They may not have known it then, but Danielle and Matt’s love story began when they both chose to attend the University of Alabama and were introduced by a mutual friend and alumni. The setup led them to a lunch meeting in Washington, D.C., and they struck up a relationship in 2016. Fast forward five years, and Matt was on his knee asking Danielle for her hand in marriage. “While we later moved from D.C., our proposal took us back to the town where we met, when Matt proposed at George Washington’s Mount Vernon,” Danielle tells us.
When it came time to begin planning, Danielle enlisted the help of Becky’s Brides of Birmingham and set out to select the perfect venue. The pair landed on an evening ceremony at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, with a reception to follow at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook nearby.
“We wanted a traditional ballroom wedding, and this one was stunning with the most beautiful gold antique-inspired chandeliers,” Danielle shared. “We also loved that it was located in a beautiful boutique hotel to provide convenience for our guests.”
Danielle was stunning in a custom strapless dress from Ines Di Santo, which had a beaded bodice top and a fit-and-flare bottom. She also added an overskirt with a six-foot train for her walk down the aisle.
Danielle shares the personal touches she added to her wedding day wardrobe to keep with tradition. “For my something old and something blue, I had an antique handkerchief and two Catholic medals — one from Notre Dame in Paris and another from a church in Biloxi, MS, that was tied around my bouquet for the ceremony. My something borrowed was an opal cross necklace that was my grandmother’s (we both have October birthdays, and opal is the October birthstone). My something new was an amethyst ring that was a gift from my husband on our wedding day, from a gem that he cut himself.”
After the ceremony, guests arrived at the Grand Bohemian Hotel to find a reception bathed in stunning pastel details. Lilac was at the forefront, paired with lots of greenery, gold touches, and hints of blush. The tablescapes were breathtaking, with clear chargers rimmed in gold with matching cutlery. A plethora of flowers and candles also ran through the center of each table.
Guests feasted on a plated dinner catered by the venue. It featured a tomato and burrata salad, filet mignon with blackberry port reduction, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and marinated tomatoes. In keeping with the color scheme, the newlyweds served a “Lavender Piedmont” signature cocktail made with Empress gin (known for its beautiful purple hue), tonic, lime juice, and “Perfect Pair” Palomas.
To kick off the party, Danielle and Matt shared their first dance to “Heaven” by Jason Aldean, backdropped by cold sparklers (safe for indoors). Then, Danielle enjoyed a dance with her father to “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts. Universal Crush from East Coast Entertainment took the stage to provide live entertainment all night. It’s not a party without dessert, and Barb’s Cakes wowed with a half-French vanilla and half-lemon eight-tiered beauty with buttercream icing. “Instead of a groom’s cake, we had a late-night whiskey bar that opened at 10 p.m. and featured premium whiskeys for the guys to enjoy,” Danielle adds.
The couple’s monogram was prevalent in details — big and small — from the center of the dance floor to the drink stirrers in each signature cocktail.
Danielle and Matt were sent off with cold sparklers and rose petals at the end of the evening before making their grand getaway in a 1965 Rolls Royce. They enjoyed an Italian honeymoon with stops in Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Sorrento, and Rome.
If you’re approaching your own big day, Danielle shares a piece of advice, “As hard as it is, do your best to truly live in the present and enjoy every moment. This is a day that you and your husband will cherish forever, and you’ll want to have as many memories as possible to reflect back on.”
Thank you for sharing your special day with us, Danielle and Matt! And a special thank you to Eric & Jamie Photography for the beautiful photos.
RESOURCES
Ceremony: St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church
Reception: Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook
Planner/Coordinator: Becky’s Brides
Photographer: Eric & Jamie Photography
Videographer: Eric & Jamie Photography
Flowers: Vera Flora Design
Stationery: Empress Stationery
Makeup: Makeup Mel, Melissa Moore Bogardus
Gown: Carriage House Weddings, Ines Di Santo
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Bella Bridesmaids, Amsale
Groom: Tom James
Groomsmen: Burch Formal Wear
Catering: Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook
Cakes: Barb’s Cakes
Entertainment: Universal Crush from East Coast Entertainment
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