A Sacred Heart Chapel Fairhope Alabama Wedding

Who gets married on Iron Bowl Saturday? That was the question I heard from EVERYONE the week before Blanche and Ethan’s wedding. But Blanche and Ethan are from Louisiana, so their football loyalties lie with the LSU Tigers. This means that the Saturday after Thanksgiving is the perfect time for a destination wedding! Blanche fell in love with The Grand Hotel in Point Clear the first time she visited the property with her mom several years ago. She knew it was the only venue she wanted to look at when Ethan proposed last Christmas Eve. Last Saturday, her dream came true!

I love when I get to work with one of my brides multiple times ahead of wedding day. Since Blanche did a bridal session (which I will be sharing on the blog soon!), I got to spend some extra time with her ahead of wedding day. I also got to meet her parents, one of her sisters and her sister-in-law beforehand. When wedding day rolled around, I felt like I was meeting up with old friends. Blanche and her mom felt like kindred spirits from the first moment I met them. I remember sitting in Bucky’s at The Grand Hotel following Blanche and Ethan’s engagement shoot and thinking that I must have known this family forever.

I was so looking forward to photographing Blanche and Ethan’s wedding. When I ended up in the urgent care clinic the Tuesday prior to the wedding with major sinus trouble, all I could think was, please, Lord, let me get well in time for Saturday. I rested as much as possible all week. I barely talked to anyone to preserve my voice. Herbal tea and chicken soup were part of my daily diet. When Saturday arrived, I felt a lot better than I sounded, but I wasn’t one hundred percent. Thank goodness for adrenaline!

When I arrived at the bridal suite, all thoughts of being sick left my mind. Blanche was such a calm and happy bride. Her bridesmaids were so relaxed and easy going. Blanche is one of the most organized people I’ve ever worked with. She had all her details neatly gathered in a bag when I arrived so I could get started on them right away. Her “something blue” is definitely one of my all-time favorite details I’ve ever photographed. Just wait until you see this beautiful ring that belonged to her grandmother! One of my favorite moments of the day was when Blanche’s mom slid that special ring onto her daughter’s finger.

While I was with Blanche and the girls, my second photographer, Jacob, was hanging with the guys. I love getting to do portraits at The Grand Hotel. There are so many beautiful spots! Plus, the property is large enough for the guys and the girls to not run into each other. Blanche and Ethan did not see each other prior to the ceremony, but thankfully their ceremony time was early enough to allow us to get some dreamy sunset portraits! The first time Blanche and I spoke on the phone, she told me she wanted Golden Hour bride and groom photos and at least a few photos showing the bay. I’m happy to say that the weather was PERFECT and we were able to get both! I am still heart-eyed over the bride and groom portraits we took under the mossy-oaks outside Sacred Heart Chapel!

After sunset portrait time, the bridal party headed back to The Grand Hotel for the reception. Blanche and Ethan danced the night away with their friends and family. Good food, glowing tambourines and great music were in plentiful supply. After their grand exit, the party wasn’t over. As they pulled away in the golf cart, Blanche and Ethan held up a message for their guests, “Meet Us at Bucky’s.” They just didn’t want the day to end!

Jacob and I have been working together for a while now and I was so very excited that his wife, Aubrey, was able to be my assistant for this wedding. I definitely needed both of them to help me out with vocal directions throughout the day since my voice was barely useful! By the end of the reception, the tiny bit of a voice I had was gone. Thank goodness there isn’t much talking involved with taking reception photos!

Are you planning a Fairhope Alabama destination wedding? Lets chat about wedding photography!

Now booking for Summer & Fall 2019!

 

VENDORS

Second Photographer | Jacob Bennett

Photographer’s Assistant | Aubrey Bennett

Planner | Jenna Laine Weddings

Ceremony | Sacred Heart Chapel

Reception Venue & Catering | The Grand Hotel, Point Clear

Flowers | Wildflowers

Cake | Couture Cakes

Band | Even Odds

Hair Stylist | Leigh Ann Town, Salon Dolce Vita, Baton Rouge

Makeup Artist | Ashley West

Bride’s Gown | Theia

Bridesmaids Dresses | Bella Bridesmaid, Baton Rouge

Groom & Groomsmen Attire | Squires, Baton Rouge

Invitations | The Queen Bee