Mr. and Mrs. Gambrell

Love in Bloom

Photography by Elizabeth Laird, E. Laird Photo

Kate Unger, employed at a cherished floral shop in Birmingham, Alabama, found herself drawn to take a leisurely stroll along the Mountain Brook trails on a Monday afternoon. Serendipitously, Rob Gambrell, visiting his parents in Birmingham from Panama City, Florida, decided to walk with his parents’ dog that very same day. Fate intertwined their paths on the trails, and after bold gestures from both Kate and Rob, their enchanting love story unfolded.

Their journey led them to Florida, where they soon got married. VIE had the pleasure of catching up with Kate to uncover the full tale.

Our Love Story

As Rob and I crossed paths on the trail, he complimented me with a simple, “Hey, you look nice.” I couldn’t help but smile back and reply, “You look nice, too.” Our grins spoke volumes as we walked past each other, stealing glances back. At that moment, I felt a sense of divine intervention, recognizing Rob as the embodiment of the qualities I had long desired: boldness, masculinity, and quiet strength. Determined to explore this connection further, I decided to jog in his direction, hoping for another chance at conversation. When Rob saw me approaching, he wasted no time expressing his admiration, asking, “Hey, you’re really pretty. Can I get your number?” We were both drawn to each other, and from that moment, we knew it was something special.

The Proposal

Rob’s dedication knew no bounds; he drove nine hours round trip on a Sunday to take me out on a date and repeated the gesture the following weekend. He embodied everything I had ever hoped for in a partner—the man of my dreams, who pursued me in a way every woman deserves.

Our love flourished as we embraced new adventures together. In late November, I made the life-changing decision to move to Florida to be closer to Rob. We settled into a blissful routine, cherishing moments of sailing and family gatherings and deepening our understanding of each other.

On my birthday in August, Rob wrote me a heartfelt letter that brought tears to both of our eyes. With emotions overflowing, he asked me to marry him right there on the bay where we often watched the sunset together. Overwhelmed with happiness, I couldn’t stop crying and hugging Rob, feeling the happiest I had ever been.

Our Venue

Rob and I have always been at peace by water, so it felt natural to exchange our vows surrounded by the cathedral of God’s creation. With the waves echoing our joyous sentiment, we professed our love on the shore of Grayton Beach, Florida.

Our reception venue, Monet Monet, is also located in Grayton Beach. Monet Monet holds a special place in my heart, so it was the perfect place to host our reception. My mom used to read Linnea in Monet’s Garden to me as a young girl, and in 2019, my mom and I took a trip to Giverny, France, to see Monet’s Garden in real life. I absolutely love flowers, and it was one of the most special trips to see the pictures in that book come to life and to share this memory with my mom. I adore the beautiful gardens at Monet Monet. Every little detail and thoughtful element of the venue reflects the care and dedication of the people behind the scenes who pour out their love to make it so special for each couple.

I still can’t believe how special this day was and how perfect every part was!

Wedding Planning

Our wedding was planned in roughly three months, which presented quite a challenge in terms of organizing everything in such a short timeframe. However, I was incredibly fortunate to have the support and dedication of the team at Grayton Beach Catering. They wholeheartedly embraced the task, managing every detail with passion and precision. Thanks to their expertise and commitment, our wedding felt meticulously planned and executed, as if we had been preparing for a year. I was overwhelmed with awe when I witnessed how seamlessly everything came together on our wedding day.

Our Wedding Day

Our wedding day, set on a stunningly sunny November afternoon with perfect temperatures, couldn’t have been more picturesque. Being a lover of gardens (if you hadn’t guessed already), I envisioned our decor to reflect the charm of a European garden. Our wedding was the weekend before Thanksgiving with family and close friends, so I wanted it to feel cozy, with a family-style atmosphere. We opted for farm tables and a bonfire, fostering a happy celebration filled with laughter, community, and heartfelt conversations, all accompanied by the most delicious food imaginable!

There were many personalized touches at our wedding, each holding deep significance. For instance, my dad gave me a rope the day I left for college at The University of Georgia to represent that he was sending me off to become an independent woman. There was a red and black ribbon to represent my college, a purple ribbon to represent royalty, a white ribbon to symbolize purity, and a yellow ribbon to represent I could always come home. During my dad and I’s first look, I brought out the rope I had saved from my dorm room. We both cried, reflecting on our wonderful memories and knowing Rob is now my new home and safe place.

I cherished being my aunt and uncle’s flower girl years ago. As a surprise to both of them, I displayed my flower girl dress at our reception, along with a photo of us from their wedding day. It was such a meaningful moment with them as they stared at the dress in disbelief that I had saved it for so long.

I cried my eyes out as I walked down the aisle to be with the love of my life forever. I don’t think I’ve ever shed so many happy tears. Overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude to be Rob’s wife, I stood hugging him during our first dance, tears streaming down my face. He chuckled and said, “Kate, I think this is the part where we are actually supposed to dance!” So, in reality, Rob and I didn’t have a first dance; we had a first stand!

Our Honeymoon

We stayed at The Pearl in Rosemary Beach for our wedding night, and our stay was heavenly! We had the most beautiful view of the Gulf and were greeted by the kindest and most welcoming staff. They displayed the highest class and expressed such excitement for our new marriage.

We honeymooned in St. Thomas, seeking one last opportunity to enjoy warm weather before returning to colder temperatures. In a remarkable twist of fate orchestrated by God, one of my best friends, who couldn’t attend our wedding due to a family cruise, coincidentally passed through St. Thomas. As a result, we had the chance to snorkel with her family one day!

Our Wedding Vendors

Destin Mobile Makeup Box went above and beyond to ensure my comfort throughout the process. As someone who doesn’t typically wear much makeup, I appreciated their patience in guiding me through different looks. Additionally, Destin 30A Luxe Mobile Tan provided a flawless tan. Thanks to them, I felt and looked more beautiful than ever on my wedding day!

Our Greenhouse exceeded all expectations in bringing my floral vision to life with their exceptional talent. Drawing inspiration from our story of meeting on a walk, I envisioned a rose garden path for our vow exchange, symbolizing the beginning of our journey as husband and wife. Every detail of the floral design by Our Greenhouse was intentional, providing a beautiful array of carefully selected flowers to create a breathtaking garden atmosphere.

Our photographer, Elizabeth Laird, was absolutely incredible! Her work speaks for itself. I could not be happier or prouder of how she captured our joy on our wedding day. I still find myself staring at these photos, unable to believe I’m the one in them.

Justin Blocker of Decent Media is pure talent! He effortlessly captured our wedding video with a cinematic feel, exceeding all expectations. I’ve watched it countless times and am still in awe every single time!

Grayton Beach Catering was an absolute blessing throughout my wedding planning process. I’m immensely grateful for everything they did. And let’s talk about the food—wow! Countless guests approached me, expressing their delight at the incredible food served during our rehearsal dinner and wedding. We had an oyster boat (and oyster soup the night before), lightly fried fish (as a nod to my precious memories in Alaska with my family), and the most amazing cake by Bonne Vie Specialty that looked like a cashmere sweater. I still can’t believe how special this day was and how perfect every part was!

Thank you, and congrats!

— V —