Bride

from Social Eastern Shore | December 2022/January 2023

by Social Magazines

Fall Golf Classic-BCHBA

BRIDE Ebie & GainesL

Love

FOR KEEPS

STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT PHOTOGRAHY BY RAE LEYTHAM PHOTOGRAPHY

They say that life imitates art…or, in the case of Ebie Douglas and Gaines Bates, life imitates prankery. “Gaines and my older brother, Taylor, were friends growing up,” says Ebie, telling the tale of how she and Gaines came to be a couple. “Once when Gaines was visiting my brother, my family and neighbors all ended up doing karaoke on the Wharf. Later that night, my dad told my mom that he thought Gaines and I were going marry each other. My mom thought that was so silly because we never even talked that night. But a couple months later, Gaines asked me to his fraternity party. One of his friends took me aside and told me that it was going to be a fake wedding with a fake bride and groom and that Gaines had been selected as the groom, so he had to propose to me. Halfway through the party, Gaines dropped to one knee with a fake ring and asked me to ‘marry’ him. Luckily, I’d had some warning, so I played along with it. It was a fun night, and the fraternity planned our fake wedding, down to the bridesmaids and groomsmen, for the next night. Unfortunately, they had to call off the party because of tornado warnings. But I still have the fake ring! Who else can say they were proposed to on their first date? Because of our schedules, we didn’t really start dating until the next fall.”

Three years later, the fake proposal was replaced by a real one—this time, with a ring as genuine as the love that had grown between them. “Gaines’s plan was to pick me up Saturday morning so we could go for a walk on the Avenue of Oaks at Spring Hill College and then go to my parents’ bay house,” says Ebie. “Unfortunately, it was pouring rain, and I was hungry, so I suggested that we just go to Waffle House instead. After we ate, Gaines took me to my house so I could pack up to go to the bay. I’d been in my room, but Gaines called me into the living room. When I did, he was down on one knee. I started crying, I was so happy.”

Tears were plentiful again on June 4, 2022, when Ebie walked down the aisle at Sacred Heart Church in Mobile, wearing a fit-to-flare gown with a ruffled train and a removable lace overlay to marry the love of her life. After being pronounced married, the couple joined their guests for a reception at Ebie’s parents’ home on Mobile Bay—though getting there came with some complications. “The plan was to get on a golf cart right after the ceremony, ride down to a neighbor’s wharf and hop on the boat to ride to our wharf,” says Ebie. “When we got on the golf cart, it didn’t start. My uncle Robert finally got it to start and gunned it, so drinks flew everywhere! We drove down and got on a boat to ride to the reception, and all of our wedding party was waiting on the end of our wharf when we arrived. Our neighbor shot off a cannon to get the guests’ attention, then we did a second line down the wharf into the reception with the Blow House Brass band leading the way.”

After dining on a buffet of various seafood options, the party was in full swing, with dancing and even a late-night snack of Buck Dog from the Battles Wharf Mini Mart. And, of course, the cake—a five-tiered confection of different flavored layers including almond, butter, strawberry, coconut and cream, covered in light blue butter cream and adorned with sugar flowers.

As the festivities came to a close, the newlyweds were sent off with wishes of a happy future—and plenty of confetti. “As we were leaving, the guests threw so much we could barely walk through it!” Ebie laughs. “We finally made it down the wharf and hopped on the boat while fireworks went off.”

After spending their honeymoon in Jumby Bay, Antigua, the couple is back home in Mobile, looking forward to real life together.

CEREMONY: Sacred Heart Chapel WEDDING PLANNER: Events Detailed

DRESS: Carriage House MAKEUP: Courtney Matthews HAIR: AdeLaide McAleer

FLORIST: Dennis Harris

CAKE: Betty Webber CATERING: Rob Berglin Catering PHOTOGRAPHER: Rae Leytham Photography BAND: Hi Definition Party Band; Blow House Brass Brand

ruilistylephotography.com 251.504.5674

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Photos by Ruili Cai The Future Founders of Thomas Hospital Foundation hosted their first Cowboys & Cocktails event at Oak Hollow Farm. The event featured members of Thomas Hospital’s pediatric care team, with live music, corn hole, drinks from around Fairhope, and dinner. Proceeds will help support Thomas Hospital Foundation’s mission to provide resources for highquality healthcare to our community.