A St. Mary Catholic Church Wedding

I’ve had a lot of firsts on wedding days. Some of them are memorable and some are forgettable. I will never forget the incident at my cousin’s wedding where the band’s light stand fell off the stage and hit me in the head (while I was looking through the viewfinder of my camera taking a photo). I don’t know that I saw stars, but I definitely felt like I was going to pass out for a second. Plenty of family members and the videographer for that wedding rushed to help me, but there was a wedding guest I did not know who was so concerned that I was injured that I knew I would remember her face.

I did not know the woman who checked on me a couple of times after the incident happened. Later on, I asked my aunt who this mystery lady was and found out her name was Amy. It turns out, I actually knew her husband, David, by acquaintance. Fast forward several months down the road and I run into Amy and David at another wedding. She started to ask if I remembered her, and I immediately exclaimed, “You’re the lady from Allyson’s wedding!” I was so happy to see her again so I could thank her for her concern and kindness.

A few months after that wedding, I received an email from Amy’s daughter, Rebekah, asking if I was available to photograph her wedding. It turns out that she was engaged to the son of a couple that I know from church. At that point, the whole thing felt very serendipitous and I was so glad I was available on Rebekah and Jackson’s wedding date.

A Rainy Wedding Day

I always tell brides to not worry about rain on their wedding day. In Mobile, Alabama you just never know what the weather will do. The forecast looked awful and we did have some showers to work around, but all-in-all I was grateful that the cloud cover and the rain kept the temperatures tolerable for June. The porch at the Malaga Inn provided us the perfect spot for capturing natural light portraits earlier in the day. By the time we made it to the church, it appeared the bulk of the rain had passed by.

Truly, Rebekah and Jackson are such an easy-going couple. This day was a joy from start to finish! I am always asked if I am tired the day after a wedding. Truthfully, I am always exhausted the next day, but I always say that when you’re with amazing people, it’s a good kind of exhausted because you’re filled with so much positivity. This day was one of those days where everyone was united in their love of Rebekah and Jackson. Two great families came together and celebrated the beginning of a new family. It is always a privilege to witness and document days like this one. Cheers to the newly Mr. and Mrs. Vailes!

VENDORS

Photography by Elizabeth Gelineau

Second Photographer | Lauren Hodges

Photographer’s Assistant | Caroline Arensberg

Wedding Coordinator | Regan Company Events & Design, LLC

Getting Ready Location | Malaga Inn

Ceremony | St. Mary Catholic Church

Reception | The History Museum of Mobile

Florist | Gloria’s Midtown Florals

Cake | Eva Burnett

Catering | Kevin Ollis Catering

Bar | Bottles Up

Signage + Party Favors | SignPro

Makeup Artist | Lindsay Koen

Hair Stylist | Avery Grimes

Bride’s Gown | I Do Bridal & Formal

Groom + Groomsmen Attire | Francia’s Formal Affair

DJ | Gulf Coast Sounds