Alabama, with it's rich tapestry of green hills, colorful gardens and pristine beaches, is a choice place for a wedding.
For an intimate wedding in a natural setting, few places can beat the charm on the Mentone Wedding Chapel, located in Mentone, just north of Birmingham.Privately owned, the chapel is surrounded by woodland, and is showcased with ferns and wildflowers that lead up the path to the front steps.The chapel itself is representative of the type of small church one would see in the Appalachians in years gone by:a simple rectangular structure with a pointed roof and a spire.The simplistic interior of the sanctuary is given life by the stained glass windows that provide soft beams of light over the cherry wood pews.
The Chapel in the Pines, located on Logan Martin Lake, is an open air place of worship.Reached by boat, the structure of the chapel is completely made of pine.Even the pews within the chapel are made of treated pine, and are rough-hewn.Magnificent trees frame the chapel on three sides and a view of the lake commands the fourth.Ministers from nearby Pell City alternate holding services at the Chapel, and are available to officiate at weddings.Persons of any faith tradition are welcome to use the chapel.
Jasmine Hills, located off Highway 231 between Montgomery and Wetumpka, is a magical place, filled with replicas of Greek statuary and ruins of historical Greek sites.Originally began by the Fitzpatrick family during the 1930's, Jasmine Hill has been administered by a foundation since the early 1970's.In addition to the samples of Greek architecture and rolling grounds, Jasmine Hill also boasts an amphitheatre, which provides a perfect spot for weddings for several hundred.Along with the amphitheatre, the gardens include a number of spots that are surrounded by flora and fauna transplanted from around the world, making a unique setting for any wedding large or small. The Cottage on Jasmine Hill is ideally suited to a small private wedding ceremony, with its parlor reminiscent of a country parson's drawing room.
Bellingrath Gardens, located near Mobile, provide another ideal setting for outdoor weddings.Originally a fishing camp, the Gardens were purchased on the advice of the doctor of the Bellingrath family.Advised by his doctor to learn the art of relaxation as a cure for the stresses of his work, Walter Bellingrath set about creating a sanctuary for himself and his family. The end result was sixty acres of exotic flowers, trees and shrubs collected from around the world.
Among the sites that are available for a wedding is the Bridal Garden. The main feature is an open air gazebo located in a clearing flanked with a grove of trees and flowering shrubs.
Bellingrath also boasts a picturesque site for indoor weddings as well.The Chapel, with its simplistic red brick walls offering a contrast to the detail of the rich stained glass windows, has been in use since 1929.Often used for weddings and religious ceremonies, the Chapel was also used as a theatre during the days of Walter Bellingrath.Guests were often treated to movies of the gardens and their continuing cultivation.
With the carpet of warm pure sand under one's feet, and sound of the waters of Mobile Bay lapping the shoreline, the white sands of Gulf Shores offer the opportunity to exchange vows in an informal setting. A number of hotels along the shoreline are more than happy to accommodate a wedding party, and help arrange for the ceremony on a section of their beaches.Several public areas allow those who wish to begin their lives together as the sun rises over the waters, or as twilight approaches, to settle in for a simple ceremony in what many consider a more sacramental setting than any building could offer.
Whether the day of your dreams is one that rivals the nuptials of kings and queens or a quiet ceremony that is to be conducted in simplistic dignity, Alabama has a place that is ideal for any type of wedding you can imagine.
