The White Room 2015 Bridal Fashion Show

When you walk in to The White Room, you are overwhelmed with the urge to start planning a wedding wherein you get to don every gorgeous dress they have hanging in the elegant salon. It is such a beautiful studio with the most lavish and dazzling gowns a bride could dream of; not to mention the outstanding women who are devoted to every bride that sashays through their door.

The White Room Bridal Salon is hosting a Bridal Fashion Show on January 23, 2015. Doors open at 6:15pm, and you do not want to miss this. The newest 2015 collections from some of the most prestigious designers on the market will be headlining this event. Tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door. To purchase online please visit: thewhiteroombridalshow2015.eventbrite.com

2014 Year-end Review

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2014 was a big, big year for Arden Photography; so many exciting things, beautiful weddings, the Equus collection. It was filled over with such gorgeous imagery, smiling couples, close friends, and new chapters that we are beyond excited for the new beginnings in 2015. We are so very lucky to have such a wonderful and embracing community and many friendships. We hope you are as ecstatic about 2015 as we are! We cannot wait to take you along for the ride next to us, and to allow us to capture all of your beautiful memories and stories for 2015! In the meantime, here is a look-back at a few of our personal favorite images from 2014.

Harrison & Matt: Arden Photography

Harrison and Matt had a gorgeous wedding day, perfect conditions for some of my very favorite wedding photos. St. Mary's Church is architecturally divine, and the ivy crawling up the walls is reminiscent of Oxford. This didn't feel like a Birmingham wedding, but, rather, one fit for the royal family. Mariée Ami Wedding Planning Studio was the perfect choice for such an elegant affair. The reception was held atThe Club with stunning Birmingham city views and an explosive display of fireworks resulting in dazzling images of the newlyweds. Such a rapturous event to be part of! 

Real Wedding: Claire and John

Weddings are celebrations, parties filled with laughter, dancing, and love. Each couple is different though, and they all celebrate in different ways. Claire and John? They were party animals! And wow - was this one fun wedding and reception! There was never any doubt about that though as this couple was one for the books: sweet, kind, and a whole lot of good time! Claire had incorporated many beautiful details from the rich red bouquet, the garland wreath above their nuptials, the deer antlers on the groom's cake, and of course, the glow stick accessories at the reception! DJ CoCo played house music, they inflated a giant whale pool toy, brought out the broomsticks turned make-shift guitars - add it all up, and it makes for one unforgettable wedding! 

Favorite Wedding Favors

Providing gifts to guests at a wedding has been tradition for centuries and has varied across cultures and populations. Originally related to European wealth and extravagance, the gifts were fashioned of small boxes made of precious metals and gemstones. Other cultures believed the bridegroom to be a coming of good luck, and the gifts were thought to be lucky as they were presented by the couple. 

Today, the wedding favors often extend on the theme of the weddings and vary greatly in what they might be as they are considered a portrayal of the couple's personality. Koozies are common due to their useful nature both at the wedding and afterwards. Take-home sweets and recipes in jars are also gaining in popularity. Personally, I have to say, those succulents are a favorite! 

Let Them Eat Cake

As a wedding guest, I cannot wait to try the cake - more so than free alcohol, good catering, and cute groomsmen. Cheesecakes, cupcakes, red velvet, or traditional - I want a piece of each! As a photographer, I cannot wait to see the cake. It gives great insight into the couple and their style. A beautiful wedding cake often imitates a beautiful wedding.

The cake is such an important part of the ceremony and generally draws attention like a prince on a throne. It is part of many different wedding customs, and has been tradition for hundreds of years, dating back to Medieval times. Different from the sugary confections today, fruit cakes or a stack of warm bread buns were favored instead. 

The cake cutting has a long history itself. First, it was an activity the bride herself did to symbolize the loss of her innocence. Now, it is a ritual performed by both bride and groom to represent the first activity as a married couple. It also symbolizes the couple's agreement to provide for one another. 

Cake charms, though not largely popular anymore, have a long history. Charms were once baked into the wedding cake to embody different meanings as well. For example, a horseshoe signifies good luck, an anchor means adventure, a heart is true love, and a wish bone means a wish come true. If you opt to bake charms into your cake be sure to warn your guests before they dive right in!

Another tradition that has really taken hold is that of saving the top tier of the cake in order to eat on the one-year anniversary. If you want to go all out and truly relive the blissful memories of your wedding day, play dress up! Pull out your wedding dress, have your hubby don his suit, and go to town on those last few pieces of wedding cake - be sure to whisper sweet nothings to each other ;) 

We've seen so many variations on wedding cakes. Everything from the "less is more" to the downright extravagant. No matter what the design, as long as the cake is delicious then it is a total wedding win! 

The Groom's Cake: A Retro Tradition

For the most part, the wedding is all about the bride. The groom just needs to show up, look presentable, and say "I do." We often forget that it is important for him too, and whether he admits it or not, he has totally envisioned that big day as well. And while he might not have a lot of say in where the drapes should hang or what the programs should look like, he has complete and absolute control over one thing - the groom's cake. 

Time for a history lesson:

Do you know where this tradition started? 

It actually began in Victorian England in the 19th century. There were three cakes present at the receptions - a bride's cake, a groom's cake, and the wedding cake that was served to the guests. Traditionally, it was a fruit cake (whew thank goodness that has changed, right!?). The tradition stayed put here in the American south where it has gone in and out of fashion in multiple cycles. In the last few years, the groom's cake has seen a comeback - and it is bigger and better than ever!

Some brides like to surprise their grooms with a cake that represents something important to him. But I think, when it comes down to it, let the groom choose the groom's cake! It is the one thing that represents his personality entirely on a day that is so important to both bride and groom. Alma maters, hobbies, and favorite foods are pretty typical in this arena (speaking of arenas - check out that LSU cake!). Many couples are opting to serve the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner, giving it the whole spotlight for one night so it isn't fighting for attention at the wedding. 

Many might think it is a superfluous and unnecessary expense. What do you think? Axe the idea entirely, or let the groom have one thing that is all his? Would you surprise the groom or would you let him choose what he wants? 

Interesting Info: 

Legend has it that after boxing up individual slices for the guests, if an unmarried woman places her piece beneath her pillow she will dream of her future husband! 

Getting Married in the Rain

You did all your research on the weather for the date of your wedding. You checked forecast trends as far back as 25 years ago to see what the likelihood of precipitation chances are. Your thumbs got blisters from hitting refresh on your phone's weather app, and you sent up tiny prayers for a clear sunny day - but there it is. That first tiny raindrop just hit your cheek, and it might as well be a biblical flood as far as you're concerned. So what's a girl to do?

Dance in the rain! 

Embrace it! A bride and groom huddled together under an umbrella makes for romantic intimate photo magic! Break out those galoshes, wellies, and rain boots (they're the same thing, but I love those words), grab a festive umbrella, layer a rain coat over your dress, and laugh about it! Because those photos are going to be better than you will have ever dreamt! 

Here are a few favorite #tbt images (including photos from mine and William's semi-wet wedding) of rainy wedding days we adore! Tell me - would you cash in on that wedding insurance and reschedule your big day for a sunnier one? Do you think it's always a good idea to have a backup plan - somewhere to move the ceremony indoors, or rental tents just in case? Let me know!