Morgan County: Your Wedding Destination

Abby Cook • August 3, 2022

The wedding adventure start’s here!



Searching for the wedding location of dreams? This is a big day and this is a big chance for each couple to express their own individual style.

From the experts ready to help with all anything needed, to the venues and vendors found here, to the adventures sure to please wedding guests, the Decatur area is a great place to tie the knot. Decatur and Morgan County, Alabama has a wedding venue to suit each couple’s unique style, with beautiful backdrops, helpful staff and amazing amenities.

This blog is a resource so that each engaged couple has all the tools necessary to put together a wedding of their dreams. In this blog, lists and descriptions of venues, dress shops, florists, caterers, amenities, and planners. We have put this blog together in hopes that these tools can help each couple find the vendors that is right for them and their desired style.



Congratulations! Becoming engaged is a special moment that you and your fiancée will treasure for years to come. After the initial excitement of being engaged wears off, it is time to begin planning a wedding that reflects you and your fiancée.

The first order of business for you and your fiancée is determining a range of dates. The exact date will be determined once the venue is secured. North Alabama’s Guide to Stunning Wedding Venues will help in your search to finding your dream wedding location. Does a small intimate ceremony or a large bash better suit you and your fiancée’s personalities? Is there a particular season that you both enjoy and would you prefer an indoor or outdoor ceremony? Other factors to take in consideration to avoid any potential conflicts are holidays, sporting events, or other family activities.

While planning a wedding should be a fun experience, it can be stressful. Our hope is that this checklist will help to guide newly engaged couples through the process of planning the perfect day.


Upon Engagement


- Set a wedding date

- Meet with family members to discuss financial responsibilities

- Establish a wedding budget and create a spreadsheet to track spending

- Decide on a wedding style

- Reserve ceremony and reception venues

- Choose your wedding party

- Book a wedding planner (if desired)

- Start on guest list


1 Year to 9 Months Before


- Register for gifts

- Secure your officiant

- Reserve caterer, cake baker, florist, ceremony musicians, reception band or DJ and photographer / videographer

- Shop for wedding gown, headpiece, veil, jewelry, and shoes

- Set appointments with make up artist and hair stylist

- Book wedding night accommodation


6 Months Before


- Have engagement photos taken

- Select and order wedding bands

- Send save the date cards to guest list

- Reserve accommodations for guests

- Make reservations for honeymoon

- Shop for bridesmaids’ attire including, dresses, shoes, and accessories and men’s formal wear

- Purchase thank you notes and maintain a list of all gifts received and acknowledged


4 Months Before


- Finalize the guest list

- Send engagement photos and announcement to local newspaper

- Select and order wedding stationary

- Select ceremony necessities such as unity ceremony, flower girl and ring bearer, aisle and alter décor

- Purchase reception and necessities such as place cards, cocktail napkins, flowers, cake top and toasting flutes, decorations and centerpieces


3 Months Before


- Address Invitations

- Weight invitation to determine proper postage and purchase postage

- Arrange for wedding day transportation to ceremony, reception and accommodations

- Plan the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

- Purchase rehearsal dinner invitations

- Finalize honeymoon plans and confirm all reservations and required paperwork


2 Months Before


- Finalize arrangements with vendors including caterer, baker, florist, ceremony musicians, reception band or DJ, photographer, and videographer

- Mail invitations to arrive six weeks before the wedding date

- Keep track of RSVP cards received

- Finalize ceremony order with officiant

- Order wedding programs

- Purchase gifts for members of the wedding party, parents, hostesses, etc.

- Purchase wedding gift for fiancé

- Determine reception seating arrangement and prepare place cards

- Mail rehearsal dinner invitations

- Write wedding vows, toasts, and speeches


1 Month Before


- Get marriage license

- Have final fitting for wedding gown and bridesmaids’ gowns

- Confirm duties with helpers including personal attendant, day-of coordinators, set up crew and decorators, guest book attendant, gift table attendant, host and hostess, punch, cake, and coffee servers, and clean-up crew

- Begin work on financial and legal details including joint or new checking accounts, insurance policies and beneficiaries, wills and prenuptial agreement (if desired)

- Gather forms for making an official name change


2 Weeks Before


- Finalize playlist, including the first dance

- Confirm the pictures your photographer should capture

- Have a wedding hairstyle trial run


1 Week Before


- Confirm with all services and reservations

- Confirm arrangements and attendance with caterer and venues

- Pack for wedding night and honeymoon

- Pack items for the ceremony and reception sites

- Pick up wedding gown and groom’s formal wear and check for fit

- Have attendants pick up attire and check for fit


1 Day Before


- Give marriage license to best man or maid or honor and ask they bring to ceremony

- Have all fees and gratuities ready for distribution

- Rehearse ceremony

- Enjoy rehearsal dinner

- Get a good night’s sleep


Enjoy your wedding day!




Wedding Expenses – Who Pays for What

With today’s weddings, it is common for both families to contribute to the wedding. Have a heartfelt talk with both sets of parents to see what they are comfortable with financially.

Wedding costs, by tradition are divided as follows:


The Bride (or family) Pays For:

- Invitations and announcements

- Wedding gown

- Photography / Videography

- Reception

- Flowers for the church, attendants, and reception

- Music at the church and reception

- All rented equipment

- Limousine for the bride and cars for transportation

- Groom’s wedding ring

- Groom’s gift

- Gifts for the attendants, parents, and hostesses

- Lodging (if necessary) for out-of-town bridesmaids


The Groom (or family) Pays For:

- Bride’s engagement and wedding rings

- Marriage license

- Officiant’s Fee

- Bride’s Bouquet

- Corsages for mothers and grandmothers

- Boutonnieres and ties for men of the wedding party

- Wedding gift for bride

- Honeymoon

- Gifts for best man and ushers

- Lodging (if necessary) for out-of-town ushers

- Rehearsal Dinner




Let's Start with Venues!

Burning Tree Country Club

List of services


Now where to find THE dress!

Michael Mason Bridal

In the heart of old Decatur, we are a locally owned bridal boutique specializing in all types of formalwear. We are an elite distributer of tuxedo’s, wedding gowns, and prom and semi-formal gowns. Located on Bank Street downtown. Come see us today!


719 Bank Street NE, Decatur, AL 35601

256-340-8898



Learn more

Something Blue Shoppe

51 years of business, The Something Blue Shoppe is one of the Southeast’s oldest and most prestigious full service bridal salons. Something Blue has wedding dresses for every bride, from tiny size 2 wedding gowns to beautiful plus sized bridal gowns. Mothers and grandmothers are bringing their daughters and granddaughters to The Something Blue Shoppe to experience the exhilaration of carrying on the tradition of becoming a Royal Blue Bride.


224 Main Street, Hartselle, AL 35640

256-773-4959



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For beautiful flowers....

In need of a caterer?

List of services

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Bridal Amenities

Looking for rentals, jewelry, or gift ideas? We have listed some of Decatur and Morgan County's best offerings below:

Americ Equipment Rental is pleased to serve the very fine people of Morgan, Limestone, and the surrounding counties. It is the goal of Americ Equipment Rental to offer quality equipment at reasonable prices.


950 Highway 31 NW, Hartselle, AL 35640 

256-773-3051

Elite Travel will help you scout locations, book venues, and connect you with the right team to help you to accomplish your dream destination wedding. Elite Travel Team is committed to ensuring you have an amazing and stress-free wedding. They help you book air, hotel, hotel transfers, and just about anything else you need. Not only do they take care of you, but they also take care of your guests by booking their air, hotel, hotel excursion, and anything else they need.


215 Grant Street, Decatur, AL 35601

256-340-1234

We have had years and years of happiness, tears and laughter since our doors opened in 1999. Our selection of fine jewelry, wedding/engagement rings, fine watches and loose diamonds has never been better and our friendly knowledgeable staff is at your service.


We are the preferred jeweler in Alabama with four jewelers on staff, ready to tackle your custom design on repair our favorite ring. Our jewelers have over 100 years of combined experience so you know the job will meet and exceed expectations. Come in today and see what we have to offer. You will be well taken care of, we promise.


722 Bank Street NE, Decatur, AL 35601 

256-686-2852 

Family owned and operated since 1973, Jimmy Smith Jewelers Inc. pride themselves on providing brides-to-be with a unique experience and special individual attention. They specialize in wedding and bridal registries in Decatur and Alabama. Design in your own ring, or let then host your registry. They have many years of experience in making brides and their families very happy.


2306 6th Avenue SE, Decatur, AL 35601 

256-353-2512

Nostalgic for “old-fashioned” quality and service? Years ago, Morgan Price Candy Company started making candy, using old family recipes, for their special friends. Now they will send this same candy for your special gifts. Their candy is always made by hand in small batches to give you the best quality possible. A quaint shop that abounds with seasonal treats and scores of baskets, ribbons, and novelty containers, the friendly employees are helpful in finding their right gift or treat for you.


1735 6th Avenue SE, Decatur, AL 35601 

256-306-0910 

Rental World offers the highest quality tent and party rental equipment to Decatur and all of Northern Alabama. Since 1978 we have provided superior service to our customers and have assisted them in achieving their goals. With over 32 years of experience, our commitment to excellence has earned us the reputation as the best party and tent rental service in the area.


2713 Spring Avenue SW, Decatur, AL 35603 

256-350-3333 

Something Vintage Event Rentals is a vintage inspired rental company specializing in unique furniture, décor and dishes, and chairs or an elaborate wedding with a vintage lounge area, gorgeous glasses and beautiful florals, we love to help our clients create a celebration that fits their style and personality. Now offering florals, and event planning and coordination, we will be there to make your vision a reality.


210 Main Street W, Hartselle, AL 35640 

256-612-0856 

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