This Lake Martin Wedding Was a Photographer’s Dream!
This wedding photographer bride embraced tradition and fun in every detail of her big day. From patterned reception tablecloths to not one, but TWO stunning bridal bouquets ... you’ve got to see every detail of this dreamy Lake Martin wedding. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
When you’re in the wedding industry, planning your own wedding can leave you spoiled for choice. As a wedding photographer herself, Alli Smith’s love of classic details and whimsical touches left her with decision fatigue until her florist asked a question that became her mantra for the entire planning process — “Why not both?”
From her unique bridal gown combination to her double bouquet and the stunning indoor-outdoor reception, Alli and Alec’s embrace of contrasts led to the best of both worlds for their big day.
While most of Alli’s wedding decisions were a challenge, she knew from the start that there was only one venue special enough for her big day. Not only did SpringHouse in Alexander City, Alabama, check every box aesthetically, but it’s also renowned for its impressive culinary offerings and holds treasured memories for Alli and her family.
“Growing up on Lake Martin, I remember the very day SpringHouse Restaurant opened; it was an instant hit for my family,” Alli says, “From my high school and college graduation celebratory dinners to having the ‘perfect spot’ to bring friends who visited, it was a no brainer that this is where we wanted both our families and friends to gather to celebrate our marriage and have an amazing dining experience.”
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SpringHouse’s indoor-outdoor spaces were just what Alli had in mind for her dream wedding. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
Alli and Alec even shared their second date at SpringHouse, where they made things ‘official.’ Alec knew how special the area was for his bride-to-be, and proposed on the dock of her family’s Lake Martin lake house. “When Alec and I began dating, some of my favorite shared memories took place vacationing on the water,” she says, “To us, it made the most sense to continue the streak of memories … he proposed on the dock. It’s a place that is so special to both of us.”
Naturally, Alli chose to have the lake house serve as the getting-ready spot for her bridesmaids. “After my hair and makeup were completed, we were able to catch my dad on the boat so I could visit with him and my dog that I got in college, Margot!” Alli says.
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Alli and her bridesmaids started the wedding day out on the dock of her family’s lake house, the same dock where Alec proposed. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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Hanging on the ledge of the family boat, Alli couldn’t resist recreating a photo of her from when she was eight years old. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
Alli enlisted the help of Nicole Marie Events to ensure a unique and stress-free day. “She is absolutely incredible and had a vision that perfectly aligned with mine. She was able to read my mind on a dime, and I am so grateful for her!” Alli tells us.
“As a wedding photographer, I feel like I’ve seen it all. … There are so many beautiful options! I wanted my floral and design choices to complement the restaurant’s French countryside feel, with natural colors and textures and a hint of my own personality,” Alli explains. To bring this vision to life, Alli partnered with Morgan Martin Inspired florals to complement the restaurant’s stately interior while tying in the delicate outdoor touches.
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“Nicole (my wedding planner) and I kept coming back to was not wanting to ‘dress up’ the restaurant in a way that would take away the design and feel SpringHouse already provided,” Alli tells us. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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“I wanted traditional but also heavily textured with flowers I don’t see often in wedding arrangements,” Alli says. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
When it came to her own bouquet, however, Alli struggled with two competing visions — the timeless, ethereal look of calla lilies, and the fun, whimsical stylings of the rest of the floral design. Cue the lightbulb moment: “Why not both!”
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Alli opted for the simple elegance of calla lilies for her ceremony bouquet. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
“Since I was planning on a second look for sunset portraits (the wedding photographer in me simply couldn’t resist!) It just made sense to have the classic calla lily bouquet for the ceremony and then the second bouquet to represent the rest of the floral design and my personality when the curtains close,” Alli explains.
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“Why not be traditional AND fun when you love both!?” Alli says. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
In choosing her wedding dress, Alli said she intentionally kept her support team small. “I knew going into dress shopping, I needed it to be just my mom, sister, and me. They know me best and can help push me to make a decision that is just right for me, since I could not make a decision to save my life. (Hello, wedding decision fatigue. It’s real!)” she tells us. The crew went to Carriage House Weddings in Mountain Brook and enlisted the help of a bride Alli had worked with, who is a consultant there.
As soon as she tried on the delicate lace bolero, she knew she had to have it. “I loved the high neckline, the cap sleeves, and especially the textured lace. It wasn’t traditional lace, but it was the perfect balance of traditional, fun, and different,” she says.
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It was love at first sight for the gorgeous lace floral bolero Alli donned for the ceremony. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
Finding the right dress to go with the bolero was more challenging. “I loved the idea of taking off the bolero for the reception, but I didn’t love any of the clean-cut dresses that they had me try on underneath,” Alli says. The last dress she tried featured an asymmetrical neckline, which she loved, but she felt torn between the dress and the bolero since the two would make an unconventional pair.
Finally, her sister and stylist both encouraged her to try the two together, and it was a perfect match. “I decided to pick the dress I loved and felt comfortable in for a traditional look for portraits and the ceremony, then removed the lace to reveal an unexpected second look without ever fully changing,” Alli says.
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“My sister suggested that I see what the dress would look like with the bolero on. The stylist agreed that just because it’s not what you would typically see underneath a bolero doesn’t mean there are any rules against it!” Alli tells us. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
Alli and Alec made the most of the gorgeous venue, welcoming their 80 guests to an outdoor ceremony set against the backdrop of the rolling Alabama hills. Being no stranger to SpringHouse’s menu, Alli opted for an elevated cocktail hour so her guests could mingle and be merry. The festivities began with a cocktail hour and seamlessly flowed into the reception. After that, the main dining room and lush garden grounds were open for guests to enjoy a buffet-style dinner, music, and dancing.
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Alli and Alec exchanged traditional vows, and stringed instruments set the tone for their picture-perfect outdoor ceremony. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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The buffet-style dinner featured roasted chicken with white jalapeño barbecue sauce, hickory-grilled sirloin with basil chimichurri, roasted quail with arugula chimichurri, quinoa salad with seasonal vegetables, and cast-iron macaroni & cheese. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
Along with the wedding cake, Alli and Alec knew they had to share SpringHouse’s signature chocolate bread pudding with their guests. “To this day, our guests still talk about how amazing the food was … especially the bread pudding!” Alli says.
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Guests raved about SpringHouse’s chocolate bread pudding. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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The delicate white flowers on the wedding cake were a nod to Alli’s floral lace bolero. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
The couple had been toying with the idea of custom hats and koozies as wedding favors, but struggled to land on anything they felt was unique enough. While bouncing ideas off one another over a dinner out, Alli’s eyes flickered down to Alec’s Modelo, his favorite beer. “I looked down at his Modelo and noticed that it had 1925 labeled on the bottle, and it instantly clicked with me. Morgan Especial 2025!” Alli says. She had her brother draw up the design, and they were a huge hit.
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As the sun set, the hats came out and the party rolled on. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
As Alli reflects on the day, she recalls burying the ceremonial bottle of bourbon one month before to ensure good weather. “It was cloudy and overcast with threats of rain almost all day,” she tells us. “The rain held off all day, right up to my dad handing Alec and me cups of the bourbon that he dug up during the reception a few minutes before our exit. After we had our drink of the bourbon, we walked out SpringHouse’s doors to our exit car with it beginning to rain. It truly held off all day! Needless to say, always bury the bourbon!” Alli advises.
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The happy couple enjoyed a rose petal exit and headed to their honeymoon at Rosemary Beach. Here’s to happily ever after! Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
RESOURCES
Venue: SpringHouse, Alexander City, Alabama
Wedding Planner: Nicole Marie Events
Photographer: Eric and Jamie Photography
Flowers: Morgan Martin Inspired
Bride’s gown: Gown by Kelly Faetanini, Bolero by Sareh Nouri from Carriage House Weddings
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Lula-Kate from Bella Bridesmaids
Hair & Makeup: Hair and Makeup by Nat
Groom’s & groomsmen’s formalwear: Mr. Burch Formalwear
Invitations, programs & menu cards: Ross Paper Co.
Napkins, koozies, stir sticks, matchboxes: Annabelle’s
Catering: SpringHouse
Entertainment: Reception – Kenny on the Keys; Ceremony – Cahaba River Strings
Cake: Sweet as Cakes
Linens: BBJ La Tavola & Stradley Davidson
Rentals: Revel/PRE Events Auburn
STYLEBLUEPRINT RESOURCES:
Planning a wedding? Check out StyleBlueprint’s two Wedding Resource Guides. (More to come!):
- StyleBlueprint Nashville’s Wedding Resource Guide
- StyleBlueprint Birmingham’s Wedding Resource Guide
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Discover more fabulous wedding inspiration in our archives HERE!
Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.