11 May Kelsey + Jack | Haven, Birmingham AL Wedding
December is such a special time of the year. The season naturally fills the air with so much warmth and joy and I definitely see why it’s a desirable time to be married. For Kelsey and Jack’s December wedding day, the weather wasn’t exactly frightful, but it was a little on the wet side. As you’ll see though, that didn’t put a damper on their day in any way.
I hope you enjoy how Rylo Creative Photography captured these sweet love birds’ day and the feedback and advice that Kelsey provides below.
Planner: Two Hearts Weddings | Bridesmaids: Bella Bridesmaids | Bride’s Dress: Wildflower Bridal | Cake: Pastry Art | Catering: Corretti Catering | Florals: Hothouse Design Studio | Lighting & Draping: Design Productions | Menswear: Jos. A Bank | Musicians (ceremony): Cahaba River Strings | Musicians (reception): Papa Sol | Photography: Rylo Creative Photograpy | Rentals: Decor to Adore + Prophouse Birmingham | Stationery: Annabelle’s | Stylist: The Hair & Makeup Collective | Transportation: Rare Transportation | Venue: Redeemer Community Church | Venue: Events at Haven
If I could have done something differently, I would have…
Slowed down during the planning process. We had a specific date we wanted to get married on so finding a venue proved to be tough. I thought that because finding a place for the reception was so hard that booking every other vendor would be equally hard so if I found someone who was available I just instantly booked rather than doing all my research first. I eventually learned it’s okay to ask questions, taste food, compare prices, and look at other options.
The best gift we received was…
All of our dishes! We registered with a local potter from Jack’s hometown and I just love getting to use plates, cups, and bowls that are handmade so beautifully. Register for the best of the best on the things you will use every day.
The most surprising thing I learned during planning was…
You NEED a wedding planner! Seriously, I know so many people who planned a wedding on their own so I thought it wasn’t that big of a deal to not hire a planner/coordinator. It wasn’t until I started in on it that I realized I wanted some help. Having Racheal on the day of our wedding made me as a bride and my husband as a groom able to relax and enjoy the day wile being fully present with all of our people. I never realized just how many details went into planning a wedding so having an expert on my team was the best decision my mom and I made during the planning process.
The most important thing to remember on your wedding day is…
To relax and do whatever you need to do before hand in order to enjoy the day. There will be things that don’t go as planned but at the end of the day you just married the love of your life and that is the most important thing to remember! It’s not about the flowers, or the cake, or the dress, it’s about starting the next chapter of life with your best friend.
My most useful day-of beauty trick was…
Having an emergency kit with you at all times. Rachael and my matron of honor had one on them and it proved to be very useful throughout the day.
Our favorite memory from married life so far is…
This is a tough one because we’ve had so many fun memories over the last couple of months but I think I would have to go with our honeymoon because that is hard to top. What a fun thing that you get to take a once in a lifetime trip with your spouse right after you get married! It was so fun to simply travel together for the firs time as a married couple and to feel so celebrated throughout the week. I definitely recommend going somewhere relaxing after all that goes into planning a wedding.
If marriage could be summed up in one word, it’d be…
Grace. Two people coming together takes a lot of grace. Grace for each other and grace for yourself. Marriage is about trust, loving one another unconditionally, learning from mistakes, and extending grace to each other even when its undeserved.
