May 10, 2025
As someone who has the joy of photographing weddings, it feels especially meaningful to look back on my own. Our wedding day was filled with intentional details that meant so much to us. From the stationery I designed myself, collecting vintage postage stamps for our invitations, to the florals my mom arranged, each detail held special meaning. But more than anything, it was a day surrounded by family and friends whose support made the entire celebration possible. It was a beautiful beginning to our marriage and a day we will treasure forever.
The Venue
Choosing our venue was an easy decision because it already held so many meaningful memories for Clark. The venue sits on the lake that he grew up visiting, making it a place that has been part of his life for many years.
Knowing that we would be getting married in a place that was already so special to him made the day feel even more meaningful. The lake had been part of so many memories from his childhood, and it felt incredibly fitting that it would now also be the place where we began our marriage.
Magnolia Overlook on Weiss Lake in Alabama was such a beautiful setting for our wedding day and a location that will always hold an even deeper meaning for us now.
Getting Ready
The morning of our wedding began with a mix of emotions. As we were getting ready, the rain began to pour outside. I kept hoping it would slow down, but it quickly became clear that our plans for an outdoor ceremony would need to change, and everything would be moved to the reception space under the covered area in the back.
I’ll admit I felt a brief moment of disappointment. I had been looking forward to having the beautiful lake behind us during the ceremony. But everyone around me was so reassuring, and looking back, it’s such a sweet reminder that wedding days rarely unfold exactly as planned.
There were also A LOT of joyful moments that morning! The room was filled with the kind of excitement that only comes with a wedding morning. Getting to spend those hours listening to music, hanging out with my bridesmaids, and simply enjoying being together before the ceremony was such a sweet part of the day.
And of course, there was plenty of laughter too. During the champagne pop photos, I somehow managed to completely drench both myself and my sister-in-law, which had everyone laughing and made for some unforgettable memories before the day officially began.
One of my favorite moments from that morning is my maid of honor, Ashlyn helping me into my dress. It felt so special to share that quiet moment together after all the years of friendship that led up to that day.
My mom and mother-in-law also helped me put on my jewelry, which made the moment even more meaningful. The pieces I wore on my wedding day all belonged to my Nana, so being able to wear them felt incredibly special. Having those heirloom pieces with me felt like carrying a part of our family’s history into such an important moment.
Once I was fully dressed, I did a first look with my bridesmaids. Seeing their reactions when they opened their eyes was such a joyful moment!
Even with the change of plans, the morning was filled with encouragement, excitement, and the quiet anticipation of knowing we were just hours away from saying “I do.”
The Details
One of my favorite parts of the wedding planning process was designing our invitation suite. I have always loved art and design, so creating the stationery myself felt incredibly special. From the layout and typography to the paper and colors, every detail was chosen with the hope of creating something timeless and meaningful for our guests. We chose letterpress printing for the invitations, which added such a beautiful, classic texture and gave the suite an heirloom quality that perfectly reflected the feeling we wanted for our wedding day.
One detail that meant so much to me was the vintage postage stamps we used on our envelopes. Each stamp was intentionally chosen because it represented something meaningful to us. Either a part of our story, a place we had lived or traveled together, or something that reflected one of us individually. I loved the idea that these small pieces of history were carrying our invitations to the people who have been part of our lives for so many years. It felt like such a thoughtful way to weave pieces of our story into the very first glimpse of our wedding day.
Another meaningful detail was a sixpence my Nana gave me for the wedding day. There is a tradition that says a bride should carry a sixpence in her shoe for good luck, and it meant so much that she shared one with me. She brought it back from England for me before I was even born! Having that small piece tucked into my shoe felt like a quiet reminder of family, tradition, and the love that surrounded us as we began our marriage.
Another incredibly meaningful detail of our wedding was the florals. My mom arranged ALL of the floral decor pieces. Watching her pour so much care and creativity into every arrangement made the day even more special to me.
The Ceremony
The most meaningful part of the day was our ceremony. It felt incredibly special to have our families so deeply involved in such an important moment.
As the ceremony began, the string trio started playing, and I’ll never forget the moment my mom and I heard the music. We both instantly got goosebumps and looked at each other and smiled. It was one of those small but powerful moments where everything suddenly felt real.
My mom walked me down the aisle, which is a moment I will always treasure. Being able to share that walk with her made it even more emotional and meaningful as we approached the moment we had been waiting for all day.
Clark’s dad officiated the ceremony, which made it feel even more personal to us. Having someone who knows and loves us both stand with us as we made our vows added so much depth to the moment.
Standing there together, surrounded by family and friends who had supported us through so many seasons of life, was something we will never forget. It was such a beautiful moment of commitment, love, and the beginning of our marriage.
Almost immediately after our ceremony ended, the rain stopped. After the storm earlier in the day, it felt like such a beautiful gift. There is a saying that rain on a wedding day brings good luck and symbolizes a strong, lasting marriage, and in that moment it felt like the sweetest reminder that the day had unfolded exactly as it was meant to.
Family Portraits
Family portraits were such a meaningful part of our wedding day. Being able to gather together with the people who have loved and supported us throughout our lives was incredibly special. They are some of the images we will treasure most for years to come.
Wedding Party Portraits
Our wedding party holds such a special place in our hearts, and it meant so much to have these friends standing beside us on our wedding day. They are the people who have celebrated life with us, supported us through different seasons, and brought so much joy to the entire celebration.
Bride & Groom Portraits
Spending time together for our portraits was one of the sweetest parts of the day. In the middle of all the excitement and celebration, it gave us the chance to pause, take everything in, and simply enjoy being together as husband and wife.
These moments together felt calm and joyful, and they allowed us to soak in the significance of the day. Looking back at these images now, they capture not only the beauty of the day but also the happiness and excitement we felt as we began our life together.
The Reception
The reception was such a joyful celebration, filled with laughter, conversation, and so many sweet moments shared with the people who mean the most to us.
One of the most meaningful parts of the evening was our first dance. Instead of playing a recording, Clark’s dad and my mom sang “Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis while we danced. Fun fact: they actually met in college while singing in a cappella choir together at Samford! They are both incredibly talented vocalists, so it made the moment even more special.
The parent dances were some of the most emotional moments of the evening. I danced with my mom to “In My Daughter’s Eyes” by Martina McBride, a song she used to listen to when I was a baby. It meant so much to both of us, and we didn't make it through the first line without crying. It was such a tender moment that reflected the love and bond we’ve shared throughout my life.
Clark’s dance with his mom brought a completely different kind of energy to the dance floor. They danced to “Simple Man,” and their dance was full of smiles and laughter. It was such a fun and joyful moment that had everyone smiling!
Both dances were such meaningful reminders of the love and support our families have given us throughout the years.
One of the sweetest moments of the evening was cutting our wedding cake together. Instead of doing it in front of the entire reception, we quietly stepped off to the side with our photographer and shared the moment together. It was such a simple and intimate pause in the middle of a busy and joyful evening.
Sparkler Exit
The evening ended with our sparkler send-off. Our family and friends lined up outside holding sparklers, creating a glowing path for us to go through as we made our exit.
Seeing everyone gathered together, cheering and celebrating as we came through the sparkling lights, was such a joyful way to end the night. It felt like the perfect final moment of a day that had been filled with so much love, laughter, and support.
As we made our way through the sparklers and into the next chapter of our lives together, we couldn’t help but feel incredibly grateful for the people who had surrounded us and celebrated with us every step of the way.
Reflection
Looking back on our wedding day, what stands out the most is not just the beautiful details or the celebration itself, but the overwhelming love and support that surrounded us. So many people who have shaped our lives were there to witness the beginning of our marriage, and that is something we will always treasure.
From the meaningful heirloom pieces and beautifully arranged florals to the music, laughter, and quiet moments shared throughout the day, every part of our wedding reflected the people and memories that mean the most to us.
Most of all, I will always remember standing beside Clark and knowing that this day marked the beginning of the life we would build together. Getting to walk through life with him is one of the greatest gifts I could ever ask for, and our wedding day will forever be one of the most joyful memories we share.
Our Photographer
One of the best decisions we made during the wedding planning process was choosing Katherine Horton as our photographer. Having someone document such an important day requires a great deal of trust, and Katherine captured every moment with so much care and artistry. As someone who deeply values photography, it meant so much to know that these memories were being preserved so beautifully. I will always be grateful for the way she documented our day!
Vendor Credits
Photographer: Katherine Horton Photography
Venue: Magnolia Overlook
Day-Of Coordinator: Aisle Perfection
Stationery: Anna Snow
Cake: Albertville Home Bakery
Caterer: Amy's Events and Catering
Florist: Mother of the Bride
Officiant: Father of the Groom
String Trio: Diana Nazarenko, Shahin Kooshiar, Shannon Boutwell
Hair: STYLED x PAIGE
Makeup: GLOW, Katherine Daza
Dress: Baytowne Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie
Groom Attire: Jos. A. Bank
