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WEDDINGS

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Engaged Wedding Library

Summer Tate, associate planner and marketing manager, and Sidney Nomberg, lead wedding planner and project manager Like wedding planners, Engaged Wedding Library seeks to educate brides on the wedding planning process, guide them through the four steps of planning and help them build an excellent vendor team. Unlike traditional wedding planning services, Engaged is financially supported by our amazing group of Birmingham wedding vendors. The more than 100 local vendors in the group have been vetted by the Engaged team and represent all styles, locations and budget. In addition, the company offers “Day-of Coordination” services as an add-on.

In the early stages of shutdowns, what was your main focus as you adapted to serve brides?

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, our main focus was making sure our brides were doing OK emotionally. It seemed in the span of a few days, lots of plans, hard work and expectations were broken for spring and summer 2020 weddings. When meeting with our brides, our first task was telling them their options: moving their entire wedding, having an intimate ceremony and reception at a later date, or simply choosing to elope. After making these decisions, we were able to advise each bride based on their situation with how to move forward with securing a new date with their vendor team if needed.

What are some of the most notable limitations you have had to deal with throughout the pandemic?

At the beginning of the summer, we were able to continue planning and coordinating weddings for our brides. There were five main wedding categories we saw mainly affected by the pandemic.

Venue: Your venue will be following serious guidelines and regulations, one being requiring your guest count to be at half capacity. To a more serious extent, some are taking temperatures, requiring signed waivers and asking guests to wear masks while social distancing.

Food and beverage: The most cost-effective way to feed your guests has always been buffetstyle, but most caterers (now) require hosts to pick between a seated dinner or attended stations. Both of these services will raise your catering cost, requiring more labor. Expect to see plexiglass at both your dinner buffet and bar. Vendors working with food and beverage are required to wear a mask.

Dress shopping: If you are looking at a sixmonth engagement, it may be best to be on the lookout for a sample gown. Communicate with your consultant about the expectations on the arrival of your gown when ordering. Bridal gown shops and alterations (shops) aren’t allowing as many people in the store. Get your appointment on the books so you don’t have to sweat it.

Entertainment: Most entertainment vendors require guests to maintain a six-foot distance from them, allowing the party to continue while also keeping themselves safe. Also, guests are expected to social distance on the dance floor.

Honeymoon planning: Some brides and grooms are not comfortable leaving the country. Consider a Plan B for your trip or rebook it for your one-year anniversary. We recommend taking a “mini-moon” in the states, instead.

Pandemic Planning

Vendors Adapt to Wedding Planning in 2020, Prepare for 2021

By Emily Williams-RoBERtshaW

The wedding industry is made up of a variety of specialized companies a couple matches together to create their special day. It is a multibillion-dollar operation, even in 2020.

But there is no doubt that the industry has fallen victim to the economic impact of COVID-19 as couples scale back, postpone and even cancel marital plans in response to the threat from the pandemic.

The industry lost an estimated 45% to 50% of weddings in the first four months of the pandemic, according to research conducted by The Wedding Report Inc. and presented by founder and CEO Shane McMurray in a video conference in November.

McMurray said more recent data showed Hawaii had taken a more than 60% hit in its industry by late fall.

Couples’ needs and desires for their big day have been shaped by the pandemic and the safety measures set out to slow the spread of the virus.

For a local perspective, we reached out to several vendors in the wedding industry to ask about their 2020 experiences and their forecasts for the future.

Carla Gates Photography

Have you seen any new trends emerge this year that you love?

Pre-pandemic, our average wedding guest count was around 200. Currently, most of our weddings have had 100 guests in attendance. We feel the smaller guest count has allowed for more special moments and intimacy, less stress on the bride (and) on their family, and just as much fun!

How do you believe COVID-19-related wedding trends will affect the future of the wedding industry?

Going along with the smaller weddings, we believe brides are able to offer a more personalized experience for a limited guest count. For example, many have chosen to host a seated dinner at a restaurant, rather than renting out a venue for a larger reception. Also, many brides and grooms have offered a virtual experience for guests who are (immunocompromised). They still incorporating their loved ones by mailing goodie bags or inviting them to join a Zoom link to join the big day!

Canvas & Glass

Emma and Daniel Phillips We are a husband-and-wife photography duo based in Birmingham who love documenting family milestones. While we specialize in lifestyle photography, we love photographing the first major milestone of a family – the wedding day! We want to do more than capture the beauty of the day. We want to tell the story of who our clients are. We’re always honored to come alongside couples as they start their lives, and we love continuing to document their families as they live out their vows.

In the early stages of shutdowns, what was your main focus as you adapted to serve your brides?

Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility. Planning a

See PLANNING, page 24

inside

Birmingham Museum of Art

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 reception. “If you choose the Museum for your wedding, you can utilize all of our event spaces – Oscars Café, with the dramatic spiral staircase; the Eighth Ave. Lobby, which has the colorful, Dale Chihuly blown glass adorning the wall; and the multi-level Charles Ireland Sculpture Garden outside,” said Special Events Manager Jestina Howard, above. “All of the galleries in the Museum will also be open during your event, and we only book one event per evening,. So, you and your guests will have the entire Museum to yourselves,” Howard added.

Howard’s Wedding Planning Tips

“One: Do you want to hire 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: What are the three most important aspects you want for your special day - food, drinks, dancing, entertainment, etc.? Prioritize the three things and stick to them.”

“Three: What is your wedding style/theme - classic/traditional, contemporary, 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., 205-254-2681.

There is an art to creating the perfect wedding. Let us be your canvas.

artsbma.org · 205.254.2681 plananevent@artsbma.org

Image courtesy Eric & Jamie Photography

Bromberg’s

Did you end the challenging year of 2020 with a happy holiday engagement? Despite a global pandemic, the holiday season was still the most popular time to pop the question! While planning a wedding in 2021 will continue to have some of the same hurdles of 2020, creating a wedding registry at Bromberg’s remains a delightful and easy part of wedding planning.

While you can create an online wedding registry, nothing compares to the helpful service you will receive working with our expert bridal consultants. With an unmatched selection of fine china, casual dinnerware, crystal, silver, and home décor, every couple that registers at Bromberg’s will be expertly guided to set a table that will be the focal point of cherished memories for years to come. Additionally, your guests will appreciate the ease of selecting from a wide variety and perfect combination of gift choices.

Bromberg’s Gift Letter program reduces the amount of returns and duplicate gifts. For each gift purchased from a registry, a beautiful gift letter is sent to inform the couple which gift was picked out for them and whom it’s from along with a personalized message. After the wedding, the couple can redeem the total value of the gift letters they have received for anything they want in the store, allowing them to take advantage of special offers, including a free place setting with the purchase of seven place settings or our seasonal sales. Other benefits of registering at

Bromberg’s include discounts for attendant and hostess gifts and 20 percent off on non-diamond wedding bands.

Bromberg’s is located in Mountain Brook Village, The Summit and BrombergsBride.com.

Major Adjustment

Last-Minute Venue Change Provides Perfect Atmosphere for Homewood Couple’s August Wedding

By Emily Williams-RoBERtshaW

Newlyweds Sydne and Jeffrey “JJ” Shaffer met while attending college at Auburn University. Both were involved in collegiate athletics, Sydne being a softball player while JJ played baseball.

Sydne moved to Birmingham right after graduation, while JJ remained in Auburn to pursue a master’s in business before making the same move.

On Jan. 18, 2020, under the guise that they would be celebrating a year of living in Birmingham, Jeffrey made a reservation for dinner at GianMarcos, within walking distance of Sydne’s home.

“My best friend flew in, and while we were at dinner, she and her husband decorated our backyard with twinkle lights and music,” she said.

When they returned from dinner Jeffrey proposed.

“I had planned the whole (wedding) in about three weeks,” Sydne said. “Things were slow at work and I was just on it.” Little did she know, the plans would dissolve in just a matter of months.

Once the longevity of the pandemic was realized, the couple and their families had to discuss what to do about the wedding they had envisioned.

“Our previous vendor was being super strict on their rules and guidelines, which we totally understood,” she said.

What the couple wanted had been steadily changing during the shutdown, but what they knew was that they wanted to keep their original wedding date.

“We had been dating for six years and we knew we were getting married, whether it was just us and the pastor, us at the courthouse or in our parents’ backyard. That was it.”

The guest list was cut in half, from about 330 to about 120.

“The venue we initially picked was completely indoors,” she said. “Late June, we re-planned the whole thing and switched to the HooverRandle Home.”

Originally, she had been against the idea of an outdoor wedding in the middle of August because of the weather.

On Aug. 22, 2020, the couple wed at Mountain Brook Community Church in a ceremony officiated by Ben Telfair, followed by a reception at the Hoover-Randle House.

“For some reason, it was 70 degrees on a weekend in August. It only rained on the ride back from the church to the reception, just a tiny little shower. It ended up being perfect.

There were also some special surprises that the restructuring offered.

While they were quarantining before the wedding, Sydne and her father decided to choreograph a fun father-daughter dance. It was an act that was quite out of character for her very reserved father, whom Sydne said rarely smiles in pictures, let alone breaks out into dance.

“We didn’t tell anyone,” she said. “My husband didn’t know, nobody knew that we were doing it. Probably for the first hour and a half of the reception, people could not get past the fact that my dad had just done that. We’ve got a lot of good candid shots of him dancing and we have the video of it.”

A benefit to switching their venue, the couple’s French bulldog and golden retriever both got to be a part of the day, posing for pictures alongside the bride as she got ready.

“We didn’t feel like we were missing out or like we compromised on anything,” Sydne said.

The bride’s parents are Denis and Kelly Waldrop of Springville.

She was given in marriage by her father and wore a crepe silhouette gown with an open back and button detailing, enhanced with a small belt by Essence of Australia.

Courtney Shea Smith served as matron of honor. Bridesmaids included Cara Limoges, Savannah Caswell, Madison Pearce, Madi Reese, Hayden Bender and Kendra Watson.

Flower girls were Lane and Sutton Leachman.

The groom’s parents are Jeff and Jenny Shaffer of Auburn.

Jacob Drescher was best man. Groomsmen included Austin Williams, Justin Camp, Matt Morris, Brayden Housel, Steven Barranca and Blake Logan.

Following a wedding trip to St. Lucia, the couple reside in Homewood.

Photo by Sarah Partain.

What the couple wanted had been steadily changing during the shutdown, but what they knew was that they wanted to keep their original wedding date.

FROM THE FIRST KISS TO THE LAST DANCE

205.354.0171 valleyhotelbirmingham.com JUST SAY I DO.

HOOVER-RANDLE

home & gardens

Whether it is a diamond engagement ring, anniversary earrings or a special piece for your day, JB & CO can help you collect your heirloom.

KATIE AND CINDY PHOTOGRAPHY

Birmingham’s most unique address for your wedding

The perfect venue for your wedding ceremony and reception or your... Bridesmaids’ Luncheon

Rehearsal Dinners

Showers/Teas or Engagement Parties

For more photos visit us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest 205.957.9540 Tahara@HooverRandleHome.com 2255 Tyler Road, Hoover, Alabama 35226

JB & CO

JB & CO is a jewelry boutique owned and operated by John Bromberg, above. His boutique honors a return to an old-world artisan approach to fine jewelry. In an industry that is increasingly focused on mass production, JB & CO chooses instead to focus on the unique, with specialties that include bridal, custom and estate jewelry.

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, anniversary earrings or a special piece for your day, JB & CO can help you collect your heirloom. His selection of jewelry comes from destinations far and wide, from the finest houses such as Bulgari, Cartier, Hermes and Tiffany, as well as designers Elizabeth Locke, Raymond Yard, Lalaounis, Judith Ripka, Mikimoto, David Yurman, John Hardy, Rolex and more.

Bromberg, a sixth-generation jeweler, is a member of the prestigious Diamond Dealers’ Club of New York, The American Society of Jewelry Historians and a graduate of The Gemological Institute of America, (GIA).

“Collect with us,” said Bromberg.

JB & Co. is located at 1 Office Park Cir., Ste. 201, 205-478-0455.

SHE ALREADY THINKS YOU'RE FUNNY

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A Perfect Match

Lauren and William Love Celebrate Wedded Bliss in Atlanta

By Emily Williams-RoBERtshaW

The saying “love means nothing to a tennis player” is far from the case for newlyweds Lauren and William Love.

Lauren, a University of Alabama graduate and Vestavia Hills native, and William, a University of Georgia graduate of Marietta, Georgia, met in Atlanta on the tennis court.

They were paired by their mutual friend, Will Varnado, for a casual game of doubles in the fall of 2017.

“A few months later we got together for our first date and, naturally, played tennis, which led to many dinners, soccer matches, hikes, concerts, etc.” Lauren said.

For their first trip as a couple, Hammonds and Love traveled to New York City for the U.S. Open.

Their proposal took place during a hike at Sawnee Mountain in Georgia.

“Everyone who has ever been part of a wedding can agree that, at times, there feels like an overwhelming amount of uncertainty and details to work through, along with an endless amount of decisions to be made,” Lauren said. “We experienced this challenge firsthand when we first got engaged in September 2019, but the pandemic exponentially multiplied the amount and sensitivity of every decision.”

Following the proposal, Lauren and her mother went on a European vacation, buying something in each country they visited to be used during the wedding.

While in London, they bought a “Love Birds” bandeau silk scarf by Louis Vuitton at Harrods, worn by the bride as a nod to the “lovebirds” wedding theme. Lauren found her gown at Blanc Couture in Paris. Van Clef and Arpels mother of pearl earrings were bought in Rome and, while at the Vatican, Lauren had her engagement ring blessed.

As shutdowns and continued health and safety restrictions colored the year, the Love’s wedding plans changed on a weekly, occasionally daily, basis.

“In that spirit, simply the act of getting married itself was what made our wedding more special to us than we had originally envisioned. We missed some friends and family at the event itself, but strangely this helped put into perspective what mattered most and what the entire event was all about – two people committing to each other for life,” Lauren said. “We feel stronger and more prepared to take on life’s challenges because we, with the support of our family and friends in person and in spirit, overcame obstacle after obstacle to make our special day happen.”

What remained the same was the couple’s desire to get married on their chosen wedding day, Oct. 17, 2020. They chose that date based on the football schedules of their alma maters, hoping to avoid a big game weekend.

“Due to COVID-19, the SEC moved the football schedule around and our schools actually ended up playing on our wedding date,” Lauren said. “We just laughed, as it was somewhat fitting, because we started dating shortly after the Alabama versus UGA National Championship game in 2018.”

Lauren recalls her mother stating on the wedding day that, no matter the score, the couple were both winners for coming together in marriage.

The couple wed in a ceremony at Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta in front of a limited audience of family and friends wearing custom silk masks made by the bride’s aunt Lili Cruz.

A reception followed, held in an open tent at Canoe, Atlanta.

The bride’s parents are Ms. Maria Cruz and Mr. Elton Hammonds of Vestavia Hills.

She was given in marriage by her father, mother and brother Alex. She wore a V-neck, white, shimmer lace sheath Miss Kelly gown by The Sposa group with pearl-beaded roses and white feathers on the straps. The gown had a removable belted tulle train with matching pearl beaded roses and feather details.

Matrons of honor were Julie Hardin of Huntsville and Katlynn Mummert of Atlanta. Bridesmaids were Sarah Beringer, Lauren Dinges and Allison Love O’Neil, sister of the groom, all of Atlanta.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Love of Marietta, Georgia.

Best man was Roberto Taylor DaSilva of Atlanta. Groomsmen were Alex Hammonds, brother of the bride, of Vestavia Hills; and Steven Kviklys, Matthew Liedberg, Stephen Malone and Carey O’Neil, brother-in-law of the groom, all of Atlanta.

Due to the pandemic, the couple delayed their honeymoon plans to visit the Greek Islands.

After a wedding trip to Amelia Island, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia, the couple live in Atlanta.

Carla Gates Photography

PLANNING

From page 20 wedding means making a lot of decisions, and a pandemic only adds to that stress. We wanted to be flexible and accommodating as our clients made unexpected decisions in their wedding planning process.

What are some of the most notable limitations you have had to deal with throughout the pandemic?

Photography relies on people and places to shoot. Because of the pandemic, people were less available and many spaces were closed. There were – and still are – so many unknowns that celebrations had to be canceled or postponed, and even outdoor venues were closed to the public. It has been quite a phenomenon, as we have all experienced, and it has definitely affected the way photographers are able to do business.

Have you seen any new trends emerge this year that you love?

Most definitely. The pandemic has been incredibly difficult on many levels, both personally and professionally, but a lot of good has come from it, as well. Families have spent more time together, people have reevaluated what is important in life, and engaged couples have been far less burdened by traditional wedding expectations as they plan to join their lives. Of course, many experiences were lost or at least different than expected. Overall, we think that couples have been able to marry in a new and refreshing way, specially focused on love, family and togetherness.

How do you believe COVID19-related wedding trends will affect the future of the wedding industry?

One thing is for sure, the wedding industry isn’t going anywhere! We think brides and grooms will be more selective with what they actually want. Whether they go big or small, they can celebrate in a way that is reflective of their love, and we think that is a beautiful thing.

The Happy Catering Company

Holly Barton, marketing and wedding specialist We are a locally owned, Homewood catering company. We’ve had the pleasure of serving the greater Birmingham area for 28-plus years. You’ll see our vans all over town, as we serve everything from small corporate breakfast and lunch deliveries to large weddings and corporate galas. Bill Bouloukos and Robbie Dyson along with their Happy team are proud to be a part of the Birmingham wedding and corporate market.

In the early stages of shutdowns, what was your main focus as you adapted to serve brides?

We focused on the safety and health of our clients and team while simultaneously trying to keep the wedding receptions as close to the original plan as possible or working with the clients to reschedule when necessary. Our main goal was to be available to the brides and their families to make adjustments as necessary and to keep the stress level as low as possible for them.

pandemic?

The most notable limitation has been not being able to have selfserve catering stations (or) buffets. We’ve also had to ensure that we are providing the PPE necessary to keep our team safe as we serve guests at multiple events each weekend. We’ve been sad to see some of our more elaborate hors d’oeuvres displays scaled back to accommodate the single-serve-style service but have also been grateful for the clients who have been understanding about the required adjustments.

Have you seen any new trends emerge this year that you love?

Despite the initial struggle of figuring out how to serve in a new style, we’ve actually enjoyed the creativity in some of the single-serve items we’ve discovered! Passed hors d’oeuvres and chef-attended stations have also been a big trend that we love; they can really elevate the guests’ experience at weddings and corporate events.

How do you believe COVID19-related wedding trends will affect the future of the wedding industry?

We would love to see a return to the style of some of our events preCOVID-19 but want to keep the health and safety of our clients and guests in the forefront of our minds. I believe we’ll continue to see more chef-attended stations and smaller guest counts at venues that don’t have a lot of open or outdoor space at least for the next few months.

Aldridge Gardens is a 33-acre public garden nestled in the heart of Hoover, featuring beautiful woods, gardens, walking trails and a serene fiveacre lake.

“I’ve been in this industry for 20 years,” said Sales Director Amanda Baker, pictured, “and around here we like to say ‘If you can think it, we’ve done it.’ And this year that includes a pandemic. We are thrilled to be hosting events, and have been since May.”

Ceremonies can be held with plenty of social distancing at one of nine picturesque garden sites on the 33 acre property - including the Pavilion, a covered, open-air facility and small ampitheater - all of which accommodate up to 200 guests. The arbor, shade garden lawn and pavilion provide a beautiful backdrop of garden foliage. Lakeside, woodland stream and patio sites offer stunning water and garden views.

The Pavilion and Kay and Eddie Aldridge Art and Historical Museum are perfect reception venues. The museum opens to a large brick patio, offering a spectacular view of the lake, while the gallery features works of noted local and national artists - including a large collection of Frank Fleming sculptures.

“Weddings can be inherently stressful but they don’t have to be. In these unusual times people still want to celebrate life’s special occassions and we have the venue and experience to make it happen.” Baker said.

Aldridge Gardens is located at 3530 Lorna Rd., Hoover, 205-682-8019.

For more than 99 years and four generations Levy’s Fine Jewelry has been providing the people of Birmingham with the finest quality of new designer jewelry and the largest selection of antique jewelry.

“We sell loose diamonds, engagements rings, wedding bands and bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts,” said Todd Denaburg, pictured far right with his cousin Jared Nadler, left.

“Jared and I have been working together in the bridal jewelry business full time for 31 years. Counting part time work as a child, I have been in the business for 45 years.

“Levy’s not only carries an encompassing selection of modern diamonds, engagement rings and wedding bands, but also has one of the most comprehensive selections of antique and estate bridal jewelry in the United States. From the 18th century throughout the Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Retro period, we offer a selection to fit every taste,” Todd said.

“The best advice I can offer in the selection of bridal jewelry is for the bride and groom to work together to select the perfect pieces of jewelry,” Jared said. “We know that often the element of surprise is a large factor in this, especially when selecting an engagement ring. If working together is not possible, try to gather what her tastes and wishes are through her friends or family members. The engagement ring will be worn for a very long time, so it’s best to ensure it is the perfect ring for her. If you have a long engagement, don’t buy the wedding band until four months before the wedding, as styles and minds change over a period of time.”

Levy’s is taking every precaution to insure both it’s customers and employees are safe from the COVID pandemic. Cloth masks are required for everyone in the building, with no exceptions. The store is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. Occupancy is limited to ensure plenty of social distancing room. Any piece of jewelry that is touched by either and employee or a customer is disinfected before being put back out on display.

205.682.8019 • 3530 LORNA ROAD HOOVER ALDRIDGEGARDENS.COM

Kelly Ingram Post No. 668

Veterans of foreign Wars

Ph. 205-252-2696

Secure Parking 3400 Sq. Ft. Floor Commercial Kitchen Full Commercial Bar 250 Covid Capacity Discounts for Veterans

Best Rates in Town! Levy’s Fine Jewelry

Levy’s Fine Jewelry is located at 2116 2nd Avenue N. in Birmingham, 205-251-3381.

Less Is More

Vestavia Hills Couple Downsizes Wedding Amidst COVID-19 Risks

Emily and Ben Robertshaw were married Nov. 14, 2020, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in a ceremony officiated by the Rev. Robert J. Sullivan.

Dedicated to the art of planning, the bride and groom set their wedding date weeks before their July 2019 engagement, and it remained unchanged despite the pandemic.

Plans for a large band party reception at Iron City, however, were moved to March 2021. Instead, the couple celebrated with a small gathering of about 40 family members and friends in the billiard room at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook.

The bride’s parents are Scott and Susan Williams of Mountain Brook.

The bride was given in marriage by her father. Never one to wear all

5299 Valleydale Road, Suite 111 980-9030 southeasternjewelers.net (1/4 mile off 280)

LUCY WANTS YOU

TO COME IN AND REGISTER!

2841 Cahaba Road Mtn. Brook Village • 879-5277 M-F 10-5 • Sat 10-4 www.thecookstoremtnbrook.com

To: Renee From: Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax Date: November

To: thecookstore@msn.com From: Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646

This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the Date: December November 15, 2018 issue. Please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to approve your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246. This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the Please make sure all information is correct, Jan. 14, 2021 issue. including address and phone number!

Please make sure all information is correct, Please initial and fax back within 24 hours. including address and phone number!

If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. Thank you for your prompt attention. Thank you for your prompt attention.

white, the bride wore a sweetheart ballgown made with a metallic Jacquard fabric in a soft mist hue by Brooklyn-based designer, Rebecca Schoneveld. The dress was found at Wedding Belles in New Orleans, chosen with the help of three generations of “Bishop women,” including the bride’s grandmother, Connie Burke Bishop of Mountain Brook; mother, Susan Bishop Williams; aunt, Marilyn Bishop Pointer of New Orleans; and cousin, Shelby Pointer. The trip took place less than two months before the pandemic lockdown. Maid of honor was Elizabeth Ann Naro of Mountain Brook, whom the bride has known since elementary school. Bridesmaids were Melissa Blasingame of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Emma Phillips of Vestavia Hills, sister of the groom; Shelby Pointer of New Orleans, cousin of the bride; Claire Reid of Birmingham; and Kendall Sieron of Atlanta. The groom’s parents are Tom and Janet Robertshaw of Vestavia Hills. Best man was Frank Lopez of Vestavia Hills. Groomsmen were Silas Robertshaw of Sacramento, California, brother of the groom; Gordon Williams of Atlanta, older brother of the bride; Sam Williams of Mountain Brook, younger brother of the bride; Rip Britton of Homewood; Bailey Hill of Fultondale; and Andrew Kolb of Mobile. Readings were given by Andrew Pointer of Atlanta, cousin of the bride, and the couple’s close friend Wilson Yerger of Nashville. Due to health and safety measures, a limited number of guests were in attendance for the ceremony, with the audience masked and socially distanced throughout the church. Music for the ceremony was graciously provided by pianist Vera Britton, close family friend to the groom, accompanied by Sarah Dennis on the violin. In addition, the maid of honor’s cousin Lauren Marino served as the soloist. Plans for a European honeymoon also were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a wedding trip to Cashiers, North Carolina, the couple resides in Vestavia Hills. 205.991.8608 – Emily Williams-Robertshaw

“ My wedding reception was held at Inverness Country Club and it could not have gone better. Holly, who coordinated the event, went over and beyond what we were expecting. The format is versatile, and accommodates people who want to dance, dine in the background, or just want some quiet time outside while overlooking the golf course. It was a great experience, and I highly recommend Inverness Country Club for any event you may have.” - Jordan Johnson -

Holly Kuck, Event Director 1 Country Club Drive www.iccalabama.com Holly@diamondclubs.com Birmingham, AL 35242

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