an auburn love story: will and mollie

Their love story began one evening at a local bar in their college town. Will and his friends were enjoying a boys' night out, while Mollie was out with her girlfriends. From a platform above the dance floor, Will noticed her, and their eyes met in a moment of mutual intrigue. Despite several exchanged glances, neither made a move until they found themselves walking in the same direction after leaving the bar.

““When we all stopped at the crosswalk at Toomer’s Corner, Will decided to make a move. He said ‘hey’ and started asking me questions, and we walked down the street to the pizza place where he and his friends were going. We talked for about 5 more minutes until his friends yelled “get her number already!””

— Mollie May

knowing he's the one

Mollie wasn't quick to say yes when Will asked her to be his girlfriend—three times, in fact, before she finally agreed. Her hesitation speaks to her desire to wait for what feels right.

““He completes the other half of me, takes care of me, and loves me unlike I had ever felt before. That’s how I knew he was the one.””

— Mollie May

What ultimately won her over was their uncanny ability to see eye-to-eye on everything that mattered: from future plans of marriage and family to shared values and beliefs. Will’s unwavering patience and deep love showed her that he was the one she had been waiting for.

““We are always thinking the same thing, he matches my love and my crazy. He is everything and more.””

— Mollie May

the gown

Mollie's wedding gown was a genuine reflection of her personality—sleek and symmetrical with a flair for the dramatics–like we said, her genuine personality ;)

What made Mollie’s gown truly special was her decision to incorporate elements from her mother’s gown.

““My mom had a long sleeve, cathedral train, impeccably embellished European/Princess Diana type dress.””

— Mollie May

The buttons from her mother's gown now adorned the back of her own, and the embellished train, so cherished by her mother, now felt perfectly at home on Mollie’s gown. Through this marriage of two distinctly different love stories, Mollie and her Mother can see hints of each love story in one timeless gown.

““My seamstress was Katherine Ryles of Mountain Brook, I have to give it all to her for making my true dreams come to life.””

— Mollie May

wedding bells

Their wedding day was filled with cherished moments that Mollie holds dear. One of the highlights was the intimate dinner they shared after the ceremony—a quiet moment to reflect and savor their first meal together as husband and wife. The playful sunset photos taken on the beach captured their joy and love in a way that words couldn't describe.

Another unforgettable memory was the surprise choreographed dance Mollie and her father performed for their first dance. What started as a slow dance morphed into a lively, choreographed routine that delighted their guests and added to the joyous atmosphere.

And then there was their grand exit—a boat ride under the stars as they bid farewell to their loved ones. It was a magical end to a day filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

Mollie and Will’s wedding day wasn't just a celebration of their love; it was a reflection of who they were as a couple, surrounded by the people who meant the most to them. It marked the beginning of their journey together as husband and wife—a day they will cherish forever.

Photography - Abi Inman

Ruth Allison and Scott’s meet cute was something out of our Grey’s Anatomy dreams. Scott, living in his own kind of McDreamy energy, was in Residency at UAB while Ruth Allison was giving every ounce of herself to her patients as an ICU nurse.

““We were friends for a while then at the work Christmas party at Carrigan’s we decided to finally go on a real date!””

— Ruth Allison

From the beginning Scott had an effortless way of taking Ruth Allison’s inner child by the hand and leading them both into an easy way of serendipity. Their first date was a celebration of that youth, an evening filled with genuine laughter and wholesome interest.

““We went to the Birmingham Bulls hockey game! It was laid back and fun with hot dogs and french fries for dinner and then we sang to a mixed CD from the high school era all the way home—what a fun throwback!””

— Ruth Allison

The nostalgic music that filled the car on that first date quickly became a foreshadowing scene to what would look like forever. Ruth Allison knew Scott was the one after sharing their love for song.

““When we started singing together, it just felt right.””

— Ruth Allison

Their time together quickly became the melodic jingle that Ruth Allison couldn’t get out of her head. The seamlessness of their aligning outlook on life gave Allison the undeniable reassurance that they would never want to live without each other.

““I never wanted to live in this life without him. When you know, you know!” ”

— Ruth Allison

It’s no secret that Ruth Allison’s wedding gown was one of our favorites. When this beauty of a dress arrived in the shop, the Bustle girls couldn’t help but dream about who would be the bride that would dawn this gown for their special day. When Ruth Allison tried on our beloved gown, everyone in the room knew it was meant for her.

““{I loved} Every. Single. Thing. It was classic, timeless, modern, modest but also flattering. It was perfect for a church wedding. My mother’s dress had a bow on the back of hers as well. I love that mine captured that sentiment.””

— Ruth Allison

It was no surprise to us that a couple who embodied such true connection would prioritize that intimacy throughout their wedding. When we asked Ruth Allison what moment stood out to her the most, her answer had us looking for the nearest tissue box.

““It’s hard to narrow it down because there wasn’t one thing we didn’t love about that day. I think our favorite part was our first look and private vows. It was special and intimate. We felt like after that we actually got to spend our entire wedding day together and we wouldn’t want to spend it any other way. Of course the dancing was our second favorite! The band was so worth it!””

— Ruth Allison