An Avondale Brewery Wedding: We Dare You Not to Smile

Fearless adventurers and lovers of travel, Natalie and Adam Beasley’s original vision for their wedding day included a romantic destination wedding in Montana. The pair dreamed up an intimate ceremony in a national park, with just family members and a few friends gathered around them as they began their life together. But when they learned that they’d be moving to Australia for Adam to attend graduate school shortly after the ceremony, this couple decided to refocus their plans a little closer to home, and reimagined a beautiful ceremony that was every bit as intimate and thoughtful as the destination wedding they had originally dreamed of.

When Natalie and Adam learned they'd be headed to Australia for Adam's grad school shortly after their wedding date, they decided to keep it local, choosing downtown Birmingham as their ceremonial stomping grounds. — When Natalie and Adam learned they’d be headed to Australia for Adam’s grad school shortly after their wedding date, they decided to keep it local, choosing downtown Birmingham as their ceremonial stomping grounds.

The lovely couple can't hide the love and joy they find in each other. — The lovely couple can’t hide the love and joy they find in each other.

Beautiful tresses + stylish wedding-day wardrobes + elegant accents + true love = a romantic moment worthy of a perfume ad! — Beautiful tresses + stylish wedding day wardrobes + elegant accents + true love = a romantic moment worthy of a perfume ad!

This darling pair met in college and dated for four years before tying the knot. Adam had to be careful when plotting the proposal, as Natalie has a distinct knack for figuring out plans and surprises before they happen. All this sweet bride wanted was to be truly surprised when Adam asked the big question, so he cleverly circumvented her surprise-ruining tendencies and simply didn’t make a plan. “He kept the ring in his pocket until the perfect moment arrived, which was when we were exploring the rooftop of a building in Birmingham — something we were doing when we first met,” Natalie says.

In what can so often be a busy, hectic season of engagement, Natalie and Adam were very intentional in remaining grounded and focused on the bigger picture as they envisioned their wedding day and, moreover, their marriage. “We just really wanted the focus to be on celebrating and rejoicing in God’s bringing us together in marriage and not get caught up in details and things that wouldn’t last at the end of the day,” Natalie says. This careful focus and perspective served this couple well in crafting a day that was a reflection of some of the greatest tenants of marriage, one brimming with love, intentionality and joy.

Natalie and Adam chose the beautiful Tutwiler Hotel downtown as their getting-ready location for their wedding day. Is there a more dreamy spot in Birmingham? We don’t think so!

Natalie and Adam ready their walking shoes for the aisle!

Adam buckles a leather watch that Natalie gave him as a pre-ceremony gift, the perfect finishing touch to his dapper duds!

Natalie chose simple, classic gold jewelry to go with her wedding gown — the very picture of subtle elegance. — Natalie chose simple, classic, gold jewelry to go with her wedding gown — the very picture of subtle elegance.

Natalie surprised her groom with this hand-embroidered patch on the back of his tie. It was one of their favorite little details from the day, and is definitely one of ours, too! — Natalie surprised her groom with this hand-embroidered patch on the back of his tie. It was one of their favorite little details from the day, and it is definitely one of ours, too!

The bride admires her dapper groom while the groom marvels at his stunning bride!

Natalie has a few sage words of wisdom to share with other brides-to-be: “Spend more time preparing for your marriage than planning for your wedding,” Natalie says. “We did that through several books, pre-marital counseling and a few other methods. It may sound cliché, but a wedding is one day and a marriage is a lifetime, so the focus of your engagement period should be to prepare for your marriage.”

Who doesn't love a good groomsmen’s “Abbey Road” recreation! — Who doesn’t love a good groomsmen *Abbey Road* recreation?!

The bridesmaids wore navy dresses of their choosing and carried whimsical bouquets of greenery with touches of soft white blooms, tied up with long strands of gray ribbon.

The goofy groomsmen are at it again, giving their groom friend the chuckles! — The goofy groomsmen are at it again, giving the groom the chuckles!

We love this handsome and happy wedding party!

After deciding on Birmingham for their wedding day, Natalie and Adam gravitated toward the upstairs venue at Avondale Brewing Company for the ceremony and reception. “We knew we needed an indoor venue because of the Birmingham summer heat, and we really loved the urban and modern feel of Avondale,” Natalie says. A simple space with exposed brick and wooden beams, hardwood floors and plenty of natural light, the venue had the distinct look they were seeking and also provided the flexibility of a non-traditional wedding venue.

To add their own touches to the space, Natalie and Adam kept things fairly simple and effortlessly chic. Rows of globe string lights strung up from the rafters gave a hint of romance to the space while boughs of lush greenery lined the aisle and hung from the windows above the altar space. Soft candlelight and touches of gold, white and navy — the bride’s favorite color — enhanced the soft, neutral look of the day. The couple also made sure to utilize the talents of friends and family members in creating a day that felt unique and personal to them. “Our friends and family put so much into our wedding, from videography to save-the-date designs and everything in between,” Natalie says. “And that just made us feel so loved and is something we can’t even begin to thank them enough for.”

The upstairs space at Avondale Brewing Company’s historic building, with much of its original character still intact, was the perfect indoor venue for this July wedding.

Natalie’s Sarah Seven dress was actually the first she tried on. The romantic draped gown with a flattering sweetheart neckline and gathered waist suited this laid-back bride perfectly.

We are drooling over this bouquet — effortlessly gathered greenery with white lisianthus and alstroemeria tied with strands of gray ribbon and brown leather? To-die-for! — We are drooling over this bouquet — effortlessly gathered greenery with white lisianthus and alstroemeria tied with strands of gray ribbon and brown leather? To die for!

The navy typographic wedding invitation perfectly captures Natalie and Adam’s style: classic and refined, yet relaxed and hip.

Mini-attendants announce the coming arrival of the lovely bride.

Adam smiles at Natalie as she walks down the aisle toward him, for a super-sweet ceremony moment!

This warm industrial space, flooded in natural light and twinkle lights, was the perfect wedding venue for this cool couple.

Now, if identical "Just Married" smiles don't say "soul mate," then we don't know what does! — Now, if identical “Just Married” smiles don’t say “soulmate,” then we don’t know what does!

There is nothing quite like those first blissful moments following the ceremony. Just look at the grins on Natalie and Adam!

The morning of the wedding, the bride and groom and their wedding party got ready at the beautiful Tutwiler Hotel downtown. Natalie donned her stunning Sarah Seven gown, which happened to be the very first dress she tried on. “I’ve been a fan of Sarah Seven for years and always knew I’d like to wear one of her dresses if I ever found the right occasion,” Natalie says. “And I figured our wedding was the perfect time to do that!” Adam dressed in his handsome navy suit and put on his tie, complete with a patch hand-embroidered by the bride with a surprise wedding-day message for her groom.

Then at 5 p.m., as the evening sun streamed through the wall of windows at Avondale, Natalie and Adam entered into marriage before nearly 200 of their family members and friends. Guests sang worship songs together and Natalie and Adam held hands and prayed over their marriage before walking back up the aisle as husband and wife.

Long tables topped with white linens and dressed in rich greenery and soft candlelight filled the space for the reception. Guests enjoyed an indulgent buffet-style Jim ’N Nick’s meal of barbecue and all the fixings, complete with the ever-popular cheese biscuits, before dancing all evening alongside the bride and groom.

Long tables filled the space for the reception.

Simple white linens and lines of greenery dotted with florals and glowing tea light candles created the perfect romantic feel in the space.

We love this arrangement of greenery with a couple of feathers. Also, custom wedding signs made by a friend of the bride and groom added a personal touch to the wedding day details.

The bride and groom share their first dance to Maroon 5’s cover of “Let’s Stay Together.” Sweet!

Guests enjoyed a Jim ’N Nick’s buffet at the reception, complete with their famously delectable cheese biscuits.

This classic four-tiered yellow wedding cake with gold accents had a whimsical twist. The bride and groom ordered figurines of their favorite animals—Natalie’s favorite is the sloth while Adam’s is the orangutan—and painted them gold with plans to position the figurines atop the cake as the topper. The finished result was absolutely adorable! “A lot of people told us not to do it, but we knew it was what we wanted and we loved the final result,” Natalie says. — This classic four-tiered yellow wedding cake with gold accents had a whimsical twist. The bride and groom ordered figurines of their favorite animals — Natalie’s favorite is the sloth, while Adam’s is the orangutan — and painted them gold with plans to position the figurines atop the cake as the topper. The finished result was absolutely adorable! “A lot of people told us not to do it, but we knew it was what we wanted and we loved the final result,” Natalie says.

The lovebirds laugh and dance the night away!

The groomsmen celebrate their friend's newfound happiness with a little airborne crowd-surfing session! — The groomsmen celebrate their friend’s newfound happiness with a little airborne crowd-surfing session!

The highlight of the night for Natalie and Adam was being surrounded by their family and friends, singing and dancing the night away.

With a sparkler send off, the new Mr. & Mrs. Beasley begin their life together.

The true highlight of the day for Natalie and Adam didn’t come until the last moments of the reception, and truly encapsulated the feel of the entire wedding.

“For the last song of the night, many of our friends and family members decided to gather around us in a circle and sing at the top of their lungs while the two of us danced,” Natalie remembers. “Being surrounded by so many people who have loved and supported us throughout our relationship was so humbling and was a moment we’ll never forget.”

Cheers to you, Natalie and Adam! Thank you for sharing your lovely day with us!

RESOURCES:

Photography: W&E Photographie
Wedding planner: La Belle Vie Weddings
Wedding dress: Sarah Seven
Bridal shop: Ivory & White
Groom’s attire: J.Crew
Groomsmen’s attire: H&M, Etsy and J.Crew
Cake: Louise’s Cakes-n-Things
Flowers: Savannah Kilpatrick Design
Venue: Avondale Brewing Company
Catering: Jim ‘N Nick’s
Music: Jules Huff and Laura Lynn Williams
DJ: Matt Taylor a.k.a. DJ Roomba
Hair: Kelsy Taber of Morgan Ashley Salon
Makeup: Katelin Skinner
Invitation design: Empress Stationery
Calligraphy/signs: The Wildflower Creative
Videographer: Jenna and Cole Adams
Rentals: Event Rentals Unlimited
Linens: Decor To Adore

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About the Author
Kellie Grammer

Kellie is a freelance writer stealing time between her toddler's play dates to write mostly about weddings for StyleBlueprint.