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Lizzie Bowen

Meg Herndon

Anna Grace Moore

Lauren Sexton

Noah Wortham

James Culver

Rachel Culver

Melanie McCraney

Patrick McGough

Maddie Moore Photo

Blair Ramsey

Christiana Roussel

Eleanor Stenner Photography

Maddie Sullivan Photo

Ashley Tiedt

AL Weddings

Shelby Willoughby

Jamie Dawkins

Connor Martin-Lively

Briana Sansom

Sydney Allen

Octavia Campbell

Evann Campbell

Kari George

Michaela Hancock

Rachel Henderson

Rhett McCreight

Lauren Morris

Viridiana Romero

Tori Montjoy Smith

Mary Jo Eskridge

Alec Etheredge

Madison King

Stacey Meadows

Tim Prince

Brittany Schofield

Savana Tarwater

Anna Willis

James lives in the Birmingham area with his wife, Rachel, a native of Homewood, and their three children, Callie, James III and John Michael. James is a graduate of Auburn University and spent years in Atlanta working as a graphic designer, creative director and photographer. He specializes in event, real estate and portrait photography, and he can be found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at @jculvercreative and at jculver.com.

Born and raised in Mountain Brook, Patrick has had a passion for photography from when he bought his first cardboard box camera in a flea market at the age of 12. That passion has taken him all over the South and abroad on many assignments and projects. Every shoot creates an opportunity to meet new people and to explore ideas and locations. Whether shooting businesses, families or individuals, he strives to capture the most fun, genuine and unique images for his clients.

Blair is a Vestavia Hills-based photographer whose company, Southern Intrigue Photography, specializes in sports action, portrait and commercial images. Blair and her husband, John, have two sons, Cooper and Cameron, who have both had the privilege of being Auburn cheerleaders. Blair’s work can be found at southernintriguephotography. com, on Instagram @southernintriguephotography and Facebook @southernintrigue.

Where should we have dinner? Where should we go on our next family vacation or couple’s getaway? What kind of shotgun should I buy? These are all queries writer Christiana Roussel has answered in recent months. While food writing is her original passion, she has really enjoyed expanding her repertoire to include travel and sporting activities that might involve an upland adventure. And no, it is not just because there might be a need for new clothes for the expedition.

tax for one year by visiting MountainBrookMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532.

Caroline and Christopher’s first date was at a date party at the University of Alabama. They’ve been together ever since.

Photo by Katrina Langland with Eric and Jamie Photography

Design by Connor Martin-Lively

HHalf a decade ago I remember sitting on a fence about the inevitable “ring by spring” epidemic that seemed to plague the female senior population on campus. In the spring semester of my freshman year, I recall perusing through corridors, embarking to classes and dodging girls flashing the rocks on their fingers.

Then, I would’ve said girls should focus on their education and avoid the so-called “MRS” degree that skeptics such as myself would joke about being one attainment so many seem to pursue.

Admittedly, I am now only five years wiser and humbled to say I so enjoy being engaged because I found my “Mr. Right.”

I look back at freshman me, whose face resembled that of a pepperoni pizza and whose stress level required four mugs of joe a day, and laugh, thinking if only she knew that she, too, would fall in love at a young age.

One of my best friends Beth and I were invited to lunch by my cousin, Bobby, while we all happened to be in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We met up with Bobby and unknowingly to us several of his fraternity brothers. I sat right next to my “Mr. Right” himself, who looked completely uninterested that two Hippie Sabotage enthusiasts were helping themselves to the table’s shared cornucopia of breadsticks.

Hours soon faded as the sun retreated, and Justin, my now fiancé and father of my son, and I became inseparable. We played tic-tac-toe in the sand, drawing janky lines with our toes and trying to out-wit the other. Unfortunately, tic-tac-toe takes all of 30 seconds to play, so there’s not much room to one-up your opponent. Our conversation soon turned to politics, music tastes, our lives’ ambitions and how we each were going to make our mark in the world. The rest, as the cliché goes, is history.

Now just a few short months out from our tying the knot, I can’t help but smile at the younger version of myself, who was utterly disgusted by the idea of being entrapped by love.

My message for you, readers, is that life often tricks you into thinking you’re in control. I believe in a greater power who has a sense of humor one that involves the best plans for us. To the young and hopeful reading my letter, I pray for you to find your “Mr. or Mrs. Right,” but just know that he or she may meet you when you least expect it. But, isn’t that the beauty of falling in love? Adventure is the path of which love blooms between two aspiring souls. To that I say, love on.

Tag us in your Mountain Brook photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.

@cotton_state Mountain Brook Village Is Looking Pretty Festive Right Now…

Take the stress out of Christmas

Shopping with Piggly Wiggly Crestline. We are happy to build a care package with the quality, local goods that we feature here at the Pig. Wine shop has lots of options to fit every budget. Bubbles, crisp white Burgundies, buttery Chardonnays and red wines from around the world.

A great photographer!

-Catherine Blumenthal Cato

Someone to video. That was our favorite thing to go back and watch! Pics are great, but the video was the best!

-Stacy Cole

Photography and videography.

-Jennifer Crosby

Things that you will remember years down the road. I splurged on my wedding dress and catering. A good photographer is a big one!

-Genesis Hooks

Splurge on the wedding dress and photography!

-Jessie Walker

A wedding planner and cold sparks.

-Daniel Gable

I

MARCH 11

7:30 A.M.

2525

This annual 7.5K and 10K race will start and finish at The Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. This beautiful course winds through the village hills and finishes up past the Birmingham Botanical Gardens into Lane Parke. Rain or shine, this race will take place, and those that finish will receive a custommade, logoed bottle opener. Awards will be given to the top three male and female runners in their respective age groups. Learn more at runsignup.com.