First Look Weddings, Weddings by Corine

Palmettos on the Bayou wedding Photography | Kimberly & Alex

Married: October 23, 2021
Bridal Prep: Camelia Cottage/ Iron Room
Ceremony: Palmettos on the Bayou
Reception: Palmettos on the Bayou
Band / DJ: Dale Blanchard
Coordinator: Bridget Phillips
Florist: Barbara Buckalou
Bakery: Katycake & Co.
Hair: Tiffanie @ Bella Style Salon
Makeup: Noelani @ Bella Style Salon
Brides Gown Designer: Stella York
Bridesmaid Gown designer: Azazie.com
Bridal Boutique: Bridal Boutique by MaeMe

How did you meet?
Alex and Kimi met while playing in an adult softball tournament at Pelican Park in Carencro, LA. They were playing on the same team & have been friends & teammates ever since. Now they are teammates for life!
Include a little bit about yourselves. What do you do?
Kimi is a former Math teacher and currently gives private softball lessons to kids in the Chalmette, LA area. She also currently coaches the 14u Reign softball team.

Alex works for Ecolab. He also coaches baseball and currently coaches the 10u Reign baseball team. He often is asked to do private lessons, but his schedule doesn’t allow much free time.
what is your favorite thing about each other? Share a personal story.
Our favorite thing about each other is of our passion and love for the things that we value. We both love our sport (softball/baseball). The fact that our spouse is so supportive of our goals allows us to be ourselves and do what we love -giving our knowledge of the game back to the next generation of ball players/athletes.
How did the proposal go? Who proposed to who, were you surprised?
The proposal was intimate and private, just as expected. It was definitely a surprise to Kimi. Alex proposed on the Monday before Labor Day after Kimi came home from work at her former teaching job. It was beautiful and our dogs were able to be a part of it! Sweet Girl brought my ring to me, and Luna was so happy to be involved.
Where was your ceremony held and why did you pick this site?
Our wedding ceremony was held at Palmettos on the Bayou under the Oaktree. Kimi especially loved the outdoor setting and Alex liked the laid-back atmosphere of the venue. It was absolutely beautiful!
Where was your Reception held and why did you pick this site?
Our wedding reception was also held at Palmettos on the Bayou. We loved that everything could take place on-site, so our guests and bridal party didn’t have to leave. This also avoided anyone getting lost or having to wait for others to arrive to begin.
What unique or special things did you do at the reception?
Our open bar featured our dogs Luna and Sweet Girl. There were floral arrangements with our dogs pictures and our signature cocktails were named after our girls as well: Luna (Burly & Brawny) and Sweet Girl (Berry Champagne Punch).

We also had a memorial table to include all of our grandparents & loved ones who have passed away before our wedding took place.
Pick one moment in the day that was your favorite thing?
This is tough, but I think the 10 minutes after the ceremony where Alex & I were able to sit down & eat was my favorite part. I needed 10 minutes to decompress and this was a perfect time. It also helped that our food was delicious.
Did it really go by as quickly as everyone says?
Yes, it went by so quickly.

I hated not having a watch though. -Kimi
What was the inspiration behind picking the color palette and decor that you picked?
Kimi picked out the colors. Alex just said he didn’t want any reds. I didn’t like the greens since the venue would be outdoors, so blue it was. We wanted something a little different and purple is Kimi’s favorite, so Stormy blue was the perfect color.
Flower colors & accent colors were based on the stormy color – pink & white.
Roses were the main flower choice because Alex has only ever bought roses for Kimi.
From the Bride – When you first saw the groom?
Alex looks so handsome. Why won’t he just give me one tear? We talked about this, just one tear of joy.

I guess Chantel gave me enough tears during our first look.

I honestly thought I’d have more feelings than this, for the first look, but maybe I was just ready to marry my man.
From the groom – When you first saw the bride?
That I was ready for forever. That she looked stunning in her dress, but I was more so ready to get the pictures over with so that I could take it off of her.
Who was your baker, what was the flavor of your cake? Was it delicious?!
Katycake Co. in Picayune did my cake. One tier was almond cake and another was vanilla. We also had chantilly, chocolate, and red velvet cupcakes from her instead of a grooms cake. Everything was delicious!
Did you do a first look? If so how did you feel about it? If not, do you wish you had?
We did do a first look. We’re both so glad we did it before because it made everything afterward seem to run way more smoothly. We didn’t have to hide from each other afterward which was nice.
Did you have a coordinator or did you plan everything yourself? If you didn’t have a coordinator any advice for brides planning their own wedding?
I had a day of coordinator but I planned pretty much everything else. My flower lady/florist helped with a lot of the small details. Planning a wedding is a lot of work & I would suggest asking someone who knows a lot about weddings to help. It is a very overwhelming process if you’re not someone who likes to plan in advance.
What was your first dance song? Why this song?
Miley Cyrus “When I Look at You”
The lyrics of the song apply so well to our relationship. Kimi thought about this song and then Alex suggested it a week later. Anytime we’re on the same page, it’s a done deal.
Band or DJ? Did they rock it?
Dale Blanchard – Kimi enjoyed it. I’m glad he started with the country and went into the R&B and hip-hop. I think it gave us non-country listeners a chance to socialize.

So glad he didn’t let the people that wanted to sing do it.
We want to hear YOUR advice for future brides.
Enjoy every moment; it goes by too fast. Don’t sweat the small stuff – some people just can’t be satisfied – most people won’t even notice. Choose people who will help you as your bridal party – this saved me at one point when I was beyond overwhelmed.