A Downtown Mobile Wedding

I LOVE wedding days in downtown Mobile! The fact that the ceremony and reception locations were within walking distance of one another was such a treat! This was my first wedding to photograph at Government Street Presbyterian. This historic church, located in the heart of downtown, is instantly recognizable because of it’s large white columns. I’ve passed by this church so many times and what a treat it was to finally see the inside!

I first met Alex and James at one of my weddings in 2018! Later, we ran into each other again at other weddings and they started to feel like old friends even though we barely knew each other. Alex and James have been engaged for a while, but between several life events plus a pandemic, their wedding day kept getting pushed further out from their engagement. To say their families and friends were so excited to finally see this day come is an understatement. You could truly feel the joy in the air!

We had the most beautiful spring day for this wedding, with perfectly mild temperatures and not a drop of rain in sight! The Excelsior Band led the bridal party and guests to the reception. If you’ve never heard of or seen the tradition of a second line, it truly is a sight. I saw several people pausing to take photos as we all made our way from the church to the Ezell House for the reception. A second line is such a fun tradition and is the perfect way to get people in the mood for dancing the night away!

Favorite Moments + Sentimental Details

I have so many favorite moments from this day, but especially enjoyed seeing Alex walk down the aisle with her parents. From the balcony, I could see everyone smiling back at her as she made her way down the aisle. I could also see James smiling and I think possibly fighting back a few tears.

When it came time to photograph the reception details, I noticed there was a quilt hanging in one of the rooms at the Ezell House. As I got closer, I could see that it was made out of messages from the wedding guests! I taught myself to quilt shortly after I graduated from college and it is a hobby that I picked up again during the pandemic, so I truly understood the labor of love and the amount of time that went into making this beautiful gift. Luckily, I was able to meet the lady who spearheaded the effort for this gift and she shared with me how several people helped her put the quilt together. Talk about a treasure for Alex and James!

One of my other favorite things about the day was getting to see three of my past brides at the reception! I was like, y’all, we need a reunion photo! Haha! I love photography because of the people it lets me meet and it was so great getting to catch up (even briefly) with so many of my sweet couples! Enjoy a massive amount of my favorites from this lovely day!

James’s wedding band belonged to his late father. I know that even though his dad wasn’t able to be at the wedding in person, that he was definitely there in spirit and in the hearts of this sweet family. This shot is the perfect example of why I like dedicating time to photograph details on a wedding day. These shots are part of the story and so much more than just taking pictures of jewelry.

So much fun seeing three of my past couples at one reception! I loved getting to briefly catch up with Cara and Austin, C.C. and Ross, and Mary Catherine and James!

VENDORS

Photography by Elizabeth Gelineau

Second Photographer | Regina Gomez-Guillen

Photographer’s Assistant | Lauren Hodges

Planning | Events Detailed

Getting Ready Location | Guesnard House – Government Street Presbyterian

Ceremony | Government Street Presbyterian Church

Reception | Ezell House

Catering | Naman’s

Florist | Belle Bouquet

Cake | Pollman’s

Band | Gray A-RE-A Band

Rentals | Port City Rentals

Makeup | Amy Jones

Hair | Emily Fountain Salata

Bride’s Gown | Bellas Bridal – Birmingham, AL

Bridesmaid Dresses | I Do Bridal – Mobile, AL

Groom + Groomsmen Attire | Metzgers

Invitations | Gwin’s

Second Line | Excelsior Band