ALMetro360

8 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com PUBLISHER’S NOTE ........................................................................................................... Access ALMetro360, Any Time… Any Place… AL METRO 360 WEDDING ISSUE 2021 VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1 CHARLIE SHAMBURGER Publisher JON SHAMBURGER Associate Publisher HELEN SHAMBURGER HERNDON Associate Publisher Marketing & Sales, helen@almetro360.com HELEN SHAMBURGER HERNDON Editor, editor@almetro360.com ANITA CAPOUANO Director of Marketing & Sales, anita@almetro360.com HELEN SHAMBURGER HERNDON Director of Social Media, helen@almetro360.com GEORGE PUDZIS Art Director DARREN FREEMAN, DYLAN FYFFE, KIM NELSON, DIANNA PAULK, STEPHEN POFF, PAUL ROBERTSON, JR., LISA SMITH Contributing Photographers HENRIETTA MACGUIRE Staff Writer BECKY BEALL, BRENDA ROBERTSON DENNIS, KRISTI GATES, SANDRA LONG ELEANOR HENDRICKS MCDANIEL, LORI QUILLER, PATSY ROBERTSON, MELISSA JOHNSONWARNKE Contributing Writers TRACY SHAMBURGER Business Manager WILLIAM C. HONEY , HENRIETTA MACGUIRE Founders THE MAGAZINE OF MONTGOMERY LIVING, LLC 1430 I-85 Parkway, Suite 224 , Montgomery, AL 36106, Telephone: (334) 265-0066 , Facsimile: (334) 386-3813 ’ll put it mildly — this past year has brought a lot of challenges. But, in this issue we get to focus on the positive —WEDDINGS! In the midst of a pandemic and all kinds of upheaval it seems that love truly does conquer all! It is a joy and an honor for us to feature a few couples who were blessed to wed in 2020. If you or a loved one is planning to get married anytime soon — keep this issue and refer to it often! We’ve enlisted the advice of local experts Darren Freeman, Jenny Loughridge and Hannah Miller to help guide you in the many aspects of wedding planning. Plus, we check back in with our 2019 cover couple, Josie and Heath Young, to see howmarried life is treating them and get some wedding planning and newlywed advice. They say that in hard times you find out who your friends are. There have been a few people this past year who have been especially supportive of ALMetro360 . I have always felt our writers and pho- tographers set our magazine apart. These creative and talented people do so much behind the scenes and go above and beyond their call of duty to help out. You often see their labors of love in the maga- zine, but, I’m not sure they get the credit they deserve. And, as is the case of Patsy Robertson — one of our AMAZING writers — I KNOW she doesn’t get the credit she deserves. That’s because I literally left her name off her byline the last issue (insert “face palm” emoji here)! She was so gracious to write the article on the Sylacauga marble quarry. If you didn’t read it before, be sure and check it out in our digital issue on almetro360 .com! Plus, Darren Freeman and DiAnna Paulk are the two photographers I call on the most. They seem to be — well, literally — on call! Not only are they amazing photographers but they are amazing people and I’m so thankful they are a part of what we do. I also couldn’t have been more excited to reconnect with Becky Beall recently. She is a super busy lady but she took the time to contribute to this issue with the “No-Passport Honeymoons” article. Stay tuned because we are plotting and planning some more great travel articles for future issues! And none of this would come together if it were not for our graphic designer — George Pudzis. He works lightening fast and around the clock — I mean, I get emailed proofs into the wee hours sometimes. And, not least of all, he is incredibly talented. I’m certain I have not thanked him enough. So, George, as you’re putting all of this together I hope you’re reading. Thank you! Finally, as things are beginning to open up more and more it was thrilling to bring back our “Here & There” department! We’ve compiled a list of things to do around the Heart of Alabama as we venture out so be sure and check it out! Looking forward to next time! Helen Helen Herndon, Publisher I