Abigail and Mathew celebrated their sunflower-filled wedding at Windwood Equestrian on May 27, 2018 with Arden Photography. We want to extend a VERY happy one-year anniversary to this sweet couple. We hope that love continues to grow and shine light upon you. Cheers to many more!
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Larkin & Garrett | Arden Photography
Might be a little early in my timing, but that won’t stop Arden Photography from wishing Larkin and Garrett a magical one-year anniversary. We hope that the past year has allowed your love to grow and flourish between the two of you. We, also, hope that your future is filled with continual reminders of why each of you chose to become one together. Happy anniversary!
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Hollace & J.R. | Arden Photography
Happy ALMOST two-year anniversary! I had the immense joy of spending May 13, 2018 with this amiable couple on their warm, summer wedding day. Arden Photography sends lots of love and well wishes to you both on your day of wedding remembrance. Cheers to many more!
Met Gala 2019 Recap | Best Dressed | Arden Photography
This year’s Met Gala “Camp: Notes on Fashion” was co-hosted by Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Serena Williams, and Gucci’s Alessandro Michele. If you’re unfamiliar with the term ‘camp’ it is defined as “an aesthetic style and sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its bad taste and ironic value.” This means more was more, and the eclectic style choices our favorite celebs made gave us mixed emotions of awe, wonder, and down-right shock. From Disney-inspired chic to the guests doing their own rendition of their celebrity aspirations to Las Vegas showgirl to the nth degree, I was not disappointed with the “lewks” that graced the 2019 Met Gala’s highly-esteemed red-carpet staircase. In no apparent order, here’s a few of my by-far faves that showed up and showed out at Monday’s event.
Lily Collins in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture (inspired by Priscilla Presley)
Candace Swanepoel in Atelier Prabal Gurung
Kendall Jenner in Versace
Ciara in Peter Dundas (inspired by Diana Ross)
Emily Ratajkowski in Peter Dundas (inspired by Cher)
Céline Dion in Oscar de la Renta and Fred Leighton jewelry
Madelaine Petsch in Jean Paul Gaultier
Florence Welch in Gucci
Bella Hadid in Moschino
Kacey Musgraves in Moschino (inspired by Barbie)
Gemma Chan in Tom Ford wearing Forevermark jewelry
Saoirse Ronan in Gucci
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Cari & Michael | Arden Photography
Almost two years ago Cari and Michael were wed at Windwood Equestrian with Arden Photography in tow. Happy EARLY anniversary to you both! We hope these past two years have been filled with love, patience, and happiness; and we wish many more years of the same!
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Lindsay & Blake | Arden Photography
On May 12, 2018, Lindsay and Blake were married at Windwood Equestrian. With that being said, Arden Photography wants to extend a loving, early anniversary wish to this sweet couple. We enjoyed sharing your wedding celebration with us, and we hope you can look back on your special day with fond memories!
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Erin & John | Arden Photography
Happy, happy, early two-year anniversary to Erin and John! This lovely couple celebrated their special day with us on May 6, 2017, and we’re still not over the excitement this day held. Arden Photography wishes you many, many years of love and adventures.
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Lauren & Graham | Arden Photography
Happy EARLY one-year anniversary to Lauren and Graham! Arden Photography was beyond over-joyed to be included in your wedding celebration on April 28 2018, especially at our special place we call home, Windwood Equestrian. I loved being able to relive this beautiful day looking through your photos. You guys are truly a beautiful couple, inside and out, and I wish you so much love for the future.
Happy Wedding Anniversary to Lacey & Carter | Arden Photography
Arden Photography wants to extend a HUGE happy two-year anniversary to Lacey and Carter that got married on this day, April 22nd, in 2017! We are so honored to have been a part of your special day, and we wish you many more years of happiness and love.
Easter Fashion 2019 | Arden Photography
Easter is quickly approaching and if you haven’t had the time to figure out what you will be clad in, don’t fret quite yet. Easter is typically viewed as a conservative holiday having most people attend church and family affairs. So, since it’s a day to celebrate, of course you want to look (and feel) your absolute best! Below are a few color and style options for a last-minute search to help you queue in what you’re looking for.
Easter Color Palette:
Pastels:
Blush
Lavender
Peach
Pastels are always a spring must. These soft colors compliment a wide variety of skin tones, while also bringing color to your wardrobe in a more subdued manner.
Brights:
Kelly Green
Yellow
Kelly Green has gotten extremely popular over the past couple of months, and it won’t stop now. Green is a strong, statement color, so it can be left simple with only the color to admire, or you can accessorize it in a way to subdue the color. Yellow can be a bit off-putting and it doesn’t suit everyone with the right confidence, anyone can pull it off with their own flattering, joy-inducing shade.
Neutrals:
Jade
Navy
If you want to go a little more under the radar these neutral shades have got your back (literally). Jade is a muted version of its brighter counterpart previously mentioned if you still want to add color to your ‘fit. Navy is a softer version of black, but is still just as flattering! It will also keep you from getting as hot if you were wearing black in this Alabama weather.
Easter Style Watch:
Wrap dresses
This SUPER flattering style of dress hits you right where it matters at your waist, brings it in, and hides anything underneath its overlay structure.
Maxi dresses
Chic and comfortable. What more could you ask for? Maxi dresses come in so many styles, you’ll be sure to find one that fits your personality to a ‘T.’
Jumpsuits/Rompers
Skip trying to find a two-part ensemble, and go straight to the rack filled with jumpsuits and rompers. Pants or shorts, you get to decide, but jumpsuits and rompers come in a variety of styles sure enough to fit what you’re going for this Easter holiday.
Coulettes
Remember the galcho? Well this is it’s hotter, older sister. Coulettes are usually cropped and flare at the ankle. A high-waisted version of this pant pared with a nice, blouse, and a clean heel, can bring a boss babe vibe to any get-together,
Wedding Day: Beauty Essentials Checklist | Arden Photography
It is REALLY easy to get wrapped up in how the big picture of your wedding day is going to look like. We’ve all been in that position of last-minute, impulse packing, and when you arrive at your destination, you realize you have forgotten the tiniest detail that makes all of the difference. So, here’s to you! I made a quick and easy list, beauty edition, for you to check off on your wedding day. Say bye-bye to having to turn that car around or sprinting through a Walgreens, and say hello to a relaxing, stress-free pampering sesh!
Lipstick color of choice
If you have a h&mu team, they’ll most likely have lip colors to use, but it’s always nice to have one of your own to touch up throughout the day and keep your lip color intact and fresh.
Hairspray
A LOT of things can occur right before that special moment of walking down the aisle, especially with your mane. Having a travel-sized hairspray handy can keep those fly-aways out of your face and secure any undesired loose business.
Bobby pins/Hair elastics
As previously stated, hair can be very unpredictable. Having a couple of bobby pins/hair elastics laying around can be useful if hair goes array.
Lash glue
If you wear fake lashes, lash glue is a must! Emotions will be flowing, or at least your allergies might, and watery eyes can lead to lashes falling right off. Lash glue on hand is perfect for fixing up any teary-eyed issues.
Makeup brush
Taking pictures before your ceremony can quickly make anyone get an undesired, “oily” glow. A makeup brush that you’ve used with your personal powder, or even one with no product on it, can blot the oiliness right off of your face.
Teasing comb
Fix fly-aways or add some volume to your locks. Most teasing combs are small in stature, so they’re easy to tote around.
Waterproof mascara
Keep those lashes locked into place and free from worry about happy tears.
Tweezers
Tweezers are never not useful and can be used for a variety of actions like: plucking eyebrows, putting on lashes, fixing jewelry, etc.
Nail polish
Ever have one of those “why do bad things happen to good people” moments? At least that’s my exact thoughts when I chip a nail. Stowing away your nail color will prevent that thought from even starting to run across your mind (and keep the mani fresh for those up-close ring shots).
Water
As funny as it may sound, forgetting to stay hydrated is really easy when you’re getting ready for that smooch of a lifetime. Not only does it keep you from being parched, but drinking a lot of water several weeks before your wedding can help clear up skin and your digestive tract.
Happy Anniversary to Hannah & McKinley | Arden Photography
Happy one-year anniversary to this lovely couple! Hannah and McKinley got married at Windwood Equestrian on April 14, 2018. This couple is so kind-spirited, and I loved being able to spend your wedding day with the both of you. Much love from Arden Photography, and well wishes of happiness in the future.
What to Consider... Bridal Hair Tips from Hair Stylist Amanda Sturgis | Arden Photography
Amanda Sturgis is a cosmetologist with a specialization in hair cut & color based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She works at Salon Studios in Northport, Alabama.
With over 25 years under her belt, Amanda has seen it all in the cosmetology world. Bleach fails, the “I thought it was going to turn out this color” plea, & bad cuts galore have yet to deter her from this passion. Rather, she welcomes it with open arms to help get her client’s back to their most comfortable & confident state. Amanda makes it her goal to have her clients not only happy, but also educated so that they know why she may recommend something different from their original hair excursion. Healthy hair is a priority when you sit down in her salon chair.
Primarily a salon hair stylist with a devoted clientele, weddings are far & few between, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t had her fair share of preparing lovely brides on their wedding.
Below are a few tips & considerations to make when thinking about YOUR big day’s locks:
Enhance what you’ve been naturally given.
You want to look & feel like the best version of yourself on your wedding day.
The hair style you choose should be dependent on your dress style and the time of day, time of year, & theme of your wedding.
To make everything look cohesive & to feel the most comfortable, you’ll want to be aware of your wedding-day decisions prior to setting your mind onto a hair style.
Soft, natural curls & updos are on trend right now.
Be unique & do what makes you happy. If that’s following trends because you like the style & the way it makes you feel, then go for it. If not, talk it out with your hair stylist to create a style that enhances your beauty the most and makes you feel unique during your celebration.
If styling your hair with elastics and/or bobby pins, make sure they match your hair color or are translucent.
Pesky hair ties/bobby pins can distract from your hair style in pictures and in person. Have your stylist hide them within the hair style or use something similar to your hair color so that they will blend right in.
When using hair spray, make sure it doesn’t leave a film over your hair and that your hair still has movement.
Too many a times people feel that for a hair style to stay, they have to spray a TON of hairspray into their hair, yet if you have a quality hairspray your hair style should stay intact all day long without leaving it looking and feeling crunchy.
Photo by: Kali Sturgis
Makeup Tips from Birmingham H&MU Artist Madeline Hulsey | Arden Photography
Madeline Hulsey is a professional hair & make-up artist based in Birmingham, Alabama. She works at Wildflower Hair and Nail Studio in Mountain Brook, Alabama. Madeline, better known as Maddie, specializes in hair cutting & coloring, & she has been doing hair & makeup as a career since she was 16 years old.
Maddie never meets a stranger. Her kind-hearted, bubbly personality always leaves her customers feeling enlightened & joyous by her radiant character.
Working in the beauty community for several years now, Maddie knows a thing or two when it comes to preparing her brides & bridal parties, albeit she would never admit that herself.
Here are a few quick & easy tips Maddie swears by to leave your wedding day, at least the hair & makeup aspect, a little more stress-free:
Sometimes… less is more. On your wedding day, ensure to enhance your beauty instead of reinventing an entirely new look.
You want people to appreciate the beauty you already have shining within you.
HYDRATE.
Water keeps your skin replenished and gives it that top-notch bridal glow.
Get plenty of rest. You would be surprised with how much a few extra hours of sleep helps on your big day.
More sleep = clear skin, reduced stress, less fatigue, & less bloating.
Skincare is KEY for a refreshed look. Start a stable skincare routine a few months out from your wedding.
By giving yourself enough time in between finding out what skin products work for you & your big celebration, your skin will be thanking you for giving it that little extra attention & time, & you will be feeling unstoppable.
Make sure your in love with your trial run.
If you’re not feeling something during your trial, you most likely won’t be feeling it on your wedding day either. Ask questions or suggest something you want to do. It is YOUR big day after all, we just want to make you feel comfortable & special.
Get a lip color you adore & take it to your trial.
This allows you not to have to worry about pesky touch-ups after the hair & make-up team head out. Some artists give you a complimentary lip color, but that isn’t the case all of the time.
Make sure your hair is freshly colored and shiny for your big day.
Of course, only if you want to. Fresh color and conditioning treatments just give your hair that extra luster you’ll be appreciating looking back at photographs.
Lashes are a MUST!
They make your eyes appear more wide awake & bright, & they pull together the final touches of any makeup look.
You can also get them customized with individual lashes so that you can control the lash intensity, volume, & length.
Photo by: Arden Upton
Photo by: Arden Upton
Photo by: Arden Upton
Wedding Makeup Tips from Miss Alabama USA 2019 Hannah McMurphy | Arden Photography
Being present in the pageant world has taught the current Miss Alabama USA, Hannah McMurphy, a ton about makeup: what looks good, what doesn’t, and a whole lot of trial and error. But, before her current namesake, and prior to being fully invested in the pageant community, Hannah worked, and still works, as a hair and makeup artist for weddings, pageants, and formal events.
Despite weddings and pageants having vastly different end-products, one ending with a ring on one’s finger and the other, hopefully, a crown atop one’s head, they do share some commonalities in the makeup realm. When approaching makeup in both the wedding and pageant style, here are a few tips and tricks your local Alabama representative has dubbed as fool-proof:
Eyelashes are a MUST! They tie together the look and add extra glam and definition to the eyes.
Brows are SO important! Fill those babies in, and remember they’re sisters NOT twins.
“Usually a shade range of one to three shades lighter or darker of your natural hair color is the safe zone for brow fill-in color.”
Bronzing your face gives more dimension and liveliness to your features. Don’t be scared of it! Just remember to build the color up.
For a “snatched” looking nose, contour along the bridge of your nose, not on the sides as that can make it look wider. Go in with a highlight and lightly apply it in a thin, but blended, line down your bridge. For added contour, take an under-eye powder and place it along the sides of your nose around the contoured area. This will blend the wider parts of your nose into your face and accentuate only the contoured part.
A good under-eye powder will brighten up your face, make it appear more open, and clean up any fall-out.
“Under-eye powder is GREAT in moderation. Don’t put too much on, though, it can flash back with flash photography and make you appear like you have white circles under your eyes.”
Try: bareMinerals Well Rested Under Eye Powder Concealer
Slightly over line your lips for a poutier look.
“This tip can go south very fast. You only want to over line the fullest part of your lips right above the natural lip line. I always use a gloss, too, to pack a little more punch.”
Photo: Arden Upton
H&MU: Madeleine Hulsey
Photo: GrantFoto
H&MU: Makenna Henning
Photo: Arden Upton
H&MU: Madeleine Hulsey
Photo: Austin Ryde
H&MU: Austin Ryde
Makeup Go-To's for Weddings from H&MU Artist Kali Sturgis | Arden Photography
Hi! Kali, here! Not only am I Arden’s intern, but I also do hair and makeup for weddings, pageants, and formal events.
When I think weddings, I think glowing bride. And by glowing, I mean highlight, highlight, and oh, did I mention, highlight?
My go-to makeup for brides and bridesmaids, unless if they know specifically what they want and/or provide examples, is light, shimmery eye shadows, dewy skin, and nude, pink-y lips. I feel that this look gives enough drama to the client while also not taking away from their natural beauty. Enhancing is the goal.
Contrary to most beauty routines, I usually start with the eyes. This allows easier clean up of fall-out and less stress on the artist for accidents. I lightly fill-in the brows before starting eyeshadow, and then I come back in with an eyeshadow primer and/or concealer to clean up the brow and prime the eyes for eyeshadow. Eyebrows are SO important because they are what frame one of the most important features of your face. The key with eyeshadow is to BLEND and build the color. It is a lot easier to make an eye darker than to lighten it up. Pearls and champagnes make for beautiful brow bone, inner corner, and inner eye highlight and ultimately brighten up the eyes and make them appear brighter and more awake. From there, I tend to stick to neutral, warm browns and light oranges as transition shades in the crease, and bronze and deep browns for the outer corner. Whatever I use on the lid, I drag down below the lower lash line. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT to pull together the eyeshadow. It makes the eyeshadow look complete and balances the eye out. If someone likes darker eyeshadows, I’ll add dark gray or black to the outer corner, but like I said earlier, it is much easier to ask the client what they would prefer after the final look is complete. People ALWAYS have different thoughts on what natural and glam makeup look like, so it’s much easier to build up the color than try to take away. For eyeliner, I stick to browns in the waterline because it is not as harsh as black, and on the lid, I usually only use a deep brown or black eyeshadow on a thin angled brush to have a soft, smokier look.
On to lashes! A good mascara is a must, and I love L’Oreal’s Lash Paradise… waterproof of course. We’re talking about the chance of tears looking pretty high, always happy ones though. I always recommend fake lashes to every client. To me, they pull together any look and add extra glam to the bridal party. If clients are wary about strip lashes, individual lashes are a great alternative. They tend to feel less invasive, and they can be built up to suit any person’s preference. The great thing about fake lashes, too, is that they’ll come off when you wash your makeup off!
After eyes, I move on to foundation, cleaning up any fall-out around the eye before applying. Doing it in this order is just preference, though. Personally, I feel that it can make for a cleaner, accident-free session. Regarding foundation, you don’t want something cake-y or drying, so I try to steer myself toward light-to-medium coverage foundations like Fenty Beauty or Estee Lauder. I usually use a damp beauty blender to pat on the foundation onto the client’s face. The beauty blender allows you to control the coverage of the foundation pretty well, so as not to cover up too much. Unless if asked to do so, we LOVE to see brides’ and bridesmaids’ freckles and moles! After foundation, I’ll use concealer to get the under-eye and spot treat any additional problem areas. Remember the goal is to enhance, not cover up.
Once base is complete, I usually go in with a baking or banana powder and set along the under eye, across the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, on the chin, and underneath the hollows of the cheek. To me, this adds extra definition and dimension to the face. A bronzer/contour powder is used next to shade and add more color to the client’s face. It is very important to make sure that whatever shading color you are using is not too orange or too gray. We don’t want Cheetos or the Walking Dead to be present at the ceremony. Then I go in with blush on the apples of the cheek. I tend to be attracted more to rosy pinks, corals, and peaches because I feel they give the most natural looking “blushing bride” face.
Then, to my FAVORITE part. H I G H L I G H T. To me, highlight adds that extra glow, sparkle, and oomph to any bridal makeup. I usually go for champagnes, golds, pearls, and light pink highlighters, as they seem to blend more seamlessly into the skin and compliment a wide array of complexions. I place it along the high points of the cheekbones, lightly down the bridge of the nose, on the cupid’s bow, center of the chin, and my favorite spot ABOVE the brows.
After finishing the face, I do the lips. Most of the time the bride or bridesmaid know what colors they want to use, have to use, or prefer, but if not my go-to is a nude or light berry pink. I fill in their lips with a corresponding lipliner color first, as this prevents lip color from bleeding and allows the color to stay longer and be more vivid. Then, I go in with the desired lip color. I tend to be drawn to lip glosses more so than lipsticks, but it’s always up to the client’s preferences.
Lastly, to set everything in place I use a setting spray (Morphe’s is one of my faves), and then I lightly pat in the setting spray with the previously used damp beauty blender, as I have found that this melds the makeup more seamlessly into the skin.
Photo by: Arden Upton
H&MU: Kali Sturgis
Photo by: Arden Upton
H&MU: Kali Sturgis
Photo by: Arden Upton
H&MU: Kali Sturgis
2018 Wedding Bridal Hairstyles | Arden Photography
Hair, or the lack thereof, has always been used as a way to express our personality, our physical state, or even our current favorite color. Looking back on 2018, my brides’ hair varied from extensively braided up-do’s to flowing, loose curls. It complemented their dresses, matched the themes of their weddings, and it was created in a way to accommodate the season for which their celebration took place. A common factor amongst them all that I noticed, was that their hair was done in a way to accentuate and enhance their natural beauty, which is how every bride deserves to feel on their wedding day. Here’s a few bridal hair styles that can give you inspiration for a formal, night out, or even your future special day.
Braided half-up half-downs
Loose curls
Fishtail braids & braided up-do’s
Loose, curled up-do’s
Sleek up-dos
2018 Winter Bouquets | Arden Photography
Fewer amounts of weddings occur during the brisk cold of winter; but those that are able to brave the chill, do not disappoint with their floral decisions. White reminisces that of sparse, but loved, Alabama snow, and periwinkle and sapphire blues detailed these bride’s and bridesmaids’s bouquets to tie the winter-esque theme together. Leafy, jade greenery added extra volume, and baby’s breath provided delicacy and simplicity to these snowy-white bouquets. It might’ve been a cold evening during these celebrations, but the love that was in the air, and the beautiful bouquets in hand, warmed all of our hearts up.
2018 Autumn Bouquets | Arden Photography
Fall, known for: football, pumpkin spice, and Hallmark Halloween movies. Autumn weddings also have their trends. White bouquets will always be a classic go-to, but fall definitely opens bride’s minds up to the richer, jewel tones of the color spectrum. Crimson, plums, and navy were showcased throughout this cooler season, along with looser bouquets that had more hanging greenery compared to the warmer months of the year. Pink still peeked through during this season, but most of the time it was presented in deeper cranberry, fuchsia-esque versions of the typically lighter color found in bridal bouquets.
2018 Summer Bouquets | Arden Photography
The intense warmth of summer fell in suit behind its milder counterpart, spring. Color schemes also followed spring trends of white and rosy pinks. Crisp, all-white bouquets were ever popular providing the classic simplicity that many brides attempt to procure. Peach and corals also made their debut in these summer-y arrangements, while a bouquet of bright, smile-inducing sunflowers took main stage at one wedding celebration. Whether bright or simple, summer is the perfect season to experiment with vivid colors, along with your classic white florals, to bring the fun of summer to any wedding.
