little details. As long as you have vendors you trust and respect, all the details will come together in a beautiful way.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you most looking forward to about married life? We are looking forward to so many things. Mostly, we are looking forward to future travels, but we are also very excited to start looking for a house to call our own. The thing we look forward to most about being married is growing together and starting a little family.

Photographer: Kelly Cummings of Spindle Photography | Ceremony Venue: Bride’s parents’ backyard | Reception Venue: The Avondale Villa | Florist: Mandy Majerik of Hot House Design Studio | Wedding Cakes: Edgar’s Bakery | Caterer: Yellow Bicycle Catering | Bride’s Gown: Christos Eloisa | Paper Products: Paper Source | Hair Stylist: Mark Hyde at SalonU | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew Louisa in Dusty Shale | Groom’s Attire: J.Crew | Groomsmen Attire: J.Crew shirts and Forever 21 ties

Spindle Photography is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Nicole reply

    That puppy! And how funny that Laura asked John to propose a second time — I’ve read so many proposal stories where the bride doesn’t remember a word the groom said, so I’m glad she asked for a repeat :)

  2. avatar Morgan Trinker reply

    SO gorgeous! Kelly captured this one perfectly. Love Laura and John’s style, and love their story even more! :)

  3. avatar Dana reply

    the picture with the bridesmaids all petting the puppy is such a great shot! what an interesting venue too!

  4. avatar Katie reply

    I think Laura’s wedding was gorgeous. So ram tic and well done! I would love to know where her earrings came from! I’m in love with them!

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