FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Friends Life for

STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY NICK FRONTERIO PHOTOGRAPHY

HHaley Fuller and Wesley Lamborne grew up in Alexander City as friends who cannot remember not knowing each other. In fact, Wesley was a friend of Haley’s brother, Steve, and spent hours in their home and on family vacations. Not until they were out of college and had moved back to Alexander City to begin their adult lives did the two begin dating. After an OK from Haley’s brother, Wesley asked Haley out in March 2019, and they tied the knot April 10, 2021. “We really thought we would be out of the COVID19 problems by then, but we did have to make some adjustments. We had always planned for our reception to be at my parents’ home on the lake, but we had to move our church ceremony to the house, too,” Haley Lamborne said.

Lamborne found her dress – an off-the-shoulder fit and flare with tiny buttons down the back – at McClendon Bridals in Sylacauga. She wore two different veils the day of the wedding. For pictures, she chose a cathedral veil borrowed from her matron of honor. Since the ceremony and the reception were outside, and she would be crossing grass and concrete, she chose a short veil for the ceremony and reception.

“My mom, my grandmother and Wesley’s mom went

Haley Fuller and Wesley Lamborne's wedding was moved to the Fuller home when the pandemic flared up

with me to find the dress. The one I got was actually one of the first ones I tried on. I wanted something timeless and classic, and this one was instant. It was perfect,” she said.

All friends of the bride from childhood and college, the ladies wore platinum blue, high-necked, sleeveless long gowns. The flower girls, daughters of family friends, wore white dresses with bows and heart cutouts in the back.

Groomsmen were friends from the groom’s childhood and college days, plus the groom’s father and brother. The three ring bearers were nephews from both sides of the family. All the men were dressed in black tuxedoes, including the little ones, which were rented from Mitchell’s in Alexander City. Rather than traditional pillows, the ring bearers carried in signs stating, “Uncle Wes, here comes your bride,” and “Have you seen the rings?” and “I’m just here for the cake.”

The Fullers hired Prattville photographer Nick Frontiero to document their special day. From Alexander City, Jeffrey Long Designs planned and designed the wedding décor, and Grace’s Flowers created the bouquets and boutonnieres. Connie Forehand was the coordinator for the wedding day. Also a designer, the bride’s uncle, Fred Williams, lent his expertise to the occasion.

Two days before the ceremony, due to a prediction of rain, the decision was made to rent a tent, 30 feet by 90 feet, to accommodate the seated guests for the ceremony and later shelter the dance floor.

“The morning of the wedding, we woke up to rain and thunder, but after 12 p.m., the sun was out. Even the grass was dry in time for the wedding,” said Sharon Fuller, mother of the bride.

Perhaps the most important part of the weekend was the first look. With family at a distance, Haley and Wesley took time before the ceremony to stand by the lake and read the private vows they had written to each other. With their devotion to one another clear in those moments, they were ready for the more public wedding ceremony.

Under the tent, the Rev. Barry Dunn officiated, while Bobby Boone played the piano for the ceremony. Wesley’s uncle, Robert Lamborne, sang “The Lord’s Prayer.” Kristen Powell, a childhood friend, sang “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.” And Sammy Teel shared memories from the past and a prayer for their future.

Haley and her father, Steve, arrived at the ceremony in a yellow 1958 Pontiac Chieftain. Since the couple couldn’t have their childhood chapel for their ceremony, Haley wanted to have a grand entrance with instrumentals of Hallelujah playing while they walked down the aisle.

After the ceremony, guests were guided to drinks from a tiered champagne tower and served hors d’oerves on the deck overlooking the lake. Meanwhile, Long transformed the tented area to a dance floor with tables and chairs surrounding the space, making it ready for dining and relaxing.

Dinner was catered by Iz Catering and Events in Birmingham. Three food stations were set up under the covered deck. An Asian take-out station served food in mini take-out boxes and offered fortune cookies that the couple had customized with fortunes they wrote. Another station grilled beef tenderloin and oysters to serve with macaroni and cheese. The New Orleans station included shrimp and grits and crawfish pies. Iz also provided the groom’s dessert table full of Wesley’s favorite bites.

When the couple arrived at the reception, the fivetiered cake was cut immediately. Created by Sweet

Lakeside fireworks were the perfect end to the perfect celebration Fortunately, the weather cleared for the festivities

The bride took a few moments with her parents before the ceremony

Gaga’s Bakery in Alexander City, the white cake featured a lemon curd filling and an adornment of fresh flowers.

Area 51 Entertainment from Alexander City provided the music for the first dances and throughout the night. The newlyweds danced to “The Greatest Love Story” by Lanco. Haley and her father danced to Tim McGraw’s “My Little Girl.” Wesley and his mother danced to “Mother” by Sugarland.

Two of the special events of the night happened after those first dances. First, friends of the groom had stationed themselves on a neighbor’s island to set off fireworks in celebration of the couple. Second, all of the guests were invited to illuminate biodegradable Chinese sky lanterns to soar over the lake.

The dance floor was covered with guests enjoying the music and dancing when yet another surprise was brought to them – Krystal cheeseburgers served on silver trays.

“Krystal cheeseburgers are our favorite late-night snack, and everybody got so excited to see them after a night of dancing. I heard people say we had the best wedding food ever, and I think it might have been the Krystals for a few of them,” Lamborne said.

The morning after the wedding, the bride’s aunts cooked their Famous Fuller Breakfast, served on fine china, for around 40 close friends and family, giving the couple time to linger longer with their loved ones. The celebratory send-off breakfast included eggs, various sausages, grits, homemade biscuits with sausage gravy and mimosas.

“They are amazing cooks, and it was a special ending to a perfect wedding,” Sharon Fuller said.

The wedding weekend proved to be everything the newly married couple could have hoped for. The weather cooperated, COVID did not interrupt the final plans, and everyone had fun. The Lambornes’ celebration sent them on their way to a lifetime of happiness.