April 26th, 2025 gave us a whole lot more than we bargained for. What started as a beautiful day for setup and pre-ceremony pictures, turned into Mother Nature’s fury on The Barn at Water Oaks, Laurel Hill, Florida, with a thunderstorm 45 minutes before the scheduled ceremony time. Momma prayed. She prayed hard, but God had a different plan and I sprang to action.
Before the rain hit, things were beautiful. Pictures were taken by Amanda Bosenberg Photography, jams were going in the dressing room, guests started to arrive…
The ceremony was already set up in the main barn…
Luckily while we were busy resetting for the ceremony, guests were able to nibble on the charcuterie grazing table I put together earlier in the day.
I’m so thankful for my team as well as the sweet Durden family for helping move flower arrangements, the cross and all the things from outside during the torrential downpour!
Here’s a little before and after of the moveable magic…
The ceremony may not have ended up the image in Gillian’s dreams, however, it was the sweetest, most genuine ceremony I’ve ever seen. That’s what it’s all about, right? The love she and Kirk share is what sweet romance novels are made of. Definitely not the enemies to lovers kind, but the “I’ve got a friend you need to meet” kind.
After the ceremony we put all the tables back and the reception got started while the most BEAUTIFUL sunset made an appearance for their final portraits. The catering team from Ketchem’s Restaurant and Catering in Hartford, Alabama were the real rockstars of the night. They moved up the timeline and had everyone served and fed in less than 30 minutes!
Dancing started and the celebration was on!
The bride’s mother gave the most wonderful, heartfelt speech for her babygirl. She read a love letter that Gillian’s dad had written her and I have no doubt that Kirk will love Gillian just like her dad would’ve wanted. Since her dad was in heaven looking down on her, she shared her father-daughter dance with her 3 uncles. Not a dry eye in the house.
The day ended up perfect, and what’s even more perfect is the love that Kirk and Gillian have for each other. The way he looks at her, her unwavering support of him and his career, their team mindset, I have no doubt these two are the real deal and will be a lifetime love.
Dear Future Brides—and especially all you amazing Mothers of the Bride,
Seven months ago, my daughter came back from her Italy vacation engaged and full of excitement. She announced she wanted to get married in April 2025. My very first response? “Who can help us pull this off?” Without hesitation, she said, “Amanda Bierbaum from Soirée! She did Chloe and Tyler’s wedding, Mom. You loved that one! Plus, she handles the charcuterie boards for Alex’s parties.” Well, that was all I needed to hear—I had already admired her work.
Gillian (the bride-to-be) scheduled our first meeting with Amanda. From the moment I sat down on her adorable couch in the Soirée shop, I felt like I was chatting with an old friend. I told her plainly: “I want to enjoy my daughter’s wedding day—not stress, not worry, and definitely not answer a million questions.” I just wanted to be present with my daughter and her bridesmaids, soaking up every moment.
Amanda listened carefully as Gillian shared her vision, and then I asked the big question: “Can you really make this happen?” Amanda smiled wide and said, “Yes ma’am—that’s what I do. I make brides and moms happy.” From that day on, we were in the best hands possible. Not only did we get an incredible florist—we got a top-notch wedding planner too.
Then came April 26, 2025. Our plan was a beautiful outdoor ceremony… but Mother Nature had a surprise. Just an hour before the ceremony: thunder, lightning, and rain! Amanda didn’t miss a beat. With 35 minutes to go, and guests already arriving, she came to Gillian and calmly laid out options. Postponing wasn’t for us. The outdoor space was flooded, but Amanda said, “Let me flip the reception area—we’ll host both ceremony and reception there, and no one will even know it wasn’t the plan.”
Let me tell you—our wedding was scheduled for 6:00 pm. We started at 6:15, and the only reason for the delay was waiting on the lightning to ease up. Amanda had everything ready. The ceremony was stunning, the bride and groom were glowing, and everything went off without a hitch. I spent the whole evening hearing guests rave about how beautiful and seamless it all felt.
Amanda worked beautifully with every vendor—caterer, DJ, everyone. She was our calm in the storm, literally and figuratively.
If you’re looking for someone who will make your dream day a reality—and keep you calm, happy, and smiling the whole way through—Amanda from Soirée is your person. I couldn’t recommend her more! – Sara Infinger-LaPorte, Mother of the Bride