PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF

Story by Amy Passaretti Photos by Morgan Peek

Valerie and Judd Hamner's wedding was one of the first at Thornfield Plantation

Bridesmaids' forest green dresses popped against the neutral décor

alerie and Judd Hamner’s love story presents the iconic theme of jumping in and taking a bold chance. The couple married at Thornfield Plantation on Oct. 26, 2019, after a short engagement but a very long pursuit. During college, Valerie Brownell worked at a hunting store in Tuscaloosa – the same town where Hamner, a Pickens County native, lived at the time. Clearly smitten with Brownell, Hamner reached out to her on social media asking to take her on a date. After moving three times and three years of turning him down, she finally gave him a chance – and the rest is history.

“He was very persistent and consistent. I moved to Montgomery; then Atlanta, and he dated a few people here and there. Every time he wasn’t dating someone he asked me out,” said Brownell.

In May 2018, she took a new job at Hunt Refining Company and returned to Tuscaloosa, and Hamner congratulated her on the new position. Shocked that V Valerie's dad actually did most of the wedding planning

he knew she had been hired, Brownell reached out to a friend’s husband who also worked there. “She said, ‘Oh, he works there, too!’” said Brownell.

After about a month on the job, Brownell finally agreed to play golf with Hamner – a game about which they both are passionate.

“I really did have a good time. I finally thought, ‘I don’t know why I’m holding back, I might as well give him a shot,’” said Brownell.

A year later, Hamner proposed, and the search began for the perfect wedding venue. Originally from Prattville, Brownell really liked White City Weddings and found out the company had opened its new location, Thornfield Plantation in Millbrook, where Joel McCord is the general manager.

“My dad actually did the party planning and talked to Joel, who was the manager at White City Weddings at that time. He said a new venue was coming open. We went to go look at it and just fell in love. It was kind of a Godsend thing; it all fell into

place,” said Brownell.

The elegant but laidback style was indica- tive of the couple’s personalities, she said, with notable flair favoring both the bride and groom. The wedding was held in the renovated barn and retained an outdoors feel.

“I think I was only the second bride to get married at the venue, but it’s perfect. The girls can stay there on site the night before and be ready to get up and have their hair and makeup done. It’s very convenient,” said Brownell. “Plus, if something went wrong, I didn’t know about it. Joel handled it all, and I think it went perfectly.” Her eight bridesmaids donned forest green dresses, and the eight groomsmen wore navy suits. The rest of the décor remained fairly neu- tral with shades of white, cream, tan and gold. “Even the flowers were mostly whites and greens, so the pop of color really came out in the dresses,” said Brownell.

Her ball gown wedding dress featured a deep V-neck in the front and an extended train. The back was adorned with lace and buttons all the way down, and the best part, she said, was that it had pockets.

The menu for the nearly 120 guests high- lighted a good Southern meal – fried and grilled chicken, a mashed potato bar, mac and cheese and green beans.

“That’s exactly what we wanted,” said Brownell.

The groom’s cake was a decadent two-tier caramel cake, and the wedding cake was a threetier Neapolitan-layered dessert with touches of greenery and flowers to match the décor.

Above all, though, Brownell cherishes Ham- ner’s expression when he saw his beautiful bride for the first look.

“It was my favorite memory. Seeing his face again when I walked down the aisle – both mo- ments were very touching,” said Brownell.

The couple now lives in a Gordo, a small town outside of Tuscaloosa, with a baby on the way due at the end of the month.

“We’re kind of in the middle of nowhere, but I love it. It has more of a country feel, with no one around,” said Brownell.

Clockwise from top left previous page: The bride's wedding dress was adorned with lace and buttons all the way down the back; The barn at Thornfield Plantation was the perfect elegant, laidback style; Monogrammed cookies complemented the wedding cakes; Brownell said her favorite memory was the way her groom looked at her; Hamner was persistent in getting to know Brownell years before they dated.