October 7, 2023
Photos by Jay Barr Photography
HOW DID YOU TWO MEET?
We both grew up in Vestavia Hills and knew of each other, but we did not connect until after college. Daniell went to the University of Alabama, and I went to Auburn University. We actually connected through my job. I worked at a local non-profit, Smile-A-Mile, and I asked Daniell to be on our junior board. Once he officially joined the board and we connected, the rest was history.
THE PROPOSAL
Daniell is a homebuilder, and he works with his family at Taylor Burton Company. In a ruse to propose to me, he took me up to Vestavia Hills Baptist Church to “check on a job” they were doing there. It was not uncommon for him to check on jobs when on the way to dinner, so it didn’t seem suspicious to me. He asked if I wanted to come see it. He took me out to the spot behind the church that overlooks the city and got down on one knee! I was so shocked that when we walked up, I kept going, “Daniell, we have to go–someone is proposing here!”
PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE
Daniell and I started attending church together at Vestavia Hills Methodist Church while we were engaged. We joined a class there with other engaged or newly married couples. It brought us a community of people who were in the same stage of life as we were which was huge in building the foundation of our marriage.
WEDDING MOMENTS
When Daniell and I, and both of our parents, did a walk-through of the reception room together before heading to the church, it was so cool to see it all come together and to spend that intimate time with our amazing parents. No amount of “thank you’s” to them will ever be enough. It was a special “calm before the chaos” moment.
Ceremony Venue: Vestavia Hills Methodist Church Reception Venue: Vestavia Country Club Wedding Planner/Day of Coordinator: Lauryn E. Weddings Florist: Marnie McCollum and Melanie Hughes Caterer: Vestavia Country Club Wedding Cake: Telia Johnson Cakes Wedding Dress: Carriage House Weddings Bridal Hair: Brittany Smith Bridal Makeup: Jaysa-Hope Caldwell Groom’s Attire: Mr. Burch Formal Wear DJ/Wedding Band: The City Band Wedding Transportation: Rare Transportation and Coats Classic Cars Wedding Night Accommodations: The Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook
