Janet Butler
The bride in these photos is a designer, and her hand-crafted touches are everywhere in these photos of an October wedding in Alabama, from photographer Stephen DeVries. It takes a light hand to design a day well: this bride has it, from her casual bouquet with trailing greenery, to her well-polished cowgirl boots! Everything from the invitations and programs to RSVP cards and favors for the guests that include “city guide” books is well-thought-out; treasured family photos are part of the ambience, as is a sweet stuffed dog dressed with a tartan ribbon for the occasion. The dress has a fabulous bow at its back that looks like an opening flower, and the bride and her maids are in all-girl silvery shoes. Reds, oranges, and yellows are in the bouquets, while the maids wear smoky blue-gray gowns.
The groom is elegant in full Ascot gray waistcoat and long tails; in his lapel is a simple rose. Wreaths of greenery and roses decorate the church door, while a whimsical “bird” pair decorate the wedding cake. There’s plenty of sugar to go around — besides the bride’s cake, there’s a multi-layered German chocolate torte for the groom, multiple chocolate truffles, and carrot cake bites. A banner proclaims, “Memories are made of this” over a doorway; and starting with the bride and groom, the guests get into making dancing memories with aplomb. Even the most junior wedding guest gets a special hug from the bride — and then, with streamers in hand, the guests bid the couple farewell into their new life as the lights of Birmingham twinkle around them.
