Wedding Day

Holy Trinity + Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Holy Sacrament of Marriage

The Club, Inc

Reception

Our Wedding

Our Story

Our Story Our story is one that Adam and Dorothea truly believe was crafted by God, woven together through the prayers of all those they hold dear in their hearts. Leading up to their first official encounter—and especially their first date—there were always little glimmers of God’s hand, little “winks” that He was giving them, hinting that He was preparing them both to meet at just the perfect time. Summer at the Gift Shop In the summer of 2024, Dorothea spent nearly every weekend volunteering at the Junior League of Birmingham’s Gift Shop, where she served on the Executive Board as the Vice President of Fund Development. The Junior League would oddly become a central point in their relationship early on. These Saturdays were filled with doing inventory, pricing items, and lively conversations with Dorothea’s dear “Gift Shop Girls.” Many of those chats turned to singleness, dating struggles, and funny dating horror stories. One day, her friend Daly casually said,“Doesn’t Adam Setas go to your church? I think you should go out with him!”Dorothea laughed it off, saying, “He doesn’t even know me!” What Dorothea didn’t know was that Adam had already inquired about her through their mutual friend Maria at church. Maria, was Dorothea’s “Matchmaker Maria,” as she called herself, and was always on a mission to find Dorothea a suitable gentleman. That summer, she introduced them quickly near the back of the church. The encounter was very brief but left a lasting impression on them both. Little Signs and a LinkedIn Message As the summer passed, though they had only exchanged pleasantries, both Dorothea and Adam frequently thought about that introduction. After summer travels, fall arrived quickly. On Sunday, October 13, Dorothea was on Parish Council duty. Normally, she worked the left side for Communion—the side her family sat on—but that day, she was assigned to the right side, where Adam and his young son James usually sat. As she walked up the aisle, her heart unexpectedly raced. She saw Adam and James and awkwardly pretended not to notice them and simply motioned for them to proceed. When they returned to their seats, Dorothea came face to face with Adam. Her heart was beating out of her chest but she smiled and said,“Good morning!”Then teasingly asked James,“Did you get enough bread?”—as he had two fistfuls! That evening, Dorothea received a LinkedIn message from none other than Adam Setas. Adam later told Dorothea that he and his friend Christian "Edge" had spent hours crafting that message. Completely shocked and excited, she immediately sent a screenshot to Daly with the words,“You’ll never believe this.” A First Date to Remember Their first date was on Wednesday, October 16, for lunch at Chez Fon Fon. Dorothea was so nervous she could hardly focus at work. She told her boss and coworker:“I know I’m dressed up, acting weird, and leaving during lunch—I’m not going to an interview, I’m going on a date!” They closed the office door and wanted to know everything. They gave her words of encouragement before she left. She Ubered from work because her car was completely packed from floor to ceiling with merchandise for a Junior League fundraiser that evening—and she didn’t want Adam to think she was a hoarder! Adam greeted her in the lobby with a big smile. Dorothea almost knocked over a side table with her large purse, but from the moment they sat down, conversation flowed effortlessly. They hadn’t even looked at the menu before the waiter came by 5 or 6 times to take their order. They talked about family, careers, travels—typical first-date topics—but to Dorothea, this date felt different. After a 2.5-hour lunch, they reluctantly returned to work but both were eager to see each other again. Twinkle Lights and Fairy Tales Their second date was on October 24 at Vino in English Village. Dorothea was volunteering next door at the Junior League before the date, so she parked there and walked over. She remembers walking up to Adam, who was sitting under one of the twinkle-lit trees, and she felt like she had stepped into a fairy tale. Once again, the conversation was endless. That night, Dorothea felt a quiet voice inside her whisper:“This is the man you are going to marry.”She remembers his sparkling eyes—one green, one blue—his genuineness, his humor, and how it felt like she had known him forever. Pizza, Basketball &amp; Ice Cream A few days later, they squeezed in a pizza lunch before heading out of town separately. When they returned, they went to a UAB vs. Southern Mississippi basketball game at Bartow Arena. Adam’s friend Geoff was so excited about the date, he even bought a streaming package to try and spot them on TV! When the “kiss cam” came on, Dorothea pretended not to see it—there was no way their first kiss was happening on the jumbo screen! After the game, they stopped at Mountain Brook Creamery for dessert. They took their cones to-go and walked around Mountain Brook Village, talking until 11 PM. Dorothea thought, “Surely this is when I’ll get a goodnight kiss.” Instead, Adam went with a nervous side hug. But she knew he was interested—who talks until 11 PM on a weeknight?! Ice Skating and First Kisses The next weekend, Dorothea was deep in preparations for the Junior League’s Market Noel holiday market. Still, she carved out time for another date—proof to herself that she really liked this guy. Adam gave her two options for the date: wine blending or ice skating. Though wine blending sounded fun, Dorothea thought skating might mean hand-holding. Her only concern? What to wear. As someone who primarily wears dresses, she had nothing that felt both cute and ice-skating appropriate. With the help of coworkers and friends, she opted against a twirly dress and instead chose pants and a sweater. Adam picked her up at the Junior League building and they went to Porch in Crestline Village for dinner. Then, they headed to the Pelham Ice Rink, where Adam used to play hockey at the University of Alabama. Dorothea hadn’t skated since she was very, very young. She was nervous—but Adam reassured her that he wouldn’t let her fall. (She did. Four times. With the bruises to prove it.) After skating, neither wanted the night to end. They stopped by Otey’s Tavern, a popular neighborhood hangout, and stayed late, asking each other “brain buster” questions to get to know each other better.When Adam dropped Dorothea back off at the Junior League building, they shared their first kiss in the parking lot—right where those early conversations about the two of them all began. From Then to Now Since those early dates, Adam and Dorothea have been inseparable. From fun travels to supporting each other at work functions, from church services and Sunday lunches to meeting one another’s family and friends, and from long walks through Crestline Village to simple nights grilling out and watching Spartans, Red Wings, and Lions games—October 2024 to the present has been unexpected, but in the very best way. In January 2025, Adam formally introduced Dorothea to James. That meeting—and every moment since for the three of them—has felt like another step in the beautiful story God has been writing for their lives. A story neither of them saw coming, but both had been faithfully waiting and praying for. Since then, their time together has been filled with busy days and meaningful memories—soccer and baseball games, tennis practices, walks (with James on his red scooter) through Crestline and to the school playground, swinging in the backyard, bowling, Greek nights, science projects, and weekend adventures. From a surprise Valentine’s Day visit to Dorothea’s office at UAB Medicine—with the biggest bouquet of red roses—to trips to Majestic Caverns, the McWane Center, the Birmingham Zoo, and even a big trip to Baltimore to cheer on the Orioles, every moment shared among the three of them has been deeply special. These memories have formed the foundation for the rest of their lives together. The Proposal On July 24, 2025, Dorothea’s birthday, Adam had a very special surprise planned. Dorothea believed she was heading to a birthday dinner at The Club, hosted by her parents, with Adam and James invited to join the celebration. Adam insisted on picking her up beforehand. When he arrived at her home with James by his side, each was holding a big bouquet of flowers—something they had enjoyed doing for Dorothea since the early days of dating. As Dorothea opened the door, they both greeted her with a big “Happy Birthday!” They stepped inside her house and excitedly said,“But we have one more surprise... so turn around.”When Dorothea turned back around, Adam was down on one knee—and James was holding the ring box, both with the biggest grins. With excitement and joy, Dorothea said,“Yes!” Adam later shared that he chose to propose at Dorothea’s home because it once belonged to her Yia-Yia (Grandmother in Greek), who meant so much to her. He knew how special Yia-Yia’s former home and her memory was to Dorothea. The three of them shared a big group hug and took a few joyful pictures before heading off to celebrate with both Dorothea’s parents and Adam’s parents at The Club —a night filled with love, laughter, and the beginning of their forever. Dorothea and Adam now are eagerly awaiting 2-6-26 and cannot wait to join together as husband and wife in the Sacrament of Marriage and get to celebrate with all of our family and friends!

Photos

Jacqueline Setas

Benjamin Setas

Daniel Staursky

Dimitri Staursky

Claudia Crowe

James Setas

Wedding Party

Parking Information:There are several options for parking around the Cathedral for the ceremony: 1. Cathedral Parking Lot – Free parking is available in the lot directly across the street from the church. 2. Adjacent Garage – A limited number of spaces are available in the parking garage next door to the church. 3. Street Parking - There is street parking available surrounding the Cathedral but it is based on availability. 4. Liberty National Parking Deck (Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 8) – Complimentary parking will also be available here. The entrance is located at 2021 3rd Avenue South. You will receive a ticket upon entering the deck. It is just a short, two-block walk to the Cathedral. Please ask for a voucher for the Usher at the Church door when you arrive at the Cathedral. To exit the parking deck free of charge, first insert the voucher provided at the church and then insert the original ticket which you received when entering the deck.

Parking for the Ceremony

Parking &amp; Directions to The ClubDriving DirectionsUse your GPS or map app to navigate to:1 Robert S Smith Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209 This is the main driveway that takes you up the hill toward The Club and the ballroom entrance. Follow the signs leading you straight ahead to the ballroom. As you reach the top of the hill, you will see a building with red scripted letters lit up reading “The Club.” When you see this sign, you’re in the right place. Parking Complimentary Valet ParkingWe are happy to offer complimentary valet parking for all guests. Simply pull up to the main entrance beneath the red scripted “The Club” sign, and a valet attendant will assist you.Self-ParkingIf you prefer to park yourself, The Club offers on-site self-parking in the parking deck directly adjacent to the main entrance. Follow the driveway up the hill toward the ballroom and look for the parking deck next to the building. After parking, you can walk along the covered walkway leading directly to the main entrance.

Parking and Directions to the Reception

We're so excited to celebrate our special day with you! Whether you're coming from near or far, here's everything you need to know about traveling to Birmingham and suggested hotels throughout Birmingham that are convenient to both the ceremony and reception and are in great locations to explore Birmingham.   Traveling By Air: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) BHM is the main airport serving Birmingham and is located just 10 minutes from downtown. It offers flights from most major airlines, including Delta, American, Southwest, and United.   Rental cars and rideshares (Uber/Lyft) are available on-site. Taxis and hotel shuttles are also available.   By Car: Birmingham is accessible via major interstates: I-65 (North-South) I-20/I-59 (East-West)   If you’re driving in, most hotels and venues offer parking, but please check your specific location for details.

Suggested Hotels

Downtown Birmingham - UAB Medical District

Distance from the Cathedral: Walking Distance (0.2 miles) Distance from The Club: 3.0 miles

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Birmingham Downtown at UAB

Distance from the Cathedral: Walking Distance (0.2 miles)Distance from The Club: 3.4

Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Birmingham

Homewood/Mountain Brook

Distance from the Cathedral: 3.2 milesDistance from The Club: 1.8 miles

Aloft Birmingham Soho Square

Distance from the Cathedral: 2.3 milesDistance from The Club: 1.6 miles

Valley Hotel Homewood Birmingham, Curio Collection by Hilton

Distance from the Cathedral: 5.1 milesDistance from The Club: 4.2 miles

Courtyard by Marriott Birmingham Homewood

Distance from the Cathedral: 4.4 milesDistance from The Club: 3.1 miles

Dorothea & Adam

Dorothea & Adam

Maps of Key Locations