Hawkins, Williams wedding

Brooke Rachelle Hawkins and Bradley Karsten Williams celebrated their wedding on October 4, 2008. The ceremony took place in Destin, Florida on the lawn at Silver Shells Resort, with the reception following on the back patio at Ruth’s Chris.

Brooke is originally from Macon, Georgia, and Brad is from Donalsonville, Georgia.  At the time of the wedding, the couple resided in Macon, Georgia, where Brooke is a television host and producer at 13WMAZ.  Brad is the finance manager at Five Star Chevrolet in Warner Robins, Georgia.

The couple, who met through mutual friends, began dating in 2006. They met at a local hangout, and began talking about wine and music they each liked.  Brad asked Brooke to attend a Bryan Adams concert the next night, and they have been together ever since this first date. 

One of their dates was a wine tasting and auction at a historic home in Macon.  The couple bid on, and won, a hot air balloon ride!  They were excited about this adventure because neither one had ever ridden in a hot air balloon.  Brooke and Brad booked the ride in the balloon for a Sunday, March 2nd.  Unbeknownst to Brooke, Brad was going to make this hot air balloon ride even more memorable.

About thirty minutes into the ride, Brooke asked their pilot, Kyle, if he would take a picture of Brooke and Brad.  After Kyle took the picture, Brooke extended her hand to take the camera back, but Kyle kept it.  She then looked at Brad, who was looking at her, a bit oddly.  She looked back at Kyle, and then again at Brad.  At this moment, Brad said, “You know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

 Brooke, who is very excited by this point, was saying “Oh, my God.” The balloon was about five hundred feet off the ground when Brad knelt on one knee, and said, “I hope this is the perfect place to propose.  I love you.  Will you marry me?”  Brooke, of course, said “Yes” (about three times!).

The hot air balloon ride continued about another forty-five minutes before descending and returning the newly engaged couple to earth.  They were given a champagne toast by the balloon’s crew upon their landing.  Brad’s new fiancé felt that it was the perfect proposal.

Brooke and Brad wanted the wedding smaller and more intimate, and decided that a destination wedding in Destin would be perfect. The couple chose, as their setting, the Silver Shells Resort.
Brooke’s dress was custom made by Anahit Bridals in McDonough, Georgia.  The dress was a white, Duponi silk gown with a fit and flare waist, a sweetheart neckline with bead detail on the bust.  Her veil was a layer of white tulle with a thin white edging at the bottom, which gave a touch of simple elegance to complete the ensemble. 

Brooke’s sister, Mindy, was her matron of honor. Mindy wore a brown, strapless Nicole Miller dress.  Brad wore a khaki suit with a white shirt, and no tie. The groom’s clothing selection was selected from Joseph A. Banks .  Brad’s cousin, Jason, served as his best man, and also wore the same style suit and shirt.

The entire wedding was coordinated by Jennifer Tucker, owner of  RSVP in Destin- a well known  all inclusive event production company which specializes in handling both local and destination events of all types, including weddings.  RSVP also provided Brooke with her lovely flowers, which consisted of white calla lilies and red orchids, and arranging for several of the other professional vendors who made the entire event come together for Brooke, Brad, and all of their guests. 
   
The couple’s guests, who numbered about eighty, were invited to share in the reception celebrating the couple’s new world together.  The reception was held at the back patio of Ruth’s Chris. The centerpieces were beautiful vases filled with orchids and calla lilies.  The gas lanterns on the patio provided perfectly romantic lighting, and the fountain in the courtyard was absolutely beautiful!  An open bar was provided for the wedding party and guests to enjoy wine, beer, and top shelf liquors.  The reception was catered by Ruth’s Chris, and the food served was quite delicious.  The menu consisted of rosemary skewered chicken, bacon wrapped scallops, shrimp, a roast beef carving station, seared potato cakes, steak sandwiches, ahi tuna on crackers, grilled and chilled veggie trays, and a fresh fruit and cheese station.

The bride’s cake was a yellow cake with white icing and a raspberry filling, and topped with fresh fruit and mini calla lilies.  The groom’s cake was a chocolate cake with chocolate icing, and chocolate ganache filling.  As a special touch, the groom’s cake was made n the shape of a University of Georgia “G”.

The band Finesse, from Macon, provided the music for the reception, and the bridal party danced the night away to both old and new hits.  The bride and groom shared a first dance  to “These Arms of Mine” by Otis Redding, followed by the bride’s father-daughter dance to Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” .

The wedding, reception and entire event was captured by professional photographer Michael Kuhn of Michael K. Photography in Destin, insuring Brooke and Brad will have visual memories to treasure for years.
 
Brad and Brooke exited from the reception through a line of sparklers, and left in a red golf cart. This, according to Brooke, was “perfect because my husband is a golf fanatic, and his favorite color is red!”  The videographer drove the couple’s “chariot”  to their room, a honeymoon suite at Silver Shells Resort.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams spent the next six days at Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.  After a perfect honeymoon the happy couple returned to Macon, Georgia, where they are enjoying life as the Williams’.