GunRunner Boutique Hotel

Wings before the Rings

Wedding Day

Trinity Episcopal Church

Ceremony

Turtle Point Yacht & Country Club

Reception

Breakfast at the Dethero's

Our Wedding

Mary Geer and Alex's Story (2020-2025)

Mary Geer and Alex swiped right in February 2020. Their first date was at Ladybird in Inman Park, where Alex introduced Mary Geer to what felt like half of his high school class. New to Atlanta, she was immediately excited to be with someone friendly, outgoing, and eager to show her around. Five years later, Mary Geer and Alex have both moved to Inman Park and frequently revisit their first date spot.

After two more dates, Mary Geer left Atlanta to quarantine with her family in Alabama, but they continued to message each other every day. A month later, she abandoned quarantine and headed back to Atlanta to see Alex again. Alex introduced Mary Geer to her first Auburn football game, and somehow he convinced her to be his date for a dozen more.

Meanwhile, she taught him the difference between astronomy and astrology. Alex was Mary Geer's biggest cheerleader throughout her Astronomy PhD program and finally watched her graduate in May 2025.

Over the years, they shared many adventures. Mary Geer showed Alex special places like her hometown and the Sautee-Nacoochee Valley, where she spent her summers growing up. Alex took Mary Geer on a world tour of weddings, from Memphis to San Diego and even all the way to Bangalore, India.

However, most of their love story unfolds in their favorite city, Atlanta, where Alex is always on the hunt for the best chicken wings.

Alex asked Mary Geer to be his wife on July 11, 2025. Alex and her sister Annie were partners in crime, planning a secret engagement toast with their closest friends in Atlanta.

After six years, Mary Geer and Alex are so excited to take the next step to become husband and wife. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Our Story

Photos

Bridesmaids

"Little sister" is selling Annie short. Not only is she the most fashionable and financially literate at the party, but she also perfectly balances being a cheerleader for others while maintaining her own self-confidence. No one makes me laugh and smile as much as Annie. I simply couldn't get married without her.

Annie Dethero

Kristen has stood by my side for 25 years. She is a friend that I look up to, and I know she will have my back for years to come.  No matter how much time has passed, we always fall right back into rhythm when we are together. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and you don't want to be on the other side of the tennis court from her!

Kristen Anderson

Hayley and I met during our first year at Lehigh University and have been inseparable ever since. She embodies every attribute you could want in a best friend: kindness, intelligence, drive, and most of all, so much fun! Hayley lights up any room she walks into. She is a Director in Health Systems Marketing at Sanofi and lives in NYC.

Hayley Pochtar

Lorraine and I began our friendship on bid day in January 2016 when we both joined Kappa Delta. We shared a bunkbed in the sorority house, where most nights we laughed until we cried. Lorraine is the most genuine, level-headed friend you could ask for, and has the best moves on the dance floor! She lives in NYC and works in corporate event planning.

Lorraine Brabant

Eliza and I shared a dorm room wall our freshman year of college, and three years later shared a house during senior year. Eliza is the most down-to-earth and humble person I have met, while still upholding the nickname she earned in college, "Little Beauty." She is an architect in NYC and working on her masters degree.

Eliza Parrinello

Tori and I were next-door neighbors when I was still new to  Atlanta in 2020. One day, she introduced herself, and the rest was history. We became fast friends and bonded over our small-town Alabama roots. Tori has taught me so much about being a good neighbor and friend. She works in market research at Warner Bros. and teaches Entertainment Marketing at Kennesaw State University.

Tori Vines

Emma and I met in the astronomy program at Georgia State University, and we instantly bonded over both our love of stars and a girls' night cocktail. She is the epitome of "beauty and brains" while also being the life of the party and the ultimate girl's girl. She is from Pittsburgh, PA, and plans to defend her PhD in 2026.

Emma Galligan

Maura and I also met in the GSU astronomy program. We got to know each other through a mentoring program where I was assigned to be her mentor, although we joke that I was her mentee, because she was usually the one giving advice! Maura is the most thoughtful and intentional person you will meet. She is from Massachusetts, and she is kindly sharing her birthday with us as our wedding date!

Maura Shea

Groomsmen

Julian is a hell of a dad and a jack-of-all-trades. He’s taught me more than he’ll ever know — partly because he’s seen just about everything, and partly because he’s the wisest guy I know. From throwing baseballs in the front yard while he stood there in full catcher’s gear, to cheering on Georgia Tech at countless games, he’s been the best dad a guy could ask for. He’s always supported me, even in college when I needed a few extra beers at Sky Bar. I couldn’t imagine anyone else standing beside me as Best Man.

Julian Grace

Robert has been one of my best friends since we were five years old on the swim team. From our heated backyard basketball games to late-night video game marathons fueled by Papa John’s, Robert has always been a real one. I’d do anything for him, including flying to the other side of the world for his wedding in India.

Robert Batson

Michael and I grew up just down the street from one another. We spent our childhood playing sports, video games, and having airsoft wars, which only stopped when he upgraded to some high-powered airsoft gun and scared the rest of us off. He’s a long-time friend who's always down to meet me at Three Dollar Café for chicken wings.

Michael McWhinnie

CJ and I met at Auburn when we joined the same fraternity, and we became fast friends freshman year. We made it through college together — from late nights downtown to him literally saving me on my 21st birthday at Sky Bar. Now he’s not just a great friend, but a great dad, too. 

CJ Bonutti

Will Wilbanks is Mr. Auburn himself. We met in Sigma Pi fraternity and have been close friends ever since. If you saw him on campus, you’d swear he was Aubie in disguise with the way he carried himself as a fan, including blasting “Eye of the Tiger” in the shower before every game day. I know we’ll keep the good times going for years to come.

Will Wilbanks

You can’t talk about Reynolds without mentioning Johnny’s Hideaway in the same sentence. He’s got a great heart, and he’s the friend who always knows how to have a good time anywhere he goes.  We met during my first year out of college and we’ve been friends ever since.

Reynolds Williams

Garrett and I met our first year out of college, but we became close when we moved into the same apartment complex on the Beltline. Although he's a Bama fan, he always roots for Auburn when they aren't playing Alabama, which is a hard quality to find in a friend. I can always count on Garrett, whether it's as a friend or a karaoke partner for late-night music videos.

Garrett Meyers

Wedding Party

Wings Before the Rings

For the night before, we ask that guests adhere to a "dressy casual" dress code. We want guests to feel comfortable and welcome after a day of travel, while still marking the special occasion with a festive flair. The venue, the Gunrunner Boutique Hotel, provides an edgy, industrial vibe with an open-air rooftop bar. We recommend wearing something that would be appropriate for a nice dinner out.

Wedding Ceremony & Reception

The dress code for the ceremony and reception is cocktail attire. While the bridesmaids and wedding party will be in floor-length gowns, we encourage women to wear short, mid, or tea-length dresses, whichever you prefer. For the men, a suit and tie is a great option. Also note that the reception will be outdoors, so be prepared for weather-related challenges.

For the breakfast event, this is a grab-and-go vibe. We encourage guests to wear their travel clothes and "just show up."

Dress Code

Q + A

Just a 10 minute walk to the welcome party venue and a 15 minute walk to the Church, the Hampton Inn-Downtown is the perfect location for those who prefer not to drive and want to be close to the action.

Hampton Inn & Suites Florence-Downtown

Conveniently located between the ceremony and reception venues, the Hampton Inn Midtown is the perfect place to stay if you have access to a car.

Hampton Inn Florence-Midtown

For the guests who are looking for a lake view: check out this unique Marriott location on the Tennessee River, tucked away between the ceremony and reception venues.

Renaissance Shoals Resort & Spa

Mary Geer's favorite Airbnb picks for a trip to Downtown Florence.

AirBnB Downtown Florence Properties

Mary Geer's favorite Airbnb picks for a weekend getaway at the lake.

Airbnb Lake Front Properties

For guests who need to fly in for the wedding weekend, we recommend flying into HSV airport and renting a car for about a one-hour trip to Florence. Other nearby airports are Birmingham, AL (BHM, 2-hour drive) or Nashville, TN (BNA, 2.5-hour drive)

Huntsville International Airport

The Muscle Shoals Regional Airport (MSL) is the nearest airport to the wedding, but it offers limited flights to Charlotte via Contour Airlines.

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport

Travel

Activities

When Alex comes to Florence, our favorite morning activity is grabbing a coffee from Rivertown or Turbo and walking along the old railroad bridge overlooking the Tennessee River.

TVA Muscle Shoals Trails Complex

Frank Lloyd Wright - Rosenbaum House Museum

Helen Keller Birthplace

Muscle Shoals Sound Studios

Food & Drink

Mary Geer's favorite restaurant in Florence. Her order is the Red Planet sushi roll or the pad thai with chicken.

YUMM THAI : SUSHI AND BEYOND

Amazing soups and sandwiches. Alex recommends the Daybreak breakfast sandwich on sourdough.

Rivertown Coffee

Enjoy a glass of wine on the porch at The Carriage in downtown Florence!

The Carriage Wine and Market

Odette is a Dethero family favorite for farm-to-table bites and rustic-chic vibes. They are known for one of the largest bourbon selections in the South!

Mary Geer & Alex