Gabby and Sam McWhorter
In Luv 01
A Paper Eliza Love Story
Gabby and Sam McWhorter, living in Birmingham, Alabama, and married on May 25th, 2025
Was it love at first site?
Gabby McWhorter: Haha maybe not first sight, but by the end of our first date we were both very much crushing. I 100% knew we would date after that first date and by the 2nd official date (we'd hung out casually maybe 3 times in between), I knew I'd be falling in love ASAP.
where was your first date?
GM: We went to dinner at Le Fresca, walked out to the parking lot after dinner, and his car had been towed. He thought I had played a prank on him. Like hehe silly first date prank...wut?! But it ended up being a great test to see how he'd handle it and he was a champ. We ubered to the lot to pick up his car and I thought for sure he'd just want to end the date, but we proceeded to get ice cream and sit in the car outside my house for like 2 or 3 more hours. Then facetimed when he got back to his apartment after HA - like we were so obnoxious.
where was your first kiss?
GM: At his apartment! I can't remember exactly how many, but I think he waited like 8 hangouts/dates before he kissed me. I literally said "about time" after we kissed.
how did you know he was the one?
GM: Initially, because he just didn't annoy me AT ALL. I know that sounds silly, but he just made me happy truly at all times. Even when we had hard moments, he consistently reminded me how much he loved me and loved being with me. It was just one of those things that made me think "ohhhhh this is how it's supposed to feel!" So easy from the start.
who said they loved each other first?
GM: Sam did sitting at my house one day after church (weirdly) soon after we started dating and I obviously immediately said it back. We just knew so early on ha, it's so cringey to read our texts in the beginning, we said it SO quickly LOL.
what is your proposal story?
GM: About a month before the proposal, Sam suggested we have a fun day to celebrate 4 years of my business. This immediately made me think he may be proposing, because it felt too planned out for him to bring that up. He proceeded to drop so many little hints in the following weeks, but I just kept talking myself out of it actually happening - I just didn't want to get my hopes up! The day came came and I was not feeling good at all and I think it was The Lord's protection because it fully distracted me all day and I forgot about all the hints or the possibility of a proposal that day.
We went to prayer that morning at our church, had breakfast, drove to Chelsea to go antiquing (had to get me out of Homewood so we wouldn't accidentally run into any family members who came in town), then I asked to take a nap because I was feeling so gross. He said he was literally sweating the entire nap because he couldn't believe that I was actually this oblivious, but I really was. He then left to go get ready for dinner and told me I needed to be ready in an hour. I proceeded to lay on the couch for another 30 minutes entirely unaware I was supposed to be getting ready for my proposal LOL. I got ready so fast, hated my outfit and hair, but Sam was rushing me out the door to take me to "drinks before dinner". Thankfully my roommate wasn't far behind with more outfit options for me to change into - shout out, Ally!
On the way to dinner I finally remembered that he was possibly going to propose but in the same moment talked myself out of it again because he was so unbelievably calm and turned to him and said "Do you think you'll be nervous whenever you're proposing to me?" He says his stomach actually flipped over when I said that because we were literally one minute away from him proposing, he goes "Nah, I think I'll be good" HA. He then asked if I had my keys to my studio because he wanted to take a picture of me there for his story "to celebrate 4 years" and even this wildly odd request didn't make me think anything. We pull up to my studio and he walks me into the lobby where there are flowers EVERYWHERE, a ton of candles, and my best friend who lives in Louisiana taking photos! The ring was sitting on a table in the lobby with a beautiful letter he read to me which ended with a proposal and me saying yes!! It genuinely was perfect.
Ally swooped in with the outfit change and makeup for me to touch up with since I was balling. Our out-of-town families came soon after and we were able to celebrate. I was then told we were going to dinner with our families at East West around the corner, but was walked upstairs to a party of ALL our favorite people. I think there were maybe 75 people or more all gathered to celebrate! It was genuinely the best night and I could not have been happier or more impressed with how well Sam planned everything. Absolutely perfect!
where was your wedding?
GM: May 25, 2025 in New Orleans! The most fun day of my life.
describe your paper eliza vision in 3 words.
GM: Fun, unique, and sentimental
Were there any elements, icons, illustrations, or themes that you felt represented you and your spouse that you wanted to include?.
GM: We wanted our suite to represent New Orleans, our venue, and really commemorate the day well! We included some fun, silly things like a spray tan gun for my job, a dumbbell for my workout-fanatic-husband, and a sno ball because we're both obsessed (plus, it's very New Orleans), but mostly just focused on a design that helped us freeze that day in time forever. I'll cherish our suite for years to come, it's so beautiful and Eliza is just wildly good at what she does. The process was a breeze and everything came together just as I imagined!
Gabby and Sam's (unbeknownst to them) first photo together in 2019 before meeting (officially) years later | 2. Their wedding invitation suite | 3. Their wedding day in New Orleans | 4. Engagement photos at their first date location, Le Fresca | 5. Their wedding day | 6. Their first official photo together
Shop Gabby’s Suite
The perfect addition to a wedding paper suite - a personalized crest makes any Paper Eliza paper product even more customized to the happy couple. Include your dog, your favorite sport to play together, maybe the flowers of each of your home states - the possibility are endless and I cannot wait to design one for you. This price includes five rounds of proofing. Please make sure that you send over colors, flowers, specific illustrations and as much information as you can provide before the design process to help us nail the vision within those five rounds. Every additional round of proofing past the five will incur a $55.00 charge.
Digital Crest: This digital-only crest is for the bride who is printing and designing her stationery with another vendor and only needs the digital crest file. The finalized crest will be delivered in png, pdf, jpg, and vector ai files.
Paper Eliza Crest: This crest file is for the bride who is purchasing her save the dates, invitations, additional cards, and day-of paper from Paper Eliza in addition to her crest, which is why it is heavily discounted. This crest is only licensed for use on Paper Eliza paper products and if it is reprinted on a paper product from an outside vendor, the client is liable for a fee of an additional $400.00.
This crest is only available for purchase when it is added to a cart with Paper Eliza additional wedding paper products, for example, but not limited to, save the dates, invitations, etc. The bride will be released her for-Paper-Eliza-use crest files (png, pdf, and jpg files) six weeks out from her wedding date for use on non-Paper Eliza products (products that we do not have on our site), like cups, napkins, and other merchandise-like products.
No refunds will be issued once the design process has begun, regardless of whether or not the product has been sent to print.
The perfect invitation add-on to add a pop of color or additional detail to your suite. This product is ideal for if you need to include additional information a part from your rsvp information (which should be included with the fully custom additional card product for online rsvps or a fully custom rsvp card and envelope product for traditional responses). This card is larger in size than the additional and response cards, which adds variety in your suite stack.
This card should not house any rsvp information, but yet could serve as a welcome party invitation, custom rehearsal dinner insert (if you wanted to include this within your invitation suite), a “finer details” card with additional information, and beyond.
Price includes one-on-one proofing and design work with the client to achieve their perfect, one-of-a-kind save the date post card, as well as custom borders and additional custom illustration work not included in our semi custom suites. Crests and venue illustrations are the only illustrations that are not included and require additional purchases. If you would like a map designed on the insert, you must purchase a separate venue illustration add-on for each of the locations that you are wanting to include on your map.
We do not offer custom die-cuts. If you choose the die-cut option, it only includes oval, wave, waved oval, and scallop edges.
This price includes five rounds of proofing. Please make sure that you send over colors, fonts, specific illustrations and as much information as you can provide before the design process to help us nail the vision within those five rounds. Every additional round of proofing past the five will incur a $55.00 charge.
Larger invitation suite inserts are 4.25 x 5.5 inches and printed on single ply paper. You can add a scallop, oval, or wave die-cut to the cards upon checkout for an additional cost.
No refunds will be issued once the design process has begun, regardless of whether or not the product has been sent to print.
Printed the largest in the suite, all additional cards will be stacked upon your invitation and sealed in an envelope bearing your return address centered on the back flap. They can be printed on either single ply or double ply card stock paper and include full color printing. This does not include back of card printing and our logo will be printed on the bottom center of the page, unless requested removed by the client.
Price includes one-on-one proofing and design work with the client to achieve their perfect, one-of-a-kind invitation, as well as custom borders and additional custom illustration work not included in our semi custom suites. Crests and venue illustrations are the only illustrations that are not included and require additional purchases.
This price includes five rounds of proofing. Please make sure that you send over colors, fonts, specific illustrations and as much information as you can provide before the design process to help us nail the vision within those five rounds. Every additional round of proofing past the five will incur a $55.00 charge.
Invitations are 5.5 x 8.5 inches. We will not include rsvp information or wedding websites on a traditional custom wedding invitation. You will need to purchase a custom additional card for that information.
No refunds will be issued once the design process has begun, regardless of whether or not the product has been sent to print.
Our brand new, semi-custom belly bands are offered in 32 color ways and 29 designs. All belly bands are 2x12 inches and fit perfectly around our invitation suites and gatefolds. The bands will come flat and unsecured, ready for suite assembly. Upon adding the product to your cart in the quantity of your choosing, you will be prompted to answer questions on design, color and color way of the band.
Whether you add them to a semi custom or a fully custom invitation suite, they add the perfect pop of color and hold your cards snug and secure in your invitation envelope.
May, Calla, Lily, Juliet, Ginger, Eloise, Daphne, Rosie, Alison and Reba designs are built out with the corresponding semi custom crest flowers. Plaid, Checkerboard, and Stripes are offered only in color ink, white background.
Wave, Ivy, Twinkle, Tulip, Garden, Stars and Flowers, Bouquet, Lobster, Palms, Floral Cross, Floral, Lily Scallop, Scottish Scallop, Swans, Bows are designed with corresponding envelope liners and gatefolds as well, but pair well mixed and matched with other patterns.
You will receive 1 proof for approval before the product is shipped to you. No changes are allowed to this product.
These can be anything and everything! Some favorites include a “How We Met” love story, a reception venue card, an attire description, an accommodations and transportation guide, a weekend itinerary, a visual map and a wedding website card.
Price includes one-on-one proofing and design work with the client to achieve their perfect, one-of-a-kind additional card, as well as custom borders and additional custom illustration work not included in our semi custom suites. Crests and venue illustrations are the only illustrations that are not included and require additional purchases.
This price includes five rounds of proofing. Please make sure that you send over colors, fonts, specific illustrations and as much information as you can provide before the design process to help us nail the vision within those five rounds. Every additional round of proofing past the five will incur a $55.00 charge.
Additional Cards are 3.5 x 4.875 inches and printed on eggshell white, single ply card stock paper.
No refunds will be issued once the design process has begun, regardless of whether or not the product has been sent to print.
With envelopes being offered in a universal eggshell white, envelope liners provide the perfect pop of color to tie together your invitation or save the date suite. Choose a color or an illustration already used in your suite. This price includes five rounds of proofing. Please make sure that you send over colors, or specific illustrations (if you purchased custom illustrated version) and as much information as you can provide before the design process to help us nail the vision within those five rounds. Every additional round of proofing past the five will incur a $55.00 charge.
You must purchase the same amount of envelope liners as the number of envelopes included within your order. We cannot partially print half of an order with liners and half without, either all have liners or none do.
No refunds will be issued once the design process has begun, regardless of whether or not the product has been sent to print.
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