Getting Married in Alabama? Here’s What No One Tells You

Planning a Wedding Here Feels Different — and Here’s Why

When people picture weddings in Alabama, they might imagine Spanish moss and sunset fields, church bells and barn doors. But there’s so much more to it than the scenery.

Getting married here is layered — tender, tradition-heavy, rooted in deep relationships and long histories. It’s not always easy. But it can be so meaningful.

Here’s what no one tells you about planning a wedding in Alabama — the kind of things you won’t find in a bridal magazine, but will absolutely shape your experience.

1. TRADITION RUNS DEEP — BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO FOLLOW EVERY ONE

Alabama weddings often come with a strong sense of “the way it’s always been done.” If those things (whatever they may be) hold meaning for you, embrace them. But if they don’t — you are still allowed to choose something different.

Elopements, intimate weddings, non-traditional timelines, barefoot vows on family land — they belong here, too. If eloping sounds like you, then read this.

2. THE LAND HOLDS HISTORY — AND IT CAN SHAPE YOUR STORY

In Alabama, the landscape isn’t just pretty — it’s personal. It’s where generations have gathered. It’s where love has been passed down, where stories have been told again and again.

Getting married here means you’re stepping into a place with soul. Let the land mean something. Choose a location that connects to your story — not just one that photographs well.

3. THE WEATHER WILL KEEP YOU HUMBLE (AND CREATIVE)

Anyone who’s lived through a season in Alabama knows: you don’t plan around the weather — you plan with it. Thunderstorms, heat waves, and sudden golden sunsets all show up uninvited.

But that’s part of what makes weddings here feel alive. Bring the hand fans. Bring the umbrellas. Embrace the sweat. Let the breeze tug at your dress. Wrap up in a blanket. That’s Alabama. It’s real, wild, and sometimes magic.

4. SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY IS REAL — AND SO IS THE PRESSURE TO PLEASE

Weddings here can feel like a community event. Everyone wants to help. Everyone has an opinion. And while that’s often beautiful, it can also be overwhelming.

If you’re someone who wants a curated, more intentional experience — you may have to draw some boundaries with kindness and clarity.

You are allowed to protect your peace. This is your marriage.

5. THE BEST ALABAMA WEDDINGS AREN’T ALWAYS ON THE VENUE LIST

Some of the most unforgettable Alabama weddings I’ve photographed happened in places that don’t show up on “top venue” lists. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Rent a cabin or an Airbnb. Set up chairs in your grandmother’s yard. Choose the state park where you had your first hike.

Big beauty lives in small, off-the-map places.

6. SMALL WEDDINGS THRIVE HERE

There’s something about Alabama — the stillness, the stories, the slower pace — that makes it the perfect place for a small, intimate wedding if you decide that’s the right fit for you.

7. ALABAMA’S DIVERSITY IS ITS STRENGTH — LEAN INTO THAT

Don’t let anyone tell you all Alabama weddings look the same. They don’t. Celebrate your background. Incorporate your family’s stories. Make room for who you are. Alabama is wide enough to hold it all.

8. THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER WILL UNDERSTAND THIS PLACE

Photographing an Alabama wedding isn’t just about showing up with a camera — it’s about understanding the pace, the people, and the rhythm of this region. It’s about seeing what’s not being said. I’ve lived here my whole life. I know how this places moves & breathes. I want that to be part of your photography experience.

9. YOUR MARRIAGE IS THE STORY — NOT THE PARTY

In Alabama, weddings carry more than just love — they carry history. The weight of family. The echo of generations. The quiet presence of those who came before.

This isn’t just about flowers and timelines.
It’s about stepping into something lasting.

10. A Wedding That Feels Like Home

Weddings in Alabama carry weight — family, legacy, tradition. But they can also carry freedom.

Freedom to strip things back. To be fully, deeply you. You deserve a day that reflects the life you’re building.

This place — it holds things. Stories. Sacred beginnings.

Let it remind you of what matters & help you build a day around that.

XO, Dakota