Horses, Family Dogs & Climbing Ivy Charmed Guests at This AL Wedding
When you have a wedding at an equestrian venue, animals are bound to steal the spotlight! The sweet photos from this gorgeous wedding in Pelham, AL, are the "good news" moment you need today. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
Of course, every bride and groom deserves a moment to shine on their wedding day. At this stunning outdoor ceremony just outside Birmingham, however, the animals in attendance simply couldn’t help but turn heads. From graceful horses making surprise cameos to the couple’s adorable dogs standing proud during the ceremony, these wedding photos will melt your heart!
PinAlex and Tera Kaminski were married on April 11, 2025, in Pelham, AL. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
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Alex and Tera matched on Bumble in 2019, but back then, dating apps weren’t quite as mainstream as they are now. Not wanting to make it a conversation piece among family and friends, they went with an alibi when asked how they met. “For the longest time, we told people we met at a Birmingham Barons game on a Thirsty Thursday. If you know, you know,” Tera tells us.
PinAlex and Tera couldn’t tie the knot without the blessing and support of their sweet pups, Archie and Stella. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
When it came time to propose, Alex decided to pop the question on a trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The couple was vacationing with Tera’s brother and his now-fiancée, who also happens to be Tera’s best friend. Alex knew it would be the perfect opportunity for a stunning sunset proposal with those closest to Tera by her side.
With the help of Stefany Keisler of Creating Moments Wedding and Events, the couple invited 100 guests to the gorgeous Windwood Equestrian estate in Pelham for the ceremony and reception. “I knew I wanted an outdoor wedding, and the venue is stunning — elegant, European vibes, exactly what I envisioned,” Tera says.
PinThe ivy-clad outdoor fireplace and breathtaking floral mantel created the perfect backdrop for the open-air ceremony. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
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PinOne of the resident horses at Windwood Equestrian wanted to give the happy couple its hearty congratulations. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
Alex and Tera knew their dogs would be part of the big day. “They’re basically our children, so it was a no-brainer,” Tera says. “They walked down the aisle with the wedding party and somehow managed to stay up there the whole ceremony.”
PinArchie and Stella were dressed to the nines and ready for the grand occasion. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
Tera says the color scheme for the day came from a lifelong love of blue hydrangeas … along with hours spent on Pinterest. With light blue and white as her primary colors, her bridesmaids’ dresses added a bright pop of yellow. “My bridesmaids’ dresses were inspired by the iconic yellow dress from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” Tera says.
PinBridesmaids wore a buttery yellow for a stunning, springy look. Image: Krista Suzanne PhotographyPinEverywhere you looked, light blue hydrangeas and white florals with hints of yellow adorned the estate. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
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When asked about her own dress, Tera laughs as she explains, “It was everything I thought I didn’t want.” The strapless, A-line silhouette with a high slit and long, dramatic train had not been on her vision board when she tried it on at The Something Blue Shoppe in Hartselle, AL. “I went in thinking I wanted something sleek, simple, and form-fitting,” Tera says, “but when I put it on, it just felt right. It was timeless, traditional, and felt like a true wedding dress.”
PinTera’s dress was everything she never knew she wanted. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
Tera and Alex did a few things their own way during the ceremony, including public and private vows. “We did private vows to each other before the ceremony, then during the ceremony we mixed in some traditional vows with a few personal touches,” Tera explains.
However, the vows didn’t exactly go as planned. “I forgot to transfer my vows from my phone to a cute notebook, so I ended up scribbling them on a sheet of paper while getting my hair and makeup done,” Tera recalls, “Meanwhile, my husband had his perfectly written in a little book.”
PinThe couple’s private vows made for an emotional and intimate moment. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
Luckily, the ceremony concluded just before a rain shower moved in. Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres in Windwood’s chic stables. A grand charcuterie board offered artisan breads, imported cheeses, antipasto, and fresh fruit, plus a Swiss cheese and bacon-stuffed pastry and heirloom tomato bruschetta.
Dinner was buffet-style and included all the Southern staples: smoked brisket, BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, baked beans, potatoes au gratin, cornbread, and salad. For dessert, banana pudding shooters and peach cobbler were served.
PinGuests took Polaroids to create a photo guestbook. Image: Krista Suzanne PhotographyPinThese koozie wedding favors were a hit with guests. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
When the bride and groom walked out for their first dance as husband and wife, they were thrown a bit of a curveball. “Our first dance was to I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith, but the band played the wrong version,” Tera recalls, “so we completely winged it!”
PinTera and Alex improvised when the band played an unexpected version of their first dance song. And they looked fabulous doing it! Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
The wedding cake was simple, beautiful vanilla buttercream. Thanks to a creative touch, you might never guess it was delivered with a bright green top instead of the pale blue they’d intended! “My mom cut it off the morning of, and we just stuck flowers on top!” Tera says.
PinBeautiful wedding florals came to the rescue when the cake was delivered with a top layer that was entirely the wrong color. Image: Krista Suzanne PhotographyThe couple made their exit as guests popped streamers for a fun send-off. But the party was just getting started. “We hopped on a party bus with our bridal party and their plus-ones to head back to Birmingham and keep the celebration going,” Tera says.
She recalls the after-party as one of the day’s highlights, saying, “I think it was because all the stress was gone. The wedding and reception were incredible, but that moment of singing and dancing with all our best friends felt so carefree and fun — it was just pure celebration.”
PinA streamer send-off was the perfect way to end the big day and kick off the after-party. Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
Even with a wedding planner, Tera says the time commitment of planning a wedding was way more than she expected, saying, “The amount of tiny details to think about was insane.” Still, she says it’s true what they say – it really is the fastest day of your life. Her advice: “Be truly present. Don’t spend hair and makeup time stressing about the ceremony, or the cocktail hour, or thinking about the reception. Enjoy each part of the day as it comes.”
PinCongratulations to the Kaminski family! Image: Krista Suzanne Photography
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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