A Beauty on the Bay

Our cover bride talks finding the one—the husband and the venue

By Rebecca Padgett Frett

For Montana Wimbrow, when she saw The Alice venue in Destin, it was love at first sight. “From the grounds to the staff to the cottages, everything was perfect,” says Wimbrow. 

Montana and her husband, Chase, grew up vacationing in Destin and knew they wanted to marry there. Originally, the couple had booked their wedding at another location in Destin, but they still didn’t have a rehearsal dinner location because their venue was booked the day before.

The couple and their families were in Destin for their annual Fourth of July trip, which Montana was also utilizing as a rehearsal dinner search. Her father-in-law was the one who discovered The Alice while taking a drive. Captivated by the beautiful entrance, he drove in, took a tour with the owner, and found out their rehearsal dinner date was open. The next day, Montana toured The Alice to see it for herself. 

“I went and toured the venue and said without a doubt this is where my rehearsal dinner will be,” says Montana. “I loved the venue so much that I called my dad and said I want to move my entire wedding to The Alice.” 

Four months from their wedding day, the couple pivoted with the help of The Alice staff, who were able to accommodate all their needs and keep all their previously booked vendors. 

“The team made everything so easy and were so willing to lend a hand at whatever was needed,” says Wimbrow. “Kristin (general manager) was always a phone call or text away.”

With their venue secured, Montana was able to achieve both a timeless and elegant wedding with coastal influences.

“We both love the feeling that the ocean and the sun give you,” says Wimbrow. “We knew we were not getting married in our hometown, but we knew we did not want to do a faraway destination wedding. Destin was perfect.” 

Growing up on the Gulf Coast, the couple had mutual friends in common and were friends on social media when Chase messaged her asking her to dinner. She agreed, and they were inseparable for the eight years since. 

He proposed at one of their favorite places—the walkway bridge to WaterColor Town Center in Seaside, Florida.   

Before walking down the aisle, Montana took a moment to reflect on the eight years they had spent together. 

“I played a voice recording to Chase that I made and told him I am so honored and excited to be his wife,” says Wimbrow. “I told him if the things to come were as incredible as the things that have already been, then I can’t wait to see what our future holds.” 

Another important man in Montana’s life is her father. As an only child whose mother passed away, Montana and her father have a particularly strong bond. 

For the father-daughter dance, he asked her to dance with him to a song he had written and recorded himself that detailed beautiful and important moments of her life. 

“I cried like a baby and still listen to it to this day,” says Wimbrow. “It’s forever a keepsake. My first look with my dad was also something out of a storybook of a dad and his daughter. It was so special and emotional and sacred to us.” 

Montana also did a first dance with her grandmother where they danced to her mother’s favorite song. Throughout the day, there were sentimental tributes to her mother, including a chair in the front row that each member of the bridal party placed a white rose on. Montana surprised everyone by turning her mother’s wedding dress into a dress she wore to the rehearsal dinner. 

“Our wedding day was so emotional and intimate,” says Wimbrow. “It was even better than I dreamed of, getting to spend the weekend with all of our closest friends and family and finally saying I do to the man of my dreams.” ▪

Photos by Haley Anspach Photography