Theirs was a love that started, of all places, on Instagram. Caleb Jett and Beth Russell had some mutual friends, so they’d seen photos of each other while scrolling through their Instagram feeds. She thought he was handsome, and she caught his eye. One Sunday evening, Beth received a message from Pastor Andy Heis, the college pastor of a church ministry she used to attend, telling her that someone had been asking about her. A few days later, a message from Caleb showed up. “I was all sorts of giddy,” Beth says. “We went on our first date that Friday night, and we haven’t stopped dating since!”
About a year later, Beth called Caleb on her way home from work, as she always did on Tuesdays after working from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. “He was being extra silly on the phone, but that’s pretty normal,” Beth says. “I pulled up to my mom’s house, where I stayed on Tuesday nights and saw Caleb standing in the driveway.” When she didn’t see his truck in the driveway, she began to realize that something special was going on. Caleb led Beth toward the stone steps that led into the backyard, filled with candles and lights, leading to a beautiful arbor. As they walked down the stairs, Caleb talked about the first time they met, their life up until that point and their future. Then they walked over to the arbor, and he talked about Beth growing up there in the home her father, who passed away in 2003, had built for their family. “It was so special to me and my family that he chose to propose at the home that means so much to us,” Beth says. Caleb said he wanted the arbor they were standing under, which he had built himself, to be the place where they started building their life together. He got down on one knee, asked Beth to be his wife, and she said yes.
With a ring on her finger, Beth began envisioning a simple, romantic wedding day that would glorify God and celebrate the love that she and Caleb share. They decided on a February wedding, just a few months away, as the date was particularly special to the Jett family. “We chose to have a winter wedding because it is Caleb’s parents wedding anniversary,” Beth says. “We thought that would be so special to get married on the same date as them.” Beth entrusted Brooke Kearbey of BKWed to bring together all of the little details. The winter wedding would be perfectly suited to the deep jewel tones that Beth had in mind for the day, and the intimate feel and exposed brick of B&A Warehouse provided the ideal setting. Twinkling lights and flowers by BKWed would warm up the space, creating the bohemian aesthetic that this bride adores.
Finding the perfect wedding dress was important to Beth, and she had a very specific vision in mind. She wanted a long-sleeved dress with a bit of a natural, bohemian vibe, and she had to find it quickly, as the wedding was fast approaching. Her twin sister and one of her bridesmaids both sent her a photo of the same dress, the Avril gown by Rue De Sein, before Beth went dress shopping, and she immediately fell in love. Luckily for this bride, Village Bridal in Homewood carries Rue De Sein gowns, and as she found out when she walked in the shop for her appointment, they even had that very dress in the store. Her heart sank when they told her it wasn’t possible to order the dress in time for the wedding, but the bridal consultant kindly let her try it on anyway. “I come out of the dressing room and one by one, everyone starts to cry,” Beth says. “My mom says, ‘That’s it, that’s your dress.’” And in a true bridal miracle, Village Bridal offered to let Beth buy the gown off the rack. “I lost it. I was ecstatic!” Beth says. And she walked out of the store with her wedding dress in hand, ready to marry the man of her dreams.
To complement Beth’s dreamy gown, the bridesmaids selected their own floor-length dresses in shades of deep burgundy, perfectly coordinated with the groomsmen’s burgundy ties and blue suits. The bridesmaids carried bouquets in shades of cream and green, spilling with silver dollar eucalyptus and tied with satin ribbon. Beth’s bridal bouquet was dramatic and lush, with the same creams and greens of the bridesmaids’ bouquets enhanced by pops of burgundy, black and a dusty mauve king protea.
As the winter evening settled over Birmingham on February 9, 2018, Pastor Andy, who had played an important role in the beginning of Caleb and Beth’s love story, walked the bride down the aisle toward her groom as she carried her late father’s photo with her, tucked in a locket and pinned to her bouquet. The ceremony was as personal as it was beautiful, teeming with meaningful touches that made the 300-guest ceremony feel intimate. Caleb’s father officiated the ceremony and led Caleb and Beth as they exchanged vows and rings, and Caleb’s grandfather prayed over them while “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury, sung by Nicole Mclean and Bret Alldredge, filled the room. They were pronounced husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Jett sealed the deal with a kiss and walked up the aisle to “You Are The Best Thing” with grins on their faces.
At the reception, the new Mr. and Mrs. shared their first dance to “Until You” by Dave Barnes and toasted their marriage with their beloved Dr. Pepper. They danced the night away, and at the end of the night were sent off with cheers and sparklers filling the night air.
Thank you for sharing your gorgeous day with us, Caleb and Beth! We wish you a lifetime of happiness!
RESOURCES
Photography: Rock Sandretto
Wedding planner: Brooke Kearbey, BKWed
Wedding dress: Rue De Sein, Village Bridal
Groom and groomsmen attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Cake: Magic Muffins
Flowers: BKWed
Venue: B&A Warehouse
Catering: B&A Warehouse
Band/DJ: Bret Alldredge & Travis Key
Bridal makeup: Brittany Massey
Bridal hair: Danielle Ivy
Bridesmaids’ hair & makeup: Brittany Sandretto & Katelyn Meadows
Videography: Four: 10 Films
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