Mikela and Bens Plantation Home Country Wedding

Mikela and Ben had a charming wedding at bride Mikela's home in Northwest Alabama and was full of fabulous details

One of my favorite images of bride Mikela by a fabulous photographer Kelsie Fair of Fair Photography out of Tuscaloosa Alabama

Bride's new name on the hanger holding her wedding gown

Mom of the Bride zips the dress for her daughter as she gets ready to see her groom for the first time

Bride's aunt and sister of her Mom holds a special place in Mikela's heart.  Aunt Michelle was called to Heaven months before Mikela and Ben married.  Michelle always loved pink hydrangea but all the hydrangea on the property was blue....... EXCEPT this one hydrangea by the stairs that bloomed pink for the first time this season.  Mikela most definitely has an angel watching over her.

Guys having some fun

Bride Mikela and her girls

The moment Ben is waiting for....the first look at his bride

Guests begin to arrive on this pleasant June afternoon in Northwest Alabama

We had an antique firetruck on site to acknowledge Groom Ben being a firefighter.  The guest tables were all dressed with white linen and burlap table runners tied with ribbon on the ends.  Centerpieces were based on slices of tree stump with cylinder vases on top.  We also brought in white chiavari chairs and tied burlap around each guest chair.

The best seats in the house for our bride Mikela and Groom Ben.  We had white chiavari chairs tied with burlap along with burlap runners to add our country elegance to the tablescape.

Such a fun bridal party!!

The ceremony begins with our ring bearer caring a sign for Ben "Here Comes Your Girl" and Dad walks his daughter down the aisle

Mason jars filled with fresh wildflowers hang on shepherds hooks along the aisle, rose petals line a burlap aisle runner leading to a cross of flowers under a pergola of lights and greenery.  A sand ceremony sits at the alter area for the bride and groom to unite the sand into one glass bottle.  Thank you to Floral Designer Jenny Busby for this beautiful display

Fabric draping hangs in front of the garage doors lit with white lights and the bride and groom's "gobo" design of their initials.  String lights cover tree trunks, limbs and drape across the landscape.  Special thank you to Andy Tolar of Design Productions LLC for all of this spectacular lighting and draping design

A dusk Alabama sky as guests begin to arrive at the reception site of the property.

A first dance under the stars for Mikela and Ben

The front of this beautiful home lit with gorgeous blue lighting by Andy Tolar of Design Productions LLC  Reception site on the side of the property lit with string lights, abstract lighting and spot lighting

Time for the garter toss as Mikela covers her groom's eyes...  Almost time for the fireworks display!

Mikela and Ben treated their guests to several surprises this night including these hot air balloons.  Each guest wrote messages on each balloon and watched them lift into the night sky as the flame burned

A spectacular fireworks display at the end of the night before bride Mikela and Groom Ben were off to their honeymoon on this antique firetruck....  A wonderful evening on a beautiful evening in June for this sweet North Alabama couple

Thank you so much to this wonderful team of vendors including the very talented Kelsie Fair of Fair Photography, Ronnie Aldrich with Camm Video Productions, Jenny Busby for beautiful floral design, Andy Tolar of Design Productions LLC, Event Rentals Unlimited, Cahaba River Strings for the beautiful ceremony music and the many many friends and loving family members who worked so hard providing the catering, cakes, linens, transportation and reception music.  It was an honor and a pleasure to work with this wonderful family!

Blessings!

Anita

Ak Brides - Wedding Planning Services

  

Tina and Hamp Tuscan Italian Wedding

Beautiful Bride Tina dreamed of a wedding day reflecting her own personal style of sunflower yellows, rich chocolate browns and bright apple greens.  With Tina's Italian cultural background, a Tuscany feel was envisioned and what came to life this day was beyond Tina's expectations...

Tina walks down the steps of the cathedral anticipating her first look with her groom

St. Marks Catholic Church in Birmingham Alabama was the setting for Bride Tina's Catholic Italian ceremony

With her cathedral length train following behind her, Tina is about to see her groom for the first time on their wedding day

As expected, Groom Hamp is breathless as he sees his bride for the first time

As a wedding planner, I am always amazed at moments which occur on a wedding day that I do not, or can not possibly plan for.  This was one such moment when bride Tina went before the blessed Mother and her own Mother joined her in prayers.......  you just can't plan this and we are lucky to have this captured by our fantastic photographer Anita Maniscalco of InWhite Wedding Photography Design

Bridesmaids in bright apple green surround Tina at the alter of the church

Handsome groom and groomsmen taking a stroll

Tina loves the natural elements opposed to lots of flowers so her bridesmaids carried bouquets of berry and large leaf flower hand tied with ribbon.  Small and simple created by J Ross of Hot House Design Studio in Birmingham Alabama

Cowboy boots and a little fun before the ceremony begins

Another look at these lovely bridesmaids so happy for our bride Tina

So picturesque in front of this waterfall on a very clear and beautiful Spring day in April, Tina enjoys a moment with her groom

Beautiful bridesmaids in their apple green dresses waiting to take their walk down the aisle

Elegant guest book table right outside the church as guests arrive

Our little flower girl and ring bearer walk arm and arm down this long aisle at the cathedral.  They were so brave with over 350 guests looking on and were absolutely adorable!

Doors are about to open and bride Tina is about to walk down the aisle to her groom Hamp holding on tight to her daddy's arm

The long awaited moment for the entrance of the bride;  Tina is escorted by her Father down this long cathedral aisle

Finally married and ready for their fun reception!

For our reception at the Marriott Grandview,  Tina's vision was to have long estate King's tables for her 300+ guests to be seated for an elegant 4 course meal.  Every table had a different centerpiece all themed around the colors of yellows, greens, chocolate brown and organic touches.  This table displayed the larger urn centerpieces of sunflower and natural branches in addition to candles and daisy heads trailing down the center of the tables

Some of the smaller and lower centerpieces were these patchy squares of natural grass accented with a splash of color and burlap

Tall topiary sunflower trees added a third option of different levels of centerpieces wrapped at the base with burlap.

Large urns of sunflower and tall branches soaring towards the ceiling created the height on this tablescape along with low and lush centerpieces of mason jars tied with rafia and filled with more sunflowers.  Votive candles were placed down the entire center of the tables and using necessary items such as yellow menu cards tucked inside chocolate brown napkins,  green sache bags filled with candy kisses and even using the rich color of the sweet tea pre-set for all the guests added the right color elements to pull this tablescape together for this Tuscan theme

Dreamcakes Bakery  created this beautiful brides cake of whipped buttercream icing with each layer wrapped in rafia and including natural elements of sunflower heads and branches

along the center of all the tables were yellow daisy heads and votive candles adding lush color

An Auburn themed cake for this Groom and a beautiful picture of our bride and groom complete this festive table

Part of the lower centerpieces, these terra cotta vases add another organic element 

After a wonderful and elegant seated meal, it's now time for a first dance for our bride and groom

And time to bring on the Italian tradition of a song called "Lazy Mary"

This crowd of over 300 guests know how to dance and have a great time!!

A beautiful bridal bouquet sits on the bride's cake table still holding Tina's Rosary beads from her ceremony.  Beautifully created by J Ross of Hot House Design Studio  

A Balloon release by Bama Balloons was all ready and waiting for the guests to exit the lobby as the bride and groom leave their reception

And Tina and Hamp have had a wonderful time at their wedding reception and ready for their honeymoon!

An awesome display of our balloon release as Tina and Hamp leave their wedding reception

Off on their honeymoon, Tina and Hamp are off driven in a vintage car by Ron Marko of Vintage Auto

Many many thanks to this incredible team of vendors who came together to really pull this bride's vision together and made it come to life....  Thank you to J Ross of Hot House Design Studio for stepping in on such short notice and making this better than we ever expected it to be, Vann with Camm Video Productions for capturing the day on video, Marriott Grandview of Birmingham Alabama,  Mary Lou of Bama Balloons for our spectacular balloon release, Katie Moon of Dreamcakes Bakery for our very yummy brides and grooms cakes, Ron Marko of Vintage Auto and of course our fabulous photographer who shot all of these gorgeous images, Anita Maniscalco of InWhite Weddings Photography and Design

Hope you enjoyed this gorgeous wedding with all of these rich colors!  

Blessings!

Anita

Ak Brides - Wedding Planning Services