David + Christen {wedding}

How did you two meet?

Christen: "We met through a mutual friend. He told us about each other, and said he wanted to set us up, but we actually didn't get to meet until a couple months later when we were all with a group of friends."

How and when did David propose?

October 16, 2015: 

Christen: "David is a doctor who just recently took his first job near Fairhope, AL. I was planning on coming down to visit for the weekend and he informed me we were going to a pharmaceutical sales dinner at The Grande Hotel in Point Clear, AL. I was not really wanting to go but told him I would."

David: "After Christen's Dad gave me his blessing, I started to think about how I would ask Christen to marry me. One day, I was walking on the bay at the Grande Hotel and knew that was the place to do it! I just needed a way to get her there and surprise her. My solution was a pharmaceutical sales dinner. My cover was almost blown when Christen asked her dad, who is a pharmaceutical salesman, if it was normal for a doctor to bring a significant other to a sales dinner, and he said No! Looking back, I should have informed him of my idea!"

Christen: "We pulled up to the entrance gate of the The Grande and David's words were "This is David and Christen for the dinner." Well that should have been my first hint because my thoughts were "Are you not going to tell him what pharmaceutical dinner this is for?" but the guard simply replied with, "anyone can have dinner at The Grande!" and handed us a guest pass and waved us through."

David: "The day before, I had tipped the guard at the gate, and told him my plan. He was to let us into the 'pharmaceutical dinner'"

Christen: "Once we parked, he took my hand and we walked along the bay toward the restaurant. The resort features several swings facing the sunset and I quickly noticed one was open! It was almost sunset so I sat down and said, "Can we watch the sunset real fast and then go?" David's response was, "uhh, let's keep walking and make sure we find the restaurant." This should have been my second hint, but I was still clueless."

David: "I was doing everything I could to make it a complete surprise. Even though I was nervous on the inside, I was trying to keep my cool and stay on the schedule I had planned out!"

Christen: "We continued walking and suddenly David stopped and turned and faced me and asked, 'Can I read you something?'"

David: "I had made some notes about Christen following our very first few dates together, so I decided I would let her know I had done this by reading them to her just before I proposed".

Christen: "As he was reading them, I heard a noise in the bushes next to us and looked over only to see a man in a suit with a camera falling out of the bushes. I looked back at David; he was on one knee asking me to marry him and of course I said yes!!

David: "She said yes!"

Christen: "After the proposal, David brought me back to a swing by the water. He had reserved that swing just for us! We sat and watched the sunset and a waitress came out and brought us champagne and informed us she would be taking care of us the rest of the night. I looked at him and said 'the rest of the night? It keeps going?'"

David: "My plan was to propose, then surprise her with a sunset view and champagne toast. Following this, we were to have a private dinner out by the bay by candlelight. I told the chef previously some of Christen's favorite foods."

Christen: "Once the sun set, our waitress asked, "Are you ready for your dinner in the chef's garden in the private gazebo?" I was stunned. There was a private gazebo overlooking the bay and gardens with vines and christmas lights and David had printed pictures of the two of us over the last year and clipped them all inside of the gazebo. It was beautiful and so special."

What are some things y'all like to do together?

Christen: "We love the outdoors and staying active! Our 2nd date we went hiking and it was so much fun. We love to workout together, hike, kayak, camp, and bike. The day after we got engaged David bought me a bike so our new favorite thing is biking around the Eastern Shore. We are also two huge college football fans so any Saturday in the fall that is what we will be watching."

David- what's one of the things you admire most about Christen? 

David: "I knew pretty quickly how much I admired about Christen. Our first day was August 2nd, 2014 and we could not stop talking, we hit it off immediately! That night, I knew something was special about her, so I wrote down as much as I could remember about our date!  Included were so many things I admire about Christen. I admire her love for the Lord and her desire to serve and give at her church. I admire her positive spirit and her ability to put a smile on my face! I admire her love for her family and friends. I admire the Christian roots her family provided for her. I also admired her love for tennis and other sports and outdoor activities, and at the time, couldn't wait to do some of those things with her. I could name so many more!"

Christen- what's one of the things you admire most about David? 

Christen: "He loves so well. He loves and serves the Lord so diligently, and is such a leader in our relationship. He also loves and serves me so well. He shows his love by doing the little things that make me feel so incredibly special and like the only girl in the world! He loves his family, his friends and his patients in such an incredible way."

What was each yall's favorite part of the big day?

David: "That day was perfect! We waited to see each other until the ceremony, and the moment I saw her, wow, she was absolutely gorgeous in that dress! I don't think I could keep my hands off of her after that. I loved seeing all the friends and family that came to see our wedding. The dance floor was also a good time! I had been looking forward to that day for a long time, and I thank God for bringing Christen and I together."

Christen: "Oh there are so many! My favorite part was the church doors opening and seeing David smiling so big and looking so handsome at the end of the aisle. We were finally starting forever together."

What's next for you two?

Christen: "We bought a house in Fairhope, AL so we are looking forward to learning our new city! We can't wait to get involved in our new church, explore our community, beach days, outdoor adventure days, traveling the world, and just enjoy being together every day after being long distance for so long."

Vendors:

Chapel - Samford University Reid Chapel

Reception - Old Car Heaven

Videography - Jeff Bush Videography

Cakes - Magic Muffins

Dress - Diane's Formal Affair

Hair and Makeup - Beauty By Jess, LLC (Jessica Tinsley)

Bridesmaid Dresses - Bridesmaids Inc.

Florist - Becky Griffith of Quodlibet Designs

Photo Booth - Lets Booth It

Band - Accent

Catering - Kathy G. Catering

Danny + Liz {engagement}

How did you two meet?

Liz: "I first met Danny when I accidentally took the copier. He said, "Hey, I was using that." He looked at me with his stern eyes, and I walked away super embarrassed."

How and when did Danny propose?

Liz: "On February 22, he made spaghetti, and after we finished eating, he got down on one knee and said, "I want to cash in all my Liz points; will you marry me?"

What are some things y'all like to do together?

"We like to take trips on the motorcycle, have new experiences/adventures, do crafty projects, watch movies, play with our kids and of course... binge watch Netflix."

Liz-- what's one thing you admire most about Danny?

Liz: "I most admire his loyalty and dedication."

Danny-- what's one thing you admire most about Liz?

"I admire her spontaneous nature."

Will +Hannah {wedding}

How did you two meet, and how long did you two date?

Hannah: "My aunt and one of her best friends who works with Will were together one day and had the idea that we should meet for coffee. Although Will and I were not the type to go on a blind date, we both had a peace and were interested and told them yes. About a week later Will contacted me and we met for coffee on March 5th where a “casual coffee date” turned into a 4 hour conversation that left us truly smitten! After coffee, we went on several more dates, became official in April and dated 6 months before we got engaged."

How and when did Will propose? 

Hannah: "I had recently started teaching at Pike Road, which has a trail attached to the Waters. Will knows how much I love and adore my kids so he wanted school to play some role in it. School had just ended and I was wrapping things up in my classroom when my Principal asked me to go to the trail to check on a student. As soon as I walked up, Will stepped from out behind the tree (I can still replay that moment in my mind so clearly as he truly looked like Prince Charming as he beamed from ear to ear!) He was so sweet and patient as he waited for me to connect all of the dots and then told me the exact number of days we have been dating. As many other girls can relate, I’m sure I don’t remember much more after that just getting to think, “I’m going to get to be his wife!"

What are some things y'all like to do together?

Hannah: "Worship! One of my biggest passions is worship and often is the one thing that truly helps me unwind and reset as the Lord restores my heart. Getting to sing and worship with Will as he plays the guitar is truly one of my favorite things! We also read the one-year Bible individually and come together each night to talk about what stuck out, what we want to know more about, etc. This has become something I look forward to each night as he truly inspires and brings things to my attention I would have never noticed on my own!"

Will-- what's one thing you admire most about Hannah?

Will: "To pick one thing I admire most about Hannah is extremely hard to do, because there are truly hundreds of things that I admire. The way Hannah treats other people and makes it a point to display the love of Christ in everything she does is inspiring to say the least. In (Matthew 22:37-39) Jesus tells us that the two greatest commands are to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and with all your mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. I have never met anyone who lives this out more than Hannah. Her love for Jesus challenges me to love deeper and continually pursue him in all walks of life. The way she treats other people and displays the love of Christ through her relationships is a constant reminder to me that, 'We love because he first loved us.' (1 John 4:19) It is truly an honor to get to spend the rest of my life with her, and I look forward to what The Lord has in store for us, as we continue to keep in first in all we do."

Hannah-- what's one thing you admire most about Will?

"It’s truly hard to pick just one! Will is THE Most selfless, loving, God-fearing Man I have ever met. He loves me in ways I could have never even dreamed of (early morning notes on my car, the way he calls me before school just to pray for me, new books I want to read that I only mentioned once, sweet notes in my bible that I find later in the week, etc.) More than anything though, I most admire his love and devotion to wait on and trust the Lord. His stability and anchored love for the Lord truly makes me want more of Jesus daily and THAT was and is always worth waiting for!"

What was each yall's favorite part of the big day? Individual answers would be great!

Will: "Watching Hannah walk down the aisle is what I remember most about our big day. It felt like slow motion watching her walk down to meet me. What I pictured in my head, could not even come close to how beautiful she looked when I saw her round the corner. I have played that moment back in my head everyday since we have been married, and I smile with joy every time." 

Hannah: "The whole day was so special, but my favorite was when my Dad and I rounded the corner of the sanctuary and I got to see Will (in a bow tie!!) with the biggest smile on his face. That moment will forever be a memory of mine as it was the sweetest to look at my groom with my father by my side, fully embracing his role about to change as he would give me to Will. From that moment on having Will by my side took on a new meaning as he is not only my beloved but the very helpmate the Lord has chosen just for me."

What's next for you two?

Hannah: "Will and I are fortunate enough to have the summers off since we are both educators and are so thankful for this time to live life, learn and grow together as husband and wife. We are finding our schedule can quickly fill up but we know cultivating our marriage as well as clinging to the Lord and then one another is a huge part of marriage that we need daily. We have loved getting to settle into married life, cook meals and surprise each other in different ways, but the worship is still one of our favorites and has become even sweeter which we didn't think was possible. We aren't sure what all the Lord has in store for The Moore's, but we are eager to see and  will follow wherever He may lead!"

Vendors:

Flowers: Amis Sellers/Suzanne's

Bride's dress: Denson's

Bridesmaids dresses: Bella Bridesmaids

Food: White Wing Catering

Video: Jeff Bush Videography

Ben + Kindall

How did you two meet?

Kindall: "We met at Camp McDowell in 2006. Some friends introduced us and it was a done deal since day one! I was 14, he was 16, and we never broke up once! We'll have spent ten years together on Monday, June 6."

How did Ben propose?

Kindall: "Ben proposed at the Biltmore Estate. We had hiked and toured all weekend. As we were checking out one of the best views, he proposed. We had almost been together nine years at this point, but I still didn't see it coming or expect him to propose there! We spent the rest of the day talking about our future and excitedly calling all of our families and friends. Something I'll never forget is Ben telling each person we called the story over and over again- so many of them cried! He picked the perfect place and the perfect time for us."

What are some things y'all like to do together?

Kindall: "We love to travel, hike, cook, and play with our dogs. If we can't do any of those things, you'll probably find us watching Law and Order."

Kindall-- what's one thing you admire most about Ben?

Kindall: "It's so hard to pick just one thing I admire about him! One of my favorite things is how great of a friend he is to everyone he meets. He's the type of friend that is loyal, thoughtful, kind and puts others' needs in front of his own. I think that is an important part of any relationship as well- the ability to be friends with each other."

Ben-- what's one thing you admire most about Kindall?

Ben: "The attribute I admire the most about Kindall is her ability to challenge me to be better than I was yesterday. She knows exactly what to say when I am down and celebrates my accomplishments. For me it is so important to feel like you have a partner that has your back, and Kindall tirelessly pushes for our success as individuals and as a couple."

What was each of yall's favorite part of the day?

Kindall: "I loved our whole day so much! One of my favorite parts was our first look. We were both pretty nervous about the ceremony and being in front of all of our guests. The first look gave us the opportunity to slow things down and re-focus on each other. We were both so happy we chose to do the first look! Another favorite moment was when our priest announced us for the first time. After almost ten years, it still makes me teary to think of all of the people that shaped our relationship and supported us. Finally being able to stand in front of them as a married couple was a huge moment."

Ben: "Right after we arrived at the reception and before our first dance, we had a chance to sit down, have a meal with our parents, and breathe. Our catering company had prepared plates for the six of us. The entire day was a whirlwind of pictures, laughter, and emotions and I was so thankful that we had a chance to sit down with our parents, take it all in, and eat our first meal as husband and wife."

What's next for you two?

"We are both working and living in Huntsville, Ala. Right now, we are just enjoying our time together, trying to travel as much as possible, and getting involved in different things Huntsville has to offer."

Vendors:

Church: Church of the Ascension

Reception: RSA Alabama Activity Center

Video: Two Hawks Videography

Paper goods: Cotton & Pine

Florals: Greylillies

Bride's dress: Ines di Santo via White Dresses Boutique

Bridesmaid dresses: Bella's Bridal and Formals

Bridal cake: Cake Designs

Catering: RSA

Andy + Austill {wedding}

How did you two meet, and how long did you two date?

Austill: "We met in physical theory school in Atlanta. We were in the same lab group in cadaver lab, which is how we really got to know each other. We didn't start dating until about a year into school, and we dated three years before getting engaged last September."

Do either of your remember what you thought the first time y'all saw/met each other?
Austill: "I thought he was very funny and he was always a gentleman. I really appreciated that he would always do the gross parts of cadaver lab for me because I really hated it!"

Andy: "I remember thinking she had a weird name but I loved the fact she was an Auburn fan and we could relate."

How and when did Andy propose?

Austill: "Andy proposed on September 4 while we were at the beach with a big group of our friends. Several of the girls went to run errands that morning and while we were gone, Andy set up signs that said sweet things about me down on the beach. When we got back to the house, he took me down to the beach to show me the signs. I didn't realize what was happening until he gave me a Bible with my new last name on it. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! It was perfect!"

Austill-- What's one of the things you admire most about Andy?

Austill: "Andy is so easy going and level headed. He never gets stressed out and is always calm, even when things are going wrong. I respect Andy a lot and know that he will always make the best and most logical decisions for our family by seeking guidance from the Lord."

Andy-- What's one of the things you admire most about Austill?

Andy: "Austill is one of the most sincere and intelligent people you will meet. She never meets a stranger and cherishes all the little things in life. She is kind and genuine and she is an auburn fan."

What are some things y'all like to do together?

Austill: "We love going to all Auburn sporting events together. We also enjoy spending time with each others families, hiking, playing with our dog Shug, playing tennis and working out. We like to try new restaurants around Birmingham when we have a weekend in town."

What was each yall's favorite part of the big day?

Austill: "Getting to spend the whole weekend with all our closest family friends in one place, having a blast on the dance floor, and finally being able to call Andy my husband!"

Andy: "My favorite part was dancing with all of our friends and family."

What's next for you two?

Austill: "We are trying to get settled in our new house and are looking forward to spending the summer together with our dog Shug and friends and family!"

Vendors:

Venues: Ceremony- Trinity United Methodist Church in Opelika, AL; Reception: Barrett Home

Florist: Cathy Wayman of C. Wayman Floral and Events

Catering: Billy Lee of Terra Cotta Catering

Paper: Laura McCarty of Marked

Cake: Tania Cobine of Cakes by Tania

Band: The Main Attraction Band

Wedding Planner: Catherine Wayman of C. Wayman Floral and Events

Event Rentals: Special Arrangements

Videographer: Kyle and Erin Goodin of 1717 Wedding Cinema

Cason + Madolyn {wedding}

How did you two meet?

Madolyn: "We met in 2013 as campaign manager and candidate-- real life House of Cards! Not too long after the election we started dating."

How did Cason propose?

Madolyn: "Cason proposed at sunset by the lake at NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa in July 2015."

Cason-- What's one thing you admire most about Madolyn?

Cason: " I most admire Madolyn's kindness of spirit and her inexhaustible willingness to put the needs of others before her own. She is more generous to strangers than so many are to their own friends."

Madolyn-- what's one thing you admire most about Cason?

Madolyn: "I admire Cason's loyalty to the people in his life. He cherishes his friendships and unequivocally is their biggest fan. He is the first phone call his friends would make if they ever needed anything."

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?

Madolyn: "We like traveling, good food, being with friends and family, and can't wait to meet our Goldendoodle puppy, Dudley, in July."

What was each of yall's favorite part of the day?

Cason: "My favorite part of our day was the trumpet fanfare, the doors opening, and Madolyn walking in the church."

Madolyn: "My favorite part was our first dance at the reception twirling around in celebration."

What's next for you two?

Madolyn: "We are making our home in Tuscaloosa."

Vendors:

Ceremony: First United Methodist Church

Reception: Montgomery Country Club

Flowers: Sarah Spratling

Cakes: Peggy McKinney

Print Work: Emily Johnson Art

Bridal gown: custom by Carriage House

Getaway Car: Vintage Auto

Austill {bridals}

I absolutely loved hanging out with Austill and her mom to take some bridal portraits a few days before the big day! One of Austill's best friends, Laura McCarty-- a talented florist and calligrapher-- put together a gorgeous floral bundle for Austill to use! We also made our way into the horse pasture-- which was right up my alley! Enjoy a few of my favorites from the session below.

Kaleb + Becca {engagement}

How long did you two date?

Becca: “We have dated for almost four years.”

How and when did Kaleb propose?

Becca: “Kaleb proposed on December 24, 2015. We were on the way to his parents’ house to eat lunch and take Christmas pictures with his family when his boss called him and asked him to check on something at the shop in the Waters. First we pull up to the chapel, he explained to me he first had to check on something there. It's pouring down rain so, we pulled up he handed me an envelope, and he jumped out and ran inside, so I opened the envelope inside was a letter he had wrote at the end of the letter it said, ‘Check behind your seat.’ There, I found another letter, and an umbrella. Inside this letter, there was a pet adoption agreement. (A little background information on this: I always joked that he would have to adopt my silver lab, Emmie, as his daughter when we got married.) Then, he had a piece of paper that said, ‘Come inside when you're ready,’ so I walked in the church went through the double doors. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Kaleb on one knee with our two dogs (Emmie and Nelli) on each side with signs around their neck that said, ‘Will you marry dad?,’ and a sign above him that said, ‘Will you marry me?’ Meanwhile, he had Thomas Rhett ‘Die a happy man’ and then Sister Hazel ‘This Kind Of Love’ playing in the church. He also had my sister and a close friend of ours hidden taking pictures.”

^This photo above was taken by Madelyn Holding! I let her get behind the camera, and she captured some genuine emotion! Love it!

What are some things y'all like to do together?

“We enjoy just being together! We love traveling, fishing and anything outdoors. Most of all we just enjoy being together, so as long as we are together, we are having fun!”

Kaleb- what's one of the things you admire most about Becca?

Kaleb: “I don't even know where to start. The first thing that caught my eye about Rebecca is her obvious outer beauty. I was amazed that she would go for me. Putting that aside, the most amazing thing about Rebecca isn't her outer beauty, it's what's inside. Her soul is the most beautiful attribute that she has. She is the sweetest and kindest woman I have ever met. She's the kind of woman that will give you the shirt off of her back if you ask her. I wouldn't be who I am today if I didn't have her by my side.”

Becca- what's one of the things you admire most about Kaleb?

Becca: “This is a really difficult question. Kaleb is an amazing man!! He is selfless, thoughtful, loving, patient, but what I admire most about him is he is a strong Christian man-- constantly encouraging me to become closer to God and a stronger Christian. Kaleb is always by my side no matter what encouraging me and helping me achieve my goals in life!! I am so blessed the Lord chose me to be Kaleb's wife."

^This last photo above was also taken by Madelyn! :)

RSVP Montgomery/Mary Me {inspiration shoot for bridal issue}

I'm thrilled to be able to share some favorites from the shoot I had the pleasure of doing with Mary Me (Mary Sanders + Madison Hayden) for RSVP Montgomery's 2016 bridal issue. We worked with other talented vendors--such as Kara Anne Paper, Melissa Kendall Floral Design and Burgwin Studios-- making it an A+ team! Super thankful to have been able to capture Mary + Madison's vision for this issue. Enjoy a few of my favorites below:

Vendors:

Event designer and stylist: Mary Me (Mary Sanders + Madison Hayden)

Bride model: Josey Aughtman

Groom model: Aaron Sanders

Paper goods: Kara Anne Paper

Florals: Melissa Kendall Floral Design

Wedding gown: Ivory + White Boutique

Bride necklace: Burgwin Studios

Bridesmaids' dresses: Bella Bridesmaids

Hair: Khoury at Doug's 2

Makeup: Emily Shanks

Rentals: Brendle Rentals

Props: Oriental Accents

Food design: Peppertree Steaks + Wines

2016 RSVP Montgomery bridal issue

Pick up the latest copy of RSVP Montgomery's 2016 bridal issue around town! It's so awesome to see Sam + Rachel on the cover! The RSVP ladies are too good to me :)

Sam + Rachel's wedding also got some love :)

It was also an honor (and so fun!) to shoot Mary Me's inspiration spread for this issue! It's always a treat working with Mary Sanders and Madison Hayden!

Click here to see the digital file of the magazine!

Bryant + Molly {wedding} :: 4.2.16

How did you two meet?

We met in pharmacy school at Auburn and have dated for almost four years since February 2012.

How did Bryant propose?

Molly: "Bryant proposed on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015. After we got home from church I wanted to take my regular Sunday afternoon nap before going to his family's annual family reunion.  I had been begging him all week to have an "adult" Easter egg hunt, but he thought I was crazy and said that was just for the kids. We recently bought a house in Prattville that we are remodeling and he said we needed to go see what had been done to the house during the week before we went to the family reunion. We went and checked on the progress of the house a lot so I didn't think anything about it.  When we walked in there was a silver egg laying on the counter and he picked it up and got down on one knee and I could not hold back the tears! The ring is very special to us because the center stone was his grandmother's diamond. Everyone joked that I got my Easter egg hunt and found the "golden egg". 

Bryant-- what's one of the things you admire about Molly?

Bryant: "One of the things I admire most about Molly is her personable and kind personality based upon deep Christian principles."

Molly-- what's one of the things you admire most about Bryant?

Molly: "Bryant has the most selfless and giving heart of anyone I know! One example is when he donated stem cells to a complete stranger through Be The Match. I sat by his side during the long process (approximately 6 hours) and watched how painful and uncomfortable it was and when it was finished he said "I would do it again tomorrow to save another life." He performs small acts of kindness on a daily basis like paying for a group of police officer's lunch when we are on a lunch date. His giving heart is so attractive! 

What was each of yall's favorite part of the day?

Molly: "Every part of the day was a painterly perfect and special in it's on way, but my favorite part was saying our vows to one another and establishing those words as the foundation of our marriage."

Bryant: "My anticipation as I was waiting for our first look. My heart was racing knowing I was about to see my bride!"

What's next for you two?

Molly: "We will be living in Prattville. Bryant is currently working as a pharmacist for Brown Drug Co. in Selma and after graduation in May, Molly will begin working as a pharmacist for CVS."

Vendors:

Bride's dress: Ivory and White 

Bridesmaid dresses: Bella's Bridesmaids 

Groomsmen: Joseph A. Bank

Hair and makeup: Brittany Benton Massey

Videographer: Lance Holloway 

Rentals: Brendle Rentals

Invitations and programs: Sarah McCallister

Flowers: Gloria Lucas

Monogram: Deeply Scripted, Shannon Hill

Napkins, cups, table runner: Jan Beale, You Name It 

Caterer: Sugar B's Bakery 

Band: The Park Band 

Jonathan + Brooke {wedding} :: 3.19.16

How did you two meet, and how long did you two date?

Brooke: “Jonathan and I actually met through my maid of honor, Amy Masingill. Amy is my best friend from high school and after graduation we ended up at two different schools– I went to Alabama and she went to Auburn. I spent a lot of time visiting Amy in Auburn during college. The summer after my freshman year, our paths crossed with Jonathan’s, and he and I have been together ever since!”

How and when did Jonathan propose?

Brooke: “Jonathan proposed on March 15, 2015. I was living in Atlanta and he was living in Birmingham at the time. We had both come to Montgomery for the weekend. I had an engagement party and he wanted to hunt on his family’s land. I had told him I’d go for a walk with him after he went turkey hunting that morning which is something we did often in Montgomery on their land. During our walk, he pulled me aside in front of his family’s 19th century homestead and had a pedestal set up with his hunting cameras surrounding it to get pictures of the proposal! I was still clueless until he actually got on one knee and I saw the ring! He also had brunch set up with my entire family afterwards. It was the best surprise of my life!”

Brooke– what’s one of the things you admire most about Jonathan?

Brooke: “Only choosing one thing I admire about Jonathan is difficult for me. Jonathan is thoughtful, loving, and makes me laugh every single day. One of my favorite things about Jonathan, though, is that he is a strong leader. He leads in everything he does, sometimes without even realizing it, and I love and appreciate how he has already started to lead our little family!”

Jonathan– what’s one of the things you admire most about Brooke?

Jonathan: “My favorite thing about Brooke is how strong of a Christian Woman she is. She is constantly pushing me to become better, closer, and stronger to God and the importance cannot be measured in our relationship. She is definitely a Godly Woman and I love and adore that about her.”

What was each yall’s favorite part of the big day?

Brooke: “My favorite part of our wedding day was seeing Jonathan for the first time. There had been so much anticipation leading up to that moment and I was so excited for him to see my dress and talk to him about his gift! I also can’t go without mentioning how much I LOVED having all of our friends and families in the same place at the same time and seeing them all enjoying themselves! It’s rare to have so many loved ones in the same room all at once and it meant so much to us to have everyone there to help celebrate and support us!”

Jonathan: “My favorite part was obviously seeing Brooke for the first time. There had been so much build up for the past one year and four days that it was absolutely surreal to see my wife for the first time. She looked absolutely stunning and was just so unbelievably happy. It was a special moment for me that I will never forget.”

What’s next for you two?

Brooke: “Jonathan and I had dated for about four and a half years and all but five months of that was long distance. So we just recently bought a house and we are mostly just excited to get settled in the same city as a married couple!”

Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Frazer United Methodist Church

Reception Venue: Alley Station Ballroom

Flowers: Melissa Kendall

Catering: White Wings Catering

Cakes: Vickie Kyser

Dress: The White Room

Hair and Makeup: Taylor Skipper – Olivia Salon

Band: Powerhouse

Lighting: Special Events Lighting

Videographer: Craig Kiker

Reid + Taylor {wedding} :: 2.27.16

How did you two meet, and how long did you two date?

Taylor: “We met out one night in Auburn when a friend introduced us! We dated for 5 years.”

How did Reid propose?

Taylor: “Reid proposed on a Friday evening in late August. I had been helping him move into a new house, and he said he didn’t want to work on the house that night– he wanted to take me to dinner. When he picked me up, I noticed he wasn’t wearing shoes! He said he couldn’t find them in the move and was going to check the new house so off we went. When we pulled up I didn’t even get out of the car- I thought he was just running inside. He signaled for me to come in and said he wanted  to show me something. When I came in the house he had flowers waiting in the kitchen and thanked me for everything I’d done to help him move. I looked for something to put the flowers in, and when I turned around he was on one knee!”

Taylor– what’s one of your favorite things about Reid?

Taylor: “It’s hard to just name one, but something I admire most about Reid is his patience!”

Reid– what’s one of your favorite things about Taylor?

Reid: “The thing I admire most about Taylor is her contagious laughter.”

What was each of yall’s favorite part of the day?

Taylor: “My favorite part of the day was the actual ceremony and the feeling I had as Reid and I walked down the aisle as a married couple. It was the greatest feeling of pride and joy I have ever experienced. Also, the excitement of having all our closest friends and family there to celebrate was incredible.”

Reid: “The best part of the big day was walking up the alley to the reception and seeing everyone as we walked in.”

Vendors:

Church: St. Peter Catholic Church

Reception: Central @129 Coosa Street

Catering: Central

Dress: Ivory and White (Birmingham, Ala.)

Flowers: Melissa Kyndall

Wedding Cake: Peggy McKinney

Grooms Cake: Magic Muffins (Birmingham, Ala.)

Videographer: Jeff Bush {www.jeffbushvideography.com}

Cups/Koozies/Napkins: Boosters Inc.

Invitations: The Paper Store

Ben + Mary Elaine {engagement}

How did you two meet, and how long did you two date?

Ben: “September 9, 2011– got dem digits and haven’t left her alone since. We dated for almost four years.”

Mary Elaine: “We met at one of my friend’s birthday dinners. Reed was a good friend of mine from college, and he met Ben when they both ended up at the University of Alabama for grad school. Ben’s godparents go to the same church as Reed in Knoxville. It always seems crazy to us that our worlds crossed paths. We dated for almost four years, and during that time Ben lived in three different states!”

Do either of your remember what you thought the first time y’all saw/met each other?

Ben: “I traveled up to Birmingham for our mutual friend’s birthday dinner in Crestline Village. I saw her walking up and was taken away by how absolutely beautiful she was. During the meal, she sat across from me, and I had to consciously not look at her so often and try to include others into the conversation. I never once was nervous or second guessing myself around her. In hind sight, I know that I actually knew then that I was supposed to spend my life with her.”

Mary Elaine: “I thought Ben was handsome and really easy to talk to since we had some common connections. Ben was from South Carolina, and my sister had lived in Columbia for the past few years. I was just excited to get to know him better.”

How and when did Ben propose?  

Mary Elaine: “Ben and I were going to Lake Martin for the weekend. My family has a house that we’ve enjoyed going to over the years. We both drove down after work Friday evening. Ben was excited to walk down to the dock after he got there. I was pretty clueless and was talking about completely random things (I remember talking about all of the spider webs that needed to be cleaned haha). After a few minutes, we walked back up to the house. It was on the way back that Ben turned towards me and got down on one knee. Even though it was dark outside and I could barely see Ben, it was the perfect time. We were thrilled and got to spend the rest of the weekend telling our family and friends and enjoying this special time.”

Ben: “I nailed it. Ya know da story.”

What are some things y’all like to do together?

Ben: “We like doing pretty much everything. We are apart so often that we enjoy doing almost anything because we’re so excited about doing it together. Most of all, we enjoy spending time with our family and friends, running, eating and seeing new places. We try to mix those all together as much as possible.”

Mary Elaine: “I agree with Ben. We love traveling to visit our family and spending time with our friends. Running is also something we do a lot together. We trained for our first half marathon in Baton Rouge and our first marathon in Savannah. We both enjoy eating Mexican food, reading and being outdoors. Ben and I are both big sports fans. We mostly love watching SEC football– we cheer for different teams which can be challenging at times– and the Atlanta Braves.”

What are you both most looking forward to about marriage?

Ben: We have been living apart from each other for most of the time that we have known each other, so I am just really excited to be with her every day. We have such a long list of things that we want to do with each other but have had a hard time budgeting time to do it all. I often joke that we have so much to do together in such little time even if we have the rest of our lives together.

Mary Elaine: While dating, we have been long distance the majority of the time. I am excited about seeing Ben every day and getting to do some simple things together more often! I think we’re both just ready to be husband and wife!