East Alabama Living Spring 2022 Issue

Anna Asbury Larkin
Ian Matthew
AND
Carlson
JULY 31, 2021
Bridal gown: Aisle & Veil, Roswell, Ga.
Bridesmaid’s dresses: BHLDN, Atlanta
Photography: Marie Caldwell, Sarah Marie
Photography, Omaha, Neb.
Florals: Catherine Wayman, C. Wayman Design,
Atlanta
Venue: Fernbank Museum of Natural History,
Atlanta
Reception and dinner: LowCountry Catering, Atlanta
DJ: Jake Brasfield, Huntsville, Ala.
Anna Asbury Larkin and Ian Matthew Carlson first connected through the Bumble dating app
and met for dinner at an Atlanta restaurant. After spending several hours talking and getting to
know each other at little, Anna returned to her car and immediately sent a text to her mother that
simply said, “I just had just had the best first date I have ever been on.”
From that night on, Anna and Ian were inseparable.
“I guess you could say it was love at first sight—or at least at first date,” says Anna. Sixteen
months later on Anna’s 30th birthday, Ian popped the question, Anna said yes and the planning
began for a February 2021 wedding.
Anna chose a Justin Alexander gown, Ian ordered a custom-made velvet tuxedo and the bridesmaids
began ordering their choices for dresses from BHLDN. Then, with the pandemic showing
no signs of slowing down, the couple made the tough decision to move from a winter date to
summer. Not wanting to make more, expensive changes, Anna and Ian decided to go with what
they had already ordered and what they had planned, creating a winter wedding in July. And that
is exactly what happened.
The Fernbank Museum of Natural History was the perfect venue for Anna and Ian who share a
love of history. The Star Gallery was the setting for an intimate ceremony that included excerpts
from the children’s book, “I Like You” by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. At the conclusion of the ceremony,
guests mingled at a reception upstairs at the museum before returning downstairs to find
gold dinosaurs holding their place cards at dinner tables in the Grand Hall, where guests enjoyed
a plated dinner.
The bride and groom kicked off an evening of dancing with their first dance as husband and
wife to “You Go Down Smooth” by Lake Street Drive. Ian and his mother, Patricia Perles, danced
to Michael Bublé’s “Forever Now.” Then, Anna surprised her brother, Bo Larkin, with an invitation to
dance to the symphony arrangement of “MmmBop” by Hanson. She chose the song in memory of
childhood friend, Raley Morris, and in honor of the first concert the three of them attended in 1997.
Catherine Wayman of C. Wayman Design worked her magic throughout the museum creating
arrangements of double lilies, garden roses, eucalyptus, monstera leaves, hellebores, ranunculus,
ornithogalum and ferns for the bridal party, the ceremony, reception and the tables in the Grand
Hall. A king protea highlighted the bride’s bouquet, and a festive photo wall featuring a neon sign,
disco balls and tropical greenery set the mood for an evening of celebration.
Anna and Ian Carlson reside in Atlanta.
EAST ALABAMA LIVING 89