REAL WEDDING January 2009
Ashley Lambert and Lester Mason
November 1, 2008
Ceremony: South Highlands Presbyterian Church
Reception: Virginia Samford Theatre
Photographs: Mike Ross Photography
The Back Story
The second time was a charm for Ashley Lambert and Lester Mason. The matchmakers finally got them together on the second attempt three years after they were first introduced proving once again that other people can often see things you can’t! Both Ashley and Lester work in the dental industry but had never met. A well-intentioned customer thought they’d make a good couple and arranged an appointment for both at the same time so they could make an introduction. The problem was that both Lester and Ashley were in other relationships so nothing developed. Fast forward three years. Now single, they both were invited to watch the SEC Championship game with mutual friends who thought they’d make a good couple. This time, the set-up worked and they’ve been together ever since.
The Proposal
Once the couple knew they were going to get engaged, Ashley began to give Lester a few not-so-subtle hints about what kind of ring she’d like. For example, she tore a picture of her favorite ring from a magazine and taped it to the steering wheel of his car. Lester took the picture to a jeweler friend and had a ring designed especially for Ashley and began to plan the proposal, even inviting Ashley’s family to lunch to discuss their marriage. The couple had planned to attend a conference for couples considering marriage, but Ashley was hesitant to go until they were actually engaged. In an unexpected twist, the ring was suddenly ready the day before they were to leave for the conference leaving Lester little time to implement his planned proposal. He did, however, completely surprise Ashley with the ring of her dreams as he popped the question at home on May 16, 2008 just before they left for the conference.
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The Planning
The couple was ready to get married and knew they didn’t want a long engagement so they got busy making wedding plans immediately after becoming engaged. Since Ashley travels a lot with her job, she needed to call in some hired guns to make suggestions and to help her narrow her options so she didn’t waste time. With the help of Nekki and the team at Engaging Celebrations, they were able to plan their wedding in less than six months. After deciding against a destination wedding, the couple focused on finding a venue that felt special to them. They liked the architectural details of the Virginia Samford Theatre, especially the interior and exterior courtyards and the convenient location. Once the venue was booked, they were able to make the rest of their decisions.
The Details
Design Theme and Flowers: Navy with cream and frosty silver accents designed by Vince Gray at Flower Stems.
Gown: After looking everywhere, Ashley decided on a strapless oyster-colored Jim Hjelm A-line gown with a pearl lace overlay.
Bridesmaids: Elegant navy Belle Soie gowns from Bella Couture in Mt. Laurel.
Tuxedos: Lester and the groomsmen wore navy tuxedos from Mr. Burch Formal Wear in Mountain Brook.
Cakes: A multi-dimensional sour cream pound cake with butter cream icing in navy and cream featured delicate silver artwork on each layer.
Favorite Moment: Ashley and Lester had time to take in everything together as they shared a quiet moment alone during a horse and carriage ride from the church to the reception.
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