A ski trip to Big Bear, California was supposed to be a winter vacation with friends for Kimberly Pappas”¦ and it was, for the most part. That is, until Brendan Haney joined the group. Between the skiing and the apes-skiing activities, the two began to talk and a friendship began. That friendship grew into a romance. Four months later, Kimberly and Brendan went on their first date. A little more than two years later, Brendan proposed to Kimberly in the middle of her beloved Auburn University campus under the trees at the legendary Toomer’s Corner with friends and family watching.
The Back Story
Kimberly and Brendan started talking pretty regularly after they met on the friends Big Bear ski weekend in February. They both knew that they were already more than friends”¦ but it took about four months for Brendan to ask Kimberly on their first real date. They went to Jones in West Hollywood, just steps away from the Warner Brothers Hollywood lot. It’s a cool place with big leather red leather banquettes where hip Hollywood people like Keifer Southerland and Kevin Bacon hang out. The couple started their romance in the City of Angels but wound up moving to New York the following year. Since Brendan is from Connecticut, it was almost a move home. For Kimberly, it was still a long way from her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama where she grew up and Auburn University, where she went to college. Early in the relationship, Brendan learned just how important Auburn and Auburn football is to Kimberly and her family. Her dad, Gus Pappas, owner of Alabama’s largest florist, Norton’s Florist, went to Auburn and her brother Cameron is currently a student there. They don™t miss a game and make the trek to The Plains several times per year. Brendan knew this would be the perfect spot to ask Kimberly to be his wife.
The Proposal
Kimberly and Brendan planned to spend the weekend of November 12, 2010 with family and friends at Auburn for the Georgia game. What Kimberly did not know was that Brendan had been secretly meeting with her dad’s best friend, Lewis Leopard, the diamond buyer for Bromberg’s in Birmingham, Alabama. Brendan and Lewis came up with the perfect ring for Brendan’s surprise proposal. Brendan hardly had time to get the ring before they headed down to Auburn. On Friday night, on their way to dinner with Kimberly’s parents, Brendan urged Kimberly to stop to take a photo under an iconic Auburn landmark— the trees at Toomer’s Corner. It was there that he popped the question with their friends and family watching from across the street”¦ a big cheer went up when the ring went on! They celebrated the proposal the entire weekend and because the Tigers beat Georgia, the weekend was just perfect!
Wedding Plans
As they started thinking about the guest list for the wedding, Kimberly and Brendan realized that most of their guests would be flying in for the wedding, no matter where they had it. The couple decided they wanted a fun destination to make a whole weekend and mini vacation out of the wedding festivities. Since Santa Rosa Beach was a favorite spot for Kimberly and her family and it was a place she knew well, they felt it would be perfect for their weekend wedding. As a high-end corporate event planner, Kimberly is a pro and knew what she wanted for the actual details of the day. In short order, she had the venue and the date secured. The couple made a trip down to the beach over New Year’s to make the remainder of the plans. Since Kimberly’s father owns Norton’s Florist, the décor and flowers were an easy choice. The venue they selected, Bentley’s on the Bay is a waterfront venue, situated on the backwater of Choctawatchee Bay in between Panama City and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
While she knew what she wanted for the wedding, the gown was another story. Kimberly had no idea what she wanted at all. She made an appointment with Los Angeles designer Monique Lhullier for her gown and when she tried on gown #4, she knew she™d found the perfect dress: a strapless tuck tiered gown accented with a satin belt. Kimberly wore blue shoes as her “something blue” and borrowed earrings from Brendan’s mother for the wedding. Her “something old” was Brendan’s grandmother’s antique necklace which was incorporated into her bouquet. The bridesmaids wore short Jenny Yoo gowns in navy blue accessorized by shoes and jewelry that were a gift from the couple.
Brendan had a custom suit designed for the wedding by Mohan’s Custom
Tailors of Birmingham. Lonnie Mims of Mr. Burch Formal Wear ordered classic navy blazers with gold buttons for the groomsmen to pair with khaki trousers. Kimberly and Brendan gave each shoes and a blue and green striped tie to complete the look.
The reception venue was transformed into a chic boutique hotel look created by Norton’s lead wedding designer J Ross Railey. All white seating groups accented with plush pillows, sheer white drapes, and strands of white lights outlined the reception area. The wharf was set up so guests could enjoy cocktails and watch the sunset. Gorgeous containers of white and green flowers including green Cymbidium, white Dendrobium, white Phalaenopsis orchids, white roses, and silver candelabras were arranged on mirror table runners on each dining table.
The couple wanted lots of personal touches for the wedding and had personalized drink koozies, pashmina wraps, and customized Auburn shakers for their guests which were used to cheer the couple down the aisle after the wedding ceremony.
After the ceremony, the wedding party boarded a party bus for a couple of hours of fun including photographs at the beach.
After entering the reception to an Auburn fan favorite song, All I Do is Win by DJ Khaled featuring Ludacris and Snoop Dogg, the couple danced their first dance to Adele’s Make You Feel My Love. The party went on into the night as Kimberly’s favorite beach DJ turned the reception into a rocking party club.
After a honeymoon trip, the couple is at home in New York City, excited about their first Christmas together as a married couple. Kimberly’s parents are making the trip to the city for the holidays and then they™ll all head to Connecticut for Christmas with Brendan’s family.
Kimberly & Brendan’s Bromberg’s Wedding Registry includes:
Casual China: Arte Italica Perlina & Tesoro and Wedgwood Nature’s Canvas
Stainless Flatware: La Maison Como
Casual Glassware: Riedel “O”
Congratulations, Kimberly and Brendan! Our very best wishes to you for a lifetime of love and long and happy life together.