Amber & Blake

November 23, 2019

By Caroline Edmondson

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Lovebirds Amber McMullen and Blake McMullen owe their paths crossing to Amber’s cousins Sandy and Radcliff Howard, who she says are more like brothers. “When Sandy and Radcliff had an apartment together, Blake and I both spent almost as much time over there as we did at our own homes,” Amber recalls. “Over the years we naturally grew closer to each other.” However, it wasn’t “love at first sight,” as Amber and Blake remained close friends for three years before deciding to try their luck at dating. “I think everyone around us knew that we were supposed to be together except me,” Amber jokes. “I couldn’t imagine losing my best friend, and a relationship was either going to make us or break us. It was a scary choice to make, but it turned out to be the best decision of my life!”

The couple shared three and a half wonderful years together before Blake popped the question during a romantic Christmas getaway to New York City. Amber admits she saw the proposal coming, as her grandfather had told her Blake had recently asked for his blessing. She even knew Blake had already purchased the perfect ring, though this didn’t stop Blake from toying with her by waiting until the last night of their trip to get down on one knee. “By that point, I was starting to think that it wasn’t going to happen,” she says. “I was actually telling my friends that I didn’t think I’d be getting the ring on this trip,” she jokes.

After a day of sightseeing in lower Manhattan, perusing the Central Park Zoo, having macaroons at Ladurée, dinner at The Palm, and hitting The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, the two strolled hand-in-hand back to their hotel. The pair stopped to admire St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the beautiful tree at The Lotte New York Palace, at which time Blake finally asked Amber to be his wife. “It really was the best Christmas present I could’ve asked for,” Amber gushes.

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Enjoying a year-long engagement, the couple had ample time to plan the wedding of their dreams and settled on an autumnal theme featuring neutral colors with hints of pinks and purples. Their venue selection came easy, as Amber’s family barn was an integral part of both of their lives. “Blake and I both enjoy spending our time there, and it was the perfect place to gather our friends and family,” Amber says. “The barn has been in my family for generations, starting with my grandfather [George Radcliff]. It was the perfect setting because it enabled me to easily visualize and execute my own personal touches into the venue. It was particularly special to me to have my horses overlooking the ceremony!”

And though one of the most important members of Amber’s family couldn’t be there (her father, who passed away when she was younger), Amber ensured he was there in spirit on her wedding day. “I planned to have a locket with a picture of him pinned to my bouquet for me to have as I walked down the aisle,” she explains. “The original locket that I ordered finally came in the week of my wedding, but it was too small to fit a picture. When my grandfather heard what the locket was for, he saved my day by getting me a beautiful gold estate locket from Zundel’s Jewelry. It turned out to be so much more special,” Amber reminisces.

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For their honeymoon, the couple decided a trip to Banff, Canada, this past Valentine’s Day week would be the perfect place to celebrate their new life together. “We are fortunate enough to enjoy warmer weather practically year-round in southern Alabama, so we decided to take a more untraditional honeymoon,” Amber says. “We wanted to take a trip where we could experience cold weather and outdoor activities.” Of their future, Amber says she is looking forward to growing old with her best friend, adding, “Our first dance song was ‘Sixty-Four’ by the Beatles. It really does encompass what marriage is really about for us. We are so fortunate to have each other day to day for the rest of our lives.”

Caterer:

Tyner’s Catering

Photographer:

Courtney Woodham

Lighting:

Southern Sound & Lighting

Band/DJ:

Southern Sound & Lighting

Wedding Planner:

Kayla Elliot (Southern Sound & Lighting)

Rentals:

Port City Rentals