Small Talk

Meg Goodgame, daughter of Pat and Oren Babb and Audrey and Hughel Goodgame, and Matt Gilpin, were married in an outdoor ceremony at Birmingham's Gabrella Manor on April 19. The jasmine-laden gazebo and elegantly manicured lawn at Gabrella Manor set perfect backdrops for the beautiful evening ceremony. Rev. Dr. Brad Henderson performed the wedding ceremony.

After the couple repeated their vows, family and guests enjoyed a cocktail buffet and music in the manor. Most of Matt's relatives traveled long distances from Pennsylvania, Arizona, California and Maryland to spend the wedding weekend in Birmingham. Many had never been to Alabama and were impressed with the true Southern hospitality.

Matt's younger brother Jason had a 27-hour trip to participate in the wedding festivities, as he is currently serving in the Peace Corps and is based in Sevastopol, Ukraine.

The bride was excited that her stepbrother, Russell Babb and his family, of Auburn, Calif., were able to share in all the weekend celebrations. Meg's favorite cousin, Curt Jacobus, and his parents, The Honorable and Mrs. Bruce Jacobus of Melbourne, Fla., also trekked up for the weekend.

Anniston friends Beverly Parsons, Gail Dormon, Ridgley Smith, Laura Ann Minshew and Gail Cotlin created fantastic wedding bags for the out-of-town guests staying in Birmingham hotels. Two weeks after the wedding, Meg got a call from a Tutwiler Hotel manager, saying that the bags were the nicest ones they had ever seen. The guests who received the bags thought so, too.

The night before the wedding, Meg and Matt, along with Matt's father and stepmother, hosted a lovely rehearsal dinner at Flower Stems in Birmingham. Salt Catering Company of Birmingham catered the delicious sit-down dinner.

The morning after the wedding, Ann Scott Lee and Pat and Oren Babb hosted a brunch for family and the wedding party at Ann Scott's home in Birmingham, where Matt's family simply could not get enough of the grits and greens casserole and orange rolls served at the brunch.

On Saturday, March 8, Meg and Matt, along with family and their wedding party, were honored with a lovely cocktail buffet held at Nancy Lee and Bob Payne's home. The night was unseasonably cool, but no one seemed to notice because of the warm fellowship and pretty decorations inside the Paynes' home.

Others hosting the affair included Sarah and Neal Ballard, Evelyn and Clyde Black, Phyllis and Buddy Canup, Robin Cooper, Connie Doyle, Sherlyn and Bill Jackson, Ann and Pete Morgan, Joyce and John Morrow, Cam and John Payne, Charlotte and Buddy Mullis, Dianne and Tommy Pope, Diane Roberts, Theresa and Bob Shafer, Everette and Walt Studdard, Sheila and Larry Sylvester, and Denise and Andy Turner.

Birmingham friends, including Anna Frances Newell Bradley and Jennifer Roberts, hosted a gift card party for Meg and Matt on April 5 at Ann Scott Lee's home.

Perhaps the liveliest wedding event was Matt's bachelor party, held during St. Patrick's Day week in New Orleans. However, none of the guys — including Hughel and Oren — are coming forth with many details…