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
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