When Olivia and Justin began planning their wedding, they envisioned an event that would blend timeless elegance with deeply personal, emotional tributes. Hosted at the luxurious Grand Bohemian Hotel, their big day ultimately unfolded as a breathtaking celebration of love, family heritage, and cherished memories. From a stunning ballroom transformation saturated in vibrant pink hues to deeply touching moments honoring those who could not be there in person, the couple’s wedding stands out as a masterclass in meaningful event design.
Food & Drink
The culinary experience for the evening set an elevated tone right from the start of cocktail hour, expertly catered by the Grand Bohemian and their talented team of chefs. Guests were treated to an expansive array of passed and stationed hors d’oeuvres designed to delight the senses. Among the standout selections were mini cups of southern-inspired shrimp and grits alongside delicate raspberry and brie puff pastries, offering a sophisticated balance of savory comfort and gourmet flair.
To further personalize the evening, the couple curated a custom bar menu featuring signature cocktails named in their honor. Justin’s Transfusion and Olivia’s French 75 added a bespoke touch to the celebration, ensuring that every detail of the hospitality reflected the couple’s personal tastes and gave their guests something memorable to toast with.
Florals & Decor
Transforming a blank venue canvas into a cohesive visual masterpiece requires immense creative vision, and Carol of Lillie Janes delivered just that. Drawing inspiration directly from the bride’s Pinterest board, Carol saturated the Grand Bohemian ballroom in shades of pink, turning the space into a vivid floral wonderland.
Every corner of the venue told a story through design. A floral-lined stage provided a dramatic backdrop for the live band, creating a stunning visual contrast against the classic black-and-white checkered dance floor below. Further into the room, a show-stopping cake table dripping in cascading pink florals captured the attention of everyone in attendance. Reflecting on the execution of her aesthetic dreams, the bride shared that Carol completely understood the vision and brought it to life with absolute perfection.
Wedding Cake
The central dessert of the evening was a creation by Telia Johnson, who designed a classic almond-vanilla wedding cake decorated with delicate icing and fresh flowers. While the cake itself was a traditional showpiece, it featured an extra-special, sentimental touch that tied generations together. Atop the confection sat the groom’s parents’ original wedding cake topper from their 1987 wedding, honoring Justin’s family history in a subtle yet profoundly meaningful way.
Special Detail #1
While the wedding was filled with joy, it was also a day marked by profound reflection and remembrance. Just two months after Justin and the bride became engaged, his mother tragically passed away from breast cancer. The devastating loss completely altered their world and reshaped what wedding planning meant to them. Ensuring that she was included in their wedding day and celebrated in a way she would have wanted became a central priority for the couple.
Before her passing, Justin’s mother had chosen the song for what would have been their mother-son dance: "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan. Rather than observing a traditional, solemn mother-son dance, the couple chose a path of collective celebration. They invited all of their guests onto the dance floor to dance to the song she selected and celebrate her life together. Surrounded by the love of their closest friends and family, the moment turned into one of the most powerful and meaningful parts of the reception—an experience the bride described as something she will never forget and one she knows Justin’s mom would have wanted.
"It also made for one of my favorite pictures from our entire wedding," Olivia shared. "Me and Justin, surrounded by our closest people, celebrating his mom’s life."
Special Detail #2
Because Justin is not typically a fan of traditional cake, the couple decided that a standard groom’s cake did not fit his personality. Throughout their relationship, the couple has made a ritual of visiting Mountain Brook Creamery for date nights, where Justin invariably orders his favorite dessert of all time: the Chocolate Chip Special. Given that the creamery is one of their favorite spots in Birmingham, it offered the perfect alternative to a traditional baked groom’s dessert.
When the bride found herself struggling to find a way to serve the ice cream treat while maintaining the wedding’s upscale aesthetic, Justin stepped in. He built a custom cart entirely from scratch, designing it precisely to match the vision Olivia had imagined. "The fact that he built it himself made the dessert even more meaningful, and the finished result couldn’t have been more perfect," Olivia noted.
Special Detail #3
Family history and regional pride also played a major role in the reception details, most notably through the couple’s guest book. While preparing for the wedding, the bride discovered a vintage Auburn football book tucked away in her grandparents’ home. Hailing from a proud lineage of Auburn graduates—with her grandfather having served as the quarterback for the historic 1957 national championship team—incorporating the book felt like a natural tribute.
It served not only as a creative nod to their alma mater and family legacy, but also as a touching way to honor her grandparents during the reception. Today, the vintage book rests on the couple’s coffee table at home, where they frequently open its pages to reread the warm notes and well-wishes left by their guests, preserving the memory of their wedding day long after the final dance.
