A Timeless Wedding at The Alderman House in Fort Myers
Abbey (she/her) and Tatum’s (she/her) Fort Myers wedding felt like a return to where everything began. After matching on Tinder and nearly closing down Blu Sushi on their first date, they came back to the city that held their very first chapter together to celebrate their wedding with family and friends. They chose The Alderman House for its tucked-away beauty and filled the day with timeless details, meaningful music, and the people who know them best. From a quiet first look outside the venue to a packed dance floor singing Pink Pony Club at the top of their lungs, their wedding felt like a celebration of where they started and everything they’ve built together since.
How did it all begin?
Our story starts the modern way: a Tinder match in Fort Myers, Florida. What we expected to be a typical first date at Blu Sushi in August 2018 turned into three hours of nonstop conversation, unexpected chemistry, and us nearly closing down the restaurant on a weeknight.
From there, we fell into an easy rhythm. Southwest Florida became our first “home” as we stepped into our careers, explored every beach we could find, and built a relationship that was equal parts fun, supportive, and quietly transformative.
In July 2021, we took our first big leap together and moved to Ohio, Tatum’s home state. Columbus showed up for us in ways we never expected. We found community, LGBTQ+ support, and a friend group that quickly felt like family.
Then came March 2023. Paris. Abbey surprised Tatum with a proposal surrounded by friends at sunrise at 7 AM.
When we pictured our wedding, we kept coming back to where it all began: Fort Myers. The place that gave us our first date, our first chapter, and our first sense that this could be something big. We got married on November 1, 2024, which also happens to be our pup Ollie’s birthday.
Today, we’re starting yet another chapter together, settling into our first home with Ollie and planting roots in a community filled with support, family, and friends. It feels like the perfect next step.
Did anything unexpected come up while planning?
Despite planning from out of state, the process was surprisingly smooth. Our vendors were organized, communicative, and genuinely easy to work with, which made the logistics feel manageable.
The only real challenge came from something no couple can plan around: hurricane season. Just weeks before the wedding, a Category 3 storm was tracking toward Southwest Florida. It was impossible not to worry, not about our celebration, but about the families, homes, and businesses that could be affected. Our wedding day could always be rescheduled, but the safety and wellbeing of those in the storm’s path could not.
Our hearts went out to everyone preparing for another potentially devastating storm, and we stayed hopeful, keeping them in our thoughts and prayers while staying flexible with our own plans.
In the end, the areas just north of Fort Myers experienced serious flooding, and a few places where our guests were staying were flooded out, but everything worked out for the big day. We know it was no easy feat for all the vendors, venues, and businesses preparing for and cleaning up after a storm like that. We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who worked so hard to still make the weekend happen.
Was The Alderman House always the plan?
Honestly, we didn’t even have The Alderman House on our original list. Their website said it only held 125 guests, and we knew we’d need space for at least 200. We were actually in Florida planning to visit other venues when a former colleague and friend of Abbey’s saw we were in town and insisted we check it out. With just a few days in Florida, our friend, who knew the owner, arranged a tour for us the very next day, even while another event was happening.
The moment we stepped onto the property, we knew it was the one. The Alderman House felt like its own little bubble of beauty, completely unlike any other venue we had seen in Fort Myers. It was an easy choice. The owners were kind and welcoming, and the venue had everything we needed for both the ceremony and reception. In short, it was perfect.
How did you navigate the budget as a couple?
As a couple, we found that honest conversations were key. We talked openly as expenses changed and made sure we were clear about the things we truly wanted versus what we could do without.
Tatum was the ultimate organizer, creating a budget that we updated throughout the planning process, which kept everything on track. Having a year-plus engagement also helped. It gave us time to save, plan thoughtfully, and make decisions without feeling rushed.
How did you approach the guest list with so many loved ones?
Abbey comes from a huge family, and so does Tatum, plus we have big friend groups. Ultimately, it came down to who could attend.
Because it was a destination wedding, we ended up sending more invites than we first thought, knowing the distance would make it hard for everyone to be there. We also had to be realistic about our budget. While we wish we could have invited every person in our lives, we needed to make sure it was affordable.
We’re incredibly grateful for those who made the trip, and we loved that our guests could turn the weekend into a little vacation in a place we love so much.
How did you know Bohemian Photo Collective was the right fit?
Choosing our wedding photographer was really important to us. We started with recommendations from friends and then explored photographers in the Fort Myers area. When we came across Bohemian Photo Collective, we were immediately captivated by their work. But it was our conversation with Brendan and Dara that made the decision easy. They were kind, thoughtful, and genuinely interested in understanding us as a couple.
Meeting them in person felt like catching up with old friends. They have a seamless way of working together, which made the entire day feel effortless, enjoyable, and stress-free. Their passion for what they do, along with their creativity, consistency, and attention to detail, truly sets them apart. They captured both the big emotional moments and the small candid details so naturally, and their warmth and genuine care made the whole experience not just easy, but memorable.
Even after the wedding, we’ve stayed connected. Dara and Brendan are not only exceptionally talented, but also some of the kindest people you could hope to have capturing your perfect day.
What inspired the overall look and feel of your wedding?
We wanted a wedding that felt classic, sleek, and timeless, something that reflected us as a couple without chasing trends.
Our inspiration centered on clean, elegant details, especially when it came to the flowers by West and Rock Florals, which we wanted to feel refined and sophisticated. One non-negotiable was a black and white floor. With the stunning backyard and beautiful lighting at The Alderman House, we knew that bold, timeless detail would tie everything together and elevate the overall look.
Fort Myers already held such meaning for us, and creating a design that complemented the charm of The Alderman House made the whole vision come to life.
What little details made the day feel personal?
We designed the napkins with our cute pup, Ollie, on them, which felt like such a fun personal touch, alongside the beautiful paper details by Just Love Paper.
We also found the perfect frame and a picture of The Alderman House that we had all our guests sign instead of doing a traditional guest book.
Did you shop for your dresses together or separately?
We both chose to shop for our wedding dresses separately. The dress reveal was something we both wanted to keep as a true surprise.
We were lucky that Tatum’s cousin, Kari, is a stylist at Luxe Redux in Columbus, which made the process feel personal and meaningful. She was the only person who knew what both dresses looked like before the wedding day, and we were so grateful to have someone we love and trust guiding us through such an important decision.
We each visited other stores, but nothing compared to our first experience with Kari. She understood our styles immediately and helped us choose dresses that not only felt perfect individually, but complemented each other beautifully.
In the end, we both found our dresses at Luxe Redux, and couldn’t have imagined anything better.
Walk us through your special day.
The day started early, with Abbey getting ready at The Alderman House and Tatum at The Luminary, each surrounded by their bridesmaids, bridesmen, sisters, and family. By early afternoon, everyone came together for pictures and our first look outside the venue. Seeing each other there, with family quietly peeking through the windows trying to catch a glimpse, was a calm, joyful moment that set the tone for the entire day. It ended up being one of our favorite moments of the celebration.
The early evening ceremony was deeply personal, and the violinists from Jade Strings added an elegant, emotional tone that made every moment feel even more special. We thought we’d be nervous, but doing a first look and spending time with our family and friends beforehand made everything feel relaxed and joyful by the time we walked down the aisle. Looking out and seeing a crowd full of people we know and love, all there to support the life we’re committing to together, felt peaceful, powerful, and easily became one of our favorite parts of the day.
Our first dance to Bones was also incredibly meaningful, reflecting both our journey and the importance of staying grounded and supporting each other through anything.
The reception was nonstop dancing, with the dance floor full all night, with Curate Entertainment keeping the energy going. Later, Pink Pony Club came on, and suddenly the whole room turned into this massive karaoke crowd. Standing together as a couple, hearing our friends and family belt it out, hit in a way we didn’t expect. We just stood there and listened to everyone singing. It was loud and chaotic and somehow one of the most grounding moments of the night. It still makes us tear up, because it was a real reminder that we’ve found a community that truly sees us.
Were there any vendors who felt especially memorable to work with?
We were incredibly lucky to work with a team that made the day feel seamless from start to finish. So many of our vendors went above and beyond, and we’re so grateful for the care each of them brought to the experience.
A huge thank you to Bohemian Photo Collective’s Dara and Brendan, West and Rock Florals with Brittany Anderson, Just Love Paper with Katie and Donna Nixdorf, Vowed to You with Lexi Bodiot, High Guys Video with Scott Reilly, The Alderman House, Curate Entertainment, Duality Artistry, Jade Strings, and So Eventful Southwest Florida. Each of them played such an important part in bringing the day to life, and we couldn’t have imagined it without them.
Photography by Bohemian Photo Collective
Coordination So Eventful Southwest Florida & Vowed to You
Dress Luxe Redux
Entertainment Curate Entertainment
Florist West and Rock Florals
Hair & Makeup Duality Artistry
Music Jade Strings
Stationery Just Love Paper
Venue The Alderman House
Videography High Guys Video
