By Emily Williams-Robertshaw Newlyweds Sydne and Jeffrey “JJ” Shaffer met while attending college at Auburn University. Both were involved in collegiate athletics, Sydne being a softball player while JJ played baseball. Sydne moved to Birmingham right after graduation, while JJ remained in Auburn to pursue a master’s in business before making the same move. On Jan. 18, 2020, … [Read more...]

By Emily Williams-Robertshaw The saying “love means nothing to a tennis player” is far from the case for newlyweds Lauren and William Love. Lauren, a University of Alabama graduate and Vestavia Hills native, and William, a University of Georgia graduate of Marietta, Georgia, met in Atlanta on the tennis court.  They were paired by their mutual friend, Will Varnado, for … [Read more...]

By Emily Williams-Robertshaw The wedding industry is made up of a variety of specialized companies a couple matches together to create their special day. It is a multibillion-dollar operation, even in 2020. But there is no doubt that the industry has fallen victim to the economic impact of COVID-19 as couples scale back, postpone and even cancel marital plans in response to … [Read more...]

By Emily Williams Over the past few weeks, the April 4 wedding ceremony and celebration that Keri McLendon and Charles Hyde had been planning since their engagement in July slowly faded away as the coronavirus pandemic grew. Keri, a CRNP at UAB’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Charles Hyde kept their original wedding date, but they adapted to a small ceremony … [Read more...]

By Emily Williams As newlyweds, Margaret Anne and Grant Smith turned onto the street headed toward the bride’s family home following their April 4 wedding, they were greeted by a street sign boasting a big white bow. “Grant pointed it out and said, ‘Look, they put a bow up for us,’” said Margaret Anne, who very quickly responded, “No they didn’t. That isn’t for us.” Yet, as … [Read more...]