15 minute read
WEDDINGS
By Anne Ruisi
Your great-grandmother might have saved her wedding bouquet by pressing individual blooms in a book kept wrapped in the attic, but you now have the option to treasure your flowers as an artistic memento of the day you said your vows and display it in your home long after your Golden Anniversary.
Preserving wedding flowers by encasing them in artistic shapes made of transparent resin is gaining more attention among brides as an alternative to traditional ways of floral preservation. HeidiCat, a new business based in Mountain Brook, is helping brides preserve their flowers for a lifetime.
“It’s a unique memory of that day,” said Catherine Romero, who, with her longtime friend Heidi Hallman, started the company in August.
Flowers can be preserved in spheres, book-
Forever Flowers
Wedding Flowers Are Timeless Treasures in Resin Art
ends, decorative trays, rectangles, squares, hexagons and other shapes, some in different sizes, to create substantial pieces with weight. Smaller pieces can be made for a jewelry dish, ring holder, ornaments, a cross, and bottle stoppers and openers. Their website, heidicat.com, showcases the variety of items.
Each piece can take from two to four months to produce. The process begins with a careful preparation of the bouquet or other floral piece,
Catherine Romero and Heidi Hallman, from left, started HeidiCat, in August. Left, preserving wedding flowers by encasing them in artistic shapes made of transparent resin is gaining more attention among brides as an alternative to traditional ways of floral preservation.
Romero said. The freshest and best blooms and greenery will be preserved.
The first step in their studio is to dry each bloom in silica gel an average of three weeks to ensure all moisture is removed. The piece is then designed. Once it’s reviewed and approved by the customer, the work to pour multiple layers of resin to preserve the flowers begins. Each layer can take 24 to 48 hours because they have
See HEIDICAT, page 23
Rethinking Wedding Photographs
Couple Brings Elegance and Authenticity to Wedding Art but Never Cheese
By Anne Ruisi
Shots of the bridal party, a mother adjusting her daughter’s veil before the ceremony and the happy couple cutting the cake are scenes every wedding photographer captures on the job.
Then there’s the Indian wedding where the groom got bucked off a horse during the baraat, part of an outdoor, prewedding groom’s procession, at an Over the Mountain hotel, photographers Kelli and Daniel Taylor recalled. That mishap wasn’t part of the wedding choreography and, luckily for the groom, a number of doctors were among the guests.
“Of course, he saw stars and they helped him, gave him some water and then things went on,” said Kelli, who, with husband Daniel, runs Kelli & Daniel Taylor Photography.
While that incident is definitely not the norm, it’s one of many memorable experiences the Taylors have encountered since starting to shoot weddings in 2005 as a sideline from their jobs at The Birmingham News, where Kelli was a reporter and Daniel was a photographer for the advertising department. He also was a photographer for Birmingham magazine.
The idea for starting a wedding photography business came about after the couple married in Daniel’s native Australia in 2004. They didn’t like what they saw from most of the mainstream wedding photographers at the time – images that were formulaic and forced. Kelli shared her ideas with their photographer, who was a photography school classmate of Daniel’s. They loved the end result.
“We knew the value of timeless, classic, real
Above, Kelli and Daniel Taylor began shooting weddings in 2005 as a sideline from their jobs at The Birmingham News. Left, Emily Martin photographed on her wedding day at Vestavia Country Club. She and her husband, Page, live in Brook Highland. Cover photo is of Anna and Robert Crook at the Country Club of Birmingham.
Birmingham Museum of Art Bromberg’s
The Birmingham Museum of Art is an elegant and modern venue, suited to host any wedding event, such as engagement parties, bridal luncheons, teas and showers down to the ceremony and or reception.
“If you choose the Museum for your wedding, you can utilize all of our public spaces –Oscars Café, with the dramatic spiral staircase; the Eighth Ave. Lobby, which has the colorful blown glass art created by Dale Chihuly adorning the wall; and the multi-level Charles Ireland Sculpture Garden outside,” said Special Events Manager Jestina Howard, above.
“ You can have the Museum art galleries open for your guests to tour and we only book one private event after 5:00pm when we close to the public. So, you and your guests will have the entire Museum to yourselves,” Howard added.
Howard’s Wedding Planning Tips
“One: Consider hiring a wedding planner or coordinator. They can make the process of planning your wedding stress free. Planners handle all of the details from beginning to end such as logistics, event design, contract negotiations, booking vendors and the day-of execution of your event. Coordinators handle some day-of logistics, but on a shorter timeline. They usually begin helping you prepare a week or month before the wedding and function as your day- of point person.”
“Two: Think about the three most important aspects you want for your special day. Are those aspects the food, specialty drinks, decor or entertainment, etc.? Prioritize the three things and stick to them.”
“Three: Decide on your wedding style/theme - is it traditional, contemporary or rustic? Focus on this so you stay aligned with your complete event vision.”
Birmingham Museum of Art is located at 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., 205-2542681 or email plananevent@artsbma.org
As we welcome 2023, we have much to celebrate, especially the many holiday engagements! At Bromberg’s we enjoy making all our couples feel special, from picking out the engagement ring and wedding bands to creating a wedding registry tailored to each couple’s individual tastes.
If you’re recently engaged, creating a wedding registry at Bromberg’s is a delightful and easy part of wedding planning! While you can create an online wedding registry at virtually any store these days, nothing compares to the helpful and hands-on service you will receive working with our expert bridal consultants. With the South’s most extensive selection of fine china, casual dinnerware, crystal, silver, and home décor, every couple that registers at Bromberg’s will be guided in setting a beautiful table that will be the focal point of cherished memories for years to come. Additionally, your guests will appreciate the wide variety of in-store gift choices or the ease of sending a present through our Bromberg’s Gift Letter program.
Our renowned Gift Letter program allows couples to receive a store credit in the amount of each gift purchased from their registry. A beautiful gift letter is sent to the couple that details the gift that has been purchased, along with an enclosure message and the name of the gift-giver. After the wedding, couples can redeem their gift letter credit for anything they want in the store, allowing them to take advantage of special offers and seasonal sales while reducing the amount of returns and duplicate gifts.
Other benefits of registering at Bromberg’s include discounts for attendant and hostess gifts, 20% off wedding bands, and a free place setting with the purchase of seven place settings.
Couples can register at Bromberg’s, located in Mountain Brook Village and The Summit, or online at www.BrombergsBride.com.
There is an art to creating the perfect wedding. Let us be your canvas.
Image courtesy Eric & Jamie Photography
Private Jeweler, John Bromberg maintains a return to an old-world artisan approach to fine jewelry. In an industry that is increasingly focused on mass production, JB & CO chooses
to focus on the unique, with specialties that include bridal, custom and estate jewelry.
At a time when individual service and privacy is of the utmost importance, Bromberg personally works with his clients to select or create just the right piece for the occasion, always adhering to their style and budget. Whether it is a diamond engagement ring, a special piece for your day or turning your old jewelry into something current. JB & CO can help you with your jewelry heirloom. His collection of estate jewelry comes from the finest jewelry houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany, Verdura, as well as, designers Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany, Ilias Lalounis, Pierre Sterle’, Elizabeth Locke, Katy Briscoe, Chopard and Ippolita. John also has a select collection of coveted watches from Cartier, Patek Philippe and Rolex.
John Bromberg is a sixth-generation GIA trained jeweler with memberships in the prestigious Diamond Dealers’ Club of New York and The American Society of Jewelry Historians.
John’s longstanding relationships offer the unique opportunity for his clients to purchase fine jewelry at an exceptional value. JB & CO was named “The Best Jeweler” in the About Town magazine Readers’ Poll!
For the full JB & CO experience, we recommend making an appointment. “Collect with us,” says Bromberg.
JB & Co. is located at 1 Office Park Circle, Suite 201, Mountain Brook, AL 35223. 205478-0455.
Website: www.JBandCoJewelry.com
Instagram: @ JBandCoJewelryMountainBrookAL
Facebook: JBandCoJewelry
Kathy G & Company
Kathy G & Company is a well-seasoned and experienced catering and event company. A bride who chooses to work with Kathy G can rest assured that she will meet knowledgeable events coordinators and respected chefs who will strive to execute her vision to the fullest. The Gardens Café by Kathy G at Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the perfect setting for bridal luncheons, rehearsal dinners, and wedding receptions.
Kathy G & Company has been working with brides for over 35 years. From small intimate weddings at home to large scale affairs, Kathy G has experience in all situations. “We do travel the state as well,” said Kathy G. Mezrano, president and owner of the business, above. “Every bride is unique and very special to us. We design the menu to reflect the couple’s taste and style.
Our event coordinators are “hands on” from the planning process through the setup and execution of the reception and until we put the “wedding basket” in the going away car, which is complimentary for all of our brides.
“When planning your wedding my best advice is budget. Even an overall idea will be helpful in designing a menu and will save time.We can design a menu to fit any budget and style.
“Consider all the guests attending, family preferences and the bride and groom’s favorites. For example, many brides like to showcase the South when families are coming from other parts the country. Time of day is also important in deciding the menu. Whether it’s an afternoon affair or evening event is part of the planning. Be sure the caterer is aware of any dietary restrictions.
“Check with your caterer about beverage services as well as food service. Cutting the cakes, packing food for family and a going away baskets are some of the services the we include in every wedding.
Kathy G & Company is located at 11 W. Park Cir., Birmingham, 942-4210.
JohnBromberg@JBandCoJewelry.com
From page 20 and authentic” images, Kelli said.
A year later when they moved to Homewood’s Edgewood neighborhood, some neighbors who saw their wedding photos loved them, and their sister approached the couple to shoot her wedding.
The Taylor’s wedding photography portfolio, which is on their website, kellianddaniel.com, does include the classic set ups, such as of the bride and her mother, the wedding party and the rings, but there is an elegance to the shots in color and black and white.
“You want it to still be a great photo 30 years later,” Daniel said.
Since then, they’ve developed their business into a full-time operation with bookings not only in the Birmingham area but in Atlanta, at weekend homes on Lake Martin, along 30A on the Florida Gulf Coast, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Colorado and Spain.
The brides and grooms who hire them aren’t the uber rich, Kelli said.
“These are professionals who see this an investment, who put value on the experience,” she said.
Courtesy Kelli & Daniel Taylor Photography
Photos Individualized
They coordinate every photo detail to prepare for each wedding, whether it is Over the Mountain or in the mountains of Colorado.
“We come up with the plan, the timeline, how to get there, where to go, what we’re going to do at that time of day,” said Kelli, adding that her background as a journalist is vital help in research and logistics.
It’s not just the big day itself the couple shoot. Depending on what a couple wants, every big moment of an engagement can be recorded, from the proposal to the rehearsal dinner, to the morning after and wedding brunches at destination weddings.
Personalizing weddings is a trend the Taylors are seeing, including men and women participating in nontraditional bridal party roles. A “bridesman” and “best woman” have stood beside the bride and groom, and pets are getting more involved in weddings.
“It certainly helps the vibe” at the reception, Kelli said.
What’s out these days?
“We’re not seeing as many garter tosses or throwing the bouquet,” she said. Some brides and grooms “think that’s old fashioned.”
The relationship with some clients lasts beyond the wedding. Some couples ask the Taylors to take Christmas photos, especially after they start having children. “For the first time we are doing a lot of family photos. There have been a lot of pandemic babies,” Kelli noted.
One couple whose wedding was one of the first they shot and who now live in Texas were visiting family in Birmingham for the holidays and asked the Taylors to take photos of them and their four children at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
“We’ve known and have been shooting for some of our clients for a decade,” Kelli said.
One of their memorable weddings involved an older couple who were high school sweethearts in Birmingham and had married but divorced years ago. They eventually remarried and had some of the same guests at their second wedding as they had at their first, including the bridesmaids.
“That was incredible – they even had their first wedding album. We used pictures from the first wedding album to make their second wedding album,”
The Taylors have developed a subspecialty in Indian and Pakistani weddings, events they love to shoot.
“It’s festive, it’s colorful, it’s so much fun and the food is amazing,” Kelli said.
Their trip to shoot a wedding in Spain came about because they knew someone who was getting married there and were asked to take the photos. What surprised them the most about the experience , Kelli said, was how late the reception went on.
“Daniel left at 1 a.m. and I made it ‘til three, and (the reception) went on past sunrise,” she said.
“We knew the value of timeless, classic, real and authentic” images Kelli Taylor said. Above, Kristen and Brandon Thurber, who live in Homewood, at their wedding ceremony at the Grand Bohemian hotel in Mountain Brook.
To: Patricia From: Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., Date: Jan. WEDDING REGISTRY HOME DECOR • CORPORATE GIFTS 2402 MONTEVALLO RD MOUNTAIN BROOK VILLAGE 205.879.0125 WWW.TABLE-MATTERS.COM
HEIDICAT
From page 20 to cure before another layer is added.
“We often say we need a degree in chemistry to do this,” Hallman joked, noting that the process isn’t as simple as it sounds and that working with resin can be tricky.
Precision and attention to detail are key. For example, materials used, such as resin, have to be at precise measurements and temperatures when the piece is being created or the work will be ruined. The items also have to be watched for bubbles that might form as each layer is poured.
“We do all we can to minimize them,” Romero said.
Brides are ordering HeidiCat’s pieces not only for themselves but for relatives and the wedding party. At Christmas, a number of brides ordered ornaments to give as gifts, Hallman and Romero said. And some bridesmaids and groomsmen give the happy couple the company’s service as a wedding gift.
While they both shared a similar interest in art and flowers, home décor and weddings and knew what they wanted to do to open their business, it took plenty of preparation. Hallman had worked in advertising and Romero in marketing, and Romero had a background in art and some experience working with resin but not with flowers in resin.
They did their research mostly on their own, with plenty of advice from vendors who sold the materials needed to make the pieces.
Since August, they’ve preserved flowers from about 20 weddings. Their client base is in Birmingham, and their business is growing, with customers in Huntsville, Mobile, Tampa and North Carolina.
Social media and word of mouth from satisfied customers are the ways most potential clients hear about their service. Romero added that some wedding planners they’ve worked with have helped get the word out.
“We’ve been very blessed,” Hallman said.
This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL or the Jan. 12th issue. Please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to approve your ad or make changes. Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! Thank you for your prompt attention.
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