Elizabeth Sparrow & Robert Burle: A Mountain Brook Wedding

Photos by Kellen Jacob Photography

June 20, 2020

Favorite Moment: Due to COVID-19 and high-risk factors, neither Robert’s nor my (Elizabeth’s) grandmothers were able to attend our wedding or reception. As the first of her grandchildren to marry, I was heartbroken not to be able to share such an important milestone with my grandmother, but our fabulous planner and floral designer had the idea to drive me to her house so that she could see me in my wedding dress and we could get pictures together. My heirloom wedding veil was my mother’s, which my grandmother bought in Brussels over 40 years ago. It was especially meaningful to be able to see her in person on my wedding day, and to have three generations together.

Favorite Details: Our wedding was initially planned to be quite large, but the pandemic necessitated downsizing to a 25-person ceremony and 50-person seated dinner reception. At the ceremony, I had zero nerves because my sights were fully focused on walking straight down the aisle to Robert. Our friends and extended family were able to watch the ceremony via live-stream, which felt like having them there in person.

With the help and creativity of our wedding planner and floral designer, we were able to reconfigure the original reception design plan. With a Southern garden theme, the room was transformed by arrangements of white roses and hydrangea, ferns, Magnolia trees and boxwood hedges cleverly spaced to distance the tables. Most of the native hydrangeas were cut from my parents’ yard. Although we were disappointed that all our friends and extended family were unable to attend, we found that we absolutely loved having a smaller, more intimate celebration. The evening was further graced by the hope and promise of a beautiful summer solstice rainbow that arched across the sky and was visible from the veranda just before sunset.