All things white, bright and beautiful
Rebecca and Jason Davis
How We Met: Jason and I met in July 2013 when he began working at the same company I did. In late spring of 2014 he caught my eye, and coworkers began commenting on how many times he came in my office for “phone issues” that no one else seemed to have. By mid-summer, there was no denying the chemistry between us. We went on our first date August 16, 2014, to the American Cancer Society Summer Lights Celebration and have been inseparable ever since.
The Proposal: Oct. 4, 2016, Jason picked up the ring from the jeweler after work and proceeded to go to my parents’ house to ask their permission to propose. From what my parents said, he was terrified the whole time. Meanwhile, I was attending an ABC North Alabama networking event at Liquor Express, anxiously waiting on him to get there. When he arrived, several friends and business associates wanted to see the ring, so after they finished passing it around, I looked at him and held my hand out to see it myself. He grinned and said, “Will you?” to which I said “Of course,” and he put the ring on my finger. My friends were upset they missed the big moment, even though it was about as mundane as a proposal can be.
Favorite Moment: The day before our wedding, a cold front had come through, which made outdoor pictures a bit challenging. The entire wedding party was loaded onto golf carts – one provided by the venue and two others we had come up with from friends – to venture out into the gardens for pictures. The low 40s for temperature and 15-20 mile per hour winds, with higher gusts, had all of us turning blue as we rushed to get various shots.
Our flower girl was a real trooper; the photographer tried to get all the pictures with her at the same time so she could run back to the golf cart and warm up under my heavy coat. It seemed like every time she’d start to warm up, she would be called for another few pictures. The last time the photographer called her for a picture, she snapped her head around to him and gave him a harsh look with a very sarcastic “Really???” We all died laughing.
Favorite Details: I can’t decide which is my favorite detail: the groom’s cake or my dress.
I am not a girly girl at all, so I knew my wedding dress would have to match my vision perfectly or I wouldn’t be happy. After two months of searching designers online, I finally found the perfect dress. After trying on similar dresses at other local salons and not finding one I loved, I went to The Something Blue Shoppe, which carried the designer, and tried on various dresses to no avail. I finally asked if they had “the” dress in stock, so I could at least see it, even if it was the wrong size. Luckily, they did, and we had my niece (who happened to be my maid of honor) try it on so we could get the full picture with veil and all. It was exactly what I wanted.
My husband is an Auburn fan, and my whole family and I are huge Alabama fans, so we knew we’d have obstacles being in a mixed marriage. Since my husband and I planned all the details, we had an extra surprise for my parents and godparents. Since Jason wears more Alabama shirts than Auburn, a lot of people think he has been converted to a Bama fan, although he still bleeds orange and blue. We had Jason’s groom’s cake made in crimson and houndstooth, but when you cut into it, the cake was orange and blue. We shocked everyone when we cut into it at the reception. I wouldn’t let him feed me the orange and blue cake; I would only eat the houndstooth fondant.
Meet the team:
Planner – Details Events & Designs
Photographer – Collin Richie Photography
Calligrapher – The Cardinal Collective
Hair – Salon 8
Makeup – Leslie Ware
Catering – The Chef Next Door
Cakes – Just Crumbs
Baklava – Holy Cross-Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Floral/Décor – Dana’s Floral Design
Linens – BBJ Linen
Rentals – Mullins Special Occasions
Lighting, Draping and Entertainment – Metropolitan Disc Jockey Service
Bridal Gown – The Something Blue Shoppe
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen Attire – Kathleen’s Bridal
Transportation – Coat’s Classic Cars
Sienna and Will Lamon
How we met: Will and I attended the same school from kindergarten until he graduated in 2010. It wasn’t until Christmas break of 2012 that our story begins. We were at a New Year’s party and were each other’s New Year’s kiss. The rest of the break we were inseparable until it was time for him to go back to school. We kept in touch, tagging each other in funny Vines, and would occasionally visit each other, picking up right where we left off. Once we settled into jobs after college graduation, we moved in together and became more serious than ever before.
The proposal: Getting married to each other was common knowledge for the both of us. I told Will I found the church I wanted to get married in someday. He told me after work he wanted me to take him to see it. I told him it would be locked/closed by that time, but we could peek through the windows and see the outside of it. We get to the church, and I hop out of the car without shoes because all the lights were off and I figured we weren’t staying long. After looking around, I told him it was even more beautiful on the inside. He went to turn the door handle, and the door opened. I was so excited it wasn’t locked that I flipped on the lights and started walking him through the church, imagining and describing every detail. I’m pretending to walk down the aisle while he’s at the altar grinning ear to ear, and that’s when he started to get down on one knee. From that moment on, I knew I’d marry that man, with that ring, in that church.
Favorite moment: Our favorite moments are when we did our “first look” and the real moment I walked down the aisle. Will says he’ll never forget the look I gave him when he saw me for the first time, and I’ll never forget the way he looked at me. There is nothing like the feeling of making a lifelong commitment to each other in front of God and surrounded by all the people you love.
Favorite details: My favorite part of our wedding was how all the small details came together so perfectly – the time of the year, the wooden chairs, the bistro lights, my veil, the cakes and all the arrangements. We wanted our wedding to be very small, intimate and all about us, without getting caught up in the stressful planning aspects of a big wedding. We didn’t have a bridal party – only three flower girls and a ring bearer – and only invited family and close family friends. All of our vendors were amazing and easy to work with, which made the whole day run so smoothly.
Meet the team:
Invitations – Salt & Paperie
Lighting – Metropolitan Disc Jockey Service
Band – Free Range
Tent rental – All Needz
Chair rental – Mullins Special Occasions
Hair – Betsy Lamon
Makeup – Mckenna Porter
Photography – Carla Lawrence
Videographer – Awaken Films
Dress – Kathleen’s Bridal
Suit: Men’s Warehouse
Venue – Mooresville Brick Church
Cakes: Debbie Hardaway
Wedding Planner: Meighan Winton
Flowers: Jeannie Pirtle/ Nip and Tuck Florist
Caterer: JW Steakhouse
Callie and Evan Fowler
How we met: We were 16 or 17 when we first met. Evan went to East Limestone High School, and I went to Bob Jones High School. A friend of mine from math class introduced us. She was dating one of Evan’s friends at the time, and one day we went over to her boyfriend’s house. We had been there a few minutes before Evan and her boyfriend got there. When they walked in, I remember thinking, “Evan is really cute!” We hung out a few times after that and talked occasionally, but that was it. Three years later, we reconnected, and eight months after, that we moved in together.
The proposal: He proposed Feb. 15. I had just gotten home from work, and I had just started to cook dinner. I turned around, and there he was, down on one knee. Then I looked over and our dog, Georgia, was walking into the kitchen with the ring tied to her. It was so sweet and very us!
Favorite moment: My mom had a private table upstairs for us on the balcony of the bridal suite. She really wanted us to be able to eat and take it all in after the ceremony, and we are so glad she did that. It gave us the chance to do exactly that and get ready to go have fun with our friends and family!
Favorite details: The flowers and the grazing table were the best! Petals by Ali made all the flower arrangements, especially the mantle, look perfect. Every single arrangement was exactly how I had imagined it to be. The grazing table was like a giant Pinterest-worthy charcuterie board. Everyone loved it! And of course, the photo booth we all loved. Our favorite part about it is that no one knows we can look back and see everyone’s hilarious videos, boomerangs and photos.
Meet the team:
Venue – Harvest Hollow Venue and Farm
Florist – Petals by Ali
Rentals – The Dusty Daisy
Caterer – His & Hers Catering
Cakes – Batter Up Cakes
Invitations – Zazzle and Minted
Wedding dress – Kathleen’s Bridal
Bridesmaid dress – Kathleen’s Bridal
Men’s attire – Kathleen’s Bridal
Bride’s hair – Emily Bradley (reception)
Bridesmaid and mother of the bride hair and makeup – Emily Bradley and Perfect Looks by Paige
Decorations – Millidine’s Salon & Family
Photobooth – Sigh Photobooth
Music – DJ Brad Minor
Photographer – Shannon Jackson Photography
Haley and Jason Furno
How we met: Haley and Jason grew up in the same church in Madison but did not really know each other well until the summer of 2014, when friends began encouraging their friendship. As time continued, the friendship grew and blossomed into a sweet romance. Shortly after they began dating, Haley left for Auburn University, but the story doesn’t end there. Jason continued to pursue Haley, and together they endured the season of long distance, which lasted a long nine months until Jason joined Haley in Auburn.
The proposal: Sept. 1, 2017, Jason proposed to Haley at Children’s Harbor at Lake Martin. Jason had Haley’s friends tell her they were helping a mutual friend start a photography website. The friend was going to take pictures of the girls near the lake. When they got to Children’s Harbor, they started the photo shoot and asked Haley to walk around the white chapel. It was there Haley found Jason standing at the bottom of the hill next to the lighthouse. He had a table with flowers and photos of them set up looking out over the lake. Jason got down on one knee and asked the awaited question. Afterward they joined their families to celebrate over dinner then later joined friends for a surprise engagement party.
The wedding: A sweet remembrance told to the bride and groom was of how many friends, family and church family members showed up very early on the morning of the wedding to decorate – all to make the day exactly as it was dreamed of. It was like an army of love! The ceremony took place in the same sanctuary where Haley’s parents exchanged their vows 27 years earlier. The decorations were simple, with portions of scripture from I Corinthians 13 written on slates marking pew ends. On the altar were Bibles from four generations, along with the Bible Jason gave Haley on the day of their engagement.
Favorite moment: Haley and Jason’s most treasured moment of the wedding was the worship time during their ceremony. The worship song “You’re Beautiful” by Shane and Shane was sung. They truly enjoyed slowing down and sharing this moment together.
Meet the team:
Venue – Asbury Church
Caterer – Hartley’s Catering
Rentals – All Needz Rental
Wedding Dress Attire – Something Blue, Hartselle; Kathleen’s Bridal, Madison
Cakes – Marsha Blocker
Hair – Lacey Black, Elements Salon
Makeup – Amanda Davies
Photographer – Lauren Tomasella
Videographer – Tyler Lovelady
Florist – Parker’s Florist/Costco
Invitations – Shutterfly
Men’s Attire – Men’s Warehouse
Bridesmaid Dresses – David’s Bridal
DJ – Greg Thompson
Katie and Caleb Byrd
How we met: The first time we met it was love at first … “meh.” We were truly not interested in each other at all. I was training with the military, and Katie had just gotten out of a relationship. A few months later, after I returned home, Katie and I met again at church through family members and actually started talking. Almost on a whim, we went on three dates in one weekend and immediately knew we had finally found what we were looking for.
How we fell in love: We fell in love long before the feelings hit. After the first weekend, we knew we were going to get married. We each had everything the other was looking for in a spouse. We instantly knew our search was over. But the love – that came later. The love came after months of prayer and pursuing God’s will together. I guess you could call it, “head over feels.”
The proposal: Our proposal was straight out of a Lifetime move: PJs and a Rental House. Because of an opportunity with the Army, I had to move to North Carolina right before Christmas. Our jeweler was able to ship the ring to North Carolina in time for Katie to come up for New Year’s. The day we exchanged gifts, I was still waiting on the ring to arrive and had convinced Katie that I bought her perfume. When the mail carrier arrived, I was standing at the driveway waiting. I hurried in, quickly wrapped the ring, and gave it to Katie as a Christmas present. Sure, probably not the ideal engagement in a wintry field of gentle snowfalls. But, ever since we started dating, Katie and I refused to live a life for Instagram. Our engagement was free from noise and photographers. It was ours.
Favorite detail from the wedding day: Our wedding day was hectic. Our families did most of the wedding themselves. No one tells you that on the day of your wedding you spend most of the day anxious, hungry and in a hurry. The one thing I adamantly stood by for our wedding was not seeing Katie before she walked down the aisle. We are finally there: Katie comes walking down the aisle in all her beauty, and her father hands her to me. Finally, we felt like we could breathe. The pastor started praying, and both of us just instinctively rested our foreheads together. That was the moment. Those few seconds felt like it was just us, together at last.
Meet the team:
Jeweler – Kelly’s Jewelry in Decatur
Photographer – Letty Weeks Photography
Venue – Harvest Hollow Venue and Farm
Wedding Dress – Something Blue
Caterer – Rolo’s Cafe
Flowers – Judi Thornton, Rolo’s Cafe
Hair and Make Up – Suzanne Kantmann
Ashlyn and Tommy Lombard
How we met: In the summer of 2015, Taylor Sommers was hired as Ashlyn’s colleague and officemate. It did not take long for the two to become great friends, and a few short months later, Taylor suggested Ashlyn meet Tommy. It was a classic matchup by a mutual friend. After a few weeks of phone calls and texts, Ashlyn and Tommy scheduled a day-date at a local gun range. Everything following that was a dream come true.
The proposal: We spent our second trip to Boston, Mass., with another couple – primarily to attend a Red Sox/Cubs baseball game – and Tommy decided to pop the question at the edge of the Boston Harbor before we left to go on a guided boat tour. There were several bystanders/tourists in the area, which made for a large audience and loud applause. It was a magical moment, all caught on camera!
Favorite details: The wedding itself was a great representation of us, but sharing our special day with our closest friends and family was the absolute best part. We enjoyed our 30-minute getaway directly following the ceremony. We sat down in the quiet, secluded room and said to one another “Wow! We just got married!” Once the reception got going, we were able to sneak off with our photographers for a private sunset photo shoot with breathtaking mountain views.
Meet the team:
Venue – The Ledges
Photography – David Phillips Photography
Coordinator – Mallory McCormack
Cake – Karen McCutcheon
Florist – Petals
Hair – Bridal Hair Huntsville
Makeup – Leslie Ware Cosmetics
Wedding Dress – Kathleen’s Bridal
Alterations – Alison Anne Bridal
Invitations/Stationary – Ledgewood Fine Stationary
DJ – DJ Keeks
Rings – Osborne’s Jewelers
Amanda and Drew Stutts
How we met: It was the first day of spring semester of our sophomore year at the University of North Alabama. Traditionally, the instructor calls on someone to introduce themselves to the class, and that person then chooses the next to introduce themselves. This “icebreaker” proceeded to me (Amanda). Naturally, I call on the cute boy a few seats in front of me by saying “Braves hat boy.” That friendship after a few years eventually turned into us making the leap to a relationship. From falling in love, to getting engaged on the campus of the university that started it all, now, six years after I learned the name of that cute boy wearing a Braves hat, he changed my last name.
The proposal: Drew proposed after surprising me with picking out a tiny baby Golden Retriever puppy, a month prior. June 5, 2016, was the day we got to bring our new fur baby home. Naturally, we planned on showing Drew’s family our new addition. UNA’s fountain was a perfect place, since the lion habitat sits right next to the fountain. Drew told me his family would be there, letting his nephew see the lions. We walked to the fountain to meet Drew’s mom, sister and nephew. As I let Drew’s nephew play with our puppy, Drew grabbed my hand, got on one knee and asked me to spend forever with him. My first words were “NO…WAY,” out of complete shock. Little did I know my entire family and friends were hiding in bushes just a few feet away, and they think I just rejected him. Thankfully, I managed to squeak out a “Yes!” So everyone could take a breath – Drew included – and come out and surprise me for a second time.
Favorite moment: One moment that stands out was the end of our vows. Being avid and passionate sports fans, we come from two very different fan bases. Drew is an Alabama fan, and Amanda is a Tennessee fan. This rivalry runs so deep that we each ended our vows with “…I promise all these things … EXCEPT on the third Saturday in October – Go Vols!/Roll Tide!” It was a funny, memorable moment everyone enjoyed.
Meet the team:
Venue – Creekside Plantation, Mooresville
Wedding Planner – Janet Waggoner
Florist – Weddings by Jeannie
Caterer – Jill’s Sweet Memories
Cake – Lauren Thomas
Photographer – Leah Grace Photography
Videographer – Awaken Films
Sound/Music – Sweet Tree Productions
Hair – Whitney Weeks, Parlor 217
Makeup – Makeup By Corey
Wedding Dress – Kathleen’s Bridal
Hannah and Chris Wylie
How we met: On a rare, cool evening in the late summer of 2016, both Hannah and Chris found each other on a park bench at Bridgestreet Town Centre in Huntsville. It was as simple as that. Two people who had never met began a conversation, and the rest was history. Within a few hours, they had walked to a restaurant for an impromptu dinner, shared stories – including all the embarrassing childhood ones – shared their hopes and dreams for their lives and talked of English class, real estate, football and even Kelly Clarkson! They just knew they had each found “the one.” They even joked that first night they should just walk over to the jewelry store and get engaged.
The proposal: Even though they met and essentially had their first date on that park bench, they had never been back since that night. On a Friday night after Hannah got home from work, Chris was insistent on taking her out to dinner. He let Hannah decide where to go, and luckily, she picked the very spot he had planned! After dinner, they walked back to that park bench where they met a year before and sat and talked. Hannah then made a joke that the night was going so well they should just walk over to the jewelry store together and get engaged. That’s when Chris said, “Maybe I already did!” Hannah was so surprised she yelled, “What did you do?” He then dropped to one knee and asked, “Marry Me?” Hannah, of course, said yes.
Favorite details: The ceremony was very personal. Hannah’s college roommate officiated the ceremony, and a sweet friend was the prayer minister. Hannah’s mom played “Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus” during the ceremony, and the bridesmaids put together a Unity Cross while Chris and Hannah prayed together and asked those who attended the wedding to support their new life as a family. Instead of having traditional flower girls, they opted to have Hannah’s aunts and a family friend serve as the flower girls, and they gave them the title of “The Flower Fairy and the Blooming Aunts.” They also had five different kinds of cakes and three types of pies!
Favorite moment: The favorite moment of the day for us was just after the ceremony, when we were able to wrap our arms around our newly–formed family. It was very emotional. We took our last pictures of the night on the park bench where we met.
Meet the team:
Venue – Burritt on the Mountain
Photography – Ashlee Kay Photography
Florist – Willough Garden
Caterer, cakes and desserts – Mason Dixon
Videographer – Seth Weaver
Invitations – Vistaprint
Calligraphy – Carlie’s Calligraphy
Bridal gown – Kathleen’s Bridal, Calla Blanche
Bridesmaid dresses – Kathleen’s Bridal
Hair and makeup – The Glamming Bellas
Men’s attire – Kathleen’s Bridal
Music – Carl Thomas
Ceremony and reception décor – Reba Bolton and Scott Lindsey
