Janet Butler
January in Birmingham, AL, means bright Southern sunshine and little touches of greenery still, in these wedding images brought to us by Stephen DeVries. First, it’s time for a little pampering for the bride — her makeup and her hair bespeak simplicity and romance at once. Reds and blues are the colors of choice here (other than white lace, of course); the bride’s “ruby slippers” go with the lavish red roses in her bouquet. Meanwhile, the maids are in blue; the flower girl/junior bridesmaid is fetching in a simple white dress. The groom and his men — down to the smallest — take on vivid blue ties to match the maids, while their suiting is elegant gray. With pauses for laughter, for brief prayers, and for a truly romantic “reveal,” the bride is ready for her walk down the aisle.
In a dignified church ceremony, the couple say their “I dos,” then proceed to the Avon ballroom for the reception; white lights twinkle at a guest-card table. Cake? Yes, of course — with a delightful pair of bluebirds atop it. There’s also chocolate, pyramids of it, truffles in white and milk chocolate as additional “layers” on the display. The couple cuts the top layer — not without a few tense moments of hoping it all stays put! But luck is with them: with no mishaps, they feast together on the cake and then lead their guests around the dance floor in a nifty conga line (note the helping hand holding up the bride’s train!). Finally, under an arch of sparklers, the happy couple departs the reception in a vintage car, ready to ride off into a promising future.
