Sometimes it’s the simple moments in life that spiral into the most beautiful ones. For Mallory and Chazz Romeo, that moment was a seemingly mundane office encounter that turned into fish tacos and eventually a fairytale proposal atop a waterfall. In hindsight, however, a little matchmaking made their story possible.
“I used to work with Chazz’s brother in an attorney’s office a few years ago,” Mallory explains. “So, his brother kind of played matchmaker and had Chazz come in a couple times. He just thought we had a lot in common and would have a good time together.”
After seeing Chazz a second time—and Mallory admits there were a few butterflies from the get-go—the pair took their budding interest from the office to Little Donkey, where they shared a meal and later exchanged numbers. The rest, as Mallory says, “is history.”
Chazz and Mallory dated for four years after that, sharing a mutual love for dogs, the outdoors, and exploring Birmingham. It wasn’t until they took a family trip to Cherokee National Forest, however, that the pair would start the next chapter of their life together.
“It was our first trip to the mountains with my family,” Mallory says. “We were going to explore Blue Ridge and Copperhill, visit Mercier Orchards, whitewater raft on the Ocoee, hike, and just enjoy each other’s company.”
Near the end of the trip, Chazz suggested a hike to Benton Falls, a beautiful 65-foot waterfall with breathtaking views of the sprawling Georgia landscape. When they got to the top, Chazz began to explain the true meaning of the trip—which was to ask Mallory if she would spend the rest of her life with him.
“Since we were at the top of the falls, it was almost like we were on stage, entertaining everyone at the bottom,” Mallory says. “But in that moment, it just felt like he and I were the only ones in the Cherokee National Forrest.”
Mallory, of course, said yes and the pair began planning their dream day. Similar to how their engagement unfolded, they opted for an intimate wedding with a mountainous backdrop. Instead of having a long engagement with ample time for planning, the pair chose to use Simply Eloped, a service that provides planning resources for small destination weddings.
Mallory and Chazz were wed in Hot Springs, North Carolina at Paint Rock Farm. The couple’s family, close friends, and pups made the journey from Birmingham with the wedding dress, florals, and all other details in tow.
“We made our own bouquets and boutonnieres the night before,” Mallory says of the laidback wedding. “The next day, we woke up, had breakfast, and got ready at the cabin. It was a very relaxed day.”
One of Mallory’s most cherished moments leading up to the ceremony was her first look with her father. And, of course, being surrounded by her closest friends and family—with a gorgeous backdrop of rolling green hills—made the day unforgettable. Mallory wore a simple, romantic dress she found at a sample sale and says the day was quaint, sweet, and everything she envisioned it would be. “It just kind of felt like a family gathering more than anything,” she says.
After the ceremony and reception, guests gathered at the cabin for a post-wedding evening filled with bonfire chats and yard games. The whole affair, Mallory says, was an accurate depiction of her and Chazz’s relationship—easy, relaxed, and full of love.
“Society a lot of times makes you feel like you need to have some huge, elaborate wedding and throw a great party for your guests—which is great, but if that’s not something that you want, it’s OK to keep it simple and keep it about your commitment to each other,”
Mallory says. “You don’t have to go over the top to do that. We kept it simple, and we enjoyed every moment.”
Vendors
Makeup: Emily Dover
Invitation Suite: Ann Leigh Art & Design
Florals: Davis Wholesale Florist
Planning: Simply Eloped
This story appears in Birmingham magazine’s February 2020 issue. Subscribe today!