May 22, 2019

Jenna Rachal

Jenna Laine Weddings: Hayley and Nick

May 22, 2019

Jenna Rachal

Working with Hayley to plan her Orange Beach wedding was a dream! From the gorgeous weather to the beautiful flowers and Hayley’s contagious smile, the day could not have been any more perfect. We mean it when we say it, sweet Hayley smiled all day long! The love between her and Nick was so evident, and their friends and family had the best time celebrating the new couple. Cheers to the Padgett’s!

Tell us your story.

We met in college at Auburn University in 2011 and have been together ever since. Nick is from a big city in Texas and I am from small town Alabama. The way we grew up differed greatly but after meeting, we fell in love and that love has only grown stronger over the years. We now live in Houston, Texas and plan to buy a house together soon!

What was your favorite detail of the wedding?

We really enjoyed the decor at the Gulf including the arbor and lanterns placed on all the tables. The entire ceremony was beautiful.

What was your favorite moment of the day?

My favorite moment of the day was our first dinner as a married couple. The food was delicious but it was great sitting down together to just relax and let it set in after all the emotion and buildup. We are thankful that we were told to insist on breaking away from the guests to go eat.

What was your vision for the wedding?

We envisioned it to be simple and fun. It was that and much more. The reception and guests all seemed to have a lot of fun. Also, the natural beauty of the ceremony completely exceeded our expectations.

What was your favorite part of the planning process?

My favorite part was picking out outfits for the wedding party and my gown.

If you could give advice to another bride in the process of planning her wedding what would it be?

It would be to not stress out and try to enjoy the planning process. Also, do not get caught up in all the extras and remember the reason why you are going through everything. Another thing to remember is that this day is all about you and him!

Nick HayleyEditedwedding-Getting Ready-0120.jpg

February 1, 2019

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

Jenna Laine Weddings: Charlotte and John

February 1, 2019

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

Getting the opportunity to plan weddings for families is a rewarding career, but it becomes even more personal to me when I have known the family for over fifteen years. This sweet bride is the little sister of one of my best friends from high school, so making sure her wedding day was spectacular was a top priority for me and my team. Showing the reception space to Charlotte, John and her parents before all their guests entered was one of my favorite parts of the entire weekend. I loved seeing their reactions to the hanging greenery boxes over the dance floor, the perfect pop of fuchsia in their flowers and their magnificent cake display. Seeing them happy and watching them dance the night away with friends and family was a rewarding experience and we thank the Gill family for trusting us with this special occasion. Scroll down to read some advice from Charlotte on planning your wedding and what her favorite part of the day was and of course at the bottom we have some gorgeous photo from Laura Rowe Photography!

Tell us your story.

John and I met during our senior year of college at Vanderbilt University. We knew our relationship was something special pretty quickly. We dated long distance for a year after graduation, but I soon returned to Nashville for law school, and the rest is history!

What was your favorite detail of the wedding?

That’s so hard! I loved the flowers. I was a bit nervous about them because I didn’t trust my aesthetic “vision,” but Wildflowers did an incredible job—they were better than I could have ever envisioned! I also wrapped a rosary around the bouquet that John had made for me while we were dating.

If you could give advice to another bride in the process of planning her wedding, what would it be?

It will all get done! Just enjoy what a unique season of life it is.

What was your favorite part of the planning process?

I loved being able to spend time with my mom! She’s amazing!

Tell us your overall thoughts and takeaways from the day.

John’s and my wedding was more amazing than I ever could have imagined! I’m not one who always had her wedding mapped out, so I often got overwhelmed with all the decisions. I was (and am) so grateful for Jenna’s experience and expertise.

Vendors:

Florist: Wildflowers Fairhope, Rental Company: SOHO Events and Rentals, Venue: The Grand Hotel Point Clear, Cake: Couture Cakes, Lighting & Draping: Willow Bridges, Wedding Coordaintion and Design: Jenna Laine Weddings, Photographer: Laura Rowe Photography, Videographer: The Wild Soul Films, Photo Booth: Magic Memories, Hair and Makeup: March Hair, Bridesmaids: Bella Bridesmaids Mobile, Calligrapher: Southern Calligraphy

January 25, 2019

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

Jenna Laine Weddings: Megan and Patrick

January 25, 2019

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

There was nothing more important to our bride Megan than making sure her wedding was personalized and represented she and her fiancé as a couple and their story, and we loved helping her to create those details. Our personal favorite moment of the day was showing Megan the room before all her guest arrived and bringing happy tears to her eyes.

Tell us your story.

Patrick and I met at a band party at his fraternity house our first year at The Univerisity of Alabama. I had a crush on him the second I met him and all throughout college. We had mutual friends and would see each other out occasionally. During my senior year, I sent a snapchat of “messy fries” to a bunch of people after a night out at the bar. Patrick snapchatted me back and then we started texting. The next day, he asked me if I wanted to meet up with friends at his fraternity house for a cookout then go see a concert in downtown Tuscaloosa. I was so nervous while getting ready for the cookout because I finally was getting to hang out with the guy I had a crush on for 4 years. After only a week, Patrick asked me to be his girlfriend and things have only gotten better since. We now live in Fairhope with our 2 kitties, Oliver and Delilah, and love to take our boat out on the weekends.

What was your favorite part of the planning process?

I loved meeting with the vendors and brainstorming different ideas for our wedding day. I am not very creative so I really relied on Jenna and the vendors to give me ideas on how to make my wedding beautiful and unique. I wanted our wedding day to be traditional but also unique enough that it was memorable for our guests.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

My vision for the wedding was to have a beautiful ceremony with lots of cream roses and once the ceremony was finished, I wanted everyone to have tons of fun and let loose. I have also dreamed of how beautiful I would feel on my wedding day and that dream came true. I felt so beautiful and every single detail about that day was perfect.

What was your favorite detail of your wedding?

I loved how Jenna helped me incorporate The University of Alabama into the wedding without making it tacky. Patrick and I are very proud of the school we went too and we live for Alabama football. We had custom yellow hammer cups to serve the famous yellowhammer drink recipe, “messy fries” (to bring the story full circle), and an exit with game day shakers.

Vendors

Photographer: Jennie Tewell Photography Band: Trotline Rentals SOHO Events and Rentals Florist: Wildflowers Fairhope Cake Couture Cakes Venue Grand Hotel Makeup Makeup and Hair by Chaney Bridal Gown and Bridesmaids Dresses Bliss Bridal Invitations and Accessories Jenna Laine Weddings Calligraphy Southern Calligraphy

January 11, 2019

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

Jenna Laine Weddings: Sunny and Mic

January 11, 2019

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

Nestled under beautiful Oak Trees along Mobile Bay is a beautiful Bay Home with wrap around porches, where many family weddings have taken place in the past. When Sunny and Mic got engaged they thought they would continue this family tradition. We worked hard to put together a beautiful, bay inspired wedding. However, mother nature had other plans and sent a massive thunderstorm right up the middle of Mobile Bay. Despite the downpour and pool of water that gathered on Sunny and Mic’s dance floor they made the best of it by kicking off their shoes, poured another drink and dancing the night away with all their guests. Ironically enough the downpour became one of their favorite parts of the entire day.

Tell us your story.

Mic and I met in a college bar. I was with my mom and one of my bridesmaids, Alison. Alison introduced us, and my mother sparked interest by saying “One of y’all needs to date him.” Mic had a girlfriend at the time, but we became instant friends. Fast forward six months - we are in the same bar, and my mother asks him “Where’s your girlfriend?” When he replied that he was single, she kicked me so hard under the table I am still recovering from the bruise. Then I convinced Mic to be the coach of a charity flag football league I was playing in for Alzheimer’s Awareness. My stunning athleticism and knack for injuring myself just captivated him. At the post-game party. Mic cornered me and said: “If you’re all in, I’m all in.” We had out first date shortly after and have been inseparable since. I called my friends and said, “ So, I think I am dating a boy…I think we will get engaged.” They gave me a lot of grief, naturally, but we were engaged 10 months later and married two days shy of our two year dating anniversary.

What was your favorite moment of your wedding day?

There are so many to choose from. My favorite part of our day was the torrential downpour. We are used to rainy days in the Grove at Ole Miss before football games. Weather is unpredictable. It should have rained all day, but for some reason, it waited until around 9 p.m. and it poured! It should have been an absolute mess, but Jenna and all our friends rolled with it! The tent flooded, we took off our shoes, the boys rolled up their pants and we all poured another drink. It has to be my favorite moment of the day. Mic and I were married. All of our friends were together, and it was similar to the best Grove day ever. It also helped that Mic requested ‘Africa’ by Toto, and we sure “blessed the rains” down in Fairhope.

If you could come give advice to another bride in the process of planning her wedding what would that be?

My advice would be to relax, as hard as that is! At the end of the day, you are still married and most guests only remember the rocking good time they had. Also, working with Jenna and her team, we were on a great timeline. We only had a couple of to-do items a month, and it was manageable! Also, I would suggest trying to have “dates” with your mom where you don’t talk about wedding stuff! My mom and I got together a lot to do “wedding stuff” and travel back and forth from Fairhope. It was nice to go to lunch or shopping with her and not talk about wedding details and just be normal. Same with Mic! Date night meant no wedding talk.

What was your favorite part of the planning process?

Cake tasting. Mic and I both have a huge sweet tooth and love a good piece of cake! Cake tasting was something we looked forward to for so long. I honestly want to cake taste everyday. Couture Cakes in Daphne has the best cake. We decided on the coconut filling and can’t wait to have another slice at one year.

Vendor Information

Photographer: Josh Malahy Photography , Florist: Wildflowers , Rental Company: SOHO Events and Rentals, Lighting: Willow Bridges, INC Cake: Couture Cakes Band: East Coast Entertainment Catering: Clifton Morrissette Catering Bar: Mark Kidd

December 28, 2018

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

Jenna Laine Weddings: Kayla and Ross

December 28, 2018

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama is one of our favorite local venues. It offers a gorgeous Oak Tree lined lagoon, a beautiful white beach and long pier over the bay, and the best sunsets around. All of these beautiful elements and the sentimental value it holds for Kayla and her family is why Ross chose this very location for his grand (and we do mean GRAND) proposal and why they decided to bring all their friends and family to Point Clear, Alabama for their romantic wedding.

Tell us about your story as a couple.

Ross and I first met on December 12th, 2014 at a graduation celebration. I didn’t know who he was, but I knew that I wanted to meet him. As the night progressed this mystery man walked up to me and introduced himself. After our initial "hello," we walked outside and took a seat on the porch swing. We began with small talk and before we knew it, the small talk had turned into a two-hour conversation. Eventually the night came to an end and we went our separate ways. After several long phone conversations and a few dates later, we began officially dating.

For several weeks, my friends had been making plans to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at one of our favorite restaurants. Ross had planned to join us but then called to tell me that his plans had changed and he would be going to his hunting camp to cut down trees that had fallen in a recent storm. Little did I know, his sneaky plan was beginning to unfold. After our Cinco de Mayo celebration, Amelia, one of my best friends and bridesmaids, spent the night at my house like she often does. We had planned to spend the next day by the pool; however, when I woke up the next morning- she was gone and on the pillow next to me was an envelope and a single red rose. I immediately recognized Ross’ handwriting and at that point, I thought..."Could this be the day I had been waiting for?!" With shaking hands I opened the letter and began to read. Instant tears. The first line, “Today is a day we have been talking about for quite some time now.” More tears. Ross had planned a day of my favorite things starting with a massage, followed by my favorite lunch, then a manicure and pedicure. At each stop, there were red roses and a bundle of handwritten letters from my best friends. Their sweet notes were full of memories, encouragement, and most of all excitement for what was to come. I seriously have the best friends in the world! Once I finished my pampering, I was instructed to go home, get ready and be waiting at my front door at 4:15. As the time drew near, I could hardly wait to see Ross. What did he have in store??! But instead of him greeting me at the door, it was a driver that he sent to take me to my destination. My mind was racing and I thought, “A driver?! Where in the world is he taking me?” After getting on the interstate and passing up all of the familiar exits, I couldn't imagine where in the world I was going. What had he planned? After several minutes and a few miles later, we pulled into the Hattiesburg-Laurel airport and made the turn into the gate. At last, Ross was there standing next to an airplane holding a beautiful bouquet of red roses. I could hardly believe this was happening! An airplane?? I could not quit smiling! We ran to each other, hugged, kissed and posed for some pictures. With the sun beginning to set, we boarded the plane and took off. After about 45 minutes of flying, the plane began to descend and then landed. I was still clueless as to our destination until a sign just outside of the airport read: Fairhope, Alabama; one of my favorite cities in the world and a place I grew up visiting every summer with my family. I was shocked! What a wonderful and sweet surprise! We left the airport and before I knew it, we arrived at The Grand Hotel! We began walking around the lagoon talking about this day and reminiscing of memories from the past 2 years we shared together until we reached the cascades. Standing in the very place I dreamed of being proposed to as a little girl, Ross dropped down onto one knee and asked me to spend forever with him! I said "YES!!!" After a flood of tears and a mixture of joy and excitement, there was one more surprise... All of our closest friends and family ran out to join us after watching it all from behind the bushes. More tears, lots of hugs, and a celebration dinner followed. It was truly a fairy tale and the best day of our lives!

What was your favorite detail of your wedding day?

That’s a hard question to answer. There were so many small details that made up the entire event! At the reception, the romantic ambiance was exactly as we envisioned! From the escort card table to the candlelit head table and guest tables paired with the amazing details of my cake created by Tara at Couture Cakes, it was more perfect than we could have ever imagined. To sum it all up... my absolute favorite detail was having a fantastic wedding planner to assure that all details that we had planned for months were carried through... from the rehearsal the afternoon before, until the last vendor loaded up and left well after midnight, having her gave us the opportunity to relax and soak up every minute of the day! We can truthfully say that because of the faith we had in Jenna, we didn’t worry about a thing and can remember every detail!

What was your favorite part of wedding planning?

After stressing about bringing my vision to life, it was a blessing to find Jenna and work with her to secure vendors that could make my dream wedding a reality. Meeting and working the vendors for tastings, decor, floral was definitely a favorite part of the planning process!

What was your vision for your wedding day?

We envisioned our ceremony to be traditional and reverent with beautiful hymns filling the church. Our vision for the reception was sophisticated glamour with candlelight filling the room and creating a feeling of romanticism.

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Vendors:

Photographer: Starling and Sage Florist: Wildflowers Fairhope Rentals: SOHO Events and Rentals Videographer: Sixpence Productions Bridal Gown : Lows Bridal and Formal Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids Candle: Firefly Ambiance Cake: Couture Cakes Lighting/Draping: Willow Bridge, INC Hair and Makeup: Fireflies Salon Venue: The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort and Spa

November 9, 2018

Jenna Rachal

Our Team

Meet Leslie

November 9, 2018

Jenna Rachal

Our Team

Leslie grew up in Helena, Alabama and graduated from The University of Montevallo with a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics. After teaching High School math for two years she and Justin, who is active duty Coast Guard, were married and began moving with the military. The first station was Charleston, SC where Leslie was able to intern with one of the city’s most exclusive wedding planners. Knowing that this was the career path she wanted to pursue she applied and was hired on as an associate planner with a company in the next duty station of Key West, FL. After a four year tour there, the Coast Guard brought the Gilberts to the eastern shore where she joined the Jenna Laine Weddings team.

Leslie and Justin live in Fairhope with their three children, Cohen (4), Kerrigan (2) and Baylor (8 months), and two dogs, Ace and Maggle. When not planning, Leslie can be found at home playing in the yard with the babies, or on a weekend getaway to see friends and family.

Photography Credit: Aimee Reynolds Photography

What advice would you give to brides?

Be honest and open about the budget- Planning will be a much smoother process if you have been honest about your budget and what aspects of the wedding are most important to you. Wedding vendors aren’t trying to swindle you (despite what you read in online articles) and if you have a good planner on your side you can likely avoid some back and forth, and stress by being upfront about your expectations.

Do you prefer indoor or outdoor wedding receptions?

Outdoor! I love the unpredictability and the ability to make the space your own. Everyone interprets the space differently and you aren’t usually boxed into the “normal” by the walls and outlets an indoor venue provides.

What detail do you feel is most overlooked by brides?

Trash-It’s not a glamorous answer but practically, every party creates trash. It’s important to have a conversation ahead of time with your vendors as to where that trash will go and who is responsible for it at the end of the evening. This can also extend to your bridal suite, a lot of brides use the honeymoon suite in the morning to get ready and then end up coming back to a room that has junk everywhere, designating a person to straighten up after you clear out for pictures will really help you enjoy the honeymoon suite that night.

What’s your favorite trend of 2018?

My current favorite wedding trend is bold colors-the jewel tones- with simple architectural details in bronze or gold. I love to see an unexpected linen and colorful flowers and bridesmaids dresses that actually have the couple’s personalty versus a “safer" option.

November 2, 2018

Jenna Rachal

Helpful Tips

How to Assemble Your Wedding Invitations

November 2, 2018

Jenna Rachal

Helpful Tips

Today we thought we would address a common question we get from our clients, “How do I stuff my wedding invitations?” Wedding invitations can include the invitation, response card and envelope, maps, reception cards, accommodation cards and sometimes detail cards regarding a welcome party, after party or farewell brunch. With all these pieces, I can see why someone who is stuffing invitations for the first time may be a little confused, but don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks.

Step 1: Lay your invitation down words facing up. *if you decide to use tissue, place the tissue on top of the invitation. Traditionally tissue was used to keep the inks from bleeding onto the other items, but these days people tend to forgo the tissue due to the upgrade in inks and other types of printing.

Step 2: Place the reception card onto of the invitation (or tissue) face up.

Step 3: If you do not have any additional inserts skip to step 4. If you do have additional enclosures such as a map or accommodation card stack those wording up on top of the reception card. The particular order of these items does not matter, just layer them largest on the bottom and smallest on the top.

Step 4: Lay the response envelope with the flap facing upwards. Tuck the response card with the wording side up under the response envelope flap.

Step 5: Place all the items in your stack inside your inner envelope. When your guest open the envelope the words should be facing them.

Step 6: Place the inner envelope inside the outer envelope. When your guest open the outer envelope their names on the front of the inner envelope should be facing them.

October 25, 2018

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

Jenna Laine Weddings : Katie & Trent

October 25, 2018

Jenna Rachal

Real Weddings

Photographer Elizabeth Gelineau Photography

Last February, Katie and Trent were blessed with a perfect Spring like day at the Grand Hotel. They opted to do a first look under the hotels gorgeous Oak Trees, followed by an intimate ceremony along the bay and a fun filled reception inside the newly renovated Magnolia Ballroom. We love the soft color palette and loose garden style arrangements made by Wildflowers Fairhope. Working with Katie and her mom to plan this wedding was a dream, they really trusted our team and because of that were able to enjoy the entire planning process and their special day.

How did you two meet?

Trent and I met at a brewery in Athens, Georgia thanks in large part to my dog, CoCo. Her leash got wrapped up with Trent’s feet, we started talking, and the rest is history!

What were your favorite details of your wedding?

Having our wedding monogram on everything from our invitations to our welcome boxes and koozies was my favorite detail. It was a sentimental way to tie everything together since we plan on using the monogram on our Christmas cards and stationery for years to come.

What was your favorite moment of the day?

My favorite moment of the day was following the ceremony when Trent and I had a moment to ourselves. We took some portraits with our photographer and ate a private dinner prior to entering the reception. After planning and dreaming of this day for so long we finally had a moment to sit back and soak it all in.

If you could give any advice to brides currently planning their weddings what would it be?

First of all, I highly recommend all brides higher a planner or at the very least a day of coordinator. The last thing you want to be worried about on the day of your wedding is logistical things, like when is the cake going to be delivered? Jenna was a complete delight to work with throughout the planning process, but she also made sure our wedding day ran smoothly. Also, I tell everyone I know who is planning a wedding to trust their planner and vendors. It’s so easy as a bride to get bogged down in every little decision you have to make-what color should the napkins be, how many tables do we need, etc. Don’t stress yourself out over those little things. Your vendors know what they are doing, so trust them and them for advice.

What was your favorite part of the planning process?

My favorite part of the planning process was getting to spend quality time with my mom. She was just as excited (if not more) as I was about our wedding. Our trips to Fairhope to meet with Jenna and our other vendors are some of my fondest memories with her.