Taylor and AJ were married at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens on October 13, 2018. Read on to hear about their wedding day.
Photos by Beth Mitchiemo
Ages: Taylor is 27. AJ is 30.
Occupations: Taylor is a journalist. AJ is a photographer.
How they met: On Taylor’s 21st birthday. “I technically couldn’t enter the bar until after midnight when I legally turned 21. Even though it was a Tuesday, and late, two of my friends still wanted to take me out somewhere to get that first legal drink. Not wanting to go far and with limited options in Southern Indiana, I chose the former Irish Exit in downtown New Albany. I knew my favorite cousin, Kyle, frequented the bar to play pool at the time, so I had hoped he might be there. He was, and he ended up being with my future husband,” Taylor says.
Engagement story: “AJ thought it might be nice to take our puppy Django on a walk at Mount Saint Francis in Floyds Knobs. When we got to the lake on the trail, AJ asked if we should try and take a family picture with Django. He wedged his phone in between two tree branches and set the self-timer — or so I thought. When I couldn’t get my two-month-old puppy to sit still and face the camera, and had figured the time had run out on the timer, I stood to go reset it. When I turned back around, AJ was on one knee with the ring in his hand.”
Number of wedding guests: 150
Ceremony and reception: Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Wedding theme: Greenery, gold, copper and ivory.
Personal touches: “We both wrote a letter to each other to read before the ceremony,” Taylor says. “I surprised him by recording my letter onto a vinyl record inside the recording booth at Jack White’s Third Man Records in Nashville, Tennessee. Instead of reading my letter, he got to listen to my voice before the ceremony. Other personal touches included a chair reserved for my father, who passed unexpectedly a few years ago. We also had blue fabric from one of his shirts sewn in the shape of a heart inside my dress and his picture attached to my bouquet. Since he couldn’t walk me down the aisle, I was blessed in having his father, my papaw, walk me instead. My papaw had all boys, so this walk was extra special for the both of us.”
First-dance song: “Fade Into You,” by Nashville cast members Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen.
The day in three words: “Beautiful, meaningful, surreal.”
Favorite part of the day: “My favorite part of the day would have to be seeing him for the first time that day when we met at the altar. Seeing his reaction, how sweet he was with my papaw, who gave me away. And his silently mouthed ‘Killer’ comment on my dress didn’t hurt either.”
Advice: “We had our officiant set aside a moment in the ceremony where we just took a moment to look around and soak it all in before being declared married. It really allowed us to commit that moment to memory.”
Photo by Beth Mitchiemo
DETAILS
Photographer: Beth Mitchiemo
Coordinator: Tiara Fowler of White Flower Weddings
Flowers: Merci Bouquet
Stationery/invitations: Minted
Cake/desserts: Lady A Cakes
Rehearsal dinner: North End Cafe on Frankfort Avenue
Caterer/menu: Morris Deli and Catering
Rentals: Fifty Chairs, Rental Depot and Party Central
Rings: Etsy and Koerber’s Fine Jewelry
Attire: Regiss Bridal (Bride), RenzRags Etsy Shop (Bridesmaids), The Black Tux (Groom and Groomsmen)
Hair: Jessica Price and Kate Renner of Tangled Salon and Spa LLC, New Albany
Makeup: Kelsey Taylor Fell
Transportation: Fan-Van LLC, Louisville
Registry: Target and Bed Bath & Beyond
Honeymoon: New Zealand
This originally appeared in the Spring/Summer 2019 issue of Louisville Bride. To subscribe to Louisville Magazine, click here. To find us on newsstands, click here.
If you are interested in submitting your wedding to Louisville Bride, please email editor Mary Chellis Nelson at mcnelson@loumag.com.
