M

ichael Thomas Hutchison and Anna Catherine Burdine 
weren’t just high school sweethearts; they were middle 
school sweethearts too. They entered the sixth grade as two 

wide-eyed kids on the same day at Destin Middle School. Anna was 
shy and finally met Michael through friends in the seventh grade and 
they’ve been inseparable ever since. In eighth grade Michael moved 
to a different middle school but that did not effect their constant 
communication and only made their friendship blossom more. This 
was the year that Anna told her best friend at the time, “I don’t know 
when or how but one day I will marry him.” They ended up attending 
separate high schools but Anna faithfully attended every one of 

Michael’s football games on Friday nights and spent the other days of 
the week waiting for the next Friday to roll around. On October 20, 
2008, they decided that cheering from the sidelines on Friday nights 
wasn’t enough and officially became a couple despite the distance 
of going to different high schools. “We have honestly grown up 
together and are best friends, which is the thing I love most about our 
relationship,” said Anna. 

After almost 10 years of dating, Michael proposed on Christmas Eve 

of 2015. Anna was just beginning x-ray school at the time and they had 
decided she would finish that before they got engaged.  It was a huge 
surprise when Anna opened a gift that was an ornament which read 
“Will you marry me?” Anna’s parents, brother, sister, and nieces were 
all there and when she turned around, Michael was down on one knee 
with the ring! Anna promised her father that she would finish x-ray 
school before they got married, so after a 22-month engagement, the 
wedding was worth the wait.

The couple was wed on October 8, 2017, at Old Christ Church 

in downtown Pensacola, FL. 12 hours before the wedding, Hurricane 
Nate was moving through the Emerald Coat and threatening the 
perfect wedding day. Not even a tropical storm could stop their love 
as the skies parted and the sun peaked out just in time for a beautiful 
afternoon. The vision for their wedding day was simple, timeless 
and romantic with a color scheme to match. “I wanted to be able 
to look back on our photos 20 years from now and still love the 
colors we chose,” described Anna. The guy’s suits were a classic navy 
complemented by the bridesmaids in an ethereal blue mist color. The 
flowers were kept simple in white, ivory, and blush from Just Judy’s 
Flowers. Anna wore a classic all lace gown from Simply Elegant with 
buttons down the back and a beautiful long train. Her hair, by Taylor 
Giles from Essence Salon & Spa, looked chic and her makeup was done 
by her talented sister in law, Megan Hutchison. Anna’s something old 
and borrowed was very special, wearing her Granny’s pearl necklace 
that she wore when she was wed in 1951.  It looked stunning with 
her wedding jewelry, which was handmade from Lulusplendor as her 
something new. Her something blue was a light blue aquamarine ring, 
which is her birthstone, given to Anna by her parents for her 16th 
Birthday. Anna and her mother planned every detail of the day and 
her vision came to life to the tune of piano music by Will Fink as she 
walked down the aisle to marry the man of her dreams. The reception 
was held at 5 Eleven Palafox.  Matt Powell with Powell Entertainment 
was the DJ and kicked the night off with “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain as 
the first dance song. This was an extra special moment because it was 
the song that they danced to at the 7th grade Christmas dance.  A 
stunning wedding cake was created by Beth Woodfin, a family friend, 
and they opted to have one of the groom’s favorite treats instead of 
a grooms cake, individual banana pudding cups. Culinary Productions 
provided delicious cuisine before a night of dancing and merriment. 
Aislinn McKenna with Ais Portraits captured every moment of the day 
just how Anna had imagined. After knowing one another practically 
their whole lives, Anna and Michael are finally husband and wife. They 
enjoyed five perfect days on a cruise to Mexico for their honeymoon 
before returning to live out their happily-ever-after in Panama City 
Beach, Florida.

Anna Catherine 

Burdine

Michael Thomas 

Hutchison 

story by 

Courtney Murray

 |  photography by 

Ais Portraits 

M

32       VIPPensacola.com 

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12/26/17   4:25 PM