Fall in love with this exciting wedding at the historic TJ Tower in Downtown Birmingham — complete with a live painting, Moon Pies, and someone getting stuck in an elevator! Image: Miranda Beason Photography
On August 10, 2024, Emma Wilson and Daniel Ellard began their “happily ever after” at the classically elegant TJ Tower, a 1920s-era high-rise embodying Downtown Birmingham’s magic. But that’s not where it all began. As the bride puts it, their “love story started with a basket of chicken and an incredibly long detour.”
While attending grad school at Auburn, Emma chatted with Daniel on and off. One day, as he returned to Birmingham from a Braves game, he shared his travels with Emma. “Stupidly, I thought Auburn was on the way from Atlanta to Birmingham, so I told him to stop by and get dinner with me if he wanted,” Emma recalls laughing.
It took her months to realize that he drove 90 minutes out of his way just to take her to Guthrie’s. Little did they know, wedding bells were in their future!
PinDaniel and Emma Ellard were married at the historic TJ Tower in Birmingham on August 10, 2024. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
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When Daniel planned the proposal, he figured he could use Emma’s poor sense of direction to his advantage. He told her they were going to Helen one evening, and she thought nothing of it when they wound up on Morris Avenue — a block or two away from the restaurant. He popped the question along the charming lamppost-lined cobblestone street.
Emma wanted old Hollywood vibes for their big day, so booking the grand TJ Tower venue was a no-brainer. With its ornate lobby, gorgeous ballroom, and decadent details, capturing a sense of luxury was easy.
“Since Daniel’s family is from Mobile, we picked a downtown location so everyone could stay at the Redmont a few blocks over!” Emma adds.
PinThe regal TJ Tower exudes classic 1920s-era elegance in the heart of the Magic City. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
Opting out of a planner, Emma and her mom planned the wedding themselves. Thanks to the fantastic selection of local wedding vendors, the mother-daughter duo retained all the help they needed to pull off a glamorous day. They also took care of a few details independently, including selecting the bridesmaids’ dresses and designing the invitations.
PinEmma found her bridesmaids’ classic black gowns at Azazie Online Boutique. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
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PinEmma designed the wedding invitations using Canva. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
While she enjoyed being hands-on with all the details, Emma says decision fatigue eventually took hold. “Since I am a social worker, I make hundreds of decisions for patients each day,” she explains, “so having to go home and make more decisions about colors and decor really drained me.”
When it comes to planning your own wedding, Emma offers some astute advice: take good care of your vendors. “Make sure they have a meal, offer them the food and drinks in the bridal suite, and make sure they have a place to chill out,” she says. “Vendors make the world go round, and they deserve to be treated as such!”
She also recommends getting a day-of coordinator so you can make the most of the big day. “Time flies, so take moments to purposefully take it all in,” she adds.
Emma credits her vendors with bringing all the planning elements together for a flawless finish. “I do not have a good eye for decor,” she admits, “I know what I like, but I can never describe it.” From the stunning florals by Flourish + Co. to her timeless bridal gown from Ivory and White, Emma stayed open and trusted the professionals to work their magic.
PinEmma’s gorgeous white bouquets added a touch of refined beauty to the old Hollywood theme. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
“Like most girls, I had a Pinterest board full of dresses I liked and wanted to try on,” Emma told us. “But, inevitably, I did not like any of them on me. I finally realized I just had to sit back, let the professionals listen, and then have them pick it out.”
PinEmma knew she wanted a long train for her gown. “I kept saying I wanted my train to go out into Shelby County, and boy did it!” she gushes. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
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Emma also put her own spin on the “something old, new, borrowed, and blue” tradition, opting for a pair of Swarovski earrings from her mother as her “something new.” For “old,” she wrapped a handkerchief around her bouquet, made out of fabric from her mother and grandmother’s wedding dresses. For ‘borrowed,’ a friend loaned her a handkerchief from her own wedding day.
Putting a sweet and sentimental twist on her “something blue,” Emma requested that six friends from different stages of her life wear blue to the wedding.
PinSix dear friends wore blue to the wedding to honor the ‘something blue’ tradition. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
Emma and Daniel decided to write their own vows and share them privately before the ceremony. “We are both criers, and we knew reading vows in front of people was just not going to be a good idea!” Emma explains.
PinThe couple wrote their vows in special keepsake books and shared them in a beautifully intimate moment. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
Their ceremony violinist continued playing into the cocktail hour, where elegant finger foods were served to their 250 guests.
PinHappy Catering delivered on delicious food, including this BLT bruschetta which paired perfectly with a refreshing cocktail. Image: Miranda Beason PhotographyPinAnother look at some of the food by Happy Catering – note the clever way they served salad in individual cups for ease. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
The couple shared their first dance as husband and wife to “Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke. Emma’s father requested “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart for their dance, a song that had always made him think of her, and offered a cute inside joke for the big day. “We wanted a fun song to dance to since we are not incredibly serious people,” Emma shares.
PinDaniel donned a dashing white dinner coat for the reception while Emma slipped off her overskirt and went with a classic bustle. Image: Miranda Beason PhotographyPinEmma surprised her dad with their inside joke embroidered on the back of his tie. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
A buffet dinner was served with the help of Happy Catering, and guests danced the night away, enjoying a Mardi Gras-themed reception — a nod to Daniel’s family from Mobile.
PinMoon Pies and Mardi Gras beads set the tone for the reception. Image: Miranda Beason PhotographyPinDaniel chose a King Cake for his groom’s cake. Image: Miranda Beason PhotographyPinDuring the reception, Emma turned around to see a giant cut-out of her cat, Noodles — a fun surprise from her mother. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
When asked if anything failed to go according to plan, Emma shares a few hiccups. The fire department was called to help someone stuck in an elevator. Thankfully, it wasn’t a wedding guest! Additionally, a groomsman ripped his pants right before group photos. Though he tried his best to hide it, Emma says he was not entirely successful!
As if that weren’t enough, red wine was spilled on Emma’s dress at the end of the night. However, Emma keeps it all in perspective, saying, “I have the worst luck, but surprisingly, nothing terrible happened.”
PinEmma was surprised by a live painter at the wedding, Lakin Kilpatrick, who beautifully captured the wedding party at the altar. Image: Miranda Beason Photography
Emma tells us that her favorite moment of the day was her first look with Daniel. “I had been anxious that day, but the minute I saw him, all the jitters went away,” she says. “After that, I was just so excited and giddy that I did not care what happened. I knew I was leaving with that man as my husband, and that’s all I cared about.”
PinThe happy couple jetted off to Jamaica for their honeymoon. Congrats, Ellards! Image: Miranda Beason PhotographyCongratulations to Emma and Daniel on your fairytale ending! Thank you for sharing your special day with us!
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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