No’Ala Shoals, January/February 2016 by No’Ala Studios

THE ETIQUETTE EVANGELIST | DETAILS WE LOVE | THE WELL-GROOMED GROOM

JANUARY/FEBRUARY $4.95

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DREAMS UNVEILED. Say "I do" in elegance at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, an award-winning, Four Diamond hotel in Florence, Ala. The 30,000-square-feet of event space can be transformed to meet your needs and the serene countryside offers picturesque locations for an outdoor ceremony or reception. Relax in our European-style spa before walking down the aisle, and let our certiﬁed wedding planners help bring to life the Alabama wedding of your dreams. To learn more or to make reservations, call 256.246.3615 or visit MarriottShoals.com.

MARRIOTT SHOALS HOTEL & SPA 10 Hightower Place, Florence, AL 35630 MarriottShoals.com, facebook.com/MarriottShoals A part of the Resort Collection on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

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January/February

features Featured Weddings Secret gardens, a Shakespearean proposal, permanent promises made in intricate ink, and an elaborate wedding cake make entirely of cheese—these are just a few of the details of the unique love stories No’Ala is proud to highlight in our wedding album this year. Whether the day was teacup-traditional or Rockabilly Retro, these weddings tell North Alabama’s most beautiful stories of the celebration of marriage.

116 Wedding Album

produced by roy hall

Engagements produced by roy hall

150

by sara wright covington

Puppy Love

38 The Etiquette Evangelist

Three gorgeous weddings gone to the dogs intro by allen tomlinson

Faith Landers is bringing manners back, one child at a time by sarah gaede photos by patrick hood

106 158

Details We Love

The WellGroomed Groom

Sumptuous treats, eye-catching vignettes, perfectly dressed ladies and gents

It’s the ﬁrst day of the rest of your life. Dress like you mean it!

by david sims

by david sims illustration by chelsea holeman

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editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson

Here come the brides…

no’ala advisory board Jeremy Britten Anne Bernauer Vicki Goldston Leslie Keys Tera Wages Ashley Winkle

…and the grooms. And the mothers and fathers, friends and relatives, and everyone who celebrates love, commitment, and happily-ever-afters. Welcome to our annual celebration of celebrations, our most popular magazine of the year. For those of you planning weddings of your own, take a look here and see if you ﬁnd ideas; for those of you who have been married for awhile, relive your memories as you join us in wishing the couples their own happily-ever-after life together. This issue is about love, and we hope you love it. Throughout the year, many people contact us to ask how their stories can be featured in this annual issue. That depends entirely upon your photographer! We don’t take submissions from the wedding party, but we do take submissions from photographers who have documented these events. The reason is that a professional photographer knows how to give us the images we need, to adequately tell your love stories. Each year, our list of photographers grows, but we know that we don’t know everyone. If you have a wedding planned in the coming year, please let your photographer know to contact us. We are looking for the unique, the unusual, and the beautiful; we want beautiful photos that tell beautiful stories. In addition to the weddings themselves, we’ve given you some details we love, some tips on how to make sure the bride and groom look like they dressed for the same event, and some engagement photos, taken as the couples begin the planning process for one of the most important and memorable days of their lives. There’s a lot to see here, so make time to take it all in! During the holidays—which seem like a distant memory, but have just ﬁnished!— we started a Buy Local campaign called “Shop ‘Til Yule Drop.” You might have seen the bright red stickers in shop windows, and you might see them still. It’s just another reminder that just about anything and everything you might need for your perfect wedding can be found right here at home. If you’re good to your local retailers and commit to shopping at home, they will reinvest your dollars into our economy and bring you even more wonderful things. Everyone wins when we shop the Shoals! As you read this issue, we’re preparing for the March/April magazine, in which we feature our bi-annual Renaissance Award winners. We’re also going to showcase some of the nominees, to give you a glimpse at some of the remarkable people in this part of the world who help make this a great place. Enjoy this issue, in the meantime—during the cold months of January and February, this is specially designed to warm your heart.

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contents

“This One Tine, at Etiquette Camp”…

everything else

Photographers

12 98

Calendar Selected Events for January/February 2016

Market by tara bullington photos by patrick hood

114

Roots by clint alley, florence-lauderdale public library

144

A Favor for Eleanor Chapter Four: Billy by sarah gaede illustrations by rowan finnegan

156

Kudos by roy hall

160

Back Talk with erin and alex wittscheck

162

Parting Shot by armosa studios

2Chicks Click Abraham Rowe Photography Alabella Studios Allison Jansen Photography Allure Photography Amanda Chapman Photography Armosa Studios Asher Layne Photography Brooks Photography Butler Studio Create Portraiture Caught You On Camera David Phillips Photography Dirt Road Photography Eliza Qualls Photography Ginnard Archibald Photography His & Hers Weddings Jessica McCravy Studios Jo Dee Marie Photography Julie Terry Photography Kerns Photography Lauren Tomasella Photography Matt Andrews Photography McBride Photography Merrick Chase Weddings PbK Studios Rebekah Smith Photography Rob and Wynter Photography Saving Grace Photography Serendipity Photography Sleepy Fox Photography Spindle Photography Stephanie Rhea Photography Steven Underhill Photography Taylor Campbell Photography Todd Helzer Photography We Are the Kerns Photography White Rabbit Studios

•

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 Volume 9: Issue 1 ••• Editor-in-Chief C. Allen Tomlinson Chief Operating Officer Matthew Liles Creative Director David Sims Advertising Directors Heidi King, Jamie Noles Features Manager Roy Hall Graphic Designer Rowan Finnegan Web Designer Justin Hall Editorial Assistants Tara Bullington, Dylan Andrews Proofreader Carole Maynard Distribution Isaac Ray Norris ••• Contributing Writers Clint Alley, Sara Wright Covington, Sarah Gaede, Roy Hall, David Sims, Allen Tomlinson ••• Contributing Photographers Patrick Hood, Danny Mitchell ••• Contributing Illustrators Rowan Finnegan, Chelsea Holeman ••• No’Ala is published six times annually by No’Ala Studios PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: (256) 766-4222 | Fax: (256) 766-4106 Toll-free: (800) 779-4222 Web: noalastudios.com Standard postage paid at Florence, AL. A one-year subscription is $19.95 for delivery in the United States. Signed articles reflect only the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements. © 2008-2016 No’Ala Studios, All rights reserved. Send all correspondence to Allen Tomlinson, Editor, at the postal address above, or by e-mail to allen@noalastudios.com. Letters may be edited for space and style. To advertise, contact us at (256) 766-4222 or sales@noalastudios.com. The editor will provide writer’s guidelines upon request. Prospective authors should not submit unsolicited manuscripts; please query the editor first. No’Ala is printed with vegetable-based inks. Please recycle.

Connect with us on Facebook: No’Ala Mag Instagram: noalastudios, Pinterest: NoAlaStudios, and Twitter: @NoAla_Magazine

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calendar

Thursday, January 14 – Thursday, March 3 Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts Oil paintings by John Armistead of Tupelo, Mississippi; Monday- Friday, 9:00am-4:00pm; Free; Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 East Tuscaloosa Street; (256) 760-6379 Thursday, January 14 OnStage presents The Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra The Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at Norton Auditorium featuring Massimilano Caldi, conductor. The varied repertoire presented by the Symphonic Orchestra of the Philharmonic includes the music of Wagner, Chopin, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Beethoven; 7:30pm; UNA Campus; $35; Tickets available at door, ticketleap.com, and KennedyDouglass Center for the Arts; onstageshoals.com Friday, January 15 Dylan LeBlanc at 116 E Mobile Doors open at 8:00pm; Show begins at 9:00pm; will-call only tickets $10; cautionarytale.brownpapertickets.com Saturday, January 16 UNA Honor Orchestra with the Shoals Symphony at UNA Daniel Stevens will conduct; 7:30pm; Norton Auditorium; Admission Charged; shoalssymphony.una.edu; (256) 765-5122 Saturday, January 23 2016 Miss UNA Pageant A new Miss University of North Alabama will be crowned. Doors open at 6:00pm; Show at 7:00pm; Norton Auditorium; Admission Charged; (256) 765-4248; una.edu/boxoffice Saturday, February 6 Downtown Chocolate Crawl Downtown Florence boutiques, salons, and other businesses are turning into Chocolate Shops! Main Street wants to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day by hosting the second annual Downtown Chocolate Crawl. 10:00am; Downtown Florence; For tickets, call (256) 760-9648, or email info@florencemainstreet.org Thursday, February 11 – Saturday February 13 The Zodiac Players present Tuna Does Vegas Tuna Does Vegas reunites the lovable and eccentric characters from the “third smallest town in Texas” as they take a rambling romp in Sin City. The hilarity begins when oddball-conservative radio host Arles Struvie announces on air that he and his wife Bertha Bumiller are heading to Vegas to renew their wedding vows, but everyone in Tuna, Texas, decides to go along for the ride! 7:30pm; 123 N Seminary Street, Florence; $12 students, $15 adults; Facebook.com/ShoalsCommunityTheatre; (256) 764-1700 Friday, February 26 Shoals Symphony at UNA presents Pirates of the Caribbean A one of a kind film screening concert takes your audience for an adventure on the high seas starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightly; with a live performance musical score by Klaus Badelt based on themes of Hans Zimmer. Daniel Stevens will conduct; 7:30pm; UNA’s Norton Auditorium; Admission Charged; shoalssymphony.una.edu

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The Factory · 462 Lane Drive · Florence, AL 35630 · 256.760.1090

Bridal Showers | Registry | Catering | Private Appointments | Custom-Made Dresses Monday – Friday: 10am – 5pm · Saturday: 10am – 4pm Weekday Lunch: 11am – 2pm · Saturday Brunch: 10am – 2pm

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www.alabamachanin.com january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

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scene

Kevin Jacques Daniel Stevens, Carmen Burkhalter, and Christina Volz Stomackin Chris James, Kilby director Nicki Pitts

Ken Kitts and Bret Jennings Carmen Burkhalter and Chris Maynard

Bobby Champagne, Steve Woods, and Truett Smith

UNA Drumline

Shoals Dragon Boat Festival to Beneﬁt Kilby Laboratory School october ,  · mcfarland park, florence

Mary Leah Gillespie Shelley Hellums

Bryan Rachal Theresa Wood and Mindy Williams

Ken and Dena Kitts

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

Kim Morris, Leo, and Mandy Wicks

Photos by Carole Maynard , Kim Smith, Shannon Wells, and Christi Britten

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Javen Watkins & Taylor Scott June 20, 2015 by Amanda Chapman Photography

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produced by roy hall

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ENGAGEMENTS

Chelsea Keenum & Jacob Dennison June 20, 2015 by His & Hers Weddings

Molly Gann & Dustin Richardson April 11, 2015 by His & Hers Weddings

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Ashley Gargis & John Harris July 18, 2015 by Armosa Studios

Molly Michelle Stell & James Michael Stewart August 29, 2015 By Create Portraiture

Ashlan Williams & Connor Strange September 5, 2015 by Create Portraiture

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ENGAGEMENTS

Savanna Creasy & Blake Burns November 21, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

Lyndsey Williams & Jordan Wiginton October 10, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

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Rebecca Jane Armour & Isaac Martin Simon May 23, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

Ali Ferguson & TJ Staggs July 11, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

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ENGAGEMENTS

Emily Ruth Martin & Luke Randall Stevenson June 26, 2015 by Create Portraiture

Ashley Renee’ Potter & John Nicholas Taylor May 2, 2015 by Saving Grace Photography

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Kelli King & Brandon King October 25, 2014 by Create Portraiture

Tamra Trousdale & Jonathan Osborn November 22, 2015 by Serendipity Photography

Katie Pruitt & Blake Akins April 18, 2015 By Create Portraiture

Courtney Martin & Lee Gilley May 2, 2015 by Alabella Studios

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ENGAGEMENTS

Meagan Thomas & Jordan Shirley May 30, 2015 by Saving Grace Photography

Kellie Sella & Corey Jennings June 6, 2015 by Saving Grace Photography

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Alex Hembree & Jonathan Pool April 25, 2015 By Create Portraiture

Hannah Hogan & Lauren Blevins October 15, 2016 by Armosa Studios

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ENGAGEMENTS

Kylie Dee Corum & Rusty Blake Murks March 28, 2015 by His and Hers Weddings

Haley Osborn & Zachary Hyde September 26, 2015 by Amanda Chapman Photography

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Brittany Leann Hart & Trip Bower June 20, 2015 by Asher Layne Photography

Lillie Ford Isom & Drew Price December 11, 2015 by Armosa Studios

Morgan Pearson & Dustin Poole August 20, 2016 by Butler Studio

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ENGAGEMENTS

Brooke McConnell & Luke Butler June 7, 2015 by Amanda Chapman Photography

Holly Elizabeth Taylor & Steven Shane Moody July 11, 2015 by Butler Studio

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Katherine Tice & Jay Jeter April 11, 2015 by Armosa Studios

Molly Hill & Chad Boughner April 25, 2015 by Amanda Chapman Photography

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ENGAGEMENTS

Leigh & Wilson Skomal August 16, 2015 by Armosa Studios

Chelsea Murdock & Benjamin Ray March 12, 2016 by Armosa Studios

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Elle Taylor & Dustin Lawler October 3, 2015 by Butler Studio

Caroline Nelson & Wesley Canestrari May 16, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

Nikki Morgan & Trent Randolph August 29, 2015 by Jo Dee Marie Photography

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ENGAGEMENTS

Maggie Hogan & Blake Stutts September 26, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

Blair De’Ana Bowens & Geoﬀrey Charles Woods May 29, 2015 by Amanda Chapman Photography

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Celia Kelley & Matt Mothershed September 12, 2015 by Allure Photography

Anna Grace & Erik Gentry July 11,2015 by Serendipity Photography

Lauren Thornton & Drew Duﬀey May 7, 2016 by Allure Photography

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• • • PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT RETAILERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND NONPROFITS! • • •

Your BizHub Watchdog

If you’re interested in controlling costs with office equipment solutions for almost any business challenge, call me. We’re the specialists, because we’re the watchdogs. —J.T. Ray

(256) 464-0010

450 Production Avenue, Madison, AL 35758

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• • • PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT RETAILERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND NONPROFITS! • • •

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text by sarah gaede » photos by patrick hood

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“Most people give you seven seconds to decide whether or not you are credible when they first meet you. Begin with a solid handshake and good eye contact.” This is how Faith Landers Woods started her interview with me—after shaking hands and looking me in the eye. One key to success is to understand, as my seventh-grade teacher used to say (in an annoying sing-song), that first impressions are often lasting ones. For a more extended relationship, a more thorough knowledge of etiquette is key. Although many people think of etiquette as an outdated, rigid code of behavior, Faith Woods, a local etiquette and image expert, is of a different opinion. She views the knowledge of proper etiquette as the ticket to a successful life and career. For Faith, etiquette is an empowering framework that, once internalized, allows people to be confident and flexible in all situations, while at the same time assuring the comfort of those around them.

Protocol School of Washington, where she received training to become a Certiﬁed Etiquette and Protocol Instructor. She owns her own consulting business, and enjoys teaching classes in table manners, dressing for interviews, and public speaking. She has worked with UNA students, Miss Alabama contestants, and employees of the Marriott hotels. And she has a passion for teaching etiquette to kids.

Faith grew up in Leighton, Alabama. Her mother, whom Faith describes as classy and sophisticated—Old South in a good way—instilled in Faith a passion for cooking and entertaining. After graduating summa cum laude from The University of Alabama with a specialized Southern American history degree, Faith attended a two-week course at The

Faith raises this basic training to a whole new level in her weeklong summer etiquette camps for both elementary and middle/high school ages, which are sponsored by UNA’s Summer Youth Camp program. In one week, she covers Social and Communication Skills, Parts 1 and 2; Making a Good Impression; and Dining Skills, Part 1 and 2. Parents

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As with most life skills, etiquette training starts at an early age. In the South, which seems to be the last bastion of good manners in this country, it begins with learning at an early age to respond to adult queries and requests with “Yes, ma’am” or “No, sir”; to say “please” and “thank you” instead of grunting and grabbing; and generally to gain at least a veneer of civilization so you will be welcomed at birthday parties and playdates.

Facing page, front row, left to right: Ashton Willis, Faith Landers Woods, Colbey Fritts; Back row, left to right: Ashiana Sapkota, Sumyak Raj, Mallory Glover, Carley Fritts This page, clockwise, from top left: Mallory Glover, Sumyak Raj, january/february  | Sapkota, noalastudios.com |  Ashlana Colbey Fritts

of participants think this class is the best thing that ever happened to their children, and their children share their enthusiasm. In Dining Skills Part 1 with ﬁve girls and one boy, ages eight to 11, the girls wore dresses and the lone boy, who did not look at all uncomfortable with his singular status, had on a dress shirt and khakis. The kids were totally engaged with Faith, hanging on her every word with rapt attention. Faith has high expectations of her students; she doesn’t talk down to them, and speaks as one with authority. She does a masterful job of reinforcing, reminding, encouraging and praising. Her students respond as if they are learning the secrets of the universe. In a way they are—they are learning a code of behavior that will stand them in good stead all their lives. Among many other etiquette skills, Faith taught this particular class: • • • • • •

• •

“Most people give you seven seconds to decide whether or not you are credible when they first meet you. Begin with a solid handshake and good eye contact.”

•

How to enter and exit a chair at the table How to seat grandma Proper placement of utensils, plates, and glasses How to arrange the silverware on your plate during the meal and after you are finished eating How to pass food and serve yourself How to unfold a napkin to place it in the lap, and how to make a little pocket to hold something inedible (not that just-one-taste bite of Brussels sprout, which should be chewed up and swallowed. As Faith put it, “Take it like a girl!”) How to eat french fries—with your fingers! What to do if a server at a restaurant brings you the wrong order. You are entitled to get what you asked for. As a guest at someone’s house, on the other hand, you should eat what is put before you, unless you have a food allergy, in which case you should have let your host know in advance. What to do if you are dining at Ricatoni’s, and your entrée arrives before you are done with your salad. (Finish your salad first.) Why cell phones and other electronics have no place at the dinner table.

To enroll your child in a Summer Youth Camp etiquette class, go to www.una.edu/continuing-studies. Contact Faith for further information on her classes at fjlanders9@gmail.com.

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FAITH’S WEDDING DOS AND DON’TS FOR BRIDES AND GROOMS If at all possible, thank-you notes for shower gifts should be mailed before the wedding. It’s a good idea to write thank-you notes immediately after a shower. The guests and gifts are fresh on your mind and it’s one more thing to check off the list. Handwritten thankyou notes (not emails) for wedding gifts should be mailed no later than six months after the wedding. It is a special touch to have the groom sign the notes, especially for guests on his side (or even to write his share of the notes). When addressing invitations, remember that we are in the 21st century, and couples come in many combinations. The majority of couples no longer fall in the Mr. and Mrs. John Doe category. Emilypost.com is a good resource for the minutia of addressing invitations. Do you want your wedding to be remembered as a happy occasion for all? Then put your guests’ comfort first. Do everything you can to ensure that every guest at the wedding feels totally at ease. If you are set on a destination wedding, don’t be upset if people decline to attend because of the expense. It is in the worst possible taste to charge guests for food and/or drink. If you can’t afford an open bar, either limit beverages to beer and wine, or trim the guest list. The same goes for a seated dinner vs. simple hors d’oeuvres. Be creative within the limits of your budget. Accept help if you want it. Many people will come out of the woodwork to assist with wedding details. Embrace this; it is a wonderful thing. Most want a job to do because they like to be a part of the celebration. If they don’t offer something specific, ask them if they would help with a particular task. In return, a thank-you note, a small gift, and a special mention in the program or wedding announcement are welcome. Focus more on your new husband/wife, family, and guests than tiny little details that will only drive you insane. If you don’t love it, don’t spend precious time on it. Anyone who has a big role in the wedding, such as caterers, photographers, etc., should be tipped 15 percent for good service, 18-20 percent for exceptional service. Don’t forget to factor this into your budget. Food for staff—photographer, musicians, etc.—also needs to be included in the food budget. Make sure you pay your balance promptly, preferably after the reception. Don’t forget the honorarium for the wedding officiant or minister!

FOR GUESTS When you are invited to a wedding, mail the RSVP card back immediately. If you do not mail the card by the deadline, do not attend. If you RSVP yes, and are later unable to attend, let the couple know as soon as possible. Be respectful of the couple’s wishes. If your children are not listed on the invitation, do not bring them. The same goes for bringing an uninvited date. It is customary to send a gift to all weddings and showers you are invited to, or to chip in for a large group gift. Do not bring gifts to the reception. It is better to be overdressed than underdressed. Begin with business casual for an informal wedding and work your way up. Save the cocktail dresses for after six p.m. If the wedding is in a church, dress more modestly than you might for a hotel, barn, or beach locale. Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of a wedding. If you arrive late, tiptoe to the back row and seat yourself as quietly and unobtrusively as possible. Turn oﬀ your cell phone and leave it in your purse or pocket. Do not take photos during the ceremony. There are no exceptions to this rule. january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

FEATURED WEDDING

Olivia and Peter Chase date april ,  » place greenfield, the home of dr. and mrs. thomas a. minetree,

muscle shoals, alabama text by sara wright covington » photos by armosa studios

Couple: Olivia and Peter Chase Date: April 25, 2015 Place: Greenfield, the home of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Minetree, Muscle Shoals, Alabama The Meeting: After Olivia’s mother passed away, she moved back to Colorado, where she had been living, from Alabama. “I moved into the apartment upstairs from Peter’s and we both had five-month-old puppies,” says Olivia. “When I would take my dog Levy for walk, his dog Zoe would start barking to go out as well. Peter would walk Zoe around the block in the opposite direction so we would ‘accidentally’ run into each other and would then walk together the rest of the way back.” The Proposal: Peter proposed to Olivia by the creek in a park close to where they lived. Number of Guests: 130 The Dress: Peter is from California, so Olivia took a trip with his sisters and her maid of honor to find her dress. After shopping all day, she found her dress at the very last shop. “Once I put it on, I was done shopping,” says Olivia. Pre-wedding Parties: Peter and his groomsmen traveled to New Orleans for a bachelor party. “I am told that Peter may or may not have gotten into an argument with a police horse in the course of the festivities,” says Olivia. Olivia’s bridesmaids opted for a more tame evening of celebration the Thursday before the wedding. “I was thrown a lovely lingerie shower, which was followed up by a slumber party at the Marriott with my bridesmaids,” says Olivia. “My cousin and bridesmaid Hannah Magee made

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the invitations, which included a paper doll drawing of me with little paper outﬁts that could be cut out and dressed up. Storybook Wedding: Olivia describes their wedding style as reminiscent of The Secret Garden, and true to form, the couple married in the ambiance of the outdoors. Guests were seated in rows of church pews moved alfresco, and tucked neatly between walls of greenery. Family-Style Fare: After the ceremony, guests were seated in the reception tent at farmhouse-style tables beneath rows of pendant lighting and served a family-style dinner catered by Odette. “We had it served family style on the tables in vintage serving dishes tracked down by our amazing wedding planner Ashley Winkle,” says Olivia. “I wanted the food to be exquisite, but still very casual—the kind of food that makes you feel good. Odette absolutely nailed it, and I only wish I had had time to have more than a bite or two of it myself!” Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue: “I wore a pink strand of pearls my mother had given me as a girl tied with a blue ribbon on my wrist for my ‘something blue,’ says Olivia. “The other two were not so carefully thought out. Right before the ceremony Nikki, my maid of honor, found an old penny in her purse that she let me ‘borrow’ for the wedding, which I tossed down my dress and ﬁgured would work well enough. She still has yet to ask for it back, which is excellent because I haven’t seen it since.”

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FEATURED WEDDING  | noalastudios.com | january/february 

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FEATURED WEDDING  | noalastudios.com | january/february 

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FEATURED WEDDING  | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Nicolette and Jason Kilgro date september ,  » place hardy-chambers farmhouse, pulaski, tennessee text by sara wright covington » photos by todd helzer photography

The Couple: Nicolette and Jason Kilgro Date: September 12, 2015 Place: Hardy-Chambers Farmhouse, Pulaski, Tennessee The meeting: Nicolette and Jason met through mutual friends at church and went record shopping and for milkshakes on their first date. The Proposal: Jason was beginning a new job in a different city and Nicolette had another semester of school left, so the couple dated long distance for a few months with the plan of getting married as quickly as possible. By graduation time in May, they had picked out rings and informed their families of their decision to get married with as little fuss as possible. “Because of this timetable, our engagement was a little less traditional,” says Nicolette. “Jason researched the best place in Birmingham to watch a sunrise while he was in town for our graduation ceremonies, and his brother took pictures. But it wasn’t until after the engagement that our families persuaded us to have a more traditional wedding in a few months. So with lots of help from my family, I did everything I could in three and a half months to pull off a wedding I would always be proud of, and thankfully it worked.” The Dress: Nicolette wore a full lace gown by designer Sarah Seven from The Dress Theory in Nashville. “Dress Theory has a great relationship with that designer, so I was able to get the dress in only two months instead of the usual four to six. I loved the lace and the open scalloped back, and it was really comfortable and cool— good for a semi-warm day in September. I felt the dress really fit the venue while also mirroring what I’d also dreamed my dress would look like.” Number of Guests: 80 Bohemian Farmhouse Charm: Nicolette and Jason describe their wedding style as vintage bohemian, and they were happy to let the atmosphere of the farm play a large part in setting that vintage style, down to the house’s vintage wallpaper and chipped paint. “I always pictured my wedding as a very natu-

ral and earthy celebration inspired by the 20s and the late 60s and early 70s,” says Nicolette. “We tried to throw in hints of each of those decades and design a day that was filled with bohemian charm.” Guests sat in mismatched chairs for the wedding ceremony as Nicolette walked down a grass aisle. At the reception, dinner was served family style on farmhouse tables with vintage plates and servingware. Because of the age of the farmhouse, there was little electricity, but string lights were hung in the trees above the tables, and candles were lit as the evening grew darker. For dessert, various pies, all with a “K” baked into the crust, were served on vintage pie stands collected by Nicolette and Jason from various antique stores, garage sales, and thrift stores. “I love to treasure hunt,” says Nicolette. “Every day for three months we would stop somewhere to find another little piece of magic to add to this day.” Floral Finishes: “We hired the best florist, Stems and Styles, to create the outside floral arrangements, along with my bouquet and the men’s boutonnieres,” says Nicolette. “We also had a small station with a sign that read ‘ladies, pin a flower in your hair’ and we provided bobby pins and flowers.” Wedding Day Takeaways: The bride and groom both agree that their favorite moment of the day was seeing each other for the first time. “I couldn’t believe she looked that perfect,” says Jason. “I expected her to look amazing, of course, but she actually took my breath away. I couldn’t stop crying at just how perfect she was. It was almost embarrassing!” As Nicolette walked down the aisle with her father to the song she and Jason selected together—“Lake Michigan” by Rouge Wave—she remembers being incredibly nervous. “But when I saw Jason’s dreamy face, I felt calm and laughed because it was so unbelievable that he was right there waiting to marry me. It was an incredible feeling.”

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Elizabeth Branscomb and Craig Adkins date september ,  » place first presbyterian church, tuscumbia, alabama text by sara wright covington » photos by alabella studios

The Couple: Elizabeth Branscomb and Craig Adkins The Date: September 5, 2015 The Place: First Presbyterian Church, Tuscumbia, Alabama The Meeting: Elizabeth was a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Hazel Green High School and had two of Craig’s cousins in her classes. Craig was visiting his American family and Elizabeth’s name had come up in conversation. “After the girls told him about me, he asked if they might ask if I was interested in meeting him,” says Elizabeth. “He was only in the country for a few more days. The next day at school, his cousin Talyn knocked on my classroom door and told me about Craig and that he would like to meet me. I, being the ever dedicated teacher, thought… ‘It is a school night, I cannot go on a date! Plus, he lives 4000 miles away.’ I simply told her, ‘Tell him to ﬁnd me on Facebook’ and did not think too much of it. He returned to England. Before I knew it, he contacted me and then we started to Skype and write snail mail letters. About two months later he came back to Alabama to meet me and my family, which led to me visiting England two times and him coming to America four times to court me.” The Proposal: Elizabeth was visiting Craig in England and they traveled to Stratford, the birthplace of Shakespeare. After enjoying tea and scones at a restaurant, they rented a row boat on the River Avon. “After being on the water for a while,” Elizabeth remembers, “he pulled over to the side and got on two knees—

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as to keep his balance—and asked me to marry him with the ring. After I said ‘Yes!’ he had champagne and proper glasses to celebrate.” Number of Guests: 150 The Dress: Elizabeth chose to wear her grandmother’s satin wedding gown from the 1940s. “The satin fabric and cathedral length train is what I fell in love with, plus, I love classic, vintage clothing,” says Elizabeth. “The dress needed some updating, so I had the sleeves removed and the neckline opened up a little and a new sash added. The dress as a whole kept its original character, which was important to me.” English Countryside Style: Elizabeth describes their wedding as a mix of vintage/ English garden style, filled Lamb’s Ear greenery, the soft pink and ivory florals of the English countryside, antique candlesticks, and lace. The bridesmaids wore long, infinity wrap dresses in a dusty rose pink, while the groomsmen wore gray suits with matching dusty rose pink ties. At the reception, guests enjoyed a brightly colored candy buffet, and even a Union Jack flag groom’s cake. Wedding Day Takeaway: “I loved making my commitment to Craig in front of God, my family, and friends,” says Elizabeth. “I also enjoyed seeing everyone at the reception.” The special wedding day memories made with friends and family are especially precious to the couple, as they will not be stateside much longer. “Craig and I will be living in England once my spouse visa goes through,” she says. “Life is an adventure.”

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Alison Hulsey and Browan Lollar date november ,  » place avondale villa, birmingham, alabama text by sara wright covington » photos by abraham rowe photography

The Couple: Alison Hulsey and Browan Lollar The Date: November 9, 2014 The Place: Avondale Villa, Birmingham, Alabama The Meeting: Alison and Browan met in Philadelphia while Alison was in town to run a marathon and Browan, guitarist for Birmingham-based band St. Paul and the Broken Bones, was there to play a show with some of Alison’s other musician friends. The Proposal: Browan considered proposing to Alison during a show at the Shoals Theater, but thought better of it when he remembered Alison’s stage fright. “Browan proposed at our home one afternoon after I got off work, which was definitely a more intimate setting,” says Alison. “We then celebrated that night at our favorite restaurant with some champagne.” The Dress: “I have always loved the wedding dress designer Monique Lhuillier, especially her lace and silk,” says Alison. “I knew I had a pretty strict budget, so I searched the internet for a particular style and ivory color. I lucked out and found a site called preownedweddingdresses. com. I found my dream dress in mint condition that ended up being brand new, the Monique Lhuillier ‘Ingrid’ Dress. I felt pretty lucky to find an amazing designer dress fitting within our wedding budget.” Old, New, Borrowed, & Blue: “I borrowed my cousin Molly’s earrings and hair comb,” says Alison. “My shoes were a blue/green color, and I considered my dress old, but new to me!” Number of Guests: 150 Wedding

March to a Different Drum: Alison and Browan married in the historic Avondale Villa in Birmingham. The setting of the historic home required little decoration, and created the perfect setting for the laid-back wedding the couple wanted. “We used succulents, a lot of burlap, lace, and mercury glass,” says Alison. “We have some pretty crafty friends who helped with the table and flower arrangements.” Because Browan is a professional musician, they knew they wanted to have live music, so they decided to have a karaoke-style reception where all of their musician friends could set up and play songs. “It was so much fun and felt pretty special to have so much talent as part of our day.” Instead of traditional wedding fare, the couple decided to do a food truck theme, and had the Cantina on Wheels Taco Truck. Instead of a traditional groom’s cake, Steel City Pops served popsicles. Guests also enjoyed fresh margaritas, wine, and beer. “We also had personalized wine glasses for the guests to take home as a favor,” says Alison. “It’s nice to enjoy them a year later.” Wedding Day Takeaway: “One of my favorite memories from the day was our dog walking down the aisle with our flower girl,” says Alison. “We dressed our dog Jake up in a tux and it was so much fun to have him be a part of our wedding party. Our photographers, Abraham and Susan Rowe, captured the moment perfectly.”

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Anna Catherine Roberts and Stephen Lack date june ,  » place dunleith plantation, natchez, mississippi text by sara wright covington » photos by spindle photography

The Couple: Anna Catherine Roberts and Stephen Douglas Lack The Date: June 13, 2015 The Place: Dunleith Plantation, Natchez, Mississippi The Meeting: Anna Catherine and Stephen met when Anna Catherine was on vacation for the Fourth of July in Knoxville, Tennessee. “At the end of the night, Stephen’s phone had died and he asked if he could put his number in my phone for me to text him my phone number. I informed him that I was a Southern lady and insisted that I write my phone number down on a piece of paper for him. I didn’t hear from him for four long days, but at 7:30 a.m., four days later, I got a text to tell me that he had lost my phone number and had just found it and couldn’t wait another second to talk to me!” The Proposal: Anna Catherine had been recovering from surgery at her parents’ house and hadn’t been out of the house in several days when her mom suggested they all go out to dinner at her favorite restaurant. “To my mom’s dismay, I walked out of my room with no make-up on and in a T-shirt and shorts,” she says. “My mom created a story about my grandfather wanting to have a surprise going-away gathering for me with family, as I was supposed to move to Houston in a week, and she wanted me to wear a dress and put on make-up for family pictures. After dinner, we pulled into my grandparents’ long driveway. I was about to get out of the car, and my mom suggested that I put on lipstick. I grudgingly said, ‘How many family pictures are we going to take? We never print them out anyway!’ When I got out of the car, I heard our favorite song, ‘La Vie en Rose’ by Louis Armstrong, playing. I walked up to the fence and saw a pathway of daisies and Mason jars with candles in them leading to a heart under a tree of lights and my love standing underneath in a fancy suit and bow tie! After he popped the question, I looked

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up to see our families cheering in celebration! It was a perfect night!” Southern Chic: Anna Catherine and Stephen wanted a celebration filled with Southern elegance. “My mom went to every antique store, flea market, and yard sale in North Alabama to find teacups and teapots,” says Anna Catherine. “We placed cupcakes in the teacups surrounding my cake. We also stacked teal and gold books on top of the tables and placed the tea pots with a floral arrangement on top of the books. It was lovely.” Anna Catherine wore her late grandmother’s diamond cluster ring and carried a broach that belonged to her late great aunt in her bouquet. The Kinfolk Brass Band from New Orleans lead guests in a classic New Orleans parade-style second line from the house to the reception. And for the couple’s first dance, they played “La Vie en Rose.” The couple agree that the very best part of the evening was getting to share the day with loved ones who came from all over the globe. “One of the most special parts about our wedding was how far some of our guests traveled,” says Anna Catherine. “Stephen went to grad school in Egypt, and two of his friends flew all the way from Egypt to attend the wedding. We also had a close family friend fly from England to come celebrate with us! It was very humbling that we are special enough to them to travel across the world to celebrate our marriage.” Wedding Day Takeaway: “Awhile back, I had asked Stephen if he had kept the piece of paper that I had written my phone number down on the night we met,” says Anna Catherine. “He sadly told me that he had lost it and wished he still had it. Flash forward to our wedding day: I opened my gift, and it was the original paper with my phone number, framed in a gold frame and teal matte—our wedding colors! I was in shock!”

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The road to recovery now has a fast lane. We know you’re eager to get back home to the daily activities and routines you enjoy. Our ShortStay services focus on your speedy recovery. They will identify and meet your unique needs to get you back home as quickly as possible.

News, classical music and more Cottage of Shoals Tuscumbia, AL | 256-383-4541 88.7 FM Muscle Shoals • 100.7 FM Huntsville www.apr.org

Keller Landing Tuscumbia, AL | 256-383-1535 Cypress Cove Center Muscle Shoals, AL | 256-381-4330 Glenwood Center Florence, AL | 256-766-8963 Hilltop at Glenwood I and II Senior Living Facility Florence, AL | 256-767-2510

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Erica and Jamie Thompson date june ,  » place highland baptist church-broadway fellowship, florence, alabama text by sara wright covington » photos by abraham rowe photography

Couple: Erica & Jamie Thompson Date: June 13, 2015 Place: Highland Baptist Church-Broadway Fellowship The Meeting: Erica and Jamie met through mutual friends while attending the University of Alabama The Proposal: “It was simple and perfect for us,” says Erica. “I was visiting Jamie for the weekend and right before I left and headed back home, he dropped to one knee.” Number of Guests: 200 The Dress: “I saw my dress on Pinterest even before we got engaged,” says Erica. “I fell in love with it, but had no idea who the designer was.” Putting this dress out of her mind, Erica began her search and actually found a dress she believed was “the one,” but couldn’t forget the impression of her dream dress. “But then I just happened to see the picture of my illusive gown again, and I knew I had to find it,” she says. “I found the designer and found a trunk show in Birmingham. As soon as I walked in the store, she—my mom and I call my dress ‘her’ and ‘she’—was the first thing I saw. I knew I had to have her! My dress is the Dori gown by Hayley Paige in ivory.” Rustic Glam: While planning their wedding and reception, Erica and Jamie turned to Cindy Harrison of Florals by Cindy to help them achieve their vision. Erica carried a bouquet of white peonies while her bridesmaids carried white hydrangeas, roses, lavender sprigs, and dusty miller. The couple exchanged vows under an arbor draped with ivory fabric, florals, and greenery, featuring willow vine, peonies, lilies, roses, hydrangeas, and dusty miller—all set aglow by the finishing touch of twinkling lights. Dish and Dancing: After exchanging vows, Erica and Jamie joined their guests for an

evening of dancing to Birmingham-based band Precision Grooves, at their Sweetwater Depot reception. “The reception was decorated with Cindy’s beautiful floral creations, as well as tall silver candelabras, and an assortment of table decor including twinkle lights, seeded eucalyptus, candles, hydrangeas, and lavender sprigs,” says Erica. “Our place settings were accented with navy blue napkins, silver chargers, and beautiful custom made thank-you cards for each guest.” Dish catered the reception, providing a spread of sophisticated Southern favorites. “Cocktail hour appetizers were really fun,” says Erica. “We had sweet potato biscuits with ham and apple butter, turnip green dip, and grilled vegetable skewers, all of which our guests are still raving about.” To finish off the festive fare, guests enjoyed a five-tier vanilla and strawberry cake by Amy’s Cakes. “It was frosted with ivory frosting and decorated with seeded eucalyptus and it matched our theme perfectly.” Something New: “We have a really small family,” says Erica, “so we decided that we were going to use my wedding to start a tradition. I had a custommade pencil edge cathedral veil that was ten feet long, and we are going to pass it down through generations. My sister will be the next to wear it.” Wedding Day Takeaway: “My favorite memory from the day is how much love we felt from our family and friends,” says Erica. “Even though the day was super chaotic, when I think back on the parts that I can remember, they are filled with nothing but smiles and happy tears. It was definitely a celebration!”

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DO YOU SUFFER FROM: • Shortness of breath • Numbness • Chest pain or tightness • Burning or tingling in your legs • Weakness or coldness in your legs or arms • Pain in the neck • Headaches • Heart burn, indigestion, or burping If so, these could be signs of cardiovascular disease. If you are suﬀering from any of these symptoms, Dr. Ajit Naidu and Dr. Brian Cole, Board Certiﬁed Cardiologists at the Cardiovascular Institute of the Shoals can help determine if these are serious. We give second opinions, too!

Please call 256-766-2310 for an appointment. 2415 Helton Drive, Suite A, Florence , AL 35630 • Phone 256-766-2310

picture . perfect . wedding . 2260 county road 28 s florence, al s 256.766.9888 s stflorianfiberfarm.com

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Elle Taylor and Dustin Lawler date october ,  » place george’s , sheffield, alabama text by sara wright covington » photos by butler studio

Couple: Elle Taylor and Dustin Lawler Date: October 3, 2015 Place: George’s 217 The Meeting: Elle and Dustin met through mutual friends at a bonfire. The Proposal: “My best friend Hailey called me one morning and asked me to go get my nails done with her,” says Elle. “While we were getting our nails done, Dustin called me and asked if we wanted to go on a ride on his new boat that he had just purchased. I did not want to go because it was cold outside, but Hailey convinced me it would be fun. When we arrived at McFarland Park to ride on the boat Dustin was there on one knee ready to propose! Hailey got it all on camera! This is also where we had our first date. After the proposal we went to our families’ houses to tell them the news and to show them my ring.” Number of Guests: 325 The Dress: As the owner of Promenade, a bridal and formalwear boutique, Elle had many, many dresses at her disposal, but finding the perfect dress turned out to be harder than she originally thought. “I originally picked out a dress with my family and friends with me and I loved it,” says Elle. “Then my Allure Couture rep came to my store to show me the new line for me to place an order. We were looking through the pictures and there it was, MY dress! I told them I had to have it.” Although the rep was nervous the dress wouldn’t arrive in time, Elle asked them to order it anyway and if it didn’t make it in time, she would

just forget about it and wear the dress she had already chosen. The dress made it in time, and Elle’s dress decision was made. Classic Southern Soiree: Elle and Dustin wanted to get married in a traditional style that would still reflect classic wedding glamour years down the road when they looked at their wedding photographs. They married at George’s 217 in downtown Sheffield, and the old building’s original hardwood floors, exposed brick, and chandeliers helped to create the setting Elle and Dustin wanted for their special day. “We got married in front of the exposed brick wall with a beautiful background of tulle, lights, and flowers,” says Elle. “Chase Sparks did the flowers and did a wonderful job. We had all ivory, blush, and green flowers.” Wedding Fare: Jeff Burgess Catering provided various appetizers, as well as prime rib and pork tenderloin carving stations. “We also had a mashed potato bar, a sweet potato bar, macaroni and cheese, and green beans,” says Elle. Aunt Bea’s Bakery & Bistro provided a 10-tier cake filled with pink sprinkles. The groom’s table featured a Reese’s Peanut Butter cake along with an assortment of cookies and little cartons of milk. Wedding Day Takeaway: “My favorite memory would probably be getting to see Dustin for the first time that day,” says Elle. “I was so relaxed and excited. We both were ready to be married!”

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FEATURED WEDDING

Christina Dorough and Jose Hernandez date may ,  » place first united methodist church, nettleton, mississippi text by sara wright covington » photos by stephanie rea photography

The Couple: Christina Marie Dorough and Jose (Manny) Manuel Hernandez The Date: May 16, 2015 The Place: First United Methodist Church, Nettleton, Mississippi The Meeting: “Manny and I met when we were working at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Florence during college,” says Christina. “We were friends for years until we met up one night when I was visiting during the weekend of an annual alumni geographers conference at UNA. At that time Manny was living in Florence and I just moved back to Tupelo, Mississippi, from Washington, DC. We chose to meet up for drinks at Brinley Brothers in downtown just as friends to catch up. When we saw each other that night, stars aligned and we haven’t been separated since. We both agree that that night we had already decided we were going to get married.” The Dress: Christina wanted a unique dress that reflected her sense of style. Luckily, she was able to find exactly what she was looking for in less than 30 minutes at Cherry Tree Lane in Florence. “I knew it as soon as I slipped the dress on and looked in the mirror,” says Christina. “I was looking for something that not every bride would wear. It had layers of champagne, silver, and ivory lace, and a detailing around the neck. However, I also wanted Manny to be happy with what I picked out. He was also in the forefront of my mind and I knew he would love the dress too.” Number of Guests: 200 Retro Reception: Christina says that their wedding style was reminiscent of the early 1950s. After the ceremony, guests traveled to Goodlett Manor, an over 100-year-old plantation home in Tupelo. Featured on the National Historic Registry, Goodlett Manor is 7,000 square feet and features massive rooms, a grand staircase, and even a hidden garden. To create the simple, classic look they wanted, Christina used succulents and a mix of seasonal flowers. Christina and Manny also wanted the food to reflect their style, and instead of serving a traditional bride and groom’s cake, chose to serve something that more closely represented

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who they are. “One of the most unique parts of our wedding was the groom’s and the bride’s cake,” says Christina. “Manny chose to stick with his Cuban roots and picked a Tres Leches cake topped with Dulce de Leches Glaze. For my cake, I hand picked each layer of cheeses to create a stacked cheese wheel cake. The bride’s cake was served with crackers, jellies, and hand picked wine.” Global Guestbooks: Instead of the usual guest registry of pen and paper, Christina and Manny chose globes to capture their guests’ signatures. “The globes were used as our wedding guestbook because both of us love to travel,” says Christina. “When we take vacations or trips, we like to explore places we have never been to before. Plus we didn’t want to have a book that we stuck on our bookshelves and just forgot. We use the globes as decorations in our home year round and it is a great reminder of that happy day.” All parts of the globe were indeed represented at their wedding, including one of Christina’s dear friends who traveled all the way from Japan just for the occasion. “My friend from college, Yumeko Tanka, came all the way from Tokyo to attend my wedding,” says Christina. “I got to spend four days with her and it was so special to me. We had an amazing time together catching up since we had not seen each other in over ﬁve years. She was included as an honorary bridesmaid.” Something Old: Christina wore her mother’s ring that has been passed down through her family. Something New: Christina opted for a less traditional style garter and instead chose one a little edgier and deﬁnitely more permanent. “My garter was commissioned by a master tatter!” she says. Something Borrowed: Wrapped around her bouquet, Christina carried a handkerchief that belonged to her great, great grandmother. Something Blue: Christina once again broke the traditional “blue” rules in honor of her favorite color, green. “My green shoes were probably my most favorite part of my attire,” she says. “I also had a six pence in my shoe!”

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• • • PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT RETAILERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND NONPROFITS! • • •

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• • • PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT RETAILERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND NONPROFITS! • • •

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FEATURED WEDDING  | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Anne Ryan Leavitt and Grant Laurence Cavin date october ,  » place st. john’s episcopal church, and gas design center, tuscumbia, alabama text by sara wright covington » photos by taylor campbell photography

Couple: Anne Ryan Leavitt and Grant Laurence Cavin Date: October 17, 2015 Place: Historic St. John’s Episcopal Church and GAS Studio in Tuscumbia, Alabama The Meeting: Anne Ryan and Grant originally met at a fraternity party at Ole Miss in 2007. Both were dating other people at the time, and went on their separate ways until 2013 when they reconnected. “Grant saw a CrossFit picture of me doing a one handed handstand,” remembers Anne Ryan. “So he messaged me and we began talking. We ﬁnally saw each other four months later at a rugby tournament Grant was playing in. After that weekend, we were hooked.” The Proposal: Anne Ryan and Grant were in a long distance relationship for a year until he graduated from Tennessee Tech University. “After Grant graduated in May of 2014, we went on a two week long European backpacking trip together,” says Anne Ryan. “When we got back, I moved to Florence and two weeks after our trip, he proposed to me at my favorite place in Florence—the fountain in Wilson Park. I said, ‘yes, yes, of course!’” Number of Guests: 130 Wedding Wear: The bride wore an all lace, trumpet style gown from Ivory & White in Mountain Brook, Alabama and Jimmy Choo Daisy Sandals. Wrapped around her bouquet, Anne Ryan carried her great-grandmother’s charm bracelet and her great-great-grandmother’s pocket watch, which was given to her by her husband at their wedding in 1892. For something blue, she wore her late grandmother’s aquamarine ring. After the ceremony, Anne Ryan wanted to be able to relax for the reception, and opted to have a second gown to change into. “I loved my dress, but it was so heavy,” says Anne Ryan. “I love to dance and I knew that if I wanted to dance, I needed a second dress. So after the ﬁrst dance, I changed into an Allison Paris strapless tulle dress with an asymmetric hem.” Grant wore a made-to-measure Billy Reid suit, while his groomsmen wore coordinating navy suits with

striped Billy Reid ties and simple, cotton bulb boutonnieres wrapped in twine. The ladies in the wedding party all wore diﬀerent, long navy dresses and carried bouquets of pink heather, white roses, seeded eucalyptus, and pale pink peonies and dahlias. Southern Romantic: Although Anne Ryan hired a wedding coordinator from Ross Bridge in Birmingham for the day of the wedding, she did most of the planning herself. As a unique twist, Anne Ryan and Grant decided to have a mixed-up wedding party that included “bridesmen” and “groomswomen.” “My brothers were on my side and two of Grant’s female cousins were on his side,” says Anne Ryan. “It was important that my brothers and sisters were on my side, and I could feel the support behind me when I was giving my vows and that was an amazing feeling.” Grant’s aunt, Reverend Carol Cavin Dillion, married the couple in the historic walls of St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Tuscumbia. Afterward, guests traveled by trolley to GAS Studio for the reception. The reception featured catering by Aunt Bea’s Gourmet Bakery & Bistro of Tuscumbia, and a four-tier naked chocolate cake draped with eucalyptus leaves, cotton bulbs, white hydrangeas, and deep fuchsia roses by Diann Laney Cakes in Section, Alabama. Guests danced the night away to the Grammy Award winning Regi Wooten and his band. Farewell Fare: The next morning, before Anne Ryan and Grant left for their honeymoon in Costa Rica, Anne Ryan’s aunts and uncles hosted a Going Away Brunch for the two families and the wedding party. “It was held at Jeanne and Billy Reid’s house with a biscuit bar from Odette and a Bloody Mary bar on their back porch,” says Anne Ryan. “This was a really special time for me because I didn’t know when this group of people would be under the same roof again, if ever. It was a time to smile, share stories from the night before, and give thanks to everyone for coming to celebrate our special day.”

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

FEATURED WEDDING  | noalastudios.com | january/february 

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

FEATURED WEDDING  | noalastudios.com | january/february 

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

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market » By Tara Bullington »

Photos by Patrick Hood

SHOWER THEM WITH GIFTS

KITCHEN

[A] ORGANIC HAND LOOMED POTHOLDER ($30) ALABAMA CHANIN (256) 760-1090 [B] SANDERS COAL NAPKINS ($58) ODETTE (256) 349-5219 [C] BRUCE JORDAN SERVING BOARD ($90) THE FRENCH BASKET (256) 764-1237 [D] BREVILLE JUICER ($299) OSA’S GARDEN (256) 764-7663

A SHOALS WEDDING Walk down the aisle along the majestic Tennessee River, perfectly manicured greens and Alabama Pines when you host your wedding at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals. Dance the night away under the North Alabama stars, with your reception overlooking the water. Want an indoor option as well? The Clubhouse at RTJ at The Shoals has got you covered. Let our staff and certified wedding team help you make your dream wedding a reality, and capture your special day in the beauty of The Shoals. CALL 256.446.4483 FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO BOOK YOUR WEDDING AT RTJ AT THE SHOALS.

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT THE SHOALS 990 Sunbelt Parkway · Muscle Shoals, Al · 35661 rtjgolf.com · facebook.com/rtjtheshoals january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

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market

[A] WICKER PICNIC BASKET ($32) SWEET BASIL CAFÉ (256) 764-5991 [B] TAILGATING INSULATED BACKPACK ($66.99) SWEET BASIL CAFÉ (256) 764-5991 [C] ENO LAUNCHPAD PICNIC BLANKET ($84.95) ALABAMA OUTDOORS (256) 764-1809

OUTDOORS

[D] ENO EAGLES NEST LOUNGER ($119) ALABAMA OUTDOORS (256) 764-1809

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

market

BED&BATH

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[A] CERAMIC SOAP DISH ($25) THE FRENCH BASKET (256) 764-1237 [B] COTTON THROW ($60) THE FRENCH BASKET (256) 764-1237 [C] CERAMIC VASE ($78) FIRENZE (256) 760-1963 [D] ORGANIC COTTON FACETS STRIPE PILLOW ($158) ALABAMA CHANIN (256) 760-1090

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

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market

BAR [A] PEWTER RABBIT WINE STOPPER ($30) FIRENZE (256) 760-1963 [B] LIQUOR PLAQUES ($18.75/EA) THE YELLOW DOOR (256) 766-6950 [C] ANTIQUE MINT JULEP CUPS ($75/ SET) HODGEPODGE ANTIQUES (256) 766-4101 [D] VINTAGE MARTINI SHAKER LAMP ($200) SOUTHERN SHADES (256) 757-0045

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

DETAILS WE LOVE text by david sims

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

MOBILE MUNCHIES From Fro mp pops op icl ops icles es to o por po k bell bell elly, y, foo food d truc truc rucks ks add fu fun n int int nto o a we edd dding n re ng recep cep ptio tion, n, but be ca caref reful— ref ul—the ul— they the y can can n als also o give the gi giv the h w wed e din ng a mu much ch mor more e casu casu asual a vib al vibe. e. So iff y So, yo ou’r u’’ e plan plan l nin ning g a ve very ry for formal mal we weddi d ng, ddi g mo mob m obile le fo food od mig ght h not be th the e best best ch choic oice. oic e.

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

PETAL POWER Beauti Bea utiful ﬂowers shouldn’t be complicated. Disstin tincti ctive arrangements should have a careful mix ix of col c or and texture, as these great ﬂorals do.

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

GOOD GROOMING Per P errfec fectly tly ta ailo lo ored e . Appr p opr opriat iat ately ely ly ac acces cessor ces sorize sor ized. ize d. The ey y’re y’r e the the bes b t dres dres e sed e ma man n at the h wed weddin ding—a din g—ass g—a they the y shou hould ld d be. b Th hese s gr groom o s just oom justt ge gett iit. t. See pa page ge e 158 5 fo forr our our u sug u ges g tio tions nss on how to lo look ok gre reat at at you yourr wedd wedd edding ing ng..

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

BRINGING BACK BLING We’re happy to see Mason jars and barns replaced with a little sparkle and sass. Here, a few bridesmaid’s dresses that can actually be worn again, and a pair of shoes that make quite a statement.

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

IN GOOD D FETE The ey sa say pressentation n iss ev e ery ythi th ng ng. W ther it’s an inv Whe ventive cake ake,, a ch chic ic ttab ablet etop op, p, a inttera an e ctive me emory boo ok, or a liv ve art ar perfor per f man nce e, your guests dese erve e a good good time. e.

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

ELUSIVE MOMENTS Allow us to remind you again how important a good, professional photographer is to your big da g ay. Sure, your brother may own an expensive camera a, but he may miss great shots like the ones you see e her e e. And, after all the cake is gone and the dress iss packed away, your memories (and your photos) will be the only thing that remain. © Armosa Studios

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

TRUST Our Reputation, Our Promise, Our Name.

Ryan Moore, First Vice President

Chip Hibbett, City President

1131 Wills Avenue, Florence • (256) 766.6300 • peoplestrustbk.com

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

roots » Clint Alley, Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

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Eliza Coffee In our area, the name Eliza Coffee is synonymous with healthcare. Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital opened its doors on August 9, 1919, and it has served the Shoals area ever since. But who was Eliza Coffee, and why is Florence’s hospital named for her? Eliza Coffee was born in 1879 near Florence. Her father, Captain Alexander D. Coffee, was a son of General John Coffee, who was one of the founders of the city of Florence. The Coffees were a wealthy family, and Eliza enjoyed the benefits of good education and frequent travel. One of her greatest loves was music, and she spent a summer touring Europe’s finest musical venues with her mother, the accomplished pianist Mrs. Camilla Madding Jones Coffee (Captain Coffee died in 1901). Eliza was also a faithful Sunday School teacher at First Presbyterian Church of Florence. Her friends knew Eliza as a very humble, devoted, and kind woman with a great servant’s heart. Despite all of the advantages that Eliza enjoyed, she was a sickly child and remained prone to illness her entire life. As young as seven years old, local newspapers reported that she was “very sick with flux,” which is another word for dysentery. In the spring of 1904, Eliza became seriously ill with malaria. In hopes that Eliza’s health would improve in the fresh mountain air, her mother took her to a health resort near Brevard College, which was a little over 30 miles southwest of Asheville, North Carolina. Unfortunately, Eliza succumbed to the disease while in North Carolina. At 25 years old, she was the only child of her widowed mother, and the entire city of Florence was grieved at her untimely passing. Fourteen years later, Eliza’s mother Camilla wanted to make a memorial to Eliza, but she did not know what would be most fitting. She pressed the question to Dr. David W. Hollingsworth, the new pastor at First Presbyterian Florence, who, after some contemplation, told her that he believed the new municipal hospital would be a fitting memorial for Eliza. Mrs. Coffee agreed, so she donated the huge sum of $10,000 to equip the hospital in memory of her daughter. Adjusted for inflation, that amount would be approximately $155,500 in today’s money. Moved by her generosity, the committee decided to name the hospital in Eliza’s honor.

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

produced by roy hall

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Mary Martin Mitchell & Matt Mogan in Florence, Alabama First United Methodist Church Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club May 30, 2015 by Rebekah Smith Photography

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Leigh Ellen Landers & Kyle Elliott Melson in Florence, Alabama First Presbyterian Church October 10, 2015 by Rob and Wynter Photography

Mary Elizabeth Angelo & Edwin Andrew Bullard in Birmingham, Alabama The Cathedral of Saint Paul August 22, 2015 by Ginnard Archibald Photography

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Jeremy Thacker & Matthew Rhodes in San Francisco, California April 5, 2014 by Steven Underhill Photography

Meagan Thomas & Jordan Shirley in Russellville, Alabama Triple H Barn May 30, 2015 by Saving Grace Photography

Kylie Dee Corum & Rusty Murks in Florence, Alabama Jones Family Barn March 28, 2015 by His and Hers Weddings Maleah (Smith) Moss by PbK Studios

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Jessica Williams & Kyle Blevins in Florence, Alabama Hudson Family Barn September 13, 2015 by PbK Studios

Julie Anna Bonﬁeld Chris Wright in Sheﬃeld, Alabama The Chapel on Oakwood June 6, 2015 by His & Hers Weddings

Brandi Bates & Mason Bradley in Fairhope, Alabama The Bluﬀ March 27, 2015 by Butler Studio

Holly Elizabeth Taylor & Steven Shane Moody in Tuscumbia, Alabama Locust Hill July 11, 2015 by Butler Studio

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Whitney Hargett & Justin McGill in Cullman, Alabama Stone Bridge Farms June 5, 2015 by Create Portraiture

Tamara Burleson & Jesse Garcia in Muscle Shoals, Alabama Robert Trent Jones September 19, 2015 by Saving Grace Photography

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

Ashlan Williams & Connor Strange in Muscle Shoals, Alabama Robert Trent Jones September 5, 2015 by Create Portraiture

WEDDING ALBUM

Chelsea Keenum & Jacob Dennison in Florence, Alabama Earle Trent Assembly June 20, 2015 by His & Hers Weddings

Kellie Sella & Corey Jennings in Tuscumbia, Alabama Locust Hill June 6, 2015 by Saving Grace Photography

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Holly Herrin & Justin Atchley in Florence, Alabama May 2, 2015 by PbK Studios

Sarah Daniel & Ryan Caldwell in Muscle Shoals, Alabama Robert Trent Jones of the Shoals May 16, 2015 by Alabella Studios

Katherine Tice & Jay Jeter in Florence, Alabama St. Florian Fiber Farm April 11, 2015 by Armosa Studios

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Katie Pruitt & Blake Akins in St. Florian, Alabama Ava’s Place April 18, 2015 by Create Portraiture

Emily Ruth Martin & Luke Randall Stevenson in Florence, Alabama Private Residence June 26, 2015 by Create Portraiture

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Lauren Atchley & Elijah Posey in Florence, Alabama Lone Cedar Church of Christ July 11, 2015 by Alabella Studios

Laura Skinner & Evan Skinner in Tuscumbia, Alabama Launch Point Church June 6, 2015 by Alabella Studios

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Emily Comminsky & Andrew Leibner by Create Portraiture

Jeri Sue Plaxco & Jay Burkhalter in Brainard Lake, Colorado June 24, 2015 by Merrick Chase Weddings

Molly Leah Neeb & Andrew James Nelson in Tuscumbia, Alabama First Presbyterian Church GAS Design Studio March 21, 2015 by Saving Grace Photography

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Brooke Willis & Blake Michael in Florence, Alabama Pickett Place September 26, 2015 by His & Hers Weddings

Kaitlin Michelle Collignon & Chip Levi Kelley September 19, 2015 by Create Portraiture

Bethany Oliver & Tucker Green in Florence, Alabama Private Residence July 21, 2015 by Armosa Studios

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Jessica Colglazier & Brent Colglazier in Sheﬃeld, Alabama June 5, 2015 by Alabella Studios

Mary Campbell & Taylor Brooker in Tuscumbia, Alabama First United Methodist George’s 217 August 1, 2015 by Alabella Studios

Aubrey Parsons & Andrew Fields in Florence, Alabama St. James United Methodist Church Sweetwater Depot June 20, 2015 by Alabella Studios

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Courtney Martin Gilley & Lee Gilley in Killen, Alabama Turtle Point Country Club May 2, 2015 by Alabella Studios

Ann Marie Russ & Benjamin Taylor Carney in Florence, Alabama Woodmont Baptist Sweetwater Depot May 8, 2015 by Create Portraiture

Alex Hembree & Jonathan Pool in Decatur, Alabama First Baptist Church April 25, 2015 by Create Portraiture

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Kayla Ingham & Garrett Stone in Huntsville, Alabama The Round House October 10, 2015 by Serendipity Photography

Stephanie Brooke Hudson & Joshua Lee Keenum in Sheﬃeld, Alabama Sheﬃeld First United Methodist Church July 11, 2015 by Create Portraiture

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Jerri J. Zhang & Brandon L. Corl in Kansas City, Missouri April 25, 2015 by McBride Photography

Brooklyn K. Godwin & Duncan R. Godwin in Florence, Alabama Ava’s Place May 9, 2015 by Rebekah Smith Photography

Katie Cosby & Bryan Brackeen in Rogersville, Alabama Private Residence August 22, 2015 by Create Portraiture

Evin Alexandria Rihner & Bailey Alan Rihner in Florence, Alabama Trinity Episcopal Church The Sweetwater Depot June 6, 2015 by Armosa Studios

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Brittany Leann Hart & Trip Bower in Florence, Alabama Trinity Episcopal June 20, 2015 by Asher Layne Photography

Molly Hill & Chad Boughner in Florence, Alabama The Chapel at First Baptist Church Pickett Place April 25, 2015 by Amanda Chapman Photography

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Molli McCoy & Jason Hood in Center Star, Alabama Private Residence May 9, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

Anna Clark & Joshua Dawson in Lookout Mountain, Georgia Grandview June 6, 2015 by Alabella Studios

Deja Knight & Ross Gwaltney in Killen, Alabama Turtle Point Yacht & Country Club June 6, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

Michelle McCormack & Jake Wilkinson in Florence, Alabama The Historic Sweet Water Depot November 1, 2014 by Abraham Rowe Photography

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Anna Elizabeth Dooley & Nathan Thomas Crump in Florence, Alabama Highland Park Baptist Church Marriott Shoals Convention Center December 20, 2014 by Matt Andrews Photography

Kelli King & Brandon King in Florence, Alabama The Nelson Place October 25, 2014 by Create Portraiture

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Katelyn Tank & Brant Boisvert in Tuscaloosa, Alabama April 04, 2015 by Serendipity Photography

Randy J. Pettus & Wesley E. Roden in Killen, Alabama Blue Water Creek Polo Club October 9, 2015 by 2Chicks Click

Rachael Aldridge & Dru Lee in Florence, Alabama Sweetwater Depot November 8, 2014 by Alabella Studios

Sarah Black & Jacob Wallace June 18, 2015 by Create Portraiture

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

Ali Ferguson & TJ Staggs in Florence, Alabama Ava’s Place July 11, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

WEDDING ALBUM

Anna Grace Masterson & Kyle Randall West in Mooresville, Alabama Creekside Plantation at Collier’s End October 25, 2014 by Abraham Rowe Photography

Maria Martinez & Robert Uthlaut in Killen, Alabama Bluewater Creek Polo Club October 17, 2015 by Julie Terry Photography

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Lucy Bui & Michael Weeks in St. Florian, Alabama St. Florian Fiber Farm August 15, 2015 by Amanda Chapman Photography

Brooke McConnell & Luke Butler in Anderson, Alabama Private Residence June 7, 2015 by Amanda Chapman Photography

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Samantha Danielle Price & Nathan David Gillard in Muscle Shoals, Alabama Robert Trent Jones June 27, 2015 by Create Portraiture

Abbyrae Hudson Stringfellow & Daniel J. Wisniewski in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania February 21, 2015 by We Are The Kerns Photography

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Elizabeth Wright & Matt Henderson in Florence, Alabama May 23, 2015 by Serendipity Photography

David Perez & Dwight Cox in Lake St. Clair, Michigan September 5, 2015 Eliza Qualls Photography

Tara Crowder & Sloan Dickerson in Florence, Alabama August 1, 2015 by PbK Studios

Ashley Renee’ Potter & John Nicholas Taylor in Killen, Alabama Muscle Shoals Sailing Club May 2, 2015 by Saving Grace Photography

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Blair De’Ana Bowens & Geoﬀrey Charles Woods in Sheﬃeld, Alabama First Missionary Baptist Church May 29, 2015 by Amanda Chapman Photography

Celia Kelley & Matt Mothershed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama September 12, 2015 by Allure Photography

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Eleanor Lavinia Parker & Charles Whitten Walter III in Tuscumbia, Alabama St. John’s Episcopal Church April 25, 2015 by Abraham Rowe Photography

Amy Ryder & Mitchell Moor in Gurley, Alabama Hampton Cove Wedding Plantation June 26, 2015 by Jessica McCravy Studios

Sarah Lauren Alsup & Noah Luke Shell in Colliers End Creekside Plantation May 16, 2015 by Caught You On Camera

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

WEDDING ALBUM

Molly Michelle Stell & James Michael Stewart in Florence, Alabama Ava’s Place August 29, 2015 By Create Portraiture

Brittany Anneliese Harris & Ashton Malena Kerby in Florence, Alabama October 22, 2015 by Dirt Road Photography

Mary Frances Fago Banks & James Kenneth Grigsby in Tuscumbia, Alabama Locust Hill June 17, 2015 by Butler Studio

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Earlier this year, No’Ala began a serial story about Eleanor, the woman who murdered her husband and asked her hairdresser and his partner to help her bury him in the backyard. In our last issue, Douglas Charles Glover, an overweight third grader who had befriended Eleanor, was hiding in his secret snacking place in Eleanor’s yard when he might have heard the fatal gunshot. Through the words of 12 Shoals-area writers, we’ll continue to tell this tale, one chapter per issue, until you know these Southern characters very well. If you missed the first three installments, well, bless your heart—but they can be read online at www.noalastudios.com. In this chapter, Sarah Gaede tells us the backstory of Eleanor’s life…including a look at all of her five husbands. Please remember that this is a work of fiction and does not represent actual people living or dead (although truth can be stranger than fiction). Enjoy!

a Favor for Eleanor Chapter Four: Billy by sarah gaede » illustrations by rowan finnegan

One might wonder why Eleanor McIntosh felt it necessary to marry five times. After all, she had a wealthy daddy who doted on her, and plenty of money of her own. But Eleanor grew up in a small Southern town at a time when, for a Southern woman of a certain class, a husband was a necessary accessory, sort of like a purse. You might change your purse according to the season, but you always carried one. Same with husbands. Society events catered to married couples, so to be part of the in crowd, a woman needed a husband. More important, Eleanor really loved sex. She’d loved it since that indescribable tingle from her first kiss at the precocious age of 14. She’d loved it necking in cars after high school dances. She’d loved it so much she just had to get married at 21, so she could go all the way (technically). It’s a pity Eleanor wasn’t born 30 years later. She would have embraced free love with every juicy fiber of her being, as long as she could continue to be perfectly dressed and coiffed, with her makeup artfully applied. No scraggly hair and tie-die for Eleanor—she had standards. Instead, like her favorite Hollywood star, Elizabeth Taylor, Eleanor engaged in serial monogamy. Sometimes her husband of the moment grew tired of her; sometimes she tired of him. Either way, her philosophy was, as her favorite Billy Holiday sang, “When someone new looks good to you, no regrets.” She certainly did not believe in allowing one divorce, or two or three, to ruin her life, as some of her friends did. Why, Eleanor knew women who had been divorced longer than she had been married to all her husbands combined, and were still bitter and resentful. Eleanor thought that was silly. She did not believe in letting any man keep her from living her life exactly the way she wanted to. Eleanor certainly didn’t have any regrets about her first wedding, despite how the marriage turned out. It took place on October 19, 1946, shortly after her 21st birthday, when she came into the generous trust fund her grandfather had left

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

A Favor for Eleanor Chapter Four: Billy

her. October, although unconventional for a wedding, was a beautiful month in River City, and Eleanor wasn’t interested in sharing the spotlight with all the June brides. She also wasn’t interested in sharing the spotlight with a bevy of beautiful bridesmaids, so she selected as her sole attendant her sister-in-law Mabel, who was 10 years older than she was, and not nearly as pretty. The groom was Billy Darby, a boy from River City whom Eleanor had met at a fraternity party during her brief stint at the University of Alabama and gotten to know as intimately as a “nice girl” could at the time. Billy was draft-exempt because of his flat feet, but the rest of his body was just fine. After her freshman year, Eleanor’s mother died from something or other (Eleanor had never been that close to her mother, and did not really have a head for details that didn’t interest her) and since she was about to flunk out anyway, she came back to River City to comfort her precious Daddy in his time of grief. Billy, greatly smitten, wrote and called, and came to River City to court Eleanor whenever he could. Finally she agreed to marry him after he graduated and found a good job in River City thanks to his KA connections. Eleanor wasn’t exactly sure what Billy did—something in investments, she thought—but he was important enough to have his own secretary, a homely young woman who, though not exactly from the wrong side of the tracks, really had nothing going for her, and was no threat to Eleanor. Despite her further adventures in matrimony, Eleanor always remembered that first wedding with fondness, aided by her scrapbooks full of newspaper clippings from the River City Herald. After the showers, teas, bridge parties, and all the other festivities surrounding the upcoming nuptials of a society bride, the big day finally arrived, just as Eleanor had been planning as long as she could remember. Well, maybe not just as she had planned when she was a little girl before the war, but considering that rationing had just ended, she thought she had done her best. Truth be told, Eleanor didn’t miss her mother’s presence at all. It was one less impediment to doing things exactly as she wanted. Eleanor still loved to read the description of her nuptials in the society column: Taking place at the First Presbyterian Church on Saturday afternoon, October nineteenth, the marriage of Miss Eleanor Ann McIntosh, daughter of Harold McIntosh and the late Virginia Sanders

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McIntosh, and William Wilson Darby, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. William W. Darby, was impressively solemnized at five o’clock. Dr. H.C. Malone, pastor of the church, officiated, using the double ring ceremony. A program of nuptial music was rendered by Mrs. Malone, organist, and Mrs. Richard Fields, soprano, who sang “O Promise Me.” The bridal tableau was formed before an improvised altar of white, decorated with English ivy, ferns and baskets of white chrysanthemums, lighted by the soft glow of cathedral candles burning in branched candelabra and three-branched holders in each of the church windows. Entering with her father by whom she was given in marriage, the bride wore a wedding dress of white brocaded satin with fitted bodice, which featured a heart-shaped neckline and long sleeves, pointed at the wrists. The long, full skirt was made en train, and her fingertip veil fell from a becoming tiara of seed pearls. She carried a shower bouquet of Bride’s roses and butterfly gardenias centered with a purple throated orchid. Her only ornament was a strand of pearls, a gift of the bridegroom. Mrs. Frank McIntosh, Miss McIntosh’s sister-in-law, was matron of honor, and she wore a bouffant dress of emerald green brocaded taffeta and carried a round bouquet of Better Times roses. She wore an ornament of the roses in her hair. Mr. Robert Johnson served the bridegroom as best man, and ushers were Frank McIntosh, the bride’s brother, Herbert Smith, and George Hester. For her son’s wedding, Mrs. Darby wore black crepe with a corsage of gardenias. Mrs. Howard McIntosh, grandmother of the bride, also wore black crepe and her corsage was of baby orchids. The bride’s father and grandmother entertained with an informal reception at their home on Wood Avenue after the ceremony. In charge of the bride’s register was Miss Suzanne Sessions. In the dining room, the table was covered with a cloth of Italian

cutwork embroidery and held as a centerpiece a bowl of tuberoses and white pompom chrysanthemums, flanked on each side by tall silver candelabra holding white candles. Mrs. Robert Cobb, aunt of the bride, served the three-tiered bride’s cake and Mrs. Matthew Garner served punch. Eleanor and Billy spent their wedding night at the Jefferson Hotel. It was everything Eleanor had hoped for and more. She may not have gone all the way before, but she knew exactly what she needed, and how to ask for it. If Billy was surprised by her level of expertise, he certainly didn’t complain. The newlyweds made a late start the next morning on their drive to New Orleans, in Eleanor’s wedding gift from her father, a pale yellow 1946 Chrysler Town and Country convertible. Eleanor knew it was the only car for her when she saw the rhapsodic advertisement in Life magazine: “There’s an air about this glorious convertible—a whisper of country clubs and moonlight rides.” This was the life Eleanor aspired to, and the car was a perfect accessory. Since they were newlyweds, she let Billy drive, but she fully intended to take control when they returned to River City. New Orleans was wonderful. Dinner at such grand restaurants as Galatoire’s and Arnaud’s, followed by jazz clubs and Ramos gin fizzes (not too many to impair passion), steamy nights, and late morning kick-starts of coffee and beignets at Café du Monde. Eleanor sweet-talked Billy into letting her drive home. At that point, in his altered state of ecstatic bliss, he would have done anything she asked. Back in River City, Eleanor and Billy settled into married life in their pretty house on Walnut Street. Eleanor engaged the daughter of her father’s cook/housekeeper, who had raised Eleanor, to come in daily. She knew Lucille’s mother had trained her well—so well, in fact, that Lucille never had to ask Eleanor for instructions, and Eleanor never offered any. After Billy left for work, Eleanor spent her days reading magazines, getting her hair done, replacing her outdated wartime wardrobe, and playing bridge with the other young married women in her set. Like them, Eleanor was a member of the Junior Service League, even though she wasn’t really big on serving anyone but herself. The highlight of her year was dancing with Billy in the Follies, which made it worth enduring the meetings and service projects. In the summer, Eleanor spent most of her time at the River City Country Club, sunning by the pool or playing an occasional game

of tennis. But she was always at home by 5 p.m., freshly groomed, ready to greet Billy with a smile and a drink when he came home from work. Once or twice a week Billy was out in the evenings, meeting with a client or at the Masonic Lodge. Eleanor didn’t mind. She did her nails, listened to the radio, or read a popular novel. She adored Forever Amber, had reread Gone with the Wind countless times, and sometimes, when she was feeling naughty, pulled out her copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover buried in the bottom of her lingerie drawer. On the weekends she and Billy went to the movies, or out dancing with their friends, or on an occasional jaunt to Tuscaloosa for a football game. Eleanor loved to ﬂirt with her friends’ husbands, just to keep her skills up, but she was no threat to other women. She had all the man she needed at home. After a few years of married life had elapsed, Eleanor noticed that most of her friends had children—although she rarely saw them, because her friends left them at home with their housekeepers. She wondered brieﬂy why she had not gotten pregnant despite her passionate love life, but then decided it wasn’t worth pursuing. She didn’t really like children all that much anyway. Her brother’s two boys were really quite unpleasant to be around; messy, smelly and loud, and always asking questions she didn’t know the answers to. And Billy had never said anything to her about wanting children—not that she had ever asked. She didn’t really know what Billy

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

A Favor for Eleanor Chapter Four: Billy

like her favorite Hollywood star, Elizabeth Taylor, Eleanor engaged in serial monogamy. Sometimes her husband of the moment grew tired of her; sometimes she tired of him. Either way, her philosophy was, as her favorite Billy Holiday sang, “When someone new looks good to you, no regrets.”

thought about a lot of things. But, in the words of her beloved Scarlett O’Hara, “ﬁddle-dee-dee” to all that. Every month, Eleanor looked forward to reading “Can this marriage be saved?” in her Ladies’ Home Journal. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the pitiful women who didn’t know how to make their husbands happy. Eleanor certainly knew how to make Billy happy. Even though their love life had cooled a bit over the years, she still knew how to please him in bed. And Lucille knew all his favorite foods, and exactly how much starch to put in his shirts. Eleanor

understood, from reading her magazines, that it was a wife’s job to foster a happy marriage and steer it away from divorce. So she never bothered Billy with her problems—not that she had any. She never asked him for money for extravagances— she had plenty of her own. She wasn’t interested in politics, world events, or anything serious that required effort to understand. In the unlikely event of a crisis, she would turn to Daddy. For Eleanor, a happy marriage was one unruffled by unpleasant thoughts. Sadly, into each unruffled pond a stone must eventually fall. Shortly before her 10th anniversary, Eleanor heard through the grapevine that her husband was having an affair with his homely, boring secretary. And this wasn’t just a recent development. It had been going on for seven years! It’s true that she wasn’t much interested in Billy’s life outside his fulfillment of her requirements for an escort with benefits, but she was still irritated that she hadn’t noticed anything amiss in all those years. As she looked back on their life together—an exercise that hurt her brain—she realized that those evening meetings with “clients” and his Masonic brothers might not have been exactly what she thought. She admitted to herself that she really had no idea what Billy was up to from the time he left the house in the morning until he returned home in the evening. Out of sight, out of mind was the way Eleanor approached the world. But still! She would not be taken for a fool. So one morning soon after her discovery, Eleanor put on her Mainbocher-style suit and her smartest hat and gloves, fastened her wedding pearls around her neck, put a discreet dab of Arpège behind her ears, hopped into her convertible, drove around to the best attorneys in River City, and put them all on retainer, just in case Billy decided to fight her. When Billy came home that night, a freshly groomed Eleanor met

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him at the door, smiled, handed him his drink, and told him she wanted a divorce. Billy was so relieved, he immediately offered her the house and a generous settlement, and told her he would pay all her expenses if she would go to Reno right away, and not cause a scene. He had long ago tired of Eleanor’s fiddle-dee-dee personality, and had sought solace with his secretary. With Sally, he felt like a real man. She was interested in his feelings, his opinions, and his ideas. Their lovemaking was more emotionally intimate, if not quite as uninhibited as sex with Eleanor, but what Billy really cherished about the relationship were the hours he and Sally spent together just talking and dreaming. And Sally yearned to start a family, which, Billy realized, he had always wanted, but certainly not with someone as shallow as Eleanor. Eleanor was the first of her friends to go to Reno for a divorce, but then, she always was a trendsetter. A divorce in Alabama required a long waiting period and proof of adultery. Nevada law allowed a person to obtain a divorce for vague cause after a six-week residency. Eleanor’s stay at an exclusive divorce ranch was like one big R-rated pajama party. After she rolled out of bed right before lunch, she took riding lessons or sat by the pool and worked on her tan. At night, there were swims in Paradise Lake, or trips into town with the other prospective divorcées to hit the bars and meet up with the ranch hands. How surprised the members of the Junior Service League would have been to see Eleanor demonstrating one of her Follies numbers on the bar! She wrote postcards to her friends daily, telling them how much fun she was having. But she didn’t tell them about Hank, her tall, dark, and handsome cowboy who made sure her nights weren’t lonely. Sex with Hank didn’t really count. She figured what happened in Reno could stay in Reno. The six weeks flew by, without a thought for the future. As soon as her divorce was finalized, Eleanor kissed the white columns of the Washoe County Courthouse with bright red lips, flung her wedding band off the Virginia Street Bridge into the rapid waters of the Truckee River, and headed home to River City, eager to start her next adventure. After all, tomorrow was another day. If something, or someone, didn’t materialize right away, she always had Hank’s address tucked in her purse.

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SOME CALL THIS PUPPY LOVE. Dogs are so much a part of our families, it makes sense to include them in the wedding, if possible. There were some unusual and beautiful family pets who performed speciﬁc roles in weddings this past year, so many that we wanted to share them with you. We don’t think any of these pets were the best man in these weddings—just man’s best friend.

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kudos

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If you want to share some good news about a friend, neighbor, or colleague—or even toot your own horn—send your kudos to roy@noalastudios.com.

by roy hall

Real Men Fight Cancer A SUPERintendent The School Superintendents of Alabama have named Dr. Janet Womack of Florence City Schools their Alabama Superintendent of the Year for 2016. “This award is not about me,” Womack says. “Instead, it represents the students, faculty, staﬀ, administrators, Board, parents, and community who have caught the vision to innovate and create learning opportunities that will allow every student in Florence to achieve their goals and dreams.”

The American Cancer Society’s 2015 fundraising eﬀort raised $125,000 among its 12 participants: Dr. Hemant nt Patel, Dr. Anthony Kalliath, Dr. Bob Bailey, Dr. Eric Kirkman, Mayor Ian Sanford, Councilman Barry Morris, Bud Ward, Mayor Mickey Haddock, Chris Burgreen, Russell Pigg, Larry Bowser, and Bishop Alexander. Dr. Anthony Kalliath, an oncologist at Florence’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, raised over $35,000 for breast cancer research and awareness, taking home the trophy at the November 5 Pink Tie Bash.

Paying Their Dues Janet Womack

During her six years as Superintendent, Florence High School has enjoyed a 27 percent graduation rate increase, with dropouts decreasing from 123 to 13, among many other, notable achievements. Dr. Womack will be recognized at the National Conferencee on Education in Phoenix, Arizona, in February.

People’s Choice Award Readers of ConventionSouth have honored Marriott Shoalss Hotel & Spa with a 2015 Readers’ Choice Award. This is thee fourth time Marriott Shoals has been recognized by ConventionSouth for its exemplary service for group events. “Since opening 10 years ago, the Marriott Shoals has focused on taking great care of both our meeting and leisure guests,” said Larry Bowser, general manager at the Marriott Shoals. “We are honored these meeting planners have been pleased with their experiences in the Shoals and we look forward to taking care of them for many years to come.”

Two new scholarship recipients, Shelby Heathcoat and Indigo Fort, joined six current honorees as Edward Fennel Mauldin Endowed Scholarship winners. The honorees were presented with their scholarships by UNA president Ken Kitts and Bank Independent president Macke Mauldin at a ceremony at Bank Drew Fisher, Ken Kitts, Indigo Fort, Shelby Heathcoat, Independent’s oﬃces Ben Ish, Brittany Michael, Macke Mauldin, Logan Heﬂin in Muscle Shoals, in October. The scholarships are in honor of Edward Fennel Mauldin, the bank’s late chairman and father of current Bank Independent president Macke Mauldin.

A Spirit of Service Robert King-Dodge has been honored by Thrive Alabama with the 2016 John Dunkel Humanitarian Service award. The award is given in honor of Dr. John Dunkel, who displayed tremendous dedication to the Davis Clinic as the ﬁrst doctor in the community willing to treat HIV+ clients.

Robert King-Dodge

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

The Well-Groomed Groom

Your wedding is the perfect opportunity to purchase a welltailored suit or tuxedo that you can continue to wear for many years to come.

text by david sims » illustration by chelsea holeman

Unless you have a full beard, you should shave on your wedding day.

Don’t wear a boutonniere pinned to either a pair of suspenders or worse, your shirt.

If you're wearing a tie clip, do not wear it with a vest. They serve the same purpose. Also, the tie clip should never be wider than the width of your tie.

You should see at least a half-inch of your shirt sleeve when your arms are at your side.

If you must wear suspenders, do not wear a belt. They serve the same purpose.

Avoid pants that are so long they puddle in multiple folds over your shoes. The perfect length trouser has just the right amount of break.

 | noalastudios.com | january/february 

Don’t wear tennis shoes or ﬂip-ﬂops to your wedding. And only real cowboys should be allowed to wear boots with their suits or tuxedos

ur overall advice to the groom on wedding attire is to be the perfect sartorial match to his bride. If your bride is dressed in a beautiful, ﬂoor-length, formal wedding gown, you should at the very least look like you belong next to her. We’ve seen far too many weddings where the groom looks more like the guy who’s there to deliver the ﬂowers rather than the man who’s there to deliver the wedding band.

The Right We’ve said it before, and we will continue to say it until we’re gray or navy blue in the face. Your wedding is the perfect opportunity to purchase a well-tailored suit or tuxedo that you can continue to wear for many years to come. For a suit, a two-button navy blue, or light or charcoal gray suit would be very appropriate for most daytime weddings. Personalize it with your shirt, tie, pocket square, or sock choices. If you choose to purchase a tuxedo, go with a classic black one- or two-button style. If you must rent your wedding wear, make your fitting appointment well-ahead of the big day to allow plenty of time for the formal wear store to make any alterations. Then try it on a second time. Avoid pants that are so long they puddle in multiple folds over your shoes, and sleeves so long they cover half of your palm. You should see at least a half-inch of your shirt sleeve when your arms are at your side. By the way, this is your wedding too. Although the bride will obviously be the centerpiece of any wedding party, you have the right to look amazing. Don’t be talked into wearing an outfit that must match the flowers, ribbons, napkins, or any other such nonsense. There will be plenty of other appropriate places to incorporate the wedding’s color scheme that don’t involve the man of honor.

The Not-So-Right Don’t wear a boutonniere pinned to either a pair of suspenders or worse, your shirt. This is your wedding. You should be the best-dressed man in attendance. Besides, “boutonniere” is the French word for buttonhole. It is traditionally pushed through the lapel buttonhole on the left side of your suit. If you must wed without a jacket, then go without a boutonniere as well. Don’t wear tennis shoes or ﬂip-ﬂops to your wedding. And only real cowboys should be allowed to wear boots with their suits or tuxedos. By the way, this would also be the perfect time to purchase a beautiful new pair of shoes to compliment your new suit or tuxedo. Dressy brown or black cap-toe or wingtip oxfords (with leather soles) would pair perfectly with either a navy blue or charcoal gray suit, and a classic lace-up black patent leather shoe would complete your tuxedo. Unless you have a full beard, you should shave on your wedding day. Stubble, especially in photos, looks rough and dirty.

january/february  | noalastudios.com | 

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back talk

Looking Back with the “Perfect Couple” For this Wedding issue installment of Back Talk, we check-in with the winners of No’Ala’s 2011 Perfect Wedding, Erin and Alex Wittscheck. Four years into married life, what do Erin and Alex recall most fondly about the day they said I do? And what advice do they have for couples planning their own journey down the aisle?

The perfect wedding depends on a thousand details coming together. On the morning of your wedding, what were you most jittery about? Erin: The night before the wedding I discovered I had gotten a pen mark on my dress! I was fretting non-stop about it, trying to think of something to do to ﬁx it, until my best friend/maid of honor intervened. She sat me down in front of the TV and put on The Sandlot (my favorite movie) and told me she would take care of it. The next morning, I woke up, anxious to see the dress, only to see that she had ﬁxed it! To this day, I still don’t know what she did to get that mark out. Looking back, what is your fondest memory about that day? Alex: Having all of my friends in one place together to celebrate. No matter how rushed it seemed, the wedding was fun because of the people that were there and the time we got to spend with them. One of my favorite pictures from the wedding is a photo of me and all my guy friends in the photo booth. What were your somethings old, new, borrowed, and blue? Erin: Old: a pearl ring my Memaw let me borrow; New: My pearl earrings from Side Lines jewelry; Borrowed: A pearl bracelet from my Memaw to match the ring (I really went with the pearl thing.); Blue: My garter had a blue ribbon running through it! A wedding budget can balloon quickly. Where do you recommend couples splurge, and where should they save? Erin: I recommend making a spending priorities “Top 3” list. For Alex and me, food, music, and photos were important, so we were willing to spend more in those areas. Alex: Spend money on things that you can look back on and remember. I recommend spending money on an event planner if you are able; Jordyn Dean really changed the game for us. She made the whole experience a breeze. What advice would you give a couple planning their wedding? Erin: Try to stay in the moment. Yes, you want to look ahead and plan, but take little moments throughout the process to take mental “snapshots” of it all; it will all pass by so quickly! Alex: Take every precaution to make sure you have nothing to worry about the day of the wedding. We were lucky to have so many people helping us that all we had to worry about was walking down the aisle, eating, and being with friends. It made the day so much better. What were you most surprised to learn about your spouse after living together that you didn’t know before? Erin: Alex does not like me to move his things. Even to clean. Alex: Erin unconsciously narrates everything she does in song. It’s like living in a musical. If you had to change one thing—the location, the food, the music, the time of year— what would it be? Erin: Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. It really was our perfect wedding.

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parting shot » Armosa Studios

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID…

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Newly Wed. New Home? Trust the Mortgage Professionals!

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