Sometimes, finding love is as simple as strolling into the right place at the right time. That’s the story of Scott Fell and Hannah Christine-Fell.
In 2021, Scott stopped by Hannah’s Birmingham shop, Hide & Hunter, and wound up chatting with Hannah for two hours. The two swapped numbers so Hannah could try out Scott’s local gym, Fell Fitness — but unbeknownst to Hannah, Scott added his last name to hers in his phone, because he knew then and there that he wanted to marry her.
Get a peek behind the scenes of their love story and their dreamy, Italian-inspired wedding day!
“We got engaged a little over three months after we met; what a whirlwind!” Hannah recalls.
Scott had asked her to film a workout reel with him, so she met him at his gym and helped him get everything set up. After demonstrating a few split squat lunges, he stayed on one knee and pulled out the ring. “We got it all on camera,” Hannah tells us, “It was just him and me with no one else around, which was exactly what I wanted!”
Hannah knew she wanted to get out of town for their wedding, so she and her mom got to work planning. First, Hannah had her sights set on Italy. “My dad’s side of the family came from a little hamlet outside of Rome, and I love that Old World Italian aesthetic,” Hannah says.
Instead, she chose her hometown of Pensacola, Florida for the big day and infused hints of Italy in the details. “Once we decided to change the location, we just maintained the same coastal Italian theme of citrus, olive trees, herbs, butter yellows, terracotta, and blue chinoiserie,” Hannah explains.
Hannah got some assistance from Celebrations Florist to bring her vision to life. She knew the charm and elegance of Pensacola’s historic district would perfectly align, so the ceremony was held at Old Christ Church with a reception at the Barkley House. “I wanted the wedding to be more of an experience than an event, so it was important for me to host the wedding at venues that represented the town’s historical beauty while making it easy for guests to move between sites,” Hannah explains.
Seville Square fit the bill — the church and reception venues were just a block away. “We had a vintage trolley carrying guests who didn’t want to walk from ceremony to reception,” Hannah says.
When it came to her dress, Hannah knew what she wanted. She turned her dream into reality by piecing together the perfect elements herself. “I chose a beaded pearl sheer mesh dress with an ivory slip, completed with a silk ballgown detachable overskirt,” she tells us. “I finished the look with a pair of gold and diamond cross earrings from my friend’s jewelry brand [Birmingham’s own Shalla Wista] and a brass and pearl crown under my cathedral-and-blusher combination veil.”
During the ceremony, Hannah and Scott had a pianist set the tone while they exchanged traditional vows. Then, the couple invited their 140 guests to a cocktail hour where they served champagne, wine, and mixed cocktails. A seafood station also featured raw oysters, grilled oysters, cocktail shrimp, and an assortment of passed hors d’oeuvres.
A buffet-style dinner from Classic City Catering followed, beginning with an almond salad with sweet lettuce, strawberries, and mandarin oranges. Main dishes included beef medallions with mustard horseradish and red wine demi-glace, as well as a Tuscan chicken piccata and snapper with hollandaise. For sides, guests enjoyed a Yukon Gold and sweet potato gratin with Mahón cheese, and wood-grilled vegetables splashed with balsamic vinaigrette, curry, and romesco.
The bride and groom’s cakes paid homage to the families they brought together. The bride’s multi-tiered mandarin orange cake with cream cheese and whipped icing was a nod to her parents’ wedding cake, while the groom’s Italian-inspired strawberry cake was topped with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
As the night drew to a close, the newlyweds departed beneath a shower of glittering sparklers, strolling hand in hand through the charming downtown streets beneath the romantic night sky to their nearby bed and breakfast.
While planning a destination wedding in her hometown had advantages, Hannah says getting an in-town coordinator made a huge difference. “Even if it’s just to help a few months ahead of time, they give you boots-on-the-ground information and help avoid logistical confusion as the day approaches,” she explains.
When it comes to planning a wedding unique to you, your values, and your vision, Hannah offers some advice.
“Be hands-on with your wedding planning but also know when and how to designate responsibility so you can enjoy the days leading up to your event,” she says. “Also, think of your wedding as an experience, not just an event. Add in little touches that provide you and your guests with sweet moments that reflect you and your husband, the setting of your wedding weekend, and opportunities to make special memories that everyone can take home with them.”
Congrats to the Fells! Thanks, Hannah and Scott, for sharing your big day with us!
RESOURCES
Ceremony Venue: Old Christ Church
Reception Venue: Barkley House
Photographer: Hannah Pennington
Videographer: Mari Media Films
Bride’s Jewelry: Shalla Wista
Makeup: Carson Jane, Carson Jane Beauty
Hair: Mark Hyde, Forecast Salon
Groom’s formalwear: Shaia’s
Invitations, programs & menu cards: Artesana Imports
Flowers: Celebrations Florist
Catering: Classic City Catering
Entertainment: The Ramblers
Cake: Betty Weber Cakes
STYLEBLUEPRINT RESOURCES:
Planning a wedding? Check out StyleBlueprint’s two Wedding Resource Guides. (More to come!):
- StyleBlueprint Nashville’s Wedding Resource Guide
- StyleBlueprint Birmingham’s Wedding Resource Guide
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