Janet Butler
Christmastime weddings can be hectic, indeed — but they’re also among the most festive weddings you can ever attend, with all the holiday decorations still up and lights everywhere. This couple took full advantage of this happy time of year with a December 29 wedding in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, shown here in images from Stephen DeVries. You’ve got to love a bride primping before a long mirror edged in tiny lights; fortunately, she has no snow to worry about walking through in those open-work heels. Her dress is a cascade of lace, with a bevy of tiny buttons up the back — good thing she has lots of help! A little more polishing of her look and she’s ready for pictures with her maids on the front lawn. Meanwhile, her groom gathers his men about him and prepares to “get to the church on time” — where a classic car is being fitted with streamers already.
This wedding celebration is full of romance: from two swans intertwined on top of the cake to heart-shaped cookie cutter favors (complete with sugar-cookie recipe), the guests know they’re in for a sweet time. Graceful chandeliers light the hall, shining off the dance floor as the couple takes their first twirl; happy toasting begins, with loving messages from bridal party, parents, and friends. Besides the multi-tiered cake, the guests can dig into holiday pies: pumpkin, pecan, and apple. Dancing takes over the evening, with everyone from pint-sized attendants to moms and grandparents getting in the game, until at last it’s bouquet- and garter-tossing time. The couple changes to their “going-away” finery…and are sent off, by the glow of sparklers, into a starlit winter night.
