Celebrating the communities of Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County
OTMJ
INSIDE
| OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL • OTMJ.COM | Thursday, June 12, 2025
Father’s Day Gift Guide PAGE 12
Ralph the Gardener PAGE 15
PHOTO BY KRISTEN PUGH PHOTOGRAPHY
Adieu Brigid Meadow PAGE 23
Boda Bonita!
An over-the-mountain couple celebrates a beautiful wedding in Spain. STORY PAGE 16 »
IN THIS
OPINION
SOCIAL
Going to the Chapel…
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ISSUE
4 | Crawfish for the King
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6 | Children’s Arts Guild Fashion Show
eddings have changed drastically since these two babies tied the knot in 1995. Every year in the U.S., there are approximately 2.5 million weddings, and the wedding industry accounts for a whopping $64.93 billion (with a B). In this issue, we profile wedding photographer Brittany Sturdivant who has been capturing wonderful wedding moments for 13 years, starting when she was still a student at Birmingham-Southern College (page 20). We also feature a beautiful over-the-mountain wedding that just happened to take place in Spain (the couple also had a fantastic party back here at home) on page 16. The summer wedding season is upon us now, so congratulations, Mazel Tov and Felicidades to all the happy couples leaping in to wedded bliss this summer. May you have many years of love and joy!
8 | Hats and Hearts 9 | Daughters of the American Revolution 10 | We Love Homewood Day 11 | The Junior League of Birmingham
FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE 12 | The Greatest Gifts for Dear Old Dad!
GIVING TREE 14 | Les Dames d’Escoffier closes in on a quarter million dollars of giving.
COMMUNITY
–BARRY WISE SMITH
15 | Improving our city one garden at a time.
WEDDINGS 16 | Boda Bonita—a beautiful Spanish wedding. 20 | Brittany Sturdivant captures priceless images on the biggest day of people’s lives.
Barry and Kyle Smith
| OVER THE MOUNTAIN VIEWS |
MUSIC 22 | Songbirds and Warblers
SPORTS 23 | Adieu Coach Meadow! 24 | Homewood claims second consecutive Class 6A boys golf title.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
JOU RNAL Thursday, May 29, 2025
Publisher & Executive Editor: Lee Hurley Editor: Barry Wise Smith Design Director: Claire Cormany Photographer: Jordan Wald Contributors: Rubin Grant, Donovan Harris Account Executive: Julie Trammell Edwards We would love to hear from you on any subject: lhurley@otmj.com
Vol. 34, No. 20
Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper celebrating the communities of Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. A one year subscription to journal (24 issues) is $84 Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. E-mail the editorial department at editorial@otmj.com. E-mail our advertising department at lhurley@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2024 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
1951 //
Jerry and Betty Drennen on their wedding day—February 2, 1951, in Union Point, Georgia.
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Crawfish for the King
n May 4th, The King’s Home Junior Board’s 4th Annual Crawfish for the King at Back Forty Beer Company was an incredible success, raising over $22,000 for King’s Home. Attendees enjoyed unlimited crawfish while supporting this Christ-centered nonprofit organization that operates 21 residential group homes across six campuses in four Alabama counties, providing refuge, healing and transformative support to youth, women, mothers and children who have experienced abuse, neglect, abandonment and homelessness. OTMJ
Cassidy Short and Jim Medley
Ashley Giles, Natalie Anderson, Deblyn Owen and Lily Anderson
Lew Burdette, King’s Home President; Manning Owen, Junior Board President; Katherine Arrington, Junior Board Social Media Chair and Jim Medley, Vice President of Development and Marketing
Katherine Arrington, Manning Owen and Junior Board member Sadler McKeen
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Children’s Arts Guild Fashion
ore than 225 guests gathered on Tuesday, March 11th, at the Country Club of Birmingham for this year’s highly anticipated Children’s Arts Guild (CAG) Fashion Show. Under the dedicated leadership of CAG President Kendall Hagood, Fashion Show Chair Eleanor Tolbert, Treasurer Leigh Huber and advisors Sissy King, Elizabeth Lindsey and Lauren P. Nichols, this year’s event raised approximately $78,000 to support The Dance Foundation, a vital organization founded in 1975 by Jennie Robertson, Virginia Sanford Donovan and Mary Conyers Cooper. Since its inception in 1979, CAG has raised more than $1 million to support TDF’s mission. OTMJ
Fashion Show Chair Eleanor Tolbert
Luncheon Table
Fashion Show Chair Eleanor Tolbert, President Kendall Hagood and Executive Director of The Dance Foundation, Diane Litsey
Models in heirloom lace
Models in summer play clothes
Models in beach attire
Models in their family tartan
Models in spring attire
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Hats and Hearts
n Saturday May 17th, the 3rd annual Hats & Hearts for Heidi’s Kids fundraiser took place at Dawgwood Farms in Irondale. About 300 people attended to help raise over $50,000 to help make a difference in the lives of local children. Patrons danced the night away to the tunes of The Whiskey River Band and enjoyed a bourbon tasting and a silent auction. The event sold out in advance. Heidi’s Kids is a local community service organization serving children and families through community outreach efforts and partnerships with local schools in the Greater Birmingham area. OTMJ
Debi McCaffrey, Ryan and Rachel Jones and Rachel Webre
Jason Wiggins, Jerry Cash and Bill Maxwell
Jesse and Liz Hyde and Mark and Virginia Mattox
Jill Thorson, Samantha Longrear and Carson Franklin
John and Daniel Thomas
Kaiden, Kendall, Connor and Isaac Howard
Kim McDanal and Krista Smith
Matt and Annalise Maddox
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DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
he General Sumter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met May 7 at The Country Club of Birmingham. Regent Judy Anderson introduced speaker, State Regent Malinda Williams, who informed the chapter of her projects around the three pillars of education, patriotism and historic preservation. Williams also thanked General Sumter DAR for their accomplishments and support. Peggy Thrasher, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, explained the guidelines for scholarship awards and congratulated the winner, James Caleb Lumpkin, grandson of DAR member Sarah Lumpkin. OTMJ
State Regent Malinda Williams and Regent Judy Anderson
Regent Judy Anderson, Peggy Thrasher, James Caleb Lumpkin and Sarah Lumpkin
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WE LOVE HOMEWOOD
omewood sure knows how to throw a party! Despite rain and thunderstorms, on Saturday, May 3, activities for We Love Homewood Day included the We Love Homewood 5k and a street dance in Edgewood featuring live music from the M-80s. Due to weather, the annual We Love Homewood Day festival took over Central Park on Sunday, May 4, with vendor tents, food trucks, bouncy houses and a performance by the Homewood High School Patriot Marching Band. All proceeds went to support fine arts in Homewood City Schools, the band’s upcoming trip to the Rose Bowl and the HWD Strong Wellness Program. OTMJ
Evan Vanarsdale, John Goode and Marcus Jones
Janie, Lauren and Julia Jennette
John Preston Truelove and Sebastian Hudson
Logan Griffis, Mims Pate, Emory Sutherland, Frances Cascio, Charlie Cain and Clara James Cascio
Mallory, Carson and Logan Phillips
Molly Byars, Emma Lake Dunn and Cecilia Harris
Murray Lorberbaum and Elliott Huskey
Patrick and Christian Morton, Allie Gallagher and Drew Morton
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The Junior League of Birmingham
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he Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) is proud to announce its 2024-2025 scholarship recipients: Agbor Tabe “Fiona” Besem Atem, Sarah Black, Elizabeth Coleman, Ashleigh Davidson, Cacie Freeman, Cynia Hawkins and Shantay Williams. The JLB Academic Scholarship is a non-renewable scholarship, distributed annually to women in Jefferson and Shelby counties. Seven awards totaling $20,000 were given this year. The recipients were selected by the JLB Scholarship Committee following a competitive application process and multiple rounds of interviews. OTMJ
JLB Scholarship Committee
Agbor Tabe Fiona Besem Atem with Jessica Hopper, JLB President
Ashleigh Davidson
Cacie Freeman
Cynia Hawkins
Elizabeth Coleman
Sarah Black
Shantay Williams
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GIFT GUIDE | SOCIAL |
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HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! Dad can embrace his inner Grill Master when he uses the 28” Omnivore Griddle. Father’s Day special, $349. ALLSOUTH APPLIANCE, 205-369-1295
Polos at play for Father’s Day. Pick 3 polos…any polos, for a limited time and receive 15% off. (Dad will never know you saved so much!) TASC, 659-599-9240
An innovative and functional dive watch, the CITIZEN Promaster Dive Automatic is powered by motion, so you’ll never need a battery. SHAY’S JEWELERS, 205-978-5880
The Stihl GTA 26 handheld battery pruner delivers precise cutting performance for Dad in a lightweight, easy-to-maneuver body. Get a 2nd FREE battery with a purchase of the pruner, the charger and the battery, $179.99. LITTLE HARDWARE, 205-871-4616
The Meisterstück Gold-Coated Ballpoint Pen is the write gift for Dad, $470. BARTON-CLAY FINE JEWELERS, 205-871-7060
The Seiko Speedtimer Solar Chronograph U.S. Special Edition watch is designed for Dads who treat life as the ultimate adventure. This rugged and stylish watch is part of a high-intensity collection inspired by classic motorsports in the 1970s, $850. STEED’S JEWELERS, 205-822-9173
This set of four double old fashioned glasses is a timeless gift to celebrate Dad’s need to chill. Engraving is available to create a personalized and meaningful keepsake, set of four, $55. BROMBERG’S MOUNTAIN BROOK, 205-871-3276; THE SUMMIT, 205-969-1776 Dad will treasure this elegant Bulova Marine Star watch with bold accents and innovative materials inspired by the sea. Water resistant up to 200 meters, $525. SOUTHEASTERN JEWELERS, 205-980-9030
Dad will love being able to see birds gathering in his BirdReel Smart Bird House from anywhere in the world. Includes bird identification, photo gallery and recording controls. WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED, 205-823-6500
These freezable glasses keep beer cold for hours. The silicone sleeve protects your hand from the cold. Perfect for the Dad who likes a cold beer (98.7% of all dads). Rabbit Beer Glasses, set of 2, $45. THE COOK STORE, 205-879-5277
This Satin-brushed titanium Hermes H08 watch from the Automatic Casual Luxury Collection will instantly make you dad’s favorite. JB & CO., 205-478-0455
For the Dad who knows his way around the great outdoors or just likes to be prepared, new and antique knives make great gifts. ATTIC ANTIQUES, 205-991-6887
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Les Dames d’Escoffier closes in on a quarter million dollars of giving
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The Birminghan Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International celebrated their 2025 grants and scholarships award recipients at an event at The Garden’s Cafe. From left to right: Nedra Moore of Creations Galore and Moore; Irene Arbaca a student at Jefferson State Community College; Alexis Kimbrough of Herban Soul Cafe; Jennifer Dunbar of Lovelight Farms; Alanis Stansberry a student at UAB; and Toni North of Tasteful Touch Catering, LLC.
For more about the Birmingham chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, visit ldeibirmingham.org.
ith their most recent round of grants and scholarships, the Birmingham chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International has given nearly a quarter of a million dollars to women across the state of Alabama pursuing culinaryrelated careers. At an awards ceremony on May 18, 2025, the chapter awarded a record $47,000. Les Dames Escoffier’s literal translation means the ladies of Ecoffier. Auguste Escoffier (1846–1935), was known as “The Chef of Kings” and “The King of Chefs” and considered one the most innovative chefs in culinary history, while his philanthropic deeds were just as inspirational. This worldwide society of women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality has a mission of education, advocacy, mentoring and philanthropy. The Birmingham chapter, founded in 2013, has 112 members and in addition to grants and scholarships, the chapter funds projects for high school students, helps grow womenowned businesses and assists like-minded nonprofits with food-related work in our communities. OTMJ
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This year’s Entrepreneurial Grant winners were: NEDRA MOORE / Creations Galore and Moore Creations Galore and Moore is a farm-to-table bakery located in downtown Calera.
JENNIFER DUNBAR / Lovelight Farms The 12-acre market vegetable farm in Wilsonville is focused on growing clean, healthy food through sustainable growing methods. TONI NORTH / Tasteful Touch Catering, LLC Tasteful Touch Catering, based in Pinson, is built on Toni’s passion for creating tasteful culinary experiences.
ALEXIS KIMBROUGH / Herban Soul Café Herban Soul Café is an herb-based brand on a mission to shake up wellness by revolutionizing the way customers experience herbs and tea-based food and beverage options.
College Scholarships this year went to: IRENE ARBACA / Jefferson State Community College
ALANIS STANSBERRY / University of Alabama at Birmingham
EMMA MELCHER / Auburn University JOY M. BANKS / University of Alabama at Birmingham
ANNA BENSON / Auburn University KAYLEIGH GRANT / Samford University
COMMUNITY
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far left: Flower beds on 21st Avenue South at Entrance/Exit of Red Mountain Expressway. left: Salisbury triangle’s progress as of June 4th. below: The Triangle team from left to right: Patrick Daniel, Catie Yielding, Bill Thompson, Ralph Yielding, Louise and Hardy Yielding, Hampton Stephens, Jeanetta and Bill Keller.
Improving Our City One Garden at a Time BY LEE HURLEY
PHASE ONE: THE 2022 WORLD GAMES
Three years ago Ralph Yielding, a bespectacled 67-year-old Bradley lawyer, was driving to and from his Downtown office and noticed something that bothered him. The 2022 World Games were coming to town, and he realized that the entrances and exits from the Red Mountain Expressway into the downtown area were overgrown with weeds and strewn with trash. Serving as the local host to the U.S. Men’s and Women’s World Games Lacrosse Teams, and with visitors coming from all over the world, Yielding realized it would be nice to present a clean and attractive entrance into the downtown area. You know, leave them with a good impression. Being a realist, Yielding was familiar with the concept of “asking for forgiveness instead of permission” so without having time to figure out who managed what public areas, he took his lawnmower and weedeater downtown with some trash bags, and cleaned up the entrance and exits leading on and off the Expressway into downtown. Once he got it cleaned up, he thought, ‘well, the next logical step is to beautify these areas with some flowers.’ So off to Home Depot he went. After his initial efforts, Yielding contacted the head of the City’s Keep Birmingham Beautiful department, who
connected him to the City’s horticulture nursery, and they provided him with plants to help maintain his downtown beautification efforts ever since.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE (OR THREE)
Over the past three years, Yielding expanded his “litter-getter” clean-up and beautification efforts to include the 21st Avenue South/Diaper Row entrance and exit ramps to the Expressway and around Ramsay Park on Montclair Road near where he lives. This led him to discover others, both organized and solo, who likewise have made their own efforts to beautify our community. “There’s a retired ophthalmologist named Bry Coburn who lives in Cherokee Bend and on his way to exercise at the Shades Valley YMCA, he routinely parks his car on Diaper Row and picks up the trash at the Expressway entrance and exit ramps,” Yielding says. And with the help of nearby resident George Jenkins, they created and maintain a public pollinator garden. Similarly, Diaper Row resident Wayne Hester routinely picks up trash there and helps maintain the flower beds Yielding planted. Also, Billy Angel at Oak Street Garden Shop stepped up and donated a $500 credit two years in a row for whatever plants the group needs for its public flower beds.
PHASE TWO: WATER MAIN BREAKS, NATIVE PLANTS, AND THREE TRIANGLES
team. He recruited several Salisbury-area residents, including Tom Warburton, Stephen Gidiere, and Bill Keller, and found further expertise and support from city leaders like Clay Ragsdale, head of the City’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, and Graham Smith, the City Council liaison member. Yielding and his Salisbury team hired a landscape designer with expertise in native plants named Patrick Daniel, and they created a design plan for the Salisbury triangles which involved removing the grass surface and replacing it with a new topsoil/ compost surface to provide a rich base for the native plants. The City approved the design and provided the Salisbury team with the needed labor and machinery for the prep work and with funding to purchase the native plants. Since installation in late April, a committee from the neighborhood and the city have developed a partnership to coordinate maintaining and watering the triangles. “The city is excited to see the addition of native plants and flowers in our public areas and to promote partnerships with local residents,” says Graham Smith. Daniel sums it up nicely, “I think this effort reflects a closer appreciation of what is around us all the time. For a lot of us, life’s pleasures are simpler.” For Yielding, as he transitions toward retirement, it has provided him with a rich, meaningful opportunity to continue to make his own unique contribution to our community. OTMJ
CAPTAIN RALPH
Authors note: Digging into this story (pun intended) the author realized there was so much going on in the area of environmental sustainability that it warrants a part two of the subject which Clay Ragsdale has promised to help with at some point.
“Last summer on my way home from work one day, I noticed a water main broke on the main traffic triangle in the middle of Salisbury Road where my parents once lived,” says Yielding, “and it left the whole triangle a mass of mud.” Having just planted several zinnia beds downtown and on Diaper Row, Yielding reached out to someone on the street and said, “Hey, I drive by there every day and rather than ya’ll looking at mud, I’d be glad to throw out some seeds?” They said, sure. At that point Yielding reached out to Dana Hazen, Mountain Brook’s Director of Planning, Building, and Sustainability, to ask for advice. Hazen responded, “If you’re willing to do that, would you consider helping with our efforts to encourage the use of native plants within the city?” Yielding knew nothing about native plants or why the city would be encouraging their use. Ask Hazen why native plants are important and she offers: “They provide nectar, pollen, and seeds that support the local food web (insects, birds, and other animals). Non-natives do not provide the necessary nutrients for our native animals to thrive. Since they are adapted to local soils and climates, native plants don’t require as much water. Additionally, the deep roots of many native plants increase the soil’s capacity to store water, which is essential for reducing water runoff and preventing erosion.”
Yielding soaked all this up (pun intended), read up on the environmental significance of native plants and became the Captain of the Salisbury triangles native plant installation
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Boda Bonita! An over-the-mountain couple celebrates a beautiful wedding in Spain. BY BARRY WISE SMITH
PHOTOS BY KRISTEN PUGH PHOTOGRAPHY
Even in childhood, Riordan Wyatt Matthaei was fascinated by Spain. “I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in visiting Spain,” she says. “I think it started in elementary school when my parents encouraged me to take Spanish.” Growing up in Homewood and going through the Homewood schools, Riordan focused on studying Spanish and cheering. “My parents said that if I learned how to speak Spanish, I could travel to these exciting places, and I was hooked,” she continues. “I studied Spanish beginning in sixth grade and continued it all the way through college.” That college was Birmingham-Southern (BSC) where Riordan was a cheerleader, continued her Spanish studies, majored in Business and Spanish and met her future husband Colin Matthaei, who grew up in St. Augustine, Florida, and came to BSC to play soccer. “Spanish dominated most of my educational journey,” Riordan says. “It was always my top priority and guided me in choosing where to go to school, what to study and what experiences I wanted. I chose BSC because it allowed me to continue my Spanish education and provided opportunities to study abroad, which I did in Seville in Spring 2016.” Riordan and Colin first met during BSC orientation when they were in the same orientation group. But their first real meeting happened during a Janterm trip to Costa Rica in January later that year. “We quickly connected over our interest in traveling,” Riordan says. “By the end of the trip, we decided our friends needed to be friends, and we kick started the creation of our little community at BSC. We didn’t actually start dating until the summer before our senior year. We love that we had years to foster such a strong friendship and build our relationship.” After Riordan’s semester in Spain, she knew she wanted to return. When she
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opposite page: Riordan and Colin Matthaei at the Plaza de España, Seville. this page, clockwise from top left: Riordan in her wedding dress prior to her wedding; the couple during their traditional Catholic ceremony at Real Parroquia de Santa María Magdalena; the couple leaving their ceremony; the couple with their families from left: Kennan Carames, Shannon Matthaei, Cameron Matthaei, Jay Matthaei, Christine Matthaei, Megan Wyatt, Alex Wyatt and Ander Wyatt
discovered the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program—a program through the Spanish Embassy that places American students and graduates in Spanish schools to help with language programs—Riordan, now with Colin in tow—packed up her life and moved to Madrid. “We had two incredibly fulfilling years living in Madrid and working as English language assistants in local schools,” she says. “In that time, we created a small community of ex-pats—still some of our best friends to this day, and some who were with us at our wedding—traveled throughout Europe and grew our relationship through the unique experience of living abroad.”
THE WEDDING
After Riordan and Colin got engaged, Riordan’s mind turned immediately to a truly beautiful Spanish wedding (the titular Boda Bonita). “I always said I wanted a destination wedding, and when we got engaged, it just made sense,” Riordan says of her plan to have her wedding in Spain. “Travel and Spain were integral parts of our relationship, and then we had the ultimate adventure to Spain together as first-time adults. We couldn’t not incorporate something so critical to us becoming the people we are today.” Riordan’s mom, Megan Wyatt, a Birmingham wedding planner, immediately stepped up to help coordinate the details. “I loved working
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“We wanted those closest to us to see a glimpse of the place that made us the people we are today and see how it shaped our relationship.” –riordan wyatt matthaei
top left, from left to right: Jenna McEachern, Robby Zelinski, Katie McMahon, Pat Erickson, Christina Hontzas, Ander Wyatt, Riordan Wyatt Matthaei, Colin Matthaei, Cameron Matthaei, Kennan Carames, Shannon Matthaei, Matt Volk and Sarah Gwin Moore top, right: The couple photographed in the Seville street following the ceremony. above: Between the ceremony and the reception, the wedding party and guests took over a nearby bar, with the bride sitting atop the bar.
with Riordan and Colin to plan their wedding,” Wyatt says. “As a planner by trade, I wanted to share my expertise and knowledge but also wanted to stay in the role as mom. I was so fortunate to be able to lean on the super talented wedding pros here in Birmingham and in Seville to help guide us, but it was my great team that took the lead and allowed me to be truly present and enjoy the process more fully!” On March 8, 2025, Riordan and Colin had their Boda Bonita at Real Parroquia de Santa María Magdalena, in Seville, followed by a reception at Casa Manolo Leon. Attended by about 30 people, including their immediate families and very close friends, the wedding was a traditional Catholic ceremony conducted in English. “When I was studying in Seville, my host father told me that he hoped I
would come back and show the people I love this amazing place and how it made me, me,” Riordan remembers. “Since then, I have shared Seville with my family, my best friend and then Colin. Through my experiences in Seville, I found what meant the most to me, what I wanted in life, and who I wanted to share it with. It was only fitting to go back to the place that gave me so much to start the next major phase of our life together. It will forever be a sacred place to me, and I cannot wait for the other major life events it will hold as we grow.” Guests spent the days before the wedding exploring the sights in Seville, including a tour of the Alcazar (a local Moorish castle), and a welcome/rehearsal dinner at Rio Grande. “One of our top priorities was getting to share what we love most about Spain with the people that are most important to us,” Riordan
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left: When back home, the couple enjoyed their first dance at the reception held at St. Paul in Birmingham. below: Ander Wyatt, the bride’s brother, dressed as BSC’s mascot Rowdy and took pictures with guests.
“Everything was truly magical, and we are so blessed to be able to relive all the special moments with all the wonderful photos. Kristen Pugh is an amazingly creative photographer with a keen eye for those special moments, and it was a true blessing to have her document all the events in Spain and in Birmingham! –MEGAN WYATT
says. “Spain is our absolute favorite place and where we feel most at home. We wanted those closest to us to see a glimpse of the place that made us the people we are today and see how it shaped our relationship.” Riordan had several favorite memories of the wedding week, including she and Colin’s first look on their wedding day, which was intended to be a private moment but quickly became the center of attention at the local plaza. “We had a crowd watch our entire meeting,” Riordan says with laugh. “Something quite ironic for two people who do not enjoy being the center of attention.” Between the ceremony and reception, the wedding guests took over a small bar, even sitting on the bar for photos. For the honeymoon, Riordan and Colin went to Italy, visiting Rome, San Casciano de Bagni and Florence, with a final stop in Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day. “It was Colin’s first visit to Italy,” Riordan says. “We had a trip planned there in 2020 while we were living in Madrid, but it was cancelled due to Covid. We have been hoping to go back ever since!”
THE PARTY
After returning from their honeymoon, Riordan and Colin enjoyed a Welcome Party at Cahaba Brewing Company hosted by the Matthaei family, with family and friends diving into delicious Alabama BBQ. The following night, April 5, the couple hosted 200+ people at the
Cathedral of St. Paul for a reception. After a family mass with newlywed blessing, guests enjoyed a sampling of southern bites from Tre Luna and danced the night away to the Emerald Empire Band. Riordan’s brother, Ander, dressed up in the BSC Rowdy mascot outfit and took pictures with guests throughout the night. Once again, Megan Wyatt put on her wedding planner hat to help coordinate the reception details, pulling in vendors she regularly works with. “Colin and Riordan had a clear vision of what they wanted for both locations, so everything fell in place so easily and organically,” she says. “They wanted to merge their love of Spanish and Southern cultures with touches of color but ultimately wanted to make their guests feel welcome and celebrated.” Guests sipped on a specialty cocktail at the reception—the “Tio de Verano” (actually a tinto de verano but named for their dog Tio)—a refreshing mix of red wine and lemon lime soda that had been a daily treat during the wedding in Spain. With family from New York and Chicago in town for the reception, there was a late-night pass of Davenport’s pizza to help those guests have a little taste of home. Now settling in to married life, Colin is an associate at Lightfoot, Franklin, & White, and Riordan works in operations at Southern Veterinary Partners. They recently bought a house in Homewood with their golden retriever, Tio (Spanish slang for buddy). OTMJ
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Magic Moments
Wedding photographer Brittany Sturdivant captures priceless images on the biggest day of people’s lives.
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BY BARRY WISE SMITH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRITTANY STURDIVANT
rowing up, Brittany Sturdivant didn’t plan on becoming a wedding photographer. “I never considered photography as a career,” Sturdivant says. “I grew up dancing my whole life,” she says of her years spent at Birmingham Dance Theatre. SWhen she graduated Vestavia Hills High School and moved on to Birmingham-Southern College (BSC), Sturdivant majored in dance on the pre-health track with a plan go to physical therapy school and be a PT for dancers. But when Sturdivant did a physical therapy internship, it wasn’t what she had imagined.
Then, BSC discontinued the dance major, and Sturdivant needed a new plan. “I took a business class and fell in love with it,” she remembers. “It turned out my mind worked better in the business classes than it did in my science classes.” BSC allowed Sturdivant to finish her dance major, she changed from pre-health to business, and the rest is history. Sturdivant had always been the friend in her group with a camera in her hand, and she had taken some photography classes in high school. “I saved all my graduation money from high school to buy my first DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera,” she remembers. At BSC she
met her good friend Elizabeth Pettey, who was doing photography, and “she showed me a way to make money doing it.” During BSC’s popular Jan Term, Sturdivant started looking for a professional photographer to learn from. “I sent emails to more than 20 photographers asking to shadow them,” she says. “Most either didn’t respond or responded to say, ‘I don’t want to train my own replacement.’” But Kelly Cummings, an established local wedding and lifestyle photographer and owner of Spindle Photography, interviewed Sturdivant and offered her the opportunity to assist her on shoots. “It was one of the biggest gifts of my career,” Sturdivant says. “For her to give me a chance was amazing, because hands-on experience is so crucial.” By January 2011, midway through Sturdivant’s sophomore year, she had assisted Cummings on numerous wedding shoots. “She taught me how to use Lightroom (photo editing software) and let me start doing some photo editing for her,” she says. Sturdivant also got a first-hand look at the
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
business side of photography—developing client relationships, vendor networking, billing, taxes. “It’s one thing to major in business but a whole other thing to see the reality of it,” Sturdivant says. By her junior and senior year, Sturdivant started shooting weddings on her own. “Kelly really pushed me to start doing it solo,” she recalls. “It was pretty gutsy for a college kid to be shooting people’s weddings.” But shoot weddings she did, doing about 10 by the end of her senior year. “It gave me a lot of experience and confidence that I could do this.” Sturdivant graduated from BSC in 2013 and went to work at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood before taking an admissions job at BSC. During her time at Trinity, pastor David Thompson taught Sturdivant how to shoot video. “He taught me how to use Final Cut Pro (video editing software), and I upgraded to a professional camera that shot photos and video,” she says. In 2015, after getting married the previous year to Robert Sturdivant, the youth minister at Trinity,
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Brittany Sturdivant’s advice on choosing a wedding photographer: “There has to be trust,” Sturdivant says, so interview multiple photographers and get recommendations from people you know and trust to select the right photographer for you. Establish a clear budget, and create a shot list with photographs you want to be sure are taken during the day (if you want a picture of your grandmother with your dog, be sure to discuss this in advance!). Determine what type of pictures you want. Are you more traditional and want posed shots, or do you want a more documentary style that captures candid moments throughout the day? Or a mixture of the two? Make sure and have conversations with the photographer so you get what you want. Invest in experience. The more experienced photographer will be more expensive, but they have been there, done that and know how weddings go, so find someone who has experience. Let the photographer do the work on your wedding day, so you can enjoy without having to think about whether things are being done or not. For more information and to see further examples of her work, visit brittanysturdivant.com.
and working at BSC, Sturdivant shot 20 weddings. Being married, working a full-time job and traveling to shoot weddings every weekend started to wear on her, and she knew it was time to make photography her full-time job. “I’m really grateful for that time because it pushed me to a point where I had to make a decision,” Sturdivant says of pulling the trigger on going full time with photography. She and her mom, Sherri Arias, who had recently retired, signed a lease
| WEDDINGS | on a space in West Homewood that could function as Sturdivant’s photo studio and office, while also hosting events. Studio BHM was born. At her peak, Sturdivant shot 35 weddings in a year, traveling across the country to weddings in Nashville, New Orleans, Cape Cod and more. When the pandemic hit in 2020, and the wedding world changed, Sturdivant pivoted and started shooting videos for non-profits, which took her to Africa and Haiti on mission trips. “I loved getting to travel,” she says. In 2021, Sturdivant changed the name of her business from Love Be Photography to simply Brittany Sturdivant to reflect the breadth of work she was doing. “But weddings are always the main focus,” she says. While Sturdivant shoots a more documentary style of photography, capturing special candid moments throughout a wedding day, she also knows that there are some pictures that must be taken at every wedding. “Being in the South, there are those classic pictures and poses that every bride still wants,” she says. Today, Sturdivant limits her schedule to 12 weddings a year as she is now mom to her daughter Addie with a new baby on the way (baby #2 is due in July). Sturdivant is known for her calm, steady presence on wedding days so that brides and grooms can revel in their day knowing that she will capture the images they’ll want to look back on for years to come. “It never gets old,” she says. “Every wedding is different, even though there’s a familiar rhythm and heartbeat to them. It is the highest compliment and the biggest privilege to have a family entrust me to capture the images on the most important day of their lives.” OTMJ
Thursday, June 12, 2025 • 21
MUSIC
22 • Thursday, June 12, 2025
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“Seeing the faces of those we sing to brings us great joy. Music helps them remember. It’s the universal language.” –director fred ernst left: The Hoover Songbirds performing. below: David Campbell, Peggy Sawaya, Fred Ernst and Linda Campbell at Temple Beth El in May.
Songbirds keep singing
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BY LEE HURLEY
or over 34 years, the Hoover Songbirds have brought professional choral performances to audiences across greater Birmingham. The seniors to seniors singers kicked off their spring season at the Bungalows of Riverchase, and went on to give 16 performances at various locales like the Shepherd of the Valley Church, The Oaks— Independent Living, Brookdale Senior Living, Somerby, Galleria Woods, and Kirkwood by the River, to name a few. “We’re lucky to have 32 choir members this year; 21 women and 11 men,” says Director Fred Ernst. The choir features performers aged 55 to 90. Though the group sings in unison, Ernst welcomes harmonies. “The only rules are: sing
on pitch and in key.” Shows include light choreography and costume changes to match musical themes along with very talented musicians backing up the choir. Now in his 13th year as director, Ernst began singing while young, later performing with the Cleveland Orchestra’s Pops chorus. A semi-retired anesthesiologist who runs the pain clinic at Cooper Green two days a week, Ernst began taking formal vocal lessons at 56, studying voice for a decade. “I still seek approval from my toughest critics—my wife and daughter,” he jokes. Ernst, a very animated conductor, learned his movements from the famous conductor Louis Lane. “We are rarely dull,” he smiles. Ernst revamped the choir’s repertoire to include an hour of Broadway tunes and selections
from the Great American Songbook. Members bring standout experience, like opera-trained mezzo Ginger Goodall; Theresa Thienpont, former music director for OLV church and school; and Lynne Leo, former choir director at Pelham High School. Four instrumentalists also perform with the group: Linda Campbell on the piano; Karl Turner and David Campbell on drums; Bud Brown on guitar and Fred Gibson with percussion. “We enjoy the fellowship,” says Ernst. “Being a musical family, and performing for senior
citizens is a privilege. Some of our members don’t have family in this area, and so we are basically their support network. And seeing the faces of those we sing to brings us great joy. Especially memory care seniors. Music helps them remember. It’s the universal language.” OTMJ The fall season will feature eight performances during October and November. For more information, email Fred Ernst at mdgaser@yahoo.com.
Warblers Club Back Onstage BY DONOVAN HARRIS
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Tickets cost $30 and may be purchased from any active Warbler or online at warblersclub.org. To send by check, mail to: The Warblers Club, PO Box 101025, Birmingham, AL 35210. Please include your address, email, & phone number to receive your purchased tickets.
he Warblers Club singing group has been around since 1929, when it was formed as the boys’ glee club at Woodlawn High School. In the mid-1970s, the Warblers’ existence as a high school group ceased, but in 1988, many of the group’s alumni decided to reunite and continue this musical legacy. Since then, The Warblers have performed regularly for private and public functions all over the city. And yet, The Warblers haven’t performed a big show since its 93rd anniversary show in 2022. That will change next month with a concert called “Let Melody Flow!” with the popular Three on a String ensemble on July 12 at 6 p.m. at Samford’s Fine Arts Center. The Warblers will perform southern classics, spirituals and patriotic and Americana music in their traditional four-part harmony style. Between the first and second half of the show, a few of the members break out into a group and perform doo-wop numbers. While many of the current performers were members of the Woodlawn High Warblers during their high school days, the membership now includes men from other high schools, more than 40 in all. “We’ve been rehearsing for a year, and it’s going to be a big show. We’ll do several black light numbers with choreography, in addition to our traditional group choral songs,” says Bob Parker, the musical director since 2007. The Warblers are expecting a full auditorium at the Wright Center, so come join the crowd for a unique musical experience. OTMJ
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| SPORTS |
Thursday, June 12, 2025 • 23
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
Vestavia Hill’s Meadow retires to spend more time with her family. BY RUBIN E. GRANT back row, from left: Meadow’s husband John Jones; Meadow’s daughter in law Natalie Littleton; son Bryce Littleton; son Bruce Littleton; Brigid Meadow and her best friend Courtney Williams in front from left: Meadow’s youngest son Jack Littleton and her father, Joe Meadow
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rigid Meadow is a total boy mom to her three athletic sons. “I showed up to their games, drove them to practices when I could, and traveled all summer for events,” she says. But Meadow was also a very successful soccer coach, and during high school soccer season, sometimes Meadow’s intense focus on her Vestavia Hills girls team meant her family had to ride shotgun. “I was usually distracted at home and up late at night during soccer season.” Meadow explains her intensity by saying when she does something she’s all in. “My focus is on my girls,” she says. “They are my family. I love my team so much that sometimes I haven’t given the type of love and care I needed to my boys. I
That means showing up for her younger two sons’ sporting events. Bruce just graduated and is headed to the University of Southern Mississippi to play baseball, and Jack is in middle school and plays soccer, football and wrestles. Her oldest son, Bryce Littleton, was a three-sport athlete at Vestavia Hills before going on to play football at UAB. He now runs a landscaping business. “With Bruce going to Southern Miss, I want to be there to support him whenever he gets on the mound,” Meadow says. “And I’ll get the chance to watch my youngest play soccer, football and wrestle.” Meadow was a star athlete in the 1990s in soccer and basketball, first at Berry High School (now Hoover) and also in college at Wofford. She was the first women’s soccer representative in the Wofford Hall of Fame. Meadow waited until after the season to tell her players she was retiring because she didn’t have not given them my best. I’ve been giving it to other kids. I told them I might not always be here for you, but I love you. They say, ‘We understand. We get it.’” But now, after 21 seasons as the Rebels’ girls’ soccer coach Meadow, 49, will be there for her boys. She informed her players after they had secured the 2025 Class 7A state championship in May. The title was the sixth Vestavia Hills won with Meadow at the helm. She compiled a 407-86 career record with 39 ties. “Vestavia has been so amazing to me,” Meadow says. “I couldn’t have picked a better place to live. I built a strong program, so it is one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. But now I can be all in on giving my family the attention they need.”
“Vestavia has been so amazing to me. I built a strong program, so it is one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. But now I can be all in on giving my family the attention they need.” –coach brigid meadow
want this season to be about her. “I wanted the focus to be on the team and making them better,” Meadow says. Even when she won her 400th game on April 4 against Oak Mountain, she tried to shun the spotlight. “I heard the fans cheering and then the players dumped water on me,” Meadow says. “I was mad. I said, ‘What are you doing?’ My assistant told me I had just won my 400th game.” After she cooled down, Meadow said, “Praise God for all my girls this year and all years prior for being willing to do more, to be asked to give even more, and then to give more. What a shared accomplishment to be a part of!” The Rebels finished this season with a 21-2-4 record, defeating defending champion Auburn 3-1 in the Class 7A championship game. In the postgame huddle, Meadow finally told her team she was stepping down. “I was trying to find the right time to tell them,” she says. “I didn’t want the season to be about me, but to be about them. I got a little choked up, and they were a little teary-eyed, but I am so happy we had this season together, and I got to tell them during such a happy moment.” Senior Betsy Whitson, Class 7A MVP of the state tournament, said she had heard rumors that Meadow was retiring. “Hearing her say it was sad,” Whitson says. “I’m glad I got to spend all four of my years with her. I am thankful for what she’s done. The program wouldn’t be where it is without her.” Meadow will remain at Vestavia Hills as a strength and conditioning coach, and her assistant coach Alex Carroll has been promoted as the Rebels’ head coach. Carroll played under Meadow and is a 2014 graduate of Vestavia Hills. She also played soccer at Wofford and has been an assistant coach with the Rebels soccer and basketball programs for the past seven years. “The girls like her,” Meadow says. “I think she’ll do a good job.” OTMJ
SPORTS | OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL • OTMJ.COM | Thursday, June 12, 2025
Homewood Claims Second Consecutive Class 6A Boys Golf Title BY RUBIN E. GRANT HOMEWOOD GOLF TEAM, LEFT: Andrew Woods, Kaman Rouse, Coach Jason Haithcock, Alex Wahl, Sawyer Bennett and Jack Lowery.
his score either day last year, and he knew if he got the opportunity he was not going to be remembered that way again. I think that was a driving motivation for him to get back and have a huge impact, and that’s what he did.” Spain Park’s Chase Kyes shot back-to-back rounds of 66 to finish with a 12-under 132 to claim Class 6A low medalist. Cullman’s Will Drake shot 69-64 for a 13-under 133 to finish a stroke behind Kyes. J.P. Groat of Fort Payne shot 68-70-138, followed by Wahl (70-69-139), Murray Walker of Spanish Fort (67-73-140) and three more Homewood golfers: Jack Lowery (72-69-140), Kenan Rouse (71-68-141) and Andrew Wood (71-71-142). Haithcock praised his team’s performance, especially since they were playing without Jonathan Peters, who graduated in 2024. Haithcock called Peters “one of the greatest leaders on any team I’ve ever coached. We lost JP, but that’s part of high school sports. Other guys have to grow and mature. I think maturity was the difference.” The tournament had a rain delay on day one and forced some teams to finish their first round on the following day. Haithcock said the Patriots benefitted from the delay. “We were not playing well before the first weather delay,” Haithcock says. “With the time on our hands, we reset and were a totally different golf team after that.” OTMJ
Vestavia Hills blisters the course
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he Rebels had to finish their first round on the second day and finished with a 10-under par 278. Four hours later, they came back and burned up the Ridge Course with 15-under par 273 for their 32-stroke win. Junior Gus Darnall was Vestavia Hills’ low man, earning runner-up with an 8-under par 136 (69-67). Thomas Crane of UMS-Wright finished 67-68-135 to take low medalist honors at 9-under par. “I think that’s the best I shot all year,” Darnall says. “I made a lot of putts, and I hit a lot of wedges close.” Vestavia Hills teammates Andrew Davis, a sophomore, and Clarke Brown, a junior, finished tied for third with with 7-under 137 totals. Senior Michael Dillon was seventh with a 3-under 141, and freshman Seve Winebrenner was 16th with 6-over 150. “I was very excited that we won,” Darnall says. “The team played well. We had a young team with only one senior, so we could win it again next year.”
Vestavia Hills coach Todd Evans attributed some of the Rebels’ success to a visit to Morningside of Vestavia Hills, a senior living facility, a week before the state tournament. “They saw that golf is not the most important thing in life,” Evans says. “It gave them a fresh perspective, so they stayed calm on the golf course and went out and executed.” OTMJ Gus Darnall
PHOTO BY DANNY MORIN
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s Homewood was capturing the 2024 AHSAA Class 6A boys golf state championship, the Patriots didn’t include the scores of Alex Wahl. But that wasn’t the case this spring. Homewood needed Wahl’s contributions and he delivered. Wahl fired rounds of 70 and 69 to finish fourth among the individuals with a two-day 5-under-par total of 139, leading the Patriots to the 2025 Class 6A state championship May 12-13 at the soggy Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail-Oxmoor Valley. Homewood took home its third overall championship with a 14-under 562 (285-277), 18 strokes ahead of second-place Spain Park, which finished with a 4-over 580 (287-293). Meanwhile, Vestavia Hills won its fourth Class 7A state title in four years and sixth overall with a 25-under total of 551 (278-273). UMS-Wright was a distant second with a 7-over 583 (293-290). The Patriots and Rebels were the only squads to finish under par for the tournament. There were 23 boys and six girls that finished the 76th AHSAA Golf Tournament under par. Homewood coach Jason Haithcock believes Wahl, a junior, had a little extra incentive going into the tournament. “Alex was a huge surprise,” Haithcock says. “He had not gone that low throughout the season. We didn’t have to count
PHOTO BY DANNY MORIN
VESTAVIA GOLF TEAM, BELOW: Head Coach, Todd Evans, Jacob Myrick, Clark Browne, Seve Winebrenner, Michael Dillon, Gus Darnall, Andrew Davis, Daniel Morin and Assistant Coach, Matthew Cameron.