The Most Amazing Beach Wedding Ever!
Submitted by: Carrie Dean (bride)
Wedding date: June 16, 2007
Wedding location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
James and I had the wedding of our dreams on a beautiful, sunny day at The Beach Club in Gulf Shores, Alabama surrounded by family and friends! After the ceremony, we had some time alone to take sunset pictures before we entered our reception to be introduced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. James Dean!
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When we decided to have a beach wedding, I had the perfect ceremony in mind complete with aisles lined with flowers, an arbor to say our vows under, and rose petals scattered in the sand! The event organizer informed me that most beach weddings are usually very simple and flowers would most likely blow over if not buried in the sand. However, my step-father, Kip, is a horticulturist, and he organized the most beautiful ceremony ever...as you can see! Along with the help of my family, he built and painted the arbor and set up all of the beautiful plants and flowers that you see at the ceremony!
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Since we were having a unique wedding, we also wanted to have unique wedding progams! James, my wonderful groom, came up with the idea to make our own "message in a bottle" wedding programs. So, we designed and printed our programs on parchment paper, rolled them, and placed them in bottles. Then, we added a decorative touch by adding sand, seashells, and a colorful, decorative umbrella!
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Since our wedding was at the beach, we decided to have a unity sand ceremony instead of the more traditional lighting of the candles. As the harp and violin were played, we poured our two glasses of sand into one glass. As the saying goes...the grains of sand can never again be separated. It is a symbol that they will forever be joined together just as James and I will be!
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After the ceremony, we had lots of fun taking pictures with our bridal party! The bridesmaids wore lovely blue dresses, and the groomsmen wore khaki linen pants with a white linen shirt. Everyone had a great time!
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My beautiful cake was made by Pam at Buttercream Dreams! It was four tiers of white cake with the most delicious buttercream frosting! It was decorated with real seashells as well...complete with my new initials!
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After a fun reception hosted by DJ Danny Sommers, James and I ran past family and friends as they blew bubbles! We were off to our honeymoon in Islamorada, Florida as Mr. and Mrs. James Dean!
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by nicole williams-rowell
Jun 26, 2008
beautiful beach wedding, love the bridal party outfits, elegant yet comfortable, cake was perfect for the theme.
by Rebekah Olson
Jun 5, 2008
Woah, you people on the knot site are freaks. Your pics are beautiful, I"m planning my wedding this summer and appalled by the comments here. How truly happy can one be if they can't be happy for others, right? Marriage isn't a contest! Congrats again, your wedding looks beautiful and you both look very happy.
by shay smith
Jun 2, 2008
what a breathe taking and beautiful location venue. I am loving it! Congrats and God Bless!
by Mary Berg
Apr 15, 2008
Carrie and James I love you with all my heart never give up and do not let peoples words slow you down.
Papa Bear
Apr 15, 2008
Hi Carrie - You had a beautiful day and nobody can take that away from you. Here's 5 more hearts for you :)
by Wesley Brooks
Apr 15, 2008
Great pictures. Sad to see the drama got dumped on you also. Good luck!
Apr 15, 2008
I hope you are feeling better today. Just giving you some more support in the form of hearts on this last day of voting :)
by Shantel
Apr 15, 2008
Pretty pictures, you and the Wedding Of the Year have the best ones.... Good Luck
by Kristen Turick
Apr 15, 2008
Hi Carrie... Just wanted to show my support as well. I felt horrible for you and the way things unfolded. I know it's hard... but try not to let it get to you. It's jealousy rearing its ugly head. Besides you have a WONDERFUL husband who obviously adores, loves and sticks up for you through thick and thin. AND you had a beautiful wedding to boot! I wish you and James all the best. This craziness is almost over! here's 5 more to keep you at the top!
by april griffin
Apr 14, 2008
I think all the brides are beautiful in the eyes of their loved ones. That is the way it should be. I know that this is the only attention some one may be getting but I know that too James and Carrie this is just a way to pass the time when taking a break. If you will give me your name and picture I will sit here and vote for hours for you so you can win because you apparently need that in your life and I will be glad to try and help you have the wonder ful feeling that my friends Carrie and James have. Oh by the way they have a really giant friend and family base and I am sure they would want you to be happy. Maybe you can find happiness like them. I am writing Carrie this because I know you will read it. May God bless you and may your spouse always love you. Thank you Carrie for working with all the special needs children you work with. They need you.
Apr 14, 2008
Keep on keepin' on =) Don't let the negativity affect you. You know in your heart what you did and didn't do, and that's all that matters =) It's a shame that this competition has turned something that was supposed to be fun into a drama-filled fiasco =( Here's 5 your way Carrie!
Apr 14, 2008
Glad to see you're back to 5 hearts!!! Still loving your pics, but I have to tell your husband "Go Gators!"
Apr 14, 2008
Did I hear something positive? Carrie.. I am here too, to give you 5 hearts for your beautiful wedding. You were an absolutely gorgeous bride. I, like the other positive brides don't understand why people must leave negative comments. So I'd like to get in on this new positive string of comments and tell you, you looked beautiful and you and your husband look so happy. Congratulations to you both!!
Apr 14, 2008
Hi Carrie, no problem. My mother-in-law loves your photos and I do as well. I think you both look absolutely beautiful on that beach! My husband and I can't believe some people still act this way. Please know that your day was perfect and the way it was supposed to be :)
Apr 14, 2008
Carrie-i'm so sorry to hear about all the craziness that have been going on in these comment entries! I just noticed the entries on Jessica's site and thought I'd send my dose of HEARTS your way! Hang in there girl!
Apr 14, 2008
Carrie, looks like we have both had a long day :) I'll say it again, good luck to you, and congratulations to you and your husband. Obviously all of us brides on here know that it was not you making the negative comments- that much has been resolved haha. Don't let all the conflict upset you, it comes from people who have lost focus on what weddings are really about. Good luck in the competition!!
by cecilia babin
Apr 14, 2008
Mrs. Dean, although I did not make any accusations against you, I am sorry that you had to deal with it. To accuse you of even being in the same category as the now notorious Frank/Cenny Norris? Absurd. They are obvious cheaters but i do not believe that you are. Keep your head up. It's almost over. good luck to you and your husband!
Apr 14, 2008
Jessica, we chose soon after our entry not comment during this contest as a result of the negative comments made on our pictures by "Sarah Keller;" but, after reading yours, I thought you deserved a response from me, the real Cenny. I asked all my supporters not to respond to the nasty comments made on my pages or to comment on anyone else's wedding, but just to vote for me, and I see they have done just that. People have left so many rude and negative comments, some signing in as me and my husband and as if they were friends of ours. Because this was definitely unacceptable, to sign as if we were leaving the comments, we asked The Knot to remove them. Other than that, we could care less what someone says about us during this contest because we know they really don't know us, and we are not offended so easily. I read one entry where a bride cried because of such comments, sad but it shows you gotta have a backbone to deal with this kind of backbiting. With that said, I don't know who "D. Washington" is or any of the others that are commenting on my pages, yours, or the others during this contest. "Washington" may be one of my supporters but I'm sorry I do not know who she/he is and regret that it's assumed that I do. This entire contest has been very discouraging to me and my husband and we will never enter another one, at least not one where anybody can leave any kind comments saying just about anything they want. As a matter of fact, we could care less whether we win or not, at this discouraging point of the contest! I really do appreciate the kind comments you and others have given, but chose not to respond to those either. Just remember there are really mean, hateful, and just plain rude people hiding behind the Internet which, in fact, allows them to show their true colors. I strongly believe, "you reap what you sow" (Galatians 6:7) so they'll get it back one way or another. Cenny
Apr 14, 2008
Hi Carrie
I'm sorry you have been accused of being Arca. I was one of her victim's too. I don't want to add any more fuel to the already ugly flames, so I won't say who I think it is. But I can't help but point out that "arca" did rave about another contender's pics last week.... and no one else's. So what does that tell you? Which to me was very disappointing because I was one of this person's first supporters when people started bashing people's pics in the first place. I said something to the effect of "if you can't say anything good about anyone, don't say anything at all" and offered this person my support. But I still became a target. Well I'm not going to let it get to me -- that is what she/he wants. You shouldn't let it get to you too, although I know it is difficult to not be affected by undeserved insults. And this person is oddly enough the only contender to my knowledge who hasn't offered any words of support or encouragement to any of her fellow brides during the entirety of the competition -- or even a thank you when some of these brides like myself, came to her defense. This is all almost over. I know you are not Arca. I'm sure others know and realize this too. Your pics are very pretty and the setting is gorgeous. Chin up and Jessica is right -- you are lucky to have a husband who will stand up for you. Even if you don't win the competition, you have already won in the marriage department (so cheesy but true!!). Best of luck.
Apr 14, 2008
Carrie, I have just read some of the comments below, and I am sad to see that your entry has been attacked like so many in this contest! I am getting so tired of reading mean comments on people's entries! But it is sweet to see your husband who loves you so much stand up for you like he did. I really wish that the contest had not taken a turn in this direction- it takes so much fun out of it, and it isn't what weddings are about at all. I wish you and your husband the best, and hopefully all of this nonsense will taper off in the last two days of the competition. Congratulations to yall on your wedding, and good luck!
by Myra Gartman
Apr 14, 2008
If you are the bad person with negative comments read this. Carrie I am so proud of you and if other people want to know I had the people in an organization that I belong to vote for you and then they had their friends vote this weekend. If you are the person that sent the negative comments out to Carrie and you are reading this then you should know that I hope if you need this kind of win in your life to make you feel good then you are in desperate need of love from someone outside of your family. I know these two people very well and their love from people around them is greater than any vote you will every get in your life. I vote that maybe God will help you out with whatever it is that you need in your life. If you would like to reveal yourself I will see to it that I vote for you so you will not be so lonely.
by K F. Flowers
Apr 14, 2008
Dear Carrie, Your wedding was beautiful! From the beautiful blue ocean waters to the gorgeous flowers and very pretty wedding dress !! I voted you 5 hearts and that might get me into a little bit of trouble since I am the mom of one of the contestants LOL ! Actually my family thinks your wedding was beautiful as well, Karen Flowers
by Erica Dodd
Apr 14, 2008
Dear Arca, if you must name names then let me do the same. The reason why no one is accusing the Skelley, Flowers, and Gaitan entries for cheating, as they are THIS entry (or rather yours, hahahaha) even though they have high ratings is because viewers understand why. As with yours, there's truly no comparison bc your pics are just not worthy. Sorry, but that's why you're getting so much heat for this.
by James Dean
Apr 14, 2008
Well I wasn't going to say anything until I got up this morning and read the last two comments. You guys have just crossed the line. To accuse my wife of leaving comments on other peoples pages, well you just do not know my wife at all. My wife has never said a harsh a bad thing about anyone in her life. Do you think she has taken the the time out her day to stop doing therapy with children with speech problems to write nasty things on other peoples sites. You do not know her and for you to make judgements about her character is just wrong. I can not tell you how mad I have become reading these comments about the sweetest most caring and compassionate person I have ever known in my life. If you would like to think that fine, but to say that on her comment board, what kind of people are you. To accuse her of cheating is insane, Carrie is not the type of person that cheats at anything. But of course not one of you would know that since you don't know her! If any of you were fortunate enough to know her maybe you would never have said things like this. I wish I could post her sisters toast from the wedding so you could here what kind of person you people are saying these things about. I would like to thank you for making her cry last night when someone called to inform of what was being said on here. I would also like to thank you for the last two comments which I am sure will also make her cry. This contest has been something she has enjoyed since it began, and now she just does not even want anything to do with it. Please do not pretend to know my wife and assume that she would do something to someone else to harm them because someone has harmed her. Just because that is how you think, that does not mean that is how she or any of the people we love think. If you knew her you would know that nothing you say to her could ever make her try to say anything to hurt you as much as you have hurt her. I thought this contest was stupid from the very beggining and told her I was sure it would just turn into people just being mean and nasty to one another by the end, and what do you know. If I, my wife or anyone we know were going to write something on someone elses page we would not hide behind a fake name on the internet. Not one of us is enough of a coward to do something like that. Please do not say anything about my wife or people on here that you do not know and please stop accusing people of things that you do not know to be true. Mrs. Bremer please do not speak to my wife as if you know her. You have no right to chastise her for something she has not done. As for the people who like to go around and critique the sites. Who died and made you Simon Cowell. If you would like to use the message boards use them to say something nice like your mother im sure taught you.
by Anna Bremer
Apr 14, 2008
Carrie- I understand that you are likely upset and hurt right now, as it looks like your entry has been targeted by some nasty comments recently. But targeting other entries under a fake name is not the way to approach it- it is not the right thing to do. And it will not make your standing in the contest any better! I am so sorry that you have received so many negative comments recently, I think your wedding was very lovely. But I just don't think that it is right to leave rude comments for other entrants, such as the Flowers, Gaitain, Skelley, and Nakamura couples- they all have beautiful weddings and have a lot of people supporting them, which I think is wonderful. Best of luck to all of the couples, and hopefully we won't see this kind of negativity anymore in this contest!
by Amy M
Apr 14, 2008
Oh I get it, Arca, you're defending this couple. Or you're the bride herself making nasty comments on all the other weddings. Either way, that really is uncalled for- sad that you felt the need to do that! All of these brides you have targeted have GORGEOUS weddings and beautiful pictures- of course they have high views and votes! How does that not make sense! "Early on in the contest"? It apparently ends in two days! Crazy people...
Apr 14, 2008
Your photos are beautiful! Beach weddings are the best! Here are my 5 hearts. Good luck!
by Arca academ
Apr 14, 2008
it's real interesting that when someone else has high views or high hearts, they are cheating, why is it impossible for the Skelley couple? Over 12,000 views and 4 hearts early in the contest, come on!
by andrea kuhlman
Apr 14, 2008
Emily, in order for any wedding to reach five hearts in this competition, all of these "family and friends" literally must have sat there all weekend and done nothing but vote repeatedly. Trust me. Not going to happen just because 50 people voted for her once.
by Emily Deas
Apr 13, 2008
It is sad to think that these people are attacking a beautiful wedding just because of votes. Carrie did not cheat at all. All of her votes come from her family and friends who care for Carrie that we vote for her everyday.
by brenda osario
Apr 13, 2008
looks like you and Cenny teamed up....SAD.
by Erica Dodd
Apr 13, 2008
any chance you might know mr. marshall case?? if not, what do YOU think mr. case? we're all so curious.
by john mark
Apr 13, 2008
SO SAD TO SEE A LOVELY COUPLE JOIN THE CHEATER'S CLUB....PEOPLE AREN'T BLIND. ALTHOUGH THE WEDDING LOOKS GREAT...IT CLEARLY IS NOT PRINT MATERIAL COMPARED TO THE REST THAT ARE FAR ARTISTIC THAN THESE.
by heather norburg
Apr 13, 2008
If you're going to cheat, you really shouldn't be that obvious. I'm sorry, but these really aren't that good- definitely not worth five hearts. If you're going to win it, win it honestly- not like this.
by Laura Santiago
Apr 13, 2008
Beautiful aisle!
by Amanda Harris
Apr 13, 2008
Wow, you sure must have had a busy weekend voting for yourself. Five hearts? Really? Give me a break. I wonder which entries you were voting down at the same time... so sad.
by G We
Apr 10, 2008
I really like the pouring of the sand. That's an awesome, very creative expression! I really like the way you all added modern twists to the traditional ceremony ! Congratulations.
by Scott Morton
Apr 10, 2008
Wonderful photos! You two look very happy!!!!
by Bob Dever
Apr 9, 2008
I like the Dean photo's best.
by Whitney Olson
Apr 7, 2008
They are all so beautiful!
by Cindy Jackson
Apr 7, 2008
These are the most beautiful pictures. I know that you are a winning couple by the pictures. Good Luck!!
by Bob Dever
Apr 7, 2008
great photo's
by Shirley Coonce
Apr 7, 2008
These photos are awesome. I especially love the cake and the ceremony photos.
by Elaine Kyser
Apr 4, 2008
Congratulations Carrie & James. The whole day was wonderful. You are
a precious couple. Praying for a winner. Love you Aunt. Got it right this
time.
by pam newberry
Apr 4, 2008
Congratulations Carrie and James on making the finals! I feel very honored that you summited a picture of the cake! All of the pictures were beautiful!
by Janice Herrington
Apr 3, 2008
Truly wonderful pictures! Love them all!
by Katie Fowler
Apr 3, 2008
I love all the pictures! What a beautiful wedding:)
Apr 3, 2008
Very pretty! Beach weddings are hard because such limited ways to give it that "high fashion" wedding feel but you guys did it! So pretty. I love that bottle shot. Congrats!
by Glenda Morgan
Apr 3, 2008
Wishing happiness to the couple.
by Jane Hartselle
Apr 2, 2008
I love to watch this video because I know it really shows a woman that is in love and I know James loves you.
Apr 1, 2008
Hi Carrie, congrats and good luck to you in the finals! You had a beautiful beach wedding! :)
by Rachel Krohn
Apr 1, 2008
Georgious wedding pictures. What a wonderful way to unite two beautiful people.
by Shannon Dourado
Mar 26, 2008
You so owe me for all this voting!!!! :)
Mar 15, 2008
I bet you are so happy that you didn't listen to the event organizer! Your ceremony site looked Stunning!! Congrats!
by Elaine Nick
Mar 2, 2008
What a beautiful day for you and James.
by Molly Berg
Feb 27, 2008
What a happy occasion for a fine couple! All the best, Molly Berg
Feb 25, 2008
Love the cake! Although, I'm biased to beach themed cakes since that's what we had too :-)
by Trisha McConnell
Feb 25, 2008
That was the most beautiful beach wedding I have ever seen!
Voters' Picks
Jaime GrammerCarrie Dean
Bianca Cano Nakamura
Editors' Picks
Lisa HwangDaryellen Stone
Jessica Skelley
Voters' Picks
Kimberly RobertsCarrie Dean
Jaime Grammer
Editors' Picks
Jake MclelanMaribel Fernandez
Kirsten Hegarty
Voters' Picks
Yvette TalaueJacquelyn Do
Francisca Hernandez-Yrigolla
Editors' Picks
Shanni WeilertKirsten Hegarty
Emily Baer
