Erica Wilson & Hampton Dortch: A Vestavia Hills Wedding

September 5, 2020

Photos by Maddie Moore Photography

How We Met: Hampton and I (Erica) met on the first day of college at Samford University. He asked me if he could take me up to Vestavia Drive to see the view as I was brand new to Birmingham. I remember feeling like I had just found my new best friend and praying that night that God would allow him to be my husband.

The Proposal: He proposed on April 24, 2020, during quarantine. He convinced me to go take graduation pictures and make the most of that strange season, and we got dressed up and drove to Vestavia Drive, where we had first hung out. But when we got there, our friends weren’t there as planned, and he got down on one knee and proposed to me! We went back to his parents’ house where over 70 of my family and friends from California were waiting on a Zoom call, and all of our Birmingham people came by and did a drive-by parade for us.

Favorite Moment: My favorite moment from was seeing Hampton for the first time when we did our first look by the river. I’ll never forget his face when he turned around and being able to hug him made the day finally feel real.

Favorite Details: We were blessed to have Walker Burroughs, Hampton’s good friend from high school, come sing during our ceremony. We chose “Goodness of God” as the song that our grandmothers, mothers and bridal party walked down the aisle to, and it was so beautiful. It still makes us cry to hear it. I walked down the aisle to the instrumental version of “All Things New,” which is a very special part of mine and Hampton’s story and relationship. We are also huge Florida Georgia Line fans, and we had our first dance to “Told You.”