Rachel radiated pure joy on her wedding day to husband Cristian! Their June wedding took place in our neighborhood in downtown Birmingham, and we adore all the special moments captured by wedding photographer and videographer Bennett Looper. Alabama wedding planner Courtney Bell with La Belle Vie Weddings created a wedding vision that was modern with organic touches.

Rachel and her best friends got ready at the historic downtown Elyton Hotel. She wore white satin bridal pajamas while her bridesmaids wore matching blue satin getting ready PJs. Local makeup artist Courtney White did Rachel’s bright and fresh bridal makeup, while hairstylist Hannah Parks with Cahaba Roots did Rachel’s loose bridal updo.

Rachel’s wedding dress is truly something special, as it is a custom combination unique to her. She chose the bodice of our Tiffany Nicole Beaded wedding dress with sparkle, which features spaghetti straps and an art deco-inspired beaded pattern. She combined that with the skirt of our Juliet Lane wedding dress from our Build-A-Bride™ collection. Juliet Lane is a romantic wedding dress with a gathered English netting skirt, and Rachel further customized it by selecting a nude lining and changing select fabric layers to our new sparkle gazar so that her wedding dress shimmered against the light as she walked down the aisle. We love introducing new fabrics and customizable options for our brides, and we appreciate it when brides like Rachel are on board to try something completely new.

For added personalization, Rachel added a thigh-high slit to her skirt, which perfectly showed off her bow bridal shoes! Wedding dresses with slits are a top bridal trend this year, and we adore the subtle sexiness and movement it added to Rachel’s modern, yet feminine wedding dress.

Says Rachel of her wedding dress experience, “Heidi, Liz, Lauren and their whole team were the sweetest human beings to work with. They all encompassed love, compassion, and excitement each time I came to meet with them. I cannot thank them enough for their hospitality, and I cannot rave enough on the time and detail they spent to make my dress perfect.”

Rachel’s friends looked chic in satin bridesmaids dresses in a variety of silhouettes and shades of blue. To tie these individual dresses together, all ladies wore matching pairs of statement bridesmaids earrings. Cristian and his groomsmen wore striking blue suits that made for a cohesive bridal party look. The group took adorable photos on Morris Avenue, which is not only one of the most historic and popular streets in downtown Birmingham, but it is home to our flagship Heidi Elnora Atelier!

Rachel and Cristian said “I do” at The Theodore, a bright, industrial wedding venue in Birmingham. The modern florals and organic wedding arch by florist Mary Beth Rush brought the event space to life. The venue transformed beautifully into a party reception space featuring a live band and modern wedding cake with greenery. You can tell the guests had such a fun time dancing the night away before sending off the newlyweds with a sparkler send off!

Best wishes, Rachel and Cristian! Sending our love to this sweet couple!