December 14, 2013
CEREMONY: Cathedral Church of the Advent Birmingham, Alabama
RECEPTION: Country Club of Birmingham
Photos: Arden Photography
“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together but do so with all your heart.” ”“ Marcus Aurelius
It was highly unlikely that Charlotte Goyer and Jon Michael Parsons would ever meet”¦ Fate intervened when Jon Michael made the last minute decision to go to business school at the University of Alabama. Charlotte met Jon Michael that first day of school and as fate would have it, they soon fell in love. Before long they were planning their lives together.
THE BACK STORY
Charlotte Goyer graduated from Auburn University with plans to attend business school at the University of Alabama the following fall. She was looking forward to the next phase of her life and was excited about the move from Auburn to Tuscaloosa. Jon Michael Parsons made the last minute decision to go on to business school after graduating from Alabama and working for a while after graduation. Had he waited, they would not have been in the same class. Charlotte saw Jon Michael that first day and thought he was cute”¦ and with a relatively small class size of about 90 people, they saw each other frequently. Over the first few months, they got to know each other and the first time they were together outside of class on a beach trip weekend with friends, their friendship began to blossom. Charlotte said they always seemed to gravitate toward each other. Soon, Jon Michael invited Charlotte out for dinner for their first date. Charlotte and Jon Michael had all of their classes together their second year of school and spent all of their time together. The couple had been dating for less than a year but both knew they were very serious about each other. They had a very important decision to make when Jon Michael accepted a job in Atlanta. Jon Michael and Charlotte talked it over and rather than date long distance, they decided that Charlotte would interview for jobs in Atlanta. Before too long, they were both settled and working in Atlanta; going about normal life. Little did Charlotte know that Jon Michael was already working on finding the perfect engagement ring.
THE PROPOSAL
Charlotte and Jon Michael had talked about marriage and also about how they™d get engaged when it happened. They both agreed that when the time came, there would be no big show or public displays of affection”¦ something very sweet, simple and sincere was what Charlotte hoped for. That’s just how Jon Michael planned it, too. Jon Michael and his family went to pick out the ring together and they were all in on the proposal plans.
Jon Michael had both sets of parents come to Atlanta for the occasion. He and Charlotte spent that entire Saturday together. Jon Michael told Charlotte they had plans to have dinner with his cousins- which was a pretty normal activity so her suspicions were not raised”¦ it seemed like a perfectly normal Saturday. Jon Michael told Charlotte he would pick her up for dinner and when he arrived, Charlotte noticed he was very dressed up but she was still not the least suspicious about why. After some very sweet sentiments, Jon Michael popped the question just the way Charlotte had wanted, very private and very sweet and sincere. Jon Michael told her that both sets of parents were in Atlanta and waiting to share the news. They celebrated over dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead and again the next day at brunch.
WEDDING PLANS
Because Jon Michael’s job is very demanding from January-April and football season was also very busy for the couple, it left only a few months for a wedding. Both the church and the country club were available in December so the date was set. Since she was living in Atlanta with a new job, Charlotte had little time to devote to planning a wedding in Birmingham. Luckily, her mother was able to handle a good deal of the planning for her and they enlisted Mountain Brook wedding planner Neillie Butler of Mariee Ami Wedding Studio to execute the plan. The first task was selecting the gown from a shop in Atlanta. Next, they turned to Birmingham floral designer Leah Hazzard for help with the overall wedding design. Charlotte knew she wanted something different than the typical red and green holiday décor for their reception in the East Room of the Country Club of Birmingham. Charlotte wanted a vintage look for the wedding with antiques, mirrors, lace tablecloths and candelabras. Neillie suggested a margarita bar with a “Mistletoe Margarita” signature cocktail served with festive red and white straws. They also had an oyster bar and enclosed the back room to create a warm, inviting area for guests to mix and mingle.
Mo Davis from Arden Photography was hired to handle the photography. The bridesmaid gowns were from Bella Bridesmaid in Homewood, Alabama and the men all wore their own tuxedos for the occasion. Barb Sullivan of Cakes by Barb created both the bride’s cake and the simple, monogrammed groom’s cake. The entertainment, most specifically the band was one thing the couple got very involved with since they wanted the music to be fun. The band Complete Desire on Fire was the perfect fit and kept the party going long into the night. The couple danced their first dance to Stevie Wonder’s You are the Sunshine of my Life.
Charlotte says one of her favorite moments was in the library of the club where the couple had their first look. She loved the way the holiday lights and decorations made the day feel even more festive and special.
After a honeymoon trip to Playa Mujeres, Mexico, the couple is residing in Atlanta and enjoying many of their wedding gifts from Bromberg’s including Tena Payne Earthborn Pottery and their Waterford crystal.
Charlotte & Jon Michael’s Bromberg’s Wedding Registry includes:
Formal China: Herend Golden Laurel
Casual China: Juliska Berry & Thread
Formal Crystal: Waterford Lismore
Silver Flatware: Gorham Strasbourg
Congratulations Charlotte and Jon Michael! Bromberg’s wishes you a lifetime of love and happiness together.