A Southern Soirée of Bridgerton Blues, Feminine Florals, and Timeless Elegance

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”][/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The reception design showcased Symone’s favorite color palettes, chosen for their timeless and personal appeal, with each room offering a unique experience. The living room and terrace highlighted a Bridgerton-inspired palette of blues, blushes, and yellows with textured linens and floral decor. The dining room radiated femininity with pinks, oranges, and peaches, while the ballroom emphasized elegance with all-white florals symbolizing new beginnings!

When choosing the design for the reception, I wanted to highlight my favorite color palettes that I have used throughout my nearly 10 years in the industry as a wedding and event designer. I aimed to select designs that have stood the test of time and would always be classically beautiful and true to my personal style. Due to the size of the Mountain Brook Club, I chose three different palettes to create separate experiences for guests within each room. Upon arrival, guests were greeted by full floral archways that reflected the color scheme of their respective rooms. The Bridgerton-inspired color palette that came to life in the living room and terrace focused on light blues, blushes, yellows, and an overall woodland garden style. Linens with as much texture as the florals are always a must, so I paired a two-tone green linen with rattan sofas and a neutral wooden chair to ensure guests felt all the comforts of al fresco dining throughout this southern summer evening. For the dining room, I selected a feminine dream palette of pinks, oranges, and peaches. I have always had a very “girly” side, so this was an instant yes! The abundance of natural light highlighted the classic attributes of this 1929 Colonial Revival, including the iconic dancing guest murals that share the same hues. Lastly, I couldn’t have a true Southern wedding without incorporating all-white florals in the ballroom. Traditionally, all-white wedding florals symbolize new beginnings, making the ballroom—the epicenter of the celebration—the perfect setting for this color scheme. I focused on emphasizing the room’s 1800s-inspired elegance with cascading installations and ornate focal arrangements.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Every year, Symone’s family celebrates Thanksgiving with a large lunch (over 70 guests) at their family’s farm in Brierfield, Alabama. It is her favorite holiday, and Daniel knew it was the perfect time to propose. That morning, Symone’s mother, Dorothy, went early to help set up. This alerted Symone, as her mother hadn’t gone to the farm early to set up in over 15 years ha! Upon arrival, Daniel suggested that they take his parents on a tour of the property, as this was their first time at the Shaw Thanksgiving. Symone agreed, and they started the tour, which inevitably ended at a bank on the Cahaba River (that runs through the property). When they arrived, Daniel had set up flowers and champagne, and Symone instantly knew—he was about to propose! The rest of the day was spent in bliss amongst the couple’s family. Symone says she couldn’t imagine a more perfect proposal.

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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

When it came to selecting the perfect gown, Symone had a specific vision in mind– a ballgown that celebrates the beauty of southern elegance but with a modern spin! After a little light research, she found a gown by designer Rita Vinieris that checked all of the boxes! When it came to trying this specific dress on, there was only 1 in the entire state, and it happened to be a 15-minute drive from her home! It was fate! In order to make sure she wasn’t missing anything else, she tried on 3 other dress styles, but nothing spoke to her. The Rita Vinieris ball gown was the 4th dress she put on, and she instantly knew it was the one!

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

The bridesmaids each wore a gown of their choosing! It was important to Symone that everyone felt comfortable, beautiful, and didn’t break the bank for a dress they won’t wear again. The only requirement was that it had to be floor-length and a shade of green!

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]

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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]

When it came to the menu for the evening, the couple decided to serve southern staples due to a large majority of the guests traveling in from across the country! Guests enjoyed corn pones, braised beef bourguignon, and rich mac & cheese alongside seasonal vegetables. Passed oysters on the half shell and pork belly toast points were also enjoyed throughout the evening!

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

When choosing the design for the reception, Symone wanted to highlight her favorite color palettes that she has used throughout her nearly 10 years in the industry as a wedding and event designer. She aimed to select designs that have stood the test of time and would always be classically beautiful and true to her personal style. Due to the size of the Mountain Brook Club, she chose three different palettes to create separate experiences for guests within each room. Upon arrival, guests were greeted by full floral archways that reflected the color scheme of their respective rooms. The Bridgerton-inspired color palette that came to life in the living room and terrace focused on light blues, blushes, yellows, and an overall woodland garden style. Linens with as much texture as the florals are always a must, so she paired a two-tone green linen with rattan sofas and a neutral wooden chair to ensure guests felt all the comforts of al fresco dining throughout this southern summer evening. For the dining room, Symone selected a feminine dream palette of pinks, oranges, and peaches. She has always had a very “girly” side, so this was a no-brainer! The abundance of natural light highlighted the classic attributes of this 1929 Colonial Revival, including the iconic dancing guest murals that share the same hues. Lastly, Symone couldn’t have a true Southern wedding without incorporating all-white florals in the ballroom. Traditionally, all-white wedding florals symbolize new beginnings, making the ballroom—the epicenter of the celebration—the perfect setting for this color scheme. She focused on emphasizing the room’s 1800s-inspired elegance with cascading installations and ornate focal arrangements.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Daughters Baking was always the frontrunner in Symone & Daniel’s minds when it came to their wedding cake! Although Symone loves the look of vintage coquette-style cakes, taste was her main priority. The bride chose Daughters’ popular wedding cake flavor, while the groom opted for a decadent triple chocolate and peanut butter flavor!

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

The bride’s uncle, Gates Shaw, a reverend at their family church, performed the ceremony alongside Reverend Huey Gardner, the presiding minister at St. Mary’s on-the-Highland. Throughout her life, the bride has attended services led by her uncle at the church her family has attended for over 120 years. It was an unbelievably special moment for the couple!

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]A few notable guests in attendance included two Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, Diane McWhorter and Alex Jones; a notable actor and the groom’s uncle, Eugene Cordero; and the bride’s aunt, an internationally recognized magazine founder and editor, Margot Shaw of Flower Magazine.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

All reception detail and Flatlay photographs were taken by Eleanor Stenner Photography and the main photographer for the day was Rachel and Noah Ray!

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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

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