A Family Retreat Reimagined as a Swanky Wedding Venue (with a Tent You’ve GOT to See!)
With the help of world-class planners, a private AL property was transformed for this couple's dream wedding. From a lakefront ceremony to a reception tent you've got to see to believe, the details are jaw-dropping. Image: Clark Brewer
An outdoor ceremony set beside a tranquil lake. Beautiful sofas scattered throughout an open field. An enchanting forest stroll leading to one of the most incredible reception tents you’ll ever see. A happy couple soaking in every moment. Organized by a world-class event designer, this luxe lakeside wedding in Jemison, AL, had it all!
PinIt was a beautiful fall day in Jemison, AL, perfect for an outdoor celebration. “I had dreamed of getting married on my family’s property for as long as I could remember,” the bride shares. Image: Clark Brewer
As soon as she said, “Yes!” the bride and groom knew there was only one place special enough for their wedding: Jemison, Alabama. “From the very beginning, it was clear how much the family cherished their country property; it was a place filled with memories and meaning,” says Neillie Butler, president and founder of Mariée Ami, a Birmingham-based wedding planning studio that was charged with handling the big day.
Pin“The wedding Mariée Ami planned for us was better than our wildest dreams,” the bride says. Image: Clark Brewer
Planning began by exploring the property, looking for that special spot that at once felt intimate and personal yet could also support the couple’s grand plans. “From there, we designed the event to feel like a journey, a thoughtful progression,” Neillie tells us. “Whether guests were arriving, moving to the ceremony, or transitioning into the reception, each moment was intentionally crafted to feel seamless and special.”
Neillie shares that the bride and groom wanted the day to carry a relaxed yet vibrant feel, full of color and personality — just like them. “I knew I wanted lots of color, so we worked with Mariée Ami and our designers at HMR Designs to create the perfect color story for our wedding,” the bride explains, “But funnily enough, my bouquet was all white flowers!”
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The Mariée Ami team collaborated with the Chicago-based event designers to bring the couple’s vision to life. “When the project allows, we love collaborating with talented design firms from around the country to bring a truly unique vision to life,” Neillie says. “Given the creativity of this particular vision, we knew [HMR Designs] would be the perfect fit — and they absolutely delivered.”
The bride was thrilled with the collaboration. “[Mariée Ami] arranged for us to meet Rishi Patel and the team of HMR in Chicago, where they had prepared a mock-up of each of the venue spaces. We were blown away,” she says.
PinThe CEO of HMR Designs, Rishi Patel, is hailed as one of the top event designers in the world by the likes of VOGUE, Brides Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Martha Stewart Weddings. Image: Clark Brewer
The wedding featured four designated spaces throughout the day: the ceremony, cocktail hour, sit-down dinner, and reception lounge, with each catering to the couple’s unique vision.
Pin“I got a sneak peek of everything before guests started arriving,” the bride shares. “It was beyond my wildest imagination. I definitely got choked up but couldn’t cry without spoiling my makeup!” Image: Clark Brewer
First, the ceremony. Guests took their seats along the outdoor rows, furnished with delicate chairs interspersed with plush green and blue sofas.
PinThe bride and groom saw every moment of their big day as an opportunity for vibrancy, color, and unique touches. Image: Clark Brewer
The bride’s dress, a Savin London from The White Room in Birmingham, Alabama, provided yet another opportunity for color, one the bride hadn’t expected. “I never thought about buying a dress with blue details but fell in love with it,” she says, “I tried on several dresses but kept coming back to that one.”
PinDelicate blue florals graced the bride’s Savin London gown. Image: Clark BrewerPin“My dress perfectly fit my love for doing things just a bit different from traditional,” the bride tells us. “It made me feel like a total princess! I didn’t want to take it off.” Image: Clark Brewer
We are grateful to all our sponsors:
PinThe bride arrived by Bronco. A Ford Bronco that is.”The Bronco is very special to my dad. I couldn’t think of a better way for him to escort me to the ceremony,” the bride shares. Image: Clark Brewer
Following the ceremony, guests were led to a garden coffee and cocktail hour, where ornate tables and chairs dotted the open lawn, along with more couches, loungers, and an elegant serving bar. Nitro Espresso Martinis, a Mezcal Painkiller, and a Passionfruit Champagne Spritzer were served along with a coffee cart by Cala Coffee and hors d’oeuvres.
PinThe outdoor cocktail hour made use of the picturesque property and beautiful weather. Image: Clark BrewerPinDelicate tables and chairs invited guests to mingle, relax, and soak in the fresh Alabama country air. Image: Clark Brewer
Next, it was time for dinner and dancing. The family constructed a lit boardwalk just for the event to guide guests to the reception. Once through the trees, guests were greeted by a sight they wouldn’t soon forget.
PinThe stunning walkway built anticipation for the evening’s festivities. Image: Clark BrewerPin“We loved the boardwalk so much that we left it there as a permanent memory,” the bride shares. Image: Clark BrewerPinThe dramatic red curtains of the reception tent presented a striking contrast through the lit trees against the night sky. Image: Clark BrewerPinThe reception tent welcomed guests to take their seats around two open-concept kitchens. Image: Clark Brewer
The couple wanted the reception meal to be an experience all its own, so Mariée Ami worked with HMR Designs and Tasting TBL to deliver. They came up with the idea of seating guests around an open kitchen, providing an immersive experience.
PinThe five-course tasting menu was catered by Tasting TBL and included dishes inspired by foods found around the property, like smoked rainbow trout and venison with a blueberry red wine jus. Image: Clark Brewer
Executing the idea, however, was no easy feat. “One of our biggest challenges was designing a fully functional open kitchen from scratch,” Neillie explains. “Without a standard chef’s kitchen to rely on, we had to carefully craft a space that was not only operational for the culinary team but also visually striking — essentially turning something that is usually ‘back of house’ into part of the event experience.”
PinGuests watched as the incredible team at Tasting TBL brought each course to life. Image: Clark BrewerPinBarb’s Cakes supplied a stunning bride’s cake, which was lemon with strawberry filling. Image: Clark Brewer
After dinner, the wedding band lured guests to the dance floor, playing everything from Florence & the Machine to ABBA and Marvin Gaye. “The upbeat vibe and mix of genres kept all ages on the floor all night!” the bride says.
PinThe second space in the reception tent was designated for dancing and celebrating the night away. Image: Clark Brewer
“Instead of a traditional dance floor, we designed a post-dinner speakeasy-style lounge, where guests could mingle, sip, and dance in a way that felt fun and intimate — perfectly capturing the couple’s unique spirit,” Neillie shares.
PinThe speak-easy vibes transported guests from the tranquil Alabama countryside to a swanky club lounge. Image: Clark BrewerPinThe tent’s design set the perfect backdrop for guests to dance all night. Image: Clark Brewer
As often happens, the enchanting day flew by. The bride’s advice? Make a pact with your husband-to-be to stick by each other’s side from the ceremony forward. “It is so easy to be pulled away from each other to talk to loved ones, and the day is way too short not to spend every minute together that you can!” she says.
When it was time to send off the happy couple, only the Bronco would do. The couple drove off into their happily ever after with ground sparklers illuminating their path.
PinCongratulations to the bride and groom! Image: Clark Brewer
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.
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