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" — 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 … and it would become the site of their wedding ceremony in the spring of last year.
PinMary Chapman and Zach May were married on April 22, 2023, in Lake Martin, Alabama. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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“Having grandparents in Alexander City meant a lot of time spent on the lake as a little girl — and essentially every weekend of every summer my whole life,” she shares. “The lake is so special to me and I had always known I wanted to get married there.”
When it came time for Zach to propose, he pulled off a perfect surprise. “For my birthday, Zach had taken me to my favorite restaurant in Birmingham, Dyron’s Low Country,” Mary Chapman says. “We then went to my parents’ house to ‘have birthday cake’ with them. As we were getting out and walking up the pathway to my parents’ 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.”
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 “the church with no walls” growing up.
PinMary Chapman booked her childhood dream venue for her wedding: The Church in the Pines on Lake Martin. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinThe wedding weekend kicked off with a rehearsal dinner on the lake. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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PinMary Chapman and Zach dug up their buried bourbon to ensure clear skies on the big day. (And how gorgeous is Mary Chapman’s dress?!) Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
With the venue decided, the couple worked with Handley Breaux Designs to plan the rest. “Handley and her team were so on top of every tiny detail and had everything under control,” Mary Chapman says. “I truly could not have done it without her.”
PinThe wedding invitation suite was done by Annabelle’s, a Birmingham favorite. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinMary Chapman’s something old, borrowed, and blue was her grandmother’s aquamarine ring. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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. “It was easy to enhance the beautiful scenery with simple white and green florals,” she shares. “My florist honestly took over the rest and made my vision come to life just how I had dreamed.”
PinThe bridesmaid’s dresses from Bella Bridesmaids were the perfect shade of soft blue, and they carried simple white tulips (Mary Chapman’s favorite flower) by Marigold Designs. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinMary Chapman’s soft, flowing bouquet by Marigold Designs beautifully accented the lake and land around them. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
When it came to her dress, Mary Chapman says she surprised herself with her choice. “The dress is not something I would have ever thought I would have gone for!” Mary Chapman tells us, “I must credit the wedding gown stylist for just bringing it out and showing it to me because I completely fell in love with it.”
Pin“The fabric is so different and not something you see every day, and I was really drawn to that,” the bride says of her dress. “I also loved the removable custom wrap. I removed the wrap for the reception, which revealed more of the dress, which was so fun.” Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinMary Chapman’s look without the wrap was equally stunning! Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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.
PinMary Chapman’s dream of a wedding at the “church with no walls” came true. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinEthereal white and green-themed florals paired with gentle seafoam hues carried the essence of the lake into the reception. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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PinCocktail hour featured two signature drinks: A Transfusion for Zach and a replica of Mary Chapman’s favorite cocktail from The Landing restaurant on Lake Martin, which they dubbed “Watermelon Thing.” Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinThe Watermelon Thing cocktail was a hit! Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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 “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli.
Pin“You’re just too good to be true …” Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
Mary Chapman’s father had a surprise up his sleeve when it came time for their dance. As they stepped out on the dance floor to Aretha Franklin’s “I Say A Little Prayer,” red foam lobster claws appeared in the crowd, a nod to one of their favorite movies to watch together, My Best Friend’s Wedding.
PinSurprising the bride, red lobster claws surfaced during the father-daughter dance. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinThe classic wedding cake from Barb’s Cakes was simple and elegant, with a touch of whimsy. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinThe good times stretched into the night. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinLate-night cheeseburgers and chips were the perfect dance floor fuel. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinThe bride and groom, along with their crew, made the most of their evening. Image: Eric and Jamie Photography
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!
PinA beautiful day gave way to a lovely night by the lake. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinMary Chapman’s exit look was a stunning end to a perfect day. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyPinThe two rode off into the rest of their lives together in a 1960s Bentley. Image: Eric and Jamie PhotographyThank you for sharing your beautiful day with us, Mary Chapman and Zach!
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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