Evelyn Virginia Wald and Robert Remsen Byrne were married March 17 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in the chapel. But that wasn’t the day they had initially planned, and the event included some significant changes.
“Originally we planned to be married in the sanctuary at St. Francis on Saturday, March 21, with over 200 guests,” said Eve. “As churches began issuing restrictions to services being less than 20 people, we knew that our wedding would look a little different than we had planned.”
As their wedding day grew closer, it became more difficult for out-of-town wedding guests to travel, then health officials began to recommend smaller and smaller gatherings. Not knowing what changes were to come, the couple decided that, before it became impossible to have a ceremony at all, they’d adapt their plans to the world’s new reality.
“On Sunday morning, the week of the wedding, Robert and I finally came to a decision and set the new wedding date for Tuesday, March 17. We also thought it would be fun for our wedding day and anniversary to fall on St. Patrick’s Day!”
The Rev. Bob Sullivan officiated the ceremony, and an intimate reception followed at The Donnelly House.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Griner Wald III, of Homewood. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Evelyn Scott Gurak of Vestavia Hills and the late Mr. Stan Gurak, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Griner Wald Jr. of Vestavia Hills. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly James Byrne of Mountain Brook. He is the grandson of Mrs. Jane Bromberg Byrne of Mountain Brook and the late Mr. Paul Matthew Byrne, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wiley Hudlow of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“Our ceremony was in the chapel and consisted of just siblings, parents and the bridal party. Father Bob, who married us, reminded me and Robert that our wedding day was more about our new life as husband and wife and the commitment we were making to each other than it was about the big party we could no longer have,” she said. “He was right, and it made the day feel even more special. We celebrated with a few close friends and family at the Donnelly House afterwards, and it was beautiful!”
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a lace fitted Lillian West gown. She was attended by Carly Derencz, of Homewood, as matron of honor and Catherine Walker, of Vestavia Hills, as maid of honor.
Bridesmaids were Lucy Catharine Byrne, sister of the groom, of Mountain Brook; Chandler Rodgers, Margaret Sharbel and Mindy Wald, sister-in-law of the bride, all of Vestavia Hills; Caroline Thompson, of St. Louis; and Rachel Ohly of Richmond, Virginia. Makenna Wald and Hadley Wald, nieces of the bride, of Vestavia Hills, were flower girls.
The father of the groom was best man. Groomsmen were Jordan Wald, and Tommy Wald, brothers of the bride, of Vestavia Hills; Jordan Nickolson, of Austin, Texas; William Byrne, brother of the groom, Ross Kennedy and Sam Williams, all of Mountain Brook.
The couple look forward to a post-COVID-19 honeymoon.