Photos by Paul Johnson Photography pauljohnsonphoto.com
Couples choose it to celebrate their weddings here because it is truly their “happy place." By Anne Lewis
Many notions are conjured by the seaside — and even more in Seaside itself. On the forefront of new urbanism, Seaside’s design and structure capture the architects and urban planners; as a hometown to all who reside and visit here, it is the new town with the old ways. But more than that, it is the people who live and love here that make Seaside special. So many couples choose it to celebrate their weddings here because it is truly their “happy place,” as Sarah Zimmerman Jordan explains.
Sarah Zimmerman and Zachary Jordan
Sarah Zimmerman and Zachary Jordan met their freshmen year at Elon University in October 2007. A little more than seven years later, Zachary planned an elaborate proposal on Valentine’s day in Seaside with the help of Sarah’s family. This has been Sarah’s special place since she began visiting at the age of five. She remembers spending time in Seaside with her family, “riding bikes, playing soccer, swimming, playing spotlight tag, and since no TV was allowed, creating our own games,” she says. “Seaside became the place where friends became family.”
Once engaged, they invited friends and family from coast to coast to celebrate their marriage in the Seaside Chapel on Sept. 5, 2015. Some of Sarah’s friends she had played with in Seaside since the age of six were in attendance; Sarah described the weekend as a huge family reunion. Each detail of the day was perfect, including the blush and white bouquets, supplied by Myrtie Blue of Fort Walton Beach, and the music of the violin and strings provided by Gulf Coast Music Group.
The bride was stunning in her Lea-Ann Belter French Alencon ball gown and Toni Federici cathedral-length veil. Jeffery Miller officiated the union and sent everyone to the Lyceum for a magnificent reception catered by Townsend Catering. The party continued into the evening with the Memphis Soul Revue. Created by Confections on the Coast, blush pink and white roses cascaded the six-layer wedding cake, mirroring the bride’s bouquet. Paul Johnson took the photographs, and Six Pence Productions captured it all on video. The woman behind the scenes was Shelby Peaden, wedding coordinator. Of course, with all destination weddings, the guests are invited to a sleuth of pre-wedding fun. The rehearsal dinner hosted by Bud & Alley’s was followed by a beach party for all guests with drinks and desserts in Ruskin Place; refreshments provided by Grayton Beach Catering and Frostbites. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan enjoyed their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic before returning home to Austin, Texas.
Visit the Seaside Chapel online.
