Jessica Whalen and Justin Mally

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By the "Seashore"

STORY BY THERESA FARRAGE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FOUNTAINS PHOTOGRAPHY

For as long as Jessica Whalen can remember, she has found the ocean captivating.

She wanted to bring the feel of the water and the shore to the wedding. “I thought it would be cool to have a destination wedding,” Jessica says. “But we wanted all of our family and friends to be there. So we just brought the destination to us.”
Jessica and Justin Mally had their May 29, 2011 ceremony and reception at The Fountains Ballroom in Glenwood, Iowa. The Memrical team at The Fountains incorporated shells, driftwood, starfish and other ocean motifs into the floral elements, centerpieces and room decor.
The nautical theme was also a way for Jessica to remember her deceased grandparents.

“My Grandma and Grandpa Whalen lived by the beach in South Carolina, and that was where I first fell in love with the ocean. My Grandma Tuthill also had a love for lighthouses and the ocean. Whenever I think of them, I always think of the ocean. It was another way to have all of my family with me on my wedding day.”

How he proposed

The bride told us:

I had always wanted to take professional painting lessons, and on April 3, 2010, Justin surprised me with a trip to the Hot Shops in north downtown Omaha. He had arranged painting lessons for us with a wonderful woman named Dar. She showed us around the Hot Shops and introduced us to everyone there. When we finished the tour, we went to Dar's studio and began our private lesson.

Dar told us to paint the first thing that came tour our minds. Justin painted car-related items because he is obsessed with his own 1979 Cobra Mustang. I painted a picture from a photo Justin had taken of a beautiful sunset when he was student-teaching in Belize.

When I finished my painting, Dar told me to sign it. While I was doing that, Dar switched Justin's painting for one she had painted before we got there. I looked up when Justin asked me to see what “he” had painted. I saw a picture of a ring and, above it, the words “Will you marry me?” I said “Yes!”.

“My whole world changed with that art lesson, and it has been a dream-come-true ever since.”


Wedding Vendors

Ceremony and reception location- The Fountains Ballroom, Glenwood, Iowa

Number of guests-220
Theme or color scheme- Marine blue, white and silver
Bride's dress- Suburban Bridal
Hair and makeup- Amanda Owens,Texture Salon and Spa, Bellevue

Groom's attire- Men's Wearhouse
Rings- Kay Jewelers
Florist- The Fountains Ballroom
Caterer- Attitude on Food
Photography- The Fountains Ballroom
Transportation- The Fountains Ballroom
Rentals- The Fountains Ballroom
Honeymoon destination- Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa, Jamaica
Travel agent- Enchanted Honeymoons
Favors- Photo booth candids
Invitation design- Carlson Craft.
Music- The Fountains Ballroom