Hallie Marx and Will Webber  
April 4, 2009
Ceremony: Canterbury United Methodist Church
Reception: Birmingham Country Club
Photographs: Arden Photography

The Back Story
Did you ever hear the story about love at first bump? Well, that is exactly what happened to Hallie and Will on the night they met five years ago. Certainly, neither of them expected to “bump” into the love of their life when they each decided to go out for a drink that fateful night. Will was in Birmingham from Atlanta for the night to meet up with his brother as they were in route to a wedding and they ended up at Open Door. Hallie’s friends got her to meet them at Open Door. As Hallie was navigating her way through the crowded room, she literally bumped into Will, her massive handbag hitting him in the face. And as the story goes, they made a date for the following week and they’ve been together ever since. Love at first bump!

The Proposal
Last year, Will decided to take Hallie on a cruise to Mexico. On the first night of the trip, Will cautioned her that this wouldn’t be the time they’d get engaged, just so she wouldn’t be disappointed. But on the second night of the cruise, in the formal dining room, they arrived to find themselves at a small table for two instead of the traditional group dining table. Will shrugged it off and they had a normal dinner. When it came time for dessert, Hallie declined but Will kept after her to order something so she finally settled on Cherries Jubilee. Little did she know how significant that choice would be as cherries soon became the theme for her wedding plans! When the covered dish arrived, the waiter removed the top to reveal red rose petals and a ring box with Will’s grandmother’s ring inside. He dropped to one knee with the entire ship watching and popped the question!
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The Planning
Hallie knew from the start that she wanted to have cherry blossoms as the central design element for the event so there was only a small window of time to actually have the wedding when they would be in bloom. Hallie has always loved cherry blossoms; her grandmother loved them and growing up, there were several large trees in their yard. Hallie didn’t hire a planner because she wanted a hand’s on role in the “meaningful and sentimental details that nobody but me may have noticed but that made our wedding really special.” She does regret not having assistance on the day of the wedding and advises brides to get someone specific for wedding day direction. “I wish I’d had some help that day--- simply to help me keep up with things” says Hallie.

The Details

Design
Hallie knew she needed a pro to help her with the overall design and called on Jon Martinez from Bloom for the task of transforming Birmingham Country Club into a magnificent spring garden setting complete with cherry trees in full bloom. Everything was in place—the weather cooperated, the trees were blooming just before the wedding day and then a massive storm washed all of the blooms away. Jon wasn’t fazed. He drove to North Alabama and found exactly what he needed to produce the fairytale setting Hallie wanted to perfection.

Favors: Hallie loves quotes so she incorporated one of her favorites into the details wherever she could. Look at the adorable smiley face cookies with the “Love Begins with a Smile” quote guests took home after the wedding.

The Cakes: Sweet Magnolia created Hallie’s traditional white buttercream and white cake confection. Hallie surprised Will with his groom’s cake from Savage’s Bakery. Will owns a shipping and logistics company so Hallie had his cake made to look like one of his trucks—complete with a shipment on a pallet. Made of delicious dark devil’s food cake from Hallie’s favorite recipe, the groom’s truck cake was Will’s favorite part of the wedding.

Photography: “I love Arden” says Hallie. “And I have to tell you how many people commented on how nice it was to not have the photographer in your face the whole time. We knew she was there, but it’s like she wasn’t. She wasn’t obtrusive, yet she got every little detail, even the ones we didn’t even get a chance to see!” Arden Ward and Arden Photography are Bromberg’s Wedding Partners.

Tuxedos for the men came from Bromberg’s wedding partner, Mr. Burch Formal Wear in Mountain Brook.

Hallie’s bridal gown was an ivory Pricilla of Boston gown from their Atlanta store and she selected an iridescent green gown by Amsale for the bridesmaids.

When the couple arrived, the staff at Birmingham Country Club ushered them into a private room where they could relax for a few minutes and enjoy a bite of the food they were serving to their guests. “If it hadn’t been for their thoughtfulness, we may have never gotten a bite!” says Hallie. The couple had a fun Motown party band play for the reception and they danced all night. The crowd probably knew it was going to be quite a party when, in the middle of their father/daughter dance, Hallie and her dad had the band suddenly start playing the classic “Shout” and the entire wedding party joined them on the dance floor for the fun. The couple finally left the reception in a trolley through a crowd of well-wishers in cloud of petal confetti, both totally exhausted!

Favorite Moment: “I loved taking my bridal portraits the most” says Hallie. “It was so special for me. But I also loved planning all of the details--- like incorporating something in honor of my grandparents, for example. I wore my grandmother’s pin on my veil for them--- they have both passed away but I wanted a part of them there. I loved including those special details, quotes, pictures and memories into our day”     

Favorite items on the Webber’s Bromberg’s Gift Registry included:
Formal China: Philippe Deshouliere Orsay in white

Casual China: Her Vietri Bellezza china in white was Hallie’s registry fav!
Holiday: Mandy Bagwell Simply Christmas
Formal Crystal: Waterford Kelsey
Sterling Flatware: Towle Old Master
Stainless Flatware: Oneida Julliard

Hallie and Will --- thank you for sharing your beautiful wedding with us! We wish you all the best in your life together. May the cherry blossoms always bloom for you.