An Intimate Southern Wedding at Historic Rucker Place in Birmingham, Alabama

Faith Herbert (28 and an executive assistant) and James Owens (29 and a cinematographer) met through their local church and after almost a year of friendship, James worked up the courage to ask Faith out on their first date, the first of many that would lead them to the aisle. The two took a more unconventional route to planning their wedding, starting the actual planning before the proposal. A month before James popped the question by re-enacting their first date, they booked their venue — the Historic Rucker Place. "As soon as I stepped through the door it felt like a warm home, which is exactly what it was decades before," says Faith. "Every room I walked through felt more inviting than the last; and while standing under the arch in their courtyard, I knew this was the place where we would share our vows." The wedding had a distinct "Faith and James" vibe with unique and personal touches incorporated into every element of the day. Porcelain flying pigs and iron dachshund statues were arranged alongside stacks of classic books, quotes from great love stories (both a nod to James's love of reading) and bright bunches of Faith's favorite flowers. Breakfast for dinner, cakes made by the bride's sister and bags of coffee as favors were other simple touches that went a long way with guests. "There were so many different details that may not make sense to anyone else, but they just make my husband and I happy," says Faith.