Bridal Shower Bon Secour

Bridal Shower Tuscaloosa

The Gardens Café by Kathy G.

Bridesmaid's Luncheon

Valley Hotel Homewood Birmingham, Curio Col by Hilton

Welcome Party

The Barn At Shady Lane

Wedding Day

Spring

Updates:

Shuttle Schedule:
3:30 pm - Arrive at Aloft Hotel in Homewood
3:45 pm - Depart for Valley Hotel
3:50 pm - Arrive at Valley Hotel
4:00 pm - Depart for the Barn at Shady Lane&#160;
 
8:00 pm - Bus takes one early return to hotels if needed&#160;
9:30 pm - Reception ends; transport guests back to hotels 
 
While we will be offering shuttle(s), we encourage those who can drive themselves to do so in order to make room for guests who will be flying in from out of town and who do not have cars.
 
There were some errors concerning the room reservations at the Valley Hotel. Please contact Hope, Jon, or Lynette (listed under the "Contact" tab) if you need help sorting out any issues with your reservation!

&nbsp;Please feel free to donate to the Humane Society of West Alabama rather than getting us a gift ❤️🐾!

Photo taken @ Ernest &amp; Hadley Booksellers in Tuscaloosa, AL by Jamison Skinner Photography

Our Wedding

The Librarians

written by Jon and edited by Hope

Once upon a time, a girl in a green dress walked into a library for a job interview as a children's librarian. As she entered the double doors, she thought to stop by the front desk to renew her library card. She quickly stepped up to the nearest attendant and inquired about the process. The young man, earnest in his work but eager to assist, was struck by her beauty and proceeded to fumble through the whole interaction. Alas, the young woman did not get the job. The young man was left to remember a particularly remarkable patron and returned to his work. Yet Fate had other plans. A little while later, the young man looked up from his work to find that the same young woman had indeed found a new job, and it was in his department. The young woman became fast friends with a particularly industrious and fun-loving coworker. Together, they conspired to drive the young man mad with their silly antics. When the young woman moved on to take another position at the library, their plans took on a far more nefarious motive: get the young man to fall in love with the young woman. However, for all their careful planning and clever ruses, it was for naught, as he had already fallen for the young woman. A first date on a drizzly afternoon at a local bar sealed the opening chapters of their story. What followed was a blur of space and time. There were more dates. More adventures. Graduations. Friends that have come and gone. A pandemic. Weddings. Funerals. Job changes. A big move. Walks along the Black Warrior. Heartbreak and grief. A small, lanky gremlin and a sweet, adorable pixie. Seasons. Years. Moments. Through it all there is Jon and there is Hope, and they have each other.

Our Story

Photos

Kimberly Xu

Christopher Porazzo

Colleen Gately

Ethan Oswald

Mary Kate Knight

Nick Catania

Katie Pomeroy

Nick Happnie

Chesley Kalehoff

Mark Fuller

Dara Barker

Spencer Mallette

Alex Xu

Wedding Party

The questions below are sorted alphabetically for ease of access. Please contact the bride or groom if you have any other ponderings!

Q + A

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is the most direct choice and is located just ten minutes outside of the heart of Birmingham. It is an absolute breeze to get in and out of. <a href="https://www.flybirmingham.com/rental-cars/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Car rentals</a> are offered as well as Uber and taxi services.

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport

We are staying at the Valley Hotel in Homewood and have a block of rooms there for guests. Apart from the options listed below, there are other hotels and Airbnbs in the greater Birmingham area.

We have a block of rooms for guests here and the bride and groom will be staying at this hotel. There are a limited number of nights available at our rate for check-in starting on April 24th and check-out on April 26th. Please contact Lynette Roberts for assistance with additional nights at (205) 354-0174 or lroberts@valleyhotelbirmingham.com. There will be a shuttle between this hotel and the wedding venue.
Homewood is a great area for dining and shopping, and one of our favorite places to go in Birmingham (especially during Christmas).

Valley Hotel Homewood Birmingham, Curio Collection by Hilton

This hotel is just a two-block walk from the Valley Hotel.

Aloft Birmingham Soho Square

This hotel is a 5 minute drive from the Valley Hotel.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Birmingham

This hotel is the closest one to our venue, but will likely be the priciest option.

Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

Travel

There are so many things to do in the Birmingham area, so we can't name all the things we'd recommend. We've included a few places with our guest's tastes in mind.

Attractions

"The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest motorcycle collection. With over 1,800 motorcycles spanning over 100 years of production, the Barber collection represents 220 different manufacturers from 22 countries. The museum also features the world’s most extensive collection of Lotus cars, plus an assortment of other rare and unusual cars. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 12 PM to 5 PM. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for military, and $15 for children."

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

"Located in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama—in one of the most biodiverse areas in the United States—this urban oasis encompasses 67 acres featuring more than two dozen garden spaces that reflect the region’s rich and varied terrain and showcase the many plants that thrive in Southern gardens. The Gardens are free and open to the public every day of the year."

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

"The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a modern museum that serves as a connection to the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, a collection of sites important to the Civil Rights Movement. Visitors can experience a rendition of a segregated city in the 1950s, as well as examine a replica of a Freedom Riders bus and even the actual jail cell door from behind which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. penned his famous 'Letter From Birmingham Jail.' The institute is also home to an expansive archive of documents from the Civil Rights Movement and nearly 500 recorded oral histories relevant to the period." In addition to the museum, the area (the Birmingham Civil Rights District) is home to a self-guided tour, the <a href="https://civilrightstrail.com/destination/birmingham/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail</a>.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Events

"St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church hosts its 27th Annual Lebanese Food and Culture Festival April 25th-26th. Try homemade Lebanese food, watch traditional dancing, bid on items at the church auction, and more!"

27th Annual St. Elias Lebanese Food & Cultural Festival

"Regions Field is the home field for the&nbsp;Birmingham Barons&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Southern League. The Barons now hold the top three season-long attendance marks in modern Southern League history. The 2025 season will mark the 127th season of baseball in Birmingham, as well as the 142nd year of existence for a historic and celebrated Minor League Baseball Franchise. Regions Field is located adjacent to&nbsp;Railroad Park, just south of downtown Birmingham."

Regions Field

Restaurants

The first Dreamland BBQ was established in 1958 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama by John "Big Daddy" Bishop. There are now ten locations across the South. Their BBQ sauce is vinegar based with a little bit of a kick. Funnily, Hope knew a person in grad school who was from France and they recognized Dreamland BBQ was because it was ordered for one of their corporate events in Europe. It's a true Alabama icon! The banana pudding is something Hope and her dad can never pass up 😋

Dreamland BBQ

"A cozy and elegant cocktail bar and restaurant nestled in the heart of the beautiful Forest Park historic district. The lush outdoor garden courtyard and whimsical botanical interior are reminiscent of ornate gin palaces popular during the Victorian era. This is your neighborhood bar, reimagined." We seriously considered hosting our reception at Juniper. It's a beautiful spot and they offer a range of gin drinks that are fun to try! Forest Park is also home to the home and garden store SHOPPE, the cafe and general store General, the restaurant The Rougaroux, and much more!

Juniper

Shopping

"Old-style shopping along main street in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood includes upscale clothing shops, home decorating stores, and nationally acknowledged high end antique galleries. The new Soho Square includes an interesting mix of boutiques and restaurants at sidewalk level below residential lofts." We love Downtown Homewood! Some of our favorite local stores are Alabama Goods, Homewood Toy and Hobby Shop, The Whole Dog Market, and the Little Professor Bookshop. There is also an O.Henry's Coffee that Jon always stops in. The Little Donkey and Jinsei Sushi are some restaurants we frequent when in town.

Downtown Homewood

"The Market at Pepper Place takes place every Saturday January 27th through December 14th from 7:00 am-12:00 pm and features Alabama produce, foods, and artisans."

The Farmers Market at Pepper Place | Outdoors

Tours

"Discover the vibrant spirit of Birmingham’s craft breweries as you embark on an unforgettable brewery tour. Our brewery partnerships grant you access to a special behind-the-scenes tour of the brewing process. Sit back and allow our Brew Experts to drive and guide you through the concrete jungle of Birmingham. You’ll sip and taste 12-16 different beers throughout your 3-5 hour tour with a belly-satisfying meal at one of the 3-4 local breweries and brewpubs on your journey."

City Brew Tours

More places to Google

Attractions:Aldridge GardensVulcan Park and MuseumBirmingham Museum of ArtMcWane Science CenterRed Mountain ParkRuffner MountainSloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Shopping:Stadium Trace VillageThe Summit Birmingham2nd and CharlesAlabama Art SupplyJim Reed Books &amp; The Museum of Fond Memories Restaurants and Bars:MELTTaco MamaThe Little DonkeyJinsei SushiShu ShopReal &amp; RosemaryJim 'N Nick's Bar-B-QAvondale Brewing CompanyGood People Brewing CompanyTrimTab Brewing CompanyThe Collins Bar

Things to Do

Registry

Please text or email Hope or Jon with any questions: Hope:(251) 597-7971ehchandler@crimson.ua.edu Jon:(781) 316-7350jtgatelyrtr@gmail.com Please contact Lynette Roberts in regards to any issues that may arise while booking your hotel stay at the Valley Hotel. Lynette Roberts:(205) 354-0174lroberts@valleyhotelbirmingham.com

Hope & Jon

Hope & Jon

Contact