This Memphis Rooftop Wedding Is the Ultimate Happy Ending
Rachel and Alex McCormickβs wedding on Old Dominick Distillery's rooftop was brimming with heartfelt details. Take a closer look!
Alex and Rachel McCormickβs story is one of both loss and love. In June 2020, following her fatherβs passing, Rachel and her mother sought a distraction by swiping through the dating app, Hinge. Together, they swiped through the Bluff Cityβs eligible bachelors until one, in particular, caught their eye.
βTogether, we saw Alexβs profile, and because of his smile, I sent him a βlike,ββ Rachel shares. βAfter days of messaging (and lying a little about how much I love the band Tool), we decided to go out for our first date to Young Ave. We stayed until they closed, and when he walked me to my car at the end of the night, we sealed our last first dates with a little kiss.β
βFor me, loss led to love,β says Rachel. βI didnβt know what to do with it β with all the love I had for my dad. I didnβt know where to put it. But then I met Alex, and he showed me a safe harbor to lay down everything that I was carrying and could give.β
Alex made plans to pop the question at Christmastime in 2021, but even with careful planning, the proposal was almost thwarted due to the ringβs delivery (or lack thereof).
βWith plans to see the Nutcracker downtown the Saturday before Christmas, and the ring due in earlier that week, it seemed like a perfect night,β Rachel recalls. βReservations were made to celebrate afterward, and everything was ready to go until the ringβs delivery was delayed. After days of pressing the jeweler, the ring finally arrived in a buzzer-beater delivery on the morning of the proposal, and Alex hurried off to get things ready.β
After an ecstatic yes in front of a rainy backdrop, Rachel and Alex began planning a wedding to be held nine months later, on September 24, 2022, at Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis.
βWe did all the initial planning ourselves and then handed everything over to my mom and her two sisters,β Rachel tells us, adding, βMy Aunt Joyce is a wonderful florist, and my Aunt Judy is so creative and has a great eye for decorating.β
With the perfect venue selected, which Rachel describes as both masculine and romantic, she selected cinnamon rose-colored satin bridesmaidsβ dresses. Then, she allowed the rest of her color scheme to fall into place. Giving her Aunt Joyce a vague outline of her floral vision, centering on her bouquet of calla lilies, Rachel left the rest of the details to her team of familial experts. βI really wanted to be surprised by everything on the wedding day,β she shares.
Rachelβs dress β only the second she tried on β was an Art Deco gown from The Barefoot Bride in Memphis with 100% cotton details. Thanks to the boutiqueβs extensive selection, Rachel said it was easy to find something that matched her personality and energy.
In keeping with tradition, Rachel donned two pieces of meaningful jewelry that served as something old, new, borrowed, and blue. Her best friend, Ouida Meruvia, lent her an aquamarine ring, holding significance beyond beauty and tradition β aquamarine was Rachelβs fatherβs birthstone.
βMyβ something newβ was a gold necklace with a circle of diamonds in the center given to me by my mom,β Rachel shares. βShe wanted to remind me that we are always connected even though I am starting my own family now.β
As with the planning and execution, the McCormick wedding celebration centered around family. Alexβs brother served as the officiant, and roughly 120 friends and relatives gathered to witness the festivities.
The McCormicks hosted a pre-ceremony cocktail hour, with a buffet-style reception to follow the wedding. In true Memphis style, the spread β catered by Central BBQ β included pulled pork and chicken sandwiches, BBQ nachos, and traditional accompaniments like macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and salad.
The newlyweds took the dance floor to the tune of βLight My Loveβ by Greta Van Fleet before Rachel joined her father-in-law for a touching tribute to her dad, backdropped by βThe Firemanβ by George Strait.
βWe danced to my dadβs and my favorite song when I was a little girl,β Rachel shared. βHe was a fireman, and we LOVED George Strait. It was really special. I was worried that I wouldnβt be able to do the dance. It was one of the things I always really looked forward to about getting married when I was a little girl, and after my dad passed, I thought I had also lost my chance for that dance. My father-in-law, Scott McCormick, has been a great gift.β
The evening continued with an open bar and dance floor. Signature drinks flowed, including an Old Fashioned (his) and the Beeβs Knees (hers). As an added fun detail, the McCormicks brought in Codyβs Caricatures to create memorable takeaways for guests.
When it came to dessert, the pair couldnβt pick a favorite, so they opted to serve them all. The three-tiered naked-style cake boasted a chocolate layer on the bottom, lemon cake in the middle, and strawberry on top, each filled with a matching icing flavor and decorated with vanilla on the outside.
The reception came to a close, as receptions do, but the party didnβt stop there. Guests walked to Beale Street to keep the fun going all night long.
Following the wedding, the couple opted for an adventurous βmini-moonβ at the Grand Canyon National Park and Coconino National Forest, relaxing between both at Cibola Vista Resort and Spa.
βMy best advice is really simple,β the bride tells us regarding a recommendation for brides-to-be. βEnjoy the day. We all want the perfect wedding day, but things donβt always go according to plan. You have to roll with it and focus on having fun and taking time to soak it all in. It rained, I ripped my dress, we didnβt get to try our cake β¦ things happened. But it was still the most beautiful and meaningful day of my life!β
Thank you, Rachel and Alex, for sharing your day with us. And thanks to Ashley Benham for the beautiful photos.
RESOURCES:
Venue: Old Dominick Distillery, Memphis, TN
Photographer: Ashley Benham Photography
Brideβs gown: Zavana Bridal gown from The Barefoot Bride
Bridesmaidsβ dresses: Revelry: Skye satin dress in cinnamon rose
Hair: Emily Cohen
Makeup: Kasey Acuff
Groomβs formalwear: Indochino
Groomsmenβs formalwear: New York Suit Exchange
Invitations, programs & menu cards: Minted
Flowers: Joyce Bicker of The Added Touch
Catering: Central BBQ
Entertainment: CK Soundz Productions
Cake: Sweet LaLaβs Bakery
Caricaturist: Codyβs Caricatures
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Kellie Walton
Kellie Walton is a Tennessee-based travel, food, and beverage writer eating and adventuring her way through life. When she's not in the air, sheβs on the ground discovering the hidden gems in small towns and big cities around the world.