Southern Weddings

A few days ago, Emily sent me an email saying I would die over this wedding, and she couldn’t be more right! Today I get to combine two of my favorite things – gorgeous Southern weddings and Alabama football (I know, lucky duck!). Lindsey + Michael honored their alma mater and their relationship with fun-filled celebration in the Zone at Bryant-Denny Stadium! Beyond their reception taking place at such an incredibly cool location, their cream and gold color palette made for classic formal Southern style at it’s best! High fives and Roll Tide to fellow Alabama girl, Kelly at Spindle Photography, for capturing all the awesomeness that filled Lindsey + Michael’s wedding day!

P.S. Don’t miss Lindsey + Michael’s highlight film by Hampton Road Studios, seen here!

Details weren’t as important to us as the overall feel of the weekend. It was important to me that the bridal party enjoyed themselves and felt like they were a part of something really special. The girls had a great morning listening to music, having mimosas, and getting their hair and makeup done in the bridal suite, and the boys got to kick back and catch up over cocktails and lunch at Innisfree. The day was meant to feel classic, formal, and fun for the guests. The vendors did a great job of transforming the Zone at the stadium into a cream and gold ballroom with draped tents, chandeliers, lots of candlelight and all white flowers. Guests could dance to Motown under twinkle-lighting, have dinner with friends and family, or mingle over cocktails on the balcony overlooking campus.

Describe your wedding flowers: Gary at Jester’s Flowers did an outstanding job. I gave him no specifics other than everything had to be white. The result was a mix of vintage roses, hydrangeas, and calla lilies. It was tasteful, classic and, of course, beautiful.

I instantly loved the quality of the materials and the construction of all of the Amsale gowns, but I especially loved the look of the tulle and satin Calista gown. It was formal, yet easy to dance in, so it was a must.

Gosh, I was not sure I can swoon more over this wedding, and now their adding adorable pups! I’m a goner!

During the ceremony and after the vows, turning around to face the crowd and being blown away by how many people were there for us. You could really feel the love in the room!

Perhaps the most Southern aspect of our wedding was the atmosphere. We wanted everyone to feel welcome and have fun. At the rehearsal dinner, speeches were limited to encourage mingling instead of tears. The ceremony was light and uplifting. The reception venue is a place that holds great memories for many of the guests. The band played music that appealed to both the young and old. We also knew that as long as we had fun, our guests would also.

Describe your wedding cake or dessert: The bride’s cake was almond liqueur-soaked with buttercream frosting and gold fondant lace trim. Mary’s Cakes and Pastries ordered special materials and put lots of time and patience into the cake. The final product was gorgeous, and sat under its own canopy draped tent and golden chandelier. The groom’s cake was a chocolate ganache reproduction of the Coaches Trophy (the National Championship football trophy) with a white chocolate football sitting atop. Mary’s reproduction was spot-on. We had fun cutting the cake, and guests had fun posing with it. Plus, it was delicious. It was devoured in an hour!

The theme for food was “fancy Southern food.” Many of our friends and family are not from the South and we wanted them to experience a great-tasting (and filling) Southern meal. Dinner was served all night using stations. The menu included fried green tomato BLT’s, crab cakes, boiled gulf shrimp, marinated crab salad, pimiento cheese tarts, a full grits bar, smoked chicken with white BBQ sauce, and a beef tenderloin station. After guests enjoyed the full bar for a few hours, mini grilled cheeses were passed around.

I can’t think of a better way to end the night then with some Alabama shakers! Congratulations L + M, and a big ol’ Roll Tide Roll!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met in 2005 during our freshman year of college at Alabama at a fraternity party. Our sense of humor completely clicked. We went on a dinner date the next night and have been together ever since. There never really was a point where we decided “this is it.” We have known from the start.
Describe the proposal. Michael took me down to the beach on May 13 of 2011 for what I thought was a Mother’s Day weekend trip. On the way to dinner one night, he pulled into a parking spot and pulled out a ring. Our friends and family were waiting on a catamaran in the bay to celebrate with us. We spent the afternoon cruising and then celebrated all weekend at the beach with our friends.
In what month did you get married? June
How many guests attended your wedding? 400
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I went to about 10 different stores in Atlanta and across Alabama but did not find anything that I wanted to buy. I am petite, very hard to fit, and extremely picky I finally took a trip to Bridals by Lori in Atlanta because I knew they had a large selection.
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We didn’t do a first look. Neither of us are sentimental! We had already seen each other in our attire before the wedding day. When I did my bridal shoot, Michael put on his tuxedo and we took pictures at our house, with our dogs, and around the UA campus. This was one of the best decisions we made. Those have been some of our favorite pictures so far and we would never have been able to get them on the actual wedding day.
What readings, if any, did you have at your ceremony? Ephesians 4:1-16. “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” It was fitting because it is uplifting and inspirational.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. The Lamb Family Violin Ensemble played the ceremony with piano accompaniment. Az Izz danced and sang a fun mix of Motown and R&B at the reception. They also played our first dance song, “You are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The biggest challenge was turning the Zone into a ballroom, for which our vendors deserve all of the credit. Specialty lighting played a large role, as it allowed us to transform of the venue’s fluorescents, which don’t allow for good pictures or ambiance, and give the room a warm, candlelit look.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? A great florist and decorator. The best will create the best for you!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Also, the little moments with our family and close friends were the best part of the weekend. Most of them are spread across the country and we don’t get to see them often. Having our friends by our side made what could be a nerve-wracking experience a lot of fun. We were sad to leave them at the end of the night! The biggest surprise was seeing the finished product after a year of planning. We weren’t overly specific with our vendors. I had no idea how the church or the Zone would look until that day. Needless to say, our vendors came together and created something that exceeded every expectation.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Everyone has a different idea as to what makes the perfect wedding weekend, and that’s OK. The bride and groom set the tone for the weekend. If you both feel good about what you have put together and enjoy yourselves, your guests will too.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? The greatest time of the year in Tuscaloosa is right around the corner! Roll Tide!

Written with love by Marissa