1. Real Weddings

Jordyn & Bradley: A Midsummer Wedding in Huntsville, AL

Jordyn and Bradley’s first meeting might not have seemed serendipitous (they met on Margarita Monday at a cheap Mexican restaurant), but they agree it

Jordyn and Bradley’s first meeting might not have seemed serendipitous (they met on Margarita Monday at a cheap Mexican restaurant), but they agree it was just perfect timing in an unlikely place. The Bride Jordyn Melton, 21, production assistant The Groom Bradley Dean, 28, digital design director The Date July 18 Jordyn never expected that Bradley would propose during their New Year’s Eve dinner date at a swanky restaurant by the Tennessee River. She thought the waitress was simply being nosy during the meal when she grabbed Bradley’s camera to take a photo of the couple. Before Jordyn knew it, Bradley was on his knee with the ring and a question. Through her tears of happiness, Jordyn quickly said yes.

Dress shopping was easy for Jordyn -- she fell in love with the first dress she tried on and it was on sale.
To emphasize the Southern-vintage theme, Jordyn and Bradley’s families pooled their collections of jars, hankies, and antique buttons to place throughout the reception site. The result was personalized decor full of family memories.
The invitations and RSVP cards were designed by Jordyn and Bradley’s friends who own a printing shop. The couple told their friends the color palette and style they wanted, and their friends came up with the rest.
Bradley’s aunt crafted the Italian cream wedding cake, and Jordyn topped it off with two pinecone birds she found in the Burritt on the Mountain gift shop. She added the tiny top hat, bow tie, and veil herself.
Jordyn and Bradley used a wholesale florist for their wedding and handpicked every flower, including hot-pink peonies, hydrangeas, roses, and Monte Casino asters. They also incorporated wildflowers that Jordyn and one of her bridesmaids picked the morning of the ceremony.
To honor the past, Jordyn and Bradley displayed their parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos in antique picture frames.
For their guest book, Jordyn and Bradley had guests take Polaroid pictures of themselves and write messages or advice on heart-shaped doilies. Then each guest hung their photo and note on clothesline strung between trees on the museum grounds.
Instead of traditional folded programs, Bradley’s brother and sister-in-law made fans with the couple’s engagement photos on the back. The front side listed the family members and the wedding party.
Jordyn and her mother made the boutonnieres from fabric flowers, ribbon, and vintage buttons she had found in her grandmother’s sewing room.