Bride

in the time of Covid

STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT PHOTOGRAHY BY ASHLEIGH DONNELLY DESIGNS

Running in different social circles and being a year apart, Faith Kennedy and Marcus Shekouh might not have known each other in high school, but a decade later, the two were finally brought together to meet—all through the modern wonders of a dating app. Swiping right led to a coffee date, and it was only a matter of time before they became a couple.

Over the next few years of dating, that love grew even stronger, Just over a year into dating, they became even more. “Marcus proposed on June 5, 2021, by the fountain at the Fairhope pier,” says Faith, who works as a Residential Design Coordinator at Truland Homes, while Marcus is a Geotechnical Engineer for the US Army Corps of Engineers. “We were going to dinner with his brother and sister-in-law one last time before they moved to Oklahoma, and they said they wanted to stop by the pier before dinner for one last picture together there before they left. This was when I started to get suspicious, because the Fairhope pier is also special for Marcus and me, as this is where we came after our first dinner date and shared our first kiss. His brother and sister-in-law decided they wanted their picture by the fountain, so they got set up and posed as I got ready to take the photo. Little did I know that Marcus was behind me with ring in hand. Even though I was suspicious that it could happen that night, I was still in shock as I turned around and saw him down on one knee. All could say was, ‘Shut the front door, is this real?!’ which made him laugh and lose his words. Of course, I said yes, and we proceeded to call each of our families and all of our close friends before going to dinner and celebrating.”

Ten months later on April 2, 2022, Faith met Marcus at the altar at Izenstone in Spanish Fort, dressed in a stunning ivory gown whose silhouette was a mixture of A-line and ball gown, with a high neck with low open back and a three-foot-long train, completed with a long, sheer veil trimmed with delicate little rhinestones and pearls. “It was everything most girls love—with pockets!” Faith describes. As perfect as she looked, however, the big reveal didn’t go quite so perfectly: “One of the doors got stuck on my ‘grand’ double-door entrance before I walked down the aisle, so that caused some giggles,” Faith laughs. “Also, we were walking back up the aisle for our recessional, and, towards the end, my veil got stuck and fell out of my hair! I just kept walking and left it behind!”

Single status—and veils—left behind, the newlyweds joined their guests for an on-site reception, where they dined on a selection that included bruschetta chicken and a NY strip steak carving station with bacon wrapped green beans, potatoes and a spring side salad. Sweetening things up, a caramel and chocolate fondue station brought some decadence to the night, and a latenight grilled cheese bar rounded out the festivities.

Introducing a bit of whimsy, the four-tier cake featured alternating tiers of chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream and vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream, adorned with a top border of rainbow sprinkles on each tier. “I love sprinkles so much and wanted something fun!” Faith notes.

Having danced, dined, and exchanged their bites of cake, the newly married Shekouhs were sent off to honeymoon in London, England. “I had been before a few times, but Marcus hadn’t,” Faith notes. “He loves all the history and architecture as much as I do, so it was so much fun for us to explore one of my favorite cities together. As I predicted, it is now one of his favorite cities, too. Before we even left, we were already discussing a time to go back!”

Now back home in Daphne, the couple is beginning their new life together— and still basking in the glow of the specialness of their wedding. “For us, it was an opportunity for our whole family to get together,” says Faith. “I have a very large family spread across multiple states, so weddings in our family turn into big family reunions, which is always so special for us since we don’t get together very often. Marcus and I started dating right before COVID, so some of my family hadn’t even had the chance to meet him, due to restrictions and everyone being so far apart. It was the same with his family, as well, and I hadn’t had the chance to meet some of them. It was very special to just see everyone together and having fun. We also had quite a few friends on both sides that one of us hadn’t met yet, or they just lived so far away that we hadn’t seen them in a while, so it was just so fun having everyone we hold dear there together and celebrating with everyone!”

VENUE: Izenstone VENUE COORDINATOR: Amber Smith FLORIST: Belle Bouquet BRIDE'S WEDDING DRESS: I Do Bridal GROOM & GROOMSMEN TUXEDOS: Men's Warehouse PHOTOGRAPHER: Ellen Talbot Imaging VIDEOGRAPHER: Cinema Scrapbook WEDDING CAKE: Couture Cakes CATERER: Naman's Catering HAIR & MAKEUP: Courtney Butler and Ann Marie DJ: Southern Sounds OFFICIANT: Justin Hase

ruilistylephotography.com 251.504.5674