August 27, 2011
CEREMONY: Canterbury United Methodist Church
RECEPTION: The Club
Images: Arden Ward of Arden Photography
A long distance romance, a job transfer and sudden move to Texas, a new job for Amelia, an engagement, some long distance wedding planning, a wedding, and a honeymoon all happened within twelve monthsāĀ¦ even one of those things would be enough to send most couples over a cliff. Amelia Medina and Jeff Jantz have managed to take it all in strideāĀ¦ even moving back home to Birmingham before the Christmas holidays. Now, that is not only a whirlwind romance, that’s love!
Here’s their wedding story:
The Back Story
Picture thisāĀ¦ It’s Halloween on Pensacola Beach, Florida and the whole town is dressed up to celebrateāĀ¦ except for a couple of guys dressed in suits who wander into a bar to have a drink after a wedding reception. Unless they were dressed up as groomsmen, which would have been pretty clever, they really stuck out amongst all of the ghosts, goblins, Lady Gagas, and Snoop Doggs dressed up for Halloween. They were so noticeable, in fact, Amelia Medina immediately noticed themāĀ¦ especially Jeff Jantz. After she bumped into Jeff for the second time in the crowded bar, Amelia got up the nerve to speak. They talked for a while and at the end of the evening, Jeff asked her to go to lunch on the beach the next day. After that, a whirlwind romance began. Jeff invited Amelia to Birmingham the following weekend for their first official date. He wanted her to see the best of Birmingham so he planned dinner with a viewāĀ¦ the best view in town, in fact. Jeff took Amelia to Birmingham’s icon on top of Red Mountain, The Club. Months later, they were toasting their wedding vows with friends and family at the exact same spot.
The Proposal
The long-distance dating didnā¢t last for long. Both Jeff and Amelia knew they were serious about each other from the beginning of the relationship so when Jeff told her that he was being transferred to Texas for his work, she felt as if sheā¢d been kicked in the stomach. The couple talked it over and decided to make the move together; Jeff arriving in Texas at the end of January 2010 and Amelia about a month later. Shortly after that, on March 5, 2011, Jeff planned dinner at The Vineyard, a romantic restaurant set in the desert hill country near San Antonio. Knowing how much Amelia craves sweets, Jeff had organized for dessert to be set up in a secluded spot in the middle of the vineyard with flowers and candles on the tableāĀ¦ but for the first time in their relationship, Amelia did not want to order dessert and was ready to go. Jeff managed to talk her into it and a few moments later, he proposed.
Wedding Plans
Some of the preliminary wedding planning was already underway even before the proposal since the couple was moving. They knew they were going to get married and wanted to get the date set and a venue selected before they left town. Since Jeff is a member of The Club, and because it was the site of their first date, the couple wanted to have the wedding reception there. They attended a wedding event there in early January and found most of the vendors they wanted to work with for the wedding: Arden Photography, Cakes by Audrey, Norton’s Florist, and The White Room. The planning was well underway.
Amelia’s gown was by designer Jenny Lee and featured a rouched bodice, fitted over the hipline and flared into an embellished trumpet skirt that looked like roses. Amelia had seen the gown in Alabama Weddings Magazine and knew it was the gown she wanted. Once she tried it on, it was perfect. Amelia added a beaded belt and a veil trimmed with a beautiful bias cut fabric edge to match the gown. The bridesmaids wore short turquoise gowns from Bella Bridesmaids accented with bright yellow shoes and yellow flowers to match. The men all wore traditional black tuxedos and Jeff wore a classic white dinner jacket from Mr. Burch Formal Wear in Mountain Brook.
The flowers and overall design of the wedding were left to J Ross Railey, the lead wedding designer from Norton’s Florist. The bride’s bouquet was a mound of white roses to replicate the design from her the skirt of her bridal gown. The bridesmaids carried yellow roses and calla lilies. For the ceremony, traditional arrangements in white, yellow, and blue flanked the massive white altar at Canterbury. At the reception, a modern and sleek design worked perfectly with the glass and chrome surroundings. Tall cylinders with stems of calla lilies, iris, roses, and hydrangea were used on mirror squares in the center of each table.
Since both Jeff and Amelia both love sports, they wanted their cake to reflect their devotion to their favorite schools. Half of the cake was designed in Auburn orange and blue for Jeff and the other half was designed in Florida State maroon and yellow for Amelia. A custom figurine of the couple sat at the top of the cake; Jeff in his Auburn track suit and Amelia in a FSU cheerleading uniform.
After the ceremony, the couple arrived at The Club in āHelenāĀ an impeccable 1954 gold Rolls Royce touring sedan with huge white wall tires. Their photos were then taken on the balcony overlooking the city in the same spot where they took their engagement photos months earlier. After a bite to eat and a preview of the reception menu, the couple danced their first dance to Train’s Marry Me. The dancing went on all night thanks to the Nashville band, Groove Addiction.
The couple has since packed up their life in Texas and relocated back to Birmingham. We certainly wish them well as they unpack and set up their new home.
Amelia & Jeff’s Bromberg’s Wedding Registry includes:
Casual China: Earthborn Pottery Botanicals
Stainless Flatware: Ricci Argentieri Bamboo
Casual Glassware: Sterling Cut Glass Heirloom
Miscellaneous: Peterman Wood Bowls, Auburn Tervis Tumblers & Accessories
Congratulations, Amelia and Jeff! Our very best wishes to you for a lifetime of love and long and happy life together.
