AK Brides Fabulous Year in Review

So much to be grateful for in 2013....  I'm always so thankful for all of my brides and all the opportunity that comes across my path in life.  Each experience with these opportunities is a chance to learn and grow;  and grow and learn I did!

Most of this blog post will be a look behind the scenes of a few of my weddings this year...  not a whole lot of professional photography, but I love behind the scenes so much and it's probably the reason I love wedding planning as much as I do.  I LOVE to see how a production all happens during the set up, how it all comes together and how successful it is in the end and the finished production.  It's magic!

2013 began with the wedding of a very dear friend in the wedding industry and I was completely honored to be helping this sweet couple plan their wonderful wedding day in Fair Hope Alabama.  Andy Tolar of Design Productions LLC married the love of his life Allison in a quiet ceremony with a simple gathering of family and only a few friends who made up his wedding vendor team.  A beautiful day for one of my best friends and his new bride.

Gathered for Andy and Allison's wedding day were John and Angela Deaver (and Will!) of Main Street Productions, me, Jerrod Brown and Mark and Jeanne Broadway!  Allison's beautiful gown came from our wonderful friends at The White Room!

The weekend weather was so gorgeous.. we did have a small threat of rain but boy did it made for a spectacular sunset and dramatic images on the water...

I was not allowed to share images from Andy and Allison's special day and I do want to respect their privacy but I was sent these few images from Jerrod Brown Studios!  This is gorgeous bride Allison arriving at the church in Fair Hope Alabama.

Just fluffed her dress and sent her on her way holding tight to her daddy and straight to the man of her dreams!  Thank you Jerrod Brown Studios!

Behind the scenes of their beautiful photo shoot after the ceremony, at work are John and Angela Deaver of Main Street Productions, Jeanne and Mark Broadway and Jerrod Brown

John Deaver of Main Street Productions taking some shots.... this gorgeous couple does not even notice the camera....  Love it!

One of my favorite moments.........

A sweet kiss for the bride and groom while guests are enjoying dinner

......followed by the most spectacular sunset!!!

Congratulations dear Andy and Allison Tolar!!!

While in Fair Hope Alabama for Andy's wedding, Jerrod Brown and I had another bride coming up in Magnolia Springs which is not far from Fair Hope, so we scheduled her bridal shoot that same weekend!

First location was a park by the water.....  just getting warmed up!  Gorgeous by Jerrod Brown

We started driving closer to the water but Jerrod saw this beautiful field of yellow wild flowers and the lighting was just right.....  yes, you guessed it!  We literally pulled over on the side of this road and put the bride right in the middle of this gorgeous field and started shooting...  

Jerrod Brown  doing his thing!  These tulips were perfect and the sun was just setting...  gorgeous!

Honestly it amazes me what the photographers see in their lens.  It's truly magic...  Great talent Jerrod!

I work with some pretty amazing photographers, but I have to say Jerrod is one of the best!  Love this shot of him standing on a pipe, in the water to get his perfect shot of the bride!

What an amazing sunset!!!!!

That's a wrap for this weekend in Fair Hope!.....  Well, at least for now!  :-)

April started my Spring season in full force with the beautiful wedding for Kelly and Robert!  You can read my blog about their fabulous wedding day with those gorgeous colors of yellow and turquoise and included a wonderful team of wedding professionals!

Sunset at The Club was magnificent for Kelly and Robert's wedding day!  Thank you to David Shirk of Unplugged Photography for these gorgeous images!

Love the color theme for this wedding.....gorgeous!

Now it's back to Fair Hope and Magnolia Springs for the wedding of Laurel Reaves and Thomas Downs!  I just blogged this wedding with many images but here are a few "behind the scenes" of the set up that went into this fabulous event for over 600 guests on the Reaves Family Compound.

Seating for over 600 being set on the lawn of one of the homes in the family compound

Rows of truss being assembled before standing them upright to hold a canopy of lights for the reception..  The crew for Design Productions LLC hard at work for this enormous task

Truss in place and stringing lights begins

Truss is wrapped in a soft white fabric and lights are in place.  Tables and chiavari chairs are in place with navy blue linens dropped on the guest seating tables.  It's coming together!

The finished production was amazing against this Alabama Spring sky!  Here are a few favs from this gorgeous wedding all from Jerrod Brown Studios

Congratulations to Laurel and Thomas!!

May came softly and is usually my busiest month but April took that position of one of the busier months this year.  May was very pleasant for me!  Up to Huntsville Alabama with a fabulous team as always for the wedding of Drs. Abbie and Matt Smith

We started the weekend in Huntsville with a very wet and rainy rehearsal!  Spirits were high though and this bride was determined to have her wedding ceremony outside on the bluff with this magnificent view!  We still had a 90% chance of rain for the next day, but the decision was made and we were going to get wet if it rained........  and not a drop fell that next day! :-)

Look how gorgeous this day turned out at the beautiful Burritt On The Mountain....  Thank you to the fabulous Monica Dooley of Mon-El Fine Art Images

Gorgeous view behind this stunning bride.....  Thank you Monica Dooley for this gorgeous image!

Gorgeous!!!  The lighting was perfect as the sun set.  Soft draping and chandelier by Design Productions LLC and gorgeous florals by Mandy Majerik of Hot House Design

Chef Bob and his family/staff did a fabulous job catering this beautiful wedding!  Thank you Chef!  This was just one of my photo images....  Such a fun family!  I will be blogging this wedding soon!

We now go out to Auburn Alabama for a fabulous wedding with guests traveling from the East Coast and and the Greek Islands.  Eleanor and Andreas had a wonderful wedding day celebrated at Moore's Mill Country Club with gorgeous florals by Stanley with The Flower Store and beautiful vintage lights hanging from a clear tent with abstract lighting on the golf course by Andy Tolar of Design Productions LLC.  The beautiful images from this wedding are from Jamie Burnett in Auburn Alabama!

Our gorgeous bride and groom on the golf course of Moore's Mill Club.  Eleanor is wearing a stunning gown from The White Room in Birmingham Alabama

Beautiful spread of cheeses and breads start the cocktail hour for the guests

Gorgeous clear tent under a dusk Auburn sky as the party gets started

A glorious day in Auburn for Eleanor and Andreas!!!

From Auburn, we were back in Birmingham for gorgeous bride Allison and her groom Taylor!  Allison married the love of her life at Samford University's Reid Chapel, followed by a beautiful reception at Birmingham's exclusive The Club.  Gorgeous images for Allison and Taylor by Brandon Gresham of Simple-Color Photography

Once again, our lighting design of a canopy over the terrace by Andy Tolar of Design Productions LLC

Allison and Taylor leave their reception in the fabulous Black Buick "Jack" by James Coats of Coats Classic Cars

Gorgeous Bride Kristen married her love Jon Jon at a wonderful venue Swann Lake Stables in Birmingham Alabama.  A rustic yet elegant display for Kristen and Jon Jon to celebrate their marriage and love for each other with family and friends.  Beautiful images for this wedding by Jessica Wright Photography

A gorgeous day for Kristen and Jon Jon

A private moment before being introduced into their reception;  Kristen's beautiful gown is by Ivory and White 

Delicious bride's cake by Pastry Art

Happy Happy day for Kristen and Jon Jon!

The beautiful and very Southern plantation home Donnelly House was the scene for one of our August weddings for Gillian and Christopher.  A warm Summer evening cooled down by Steel City Pops on site for their yummy flavors of popsicles!  Gorgeous images for Gillian and Chris by Allison Lewis Photography.

Pretty pink florals for pew markers by Mandy Majerik of Hot House Design Studio

Puppy was a precious part of this day for Gillian and Chris!

The Wynfrey-Hyatt Hotel  was the gorgeous setting for Millicent and Stephen's ceremony and reception with candlelight glow and beautiful lighting and florals.  Beautiful images by Jerrod Brown Studios

This gorgeous ceremony was all candles and tall florals which were re-purposed as all of our centerpieces for guest seating during the reception.  The arch where the bride and groom married served as our cake display after we flipped our ceremony space to the reception

This gorgeous cake created by Shannon Pardo of Sweet Spot Confections

Bride Millicent with her bridesmaids on a warm August afternoon

Groom Stephen reaches for his bride on a very romantic wedding day!

Katy and Jake were married in September at the fabulous Bridge Street Gallery and Loft in Birmingham Alabama..  Gorgeous images by Stacy Richardson Photography.

Color Color Color is exactly what Katy envisioned for her wedding day and it was fabulous!  All this color explosion and beauty was created by Mandy Majerik of Hot House Designs

Katy and her girls 

A very organic look with natural elements mixed with lots of color

Bridge Street Gallery and Loft was all aglow with the lighting design from Andy Tolar with Design Productions LLC  A fabulous night for Katy and Jake!

This will take us through about September of 2013 and lots more to blog!  One of the most spectacular weddings still to come!  Thanks for taking a quick glance at a fabulous year...  2014 will be the best yet!

Blessings!

Anita