How Alex Glockner and Cole Cunningham’s wedding took The Greenbrier’s already magical decor to the next level.
Alex Glockner and Cole Cunningham
White Sulphur Springs | 12.14.24
Written by Holly Leleux-Thubron
Photographed by Kelli Carrico Photography
For bride Alex Glockner, The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs has always been more than a destination—it’s a holiday family tradition. Growing up in Wheelersburg, Ohio, she visited “America’s Resort” with her family at least once a year, often when the resort halls were decked in their full yuletide glory.
So when she and fiance Cole Cunningham, an active-duty Navy officer and fellow Ohio native, began planning their wedding, the location was never a question. Just a week after their engagement, they called The Greenbrier to secure a date.
“The Greenbrier at Christmas is just breathtaking,” Glockner says. “The decor is mind-blowing, and it just felt natural that I’d one day be married there.”
On December 14, 2024, the couple’s vision came to life: a colorful and detail-oriented Christmas wedding set against the resort’s legendary Dorothy Draper interiors and holiday season festivities—a magical beginning to their happily ever after.
a christmas unlike any other
The bride says she and her mom, Monica Glockner, for years had been dreaming of the wedding they were about to plan.
“My mom and I have had a Pinterest board of Christmas weddings forever,” Alex says. “But I knew I didn’t want the typical red-and-green theme. Pink is my color—I wear it all the time—so I wanted something that felt festive but still very much me. My mom loves Christmas and decorates our house every year with trees in every room. She has such an eye for it. I knew that, with her help, this day would be more than I could ever imagine.”
The result? A lively mix of pink and green that harmonized beautifully with the Greenbrier’s distinctive aesthetic. From custom decor to playful twists, the theme carried through every single detail. Guests stepped into a lobby elevated by holiday-themed touches—like the resort’s towering Christmas tree encircled by its own toy train. They also received personal mementos from the couple including custom ornaments, pink Santa cookies, newspapers styled as The Newlywed Times, and a deck of cards bearing the couple’s logo, a nod to the Glockners’ history of holding family game nights at The Greenbrier.
Meanwhile, the bridal cottage was filled with thoughtful touches like a pink Christmas tree, embroidered stockings, and custom Greenbrier nutcracker sweatshirts that the bride designed herself using Dorothy Draper napkins as appliques. Each bridesmaid also received a custom needlepoint bracelet with her initials. Across the way, the groomsmen enjoyed their own festive space, complete with personalized stockings, hand-painted bourbon bottles, and military nutcracker figurines.
A Santa in a pink suit arrived in a white horse-drawn carriage, then later greeted guests at cocktail hour in the Trellis Lobby; carolers sang in The Greenbrier Chapel as guests were given programs styled like Christmas cards; bridesmaids walked down the aisle to “Somewhere in My Memory” from the Home Alone soundtrack, and the couple exited the chapel in a horse-drawn carriage replete with a giant pink bow. No detail was left untouched.
Fashion was another area where the bride knew exactly what she wanted. For her rehearsal dinner, she wore a sentimental piece: her mother’s wedding dress, tailored into a chic short version.
“It was so special,” she says. “My parents have been married for more than 25 years, a tremendous example to Cole and I, and the dress fit me perfectly.”
She found her ceremony gown at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City—a long-sleeved lace dress with intricate embellishments. She paired it with a hand-painted pink gingerbread handbag. Her attendants wore emerald gowns that complemented The Greenbrier’s decor and carried bouquets of deep pink flowers.
Behind the magic was a team effort: Greenbrier wedding coordinator Laurie Richter, local floral designers Gillespie’s Flowers and Productions, and most of all, the mother of the bride, who Alex Glockner says did “99% of the decorating.”
magic around every corner
The entire affair proved to be eye candy for photographer Kelli Carrico, who says there were moments where her heart skipped a beat.
“If I had to choose a favorite design element, I suppose it would be the pink Santa, who rode in the carriage with them,” she says. “But honestly, every piece of decor was a dream to shoot.”
Carrico has captured weddings as a professional photographer since 2008. She described the Glockner–Cunningham wedding as something she’s never seen before.
“I was most struck by the attention to detail,” she says. “Alex and her mother had taken such time and care in planning for each moment, and it was evident in everything from the bridesmaids’ pajamas to the handmade gingerbread house centerpieces. There were pink bows on every chandelier and nutcrackers in every corner—it was truly magical.”
A December wedding can bring challenges for a photographer and, with sunset before 5 p.m. in the Mountain State, Carrico had to think carefully about lighting.
“Photographers love natural light, and neither December nor The Greenbrier Chapel provide much of that,” she explains. “For the candlelight ceremony, I didn’t want to use flash or off-camera lights because it would have distracted from the magic. I relied on my studio lights for portraits, plus my experience and some prayers.”
It was an approach that paid off.
“When the carolers came out from the double doors in the back of the chapel and started singing, it felt like a Hallmark movie. Though I managed to press the button, I felt like a little girl in a real-life fairy tale,” Carrico says.
Beyond the formal shots, Carrico also captured spontaneous joy. One of her favorite moments came when the bride insisted on making a TikTok video. “Her mother jumped right in to help direct and film,” Carrico says. “It was sweet and fun, and such a reminder that these brides are still someone’s little girl. The video went viral, because everyone loved her mom’s stunning gown.”
At the reception, so many elements begged for the attention of Carrico’s camera, yet she knew there were big shots she wanted to capture, too. “Santa, Alex, and Cole in front of The Greenbrier—that was a must. And lining Alex and her bridesmaids up on the grand staircase of the presidential suite, with that iconic Dorothy Draper wallpaper, was another. I felt my heart beat faster because it was such a perfect moment,” she says. “Alex and Cole’s wedding was the kind I dreamed of as a young photographer.”
a celebration to remember
After years of dreaming and months of planning, the couple’s wedding had come to life. Looking back, the bride insists she wouldn’t change a thing. “It was a perfect day for both of us. Truly. We’ll never do anything like this again, so it better last a lifetime,” she jokes.
Carrico agrees that the day was extraordinary.
Following their Greenbrier celebration and after a European honeymoon, the couple settled into married life in Destin, Florida, where Cunningham is stationed with the U.S. Navy. Glockner balances her role as a Navy wife with the demands of her growing fashion business.
They still savor the memories of their holiday wedding.
“I don’t think we could have asked for a more magical day,” Glockner says. “The Greenbrier, Christmas, family, friends—everything I loved most came together in one moment.”
The Details
BRIDE’S GOWN
Kleinfeld Bridal, New York City, NY
FLOWERS
Gillespie’s Flowers & Productions, White Sulphur Springs
EVENT PLANNER
Laurie Richter at The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs
CEREMONY MUSIC
The Greenbrier Entertainers, White Sulphur Springs
ENTERTAINMENT
DJ Franky Frank, Columbus, OH
WEDDING HAIR & MAKEUP
Daria Cummings, Portsmouth, OH;
Emma Dempsey, Greenup, KY
VIDEOGRAPHER
Toy Box Studios, Front Royal, VA