A Lake Martin Wedding with the Dreamiest Dance Floor
For this Birmingham couple, Lake Martin was the only place special enough to mark the beginning of their life together. Take a look inside their romantic ceremony in "the church with no walls" β followed by an ethereal tented reception.
Birmingham residents Mary Chapman Nabors and Zach May started dating just before the pandemic hit. With the world brought to a halt and few options for date nights, the couple wound up spending lots of time in Lake Martin, Alabama. The lake had been like a second home for Mary Chapman growing up β¦ and it would become the site of their wedding ceremony in the spring of last year.
βHaving grandparents in Alexander City meant a lot of time spent on the lake as a little girlΒ β and essentially every weekend of every summer my whole life,β she shares. βThe lake is so special to me and I had always known I wanted to get married there.β
When it came time for Zach to propose, he pulled off a perfect surprise. βFor my birthday, Zach had taken me to my favorite restaurant in Birmingham, Dyronβs Low Country,β Mary Chapman says. βWe then went to my parentsβ house to βhave birthday cakeβ with them. As we were getting out and walking up the pathway to my parentsβ house, Zach proposed in the front yard, which was very special! We went inside to find out all of our friends and family were there.β
Mary Chapman knew immediately where she wanted to have their big day: The Church in the Pines on Lake Martin, which Mary Chapman always called βthe church with no wallsβ growing up.
With the venue decided, the couple worked with Handley Breaux Designs to plan the rest. βHandley and her team were so on top of every tiny detail and had everything under control,β Mary Chapman says. βI truly could not have done it without her.β
For the florals and decor, Mary Chapman wanted the look and feel of the wedding to be seamlessly intertwined with the lake and land surrounding them. βIt was easy to enhance the beautiful scenery with simple white and green florals,β she shares. βMy florist honestly took over the rest and made my vision come to life just how I had dreamed.β
When it came to her dress, Mary Chapman says she surprised herself with her choice. βThe dress is not something I would have ever thought I would have gone for!β Mary Chapman tells us, βI must credit the wedding gown stylist for just bringing it out and showing it to me because I completely fell in love with it.β
The picturesque ceremony went off without a hitch in the open-air sanctuary. A string trio set the tone as the couple exchanged traditional vows. After that, their 250 guests were invited to Willow Point Country Club for a cocktail hour and reception.
Dinner and dancing took place under a string-lit tent, and guests soaked up the gorgeous Alabama spring evening. Zach and Mary Chapman kicked things off with their first dance to βCanβt Take My Eyes Off Youβ by Frankie Valli.
Mary Chapmanβs father had a surprise up his sleeve when it came time for their dance. As they stepped out on the dance floor to Aretha Franklinβs βI Say A Little Prayer,β red foam lobster claws appeared in the crowd, a nod to one of their favorite movies to watch together, My Best Friendβs Wedding.
When it was finally time for the party to end, Mary Chapman and Zach exited beneath a shower of white flower petals and headed out to a 1960 Bentley getaway car. It was off to their honeymoon in Antigua!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful day with us, Mary Chapman and Zach!
RESOURCES
Planner: Handley Breaux Designs
Invitation Suite: Annabelleβs
Catering: Willow Point Country Club
Venue: Church in the Pines | Willow Point Country Club
Photography: Eric and Jamie Photography
Florals: Marigold Designs
Entertainment: The Main Attraction
Cake: Barbβs Cakes
Hair & Makeup: Irrelephant Bridal
Bridal Gown: Antonio Gual from Ivory & White
Bridesmaidsβ Dresses: Dessy Group from Bella Bridesmaids
Groomβs Formalwear: Jack Victor from Mobley and Sons
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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.