Brianna & Cole | Vibrant End-of-Summer Wedding at Prayer Rock at Walker’s Bluff | Alabama Wedding Photographer
- Rachel Bonnett
- Sep 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 21
Some love stories begin in the most ordinary places, and that’s exactly what makes them so special. Brianna and Cole’s story started in high school, when Cole was the “new kid” who sat behind Bri in Bible class. What began as classmates sharing a row slowly turned into something so much deeper—and years later, it all led to this beautiful September wedding day.
From High School Sweethearts to a Waterfall Proposal
Cole planned the kind of proposal that feels straight out of a movie. On November 25, 2024, he took Brianna on an adventure to North Carolina, to Hanging Rock. After telling her, “Let’s take an adventure,” he led her under a waterfall—mist in the air, water rushing around them—and that’s where he asked her to be his wife.
It was simple, intentional, and so perfectly them.
Brianna loves Cole’s caring, fun, and goofy personality—the way he keeps life light and joyful. And in Cole’s words, his favorite thing about Bri is her smile. You can see that in every single photo of their day: the way he looks at her, and the way she lights up when she’s with him.
A Colorful, Joy-Filled Day at Prayer Rock
Brianna and Cole chose Prayer Rock at Walker’s Bluff for both their ceremony and reception, and it was the perfect backdrop for their “vibrant end of summer” celebration. Their color palette—periwinkle blue, yellows, and pinks in both dark and light tones—brought such a fun, joyful energy to the day.
From the moment I arrived, the venue was buzzing with excitement. Bri and her girls got ready on-site, surrounded by dresses, shoes, rings, and all the little details that make a wedding day feel real. I photographed her dress, shoes, invitations, and rings before the day really kicked into motion, and every detail tied back beautifully to that bright, happy color story they chose.
The Ceremony: A Christian Outdoor Celebration
Their Christian outdoor ceremony began at 5:30pm, with the sun starting to soften and that golden light beginning to peek through. The processional was full of emotion and personality:
Officiant: Bri’s dad, Dwight Pittman, who had the honor of both walking her through life and now officiating her marriage
Groom: Cole, waiting at the front
Best Man and Groomsmen
Bridesmaids and Matron of Honor
The sweetest crew of ring bearers and flower girls
And finally, Brianna, walking down the aisle with her dad, Duane
The officiant made the ceremony feel incredibly personal and meaningful. Surrounded by their closest family and friends, they promised forever under the open sky. And just in case the weather didn’t cooperate, they had a chapel backup plan—but this day was all about that beautiful outdoor setting.
The People Who Matter Most
One thing that stood out about Brianna and Cole’s day was how important family is to them. With Cole’s parents being divorced, we planned ahead for two sets of family photos to make sure everyone felt included and honored.
We made time for:
Bri’s immediate family: her parents, siblings, Nana, and the little ones
Close extended family groupings that were especially meaningful to her
Cole’s mom’s side and dad’s side, with grandparents, siblings, step-parents, and cousins
Their wedding party was a fun, supportive group that kept everyone laughing all day long:
Matron of Honor: Brooke Hernandez
Bridesmaids: Paige Schwing, Hope Johnson, Caylee Acosta, Kristen Wadenpfuhl, Nichelle Scura
Best Man: Sean Chappell
Groomsmen: Jude Blouin, Alex Vega, Donovan Davis, Reilly LaSavia, Ben Randow
And the kids absolutely stole the show—ring bearers Rowan Schwing and Linwood Zito, and flower girls Mila Schwing, Payton Leblanc, Presleigh Leblanc, and Maxine Zito brought so much sweetness (and a few giggles) to the aisle.
A Barn Reception Full of Dancing and Celebration
After the ceremony, everyone moved to the barn at the same venue for the reception. Dinner was served buffet-style, giving guests a relaxed, easygoing way to enjoy the evening before the dancing began.
Brianna was especially excited for the dances—and you could feel that anticipation all day. She couldn’t wait to:
Share her first dance with Cole as husband and wife
Dance with her dad, Duane
And then hit the dance floor with all her friends
Cole also shared not just one, but two mother/son dances, which was such a special way to honor the important women in his life. With All Smilez Entertainment keeping the music going, the dance floor stayed full and joyful all night long.
Guests enjoyed fun extras like a photobooth from Snap Sisters, and the whole evening felt like exactly what Brianna described: a celebration of marriage with the people who mean the most to them.
The Vendor Team
Brianna and Cole put together a wonderful team of vendors to bring their day to life:
Coordinator & Florist: Kelly Gibson with KnK Events
Venue: Prayer Rock at Walker’s Bluff
Catering: Ted’s Restaurant
DJ: All Smilez Entertainment (Cornelia Smiley)
Videography: Andrew Gaskin with SixEightCinematics
Hair: Hair on 100
Alabama Wedding Photographer: Rachel C Bonnett Photography
Everyone worked together seamlessly to create a day that was beautiful, organized, and full of heart.
A Joyful “Bubble” Send-Off
The night wrapped up around 10:30pm with a bubble send-off—soft, glowing light, bubbles floating through the air, and Brianna and Cole walking through a tunnel of love and cheers from their guests. It was the perfect ending to a day that started years ago in a high school Bible class and led them all the way here.
Brianna said she was most excited to walk down the aisle to marry Cole and then celebrate with her closest people—and that’s exactly what this day was. A joyful, colorful, Christ-centered celebration of two best friends promising forever.
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