Ten Reasons Why Southern Weddings are So Sweet

Apr 9

Let’s just go ahead and put it out there. Iceland was epic, Canada was too. Guatemala and Jamaica were beautiful. Turks + Caicos and Dallas, Chicago and San Fran, Miami and New York City all have a piece of my heart but there is just something about southern weddings. If you’re from the south you grew up on Sweet Tea and Lace, Sunday morning church services and Jack right from the bottle. This is a special place to call home and though I can’t say that living in Bentonville, Arkansas is exactly country life, I’ve learned to love the way a southern bride makes her way down the aisle. (Hey I married one after all). Below you’ll find a few of my favorite southern wedding moments from 2019 and 2020 and ten things I absolutely love about being a Southern Wedding Photographer in Arkansas.

Comfort Food - Y’all. I feel like the chubby kid in the room right now making this number one but is it not the greatest feeling in the world to walk into a reception and see a table filled with mac & cheese, pizza, chicken tenders, and tacos? I’m not sure when I lost my taste for prime rib and lobster rolls on a wedding day but after running around in the heat there’s something about a plate full of carbs (something I eat relatively very little of throughout the week). On the hunt for ways to make your guests love every single moment of your wedding? Feed them like kids, stock the bar with the good stuff, and sit back. You instantly go from bride to boss. Notable favorites : midnight snacks (taco bell delivers to the dance floor), mac and cheese bars with everything from bacon and chives to extra cheese (obviously a yes) and sour cream. I just gained a few pounds writing this paragraph BUT I’ll dance it off next weekend.
Mama + Daddy - There’s pretty much nothing more southern than southern parents. Except maybe granny. When Mom rolls in lookin like a million bucks grinning ear to ear. She’s pretty much helped plan every single step of the way and told your dad to just write the checks and stop asking so many questions. She forgot the champagne, but remembered the Chick-fila chicken biscuits for breakfast. She’s the one who zips you in the dress, puts your veil around your shoulders, and kisses you on the cheek right before the doors open and your girls see you. Mom’s get a bad rap in wedding world. It’s true, they can be a bit overbearing at times. They may not exactly understand why I’m trying to shoot you through a window, or how I’m so comfortable talking about Spanx but when push comes to shove - I love a good southern mom. BONUS : when your grandma is awesome, I have somebody approved by my wife I get to dance with on the dance floor. Bonus Bonus : Doing a first look with dad is always awesome.
Venues - sorta. It’s kind of a fact, barn weddings aren’t really a thing in the midwest. I’ve shot weddings in barns filled with hay that were definitely NOT designed for weddings (and ruined my shoes in the process), in beautiful antebellum homes with tall white pillars and tiny bathrooms, and on the edges of cliffs overlooking sunsets. Southern brides just get this right : find a spot that’s pretty - make it prettier - and then just be the prettiest part of it all. Check Check Check. Northwest Arkansas is sort of a perfect example of this trend. In the same week our team may shoot a wedding at a multi million dollar art museum tucked down in the woods, an old warehouse that’s been renovated for events, and the edge of a 1,500 foot cliff side and the best part, we’ll never drive more than 50 miles to get to any of them.
The more the merrier : I’m actually scared to put this one out into the universe. The next wedding I shoot where the entire graduating class of the University of Arkansas is invited to be in the wedding party I’ll regret it. But I will say it’s so much fun walking into a room full of history. So you have 2 friends from your childhood, 2 from high school, 4 from college, 2 cousins, a future sister in law, and 4 girls from work you couldn’t live without? 14 it is. As long as you know all of their first names and you are prepared for all the single guys in the room to be watching that bouquet toss REALLY closely, bring them on.
Have my cake and eat Pie too : Back story. We shot a wedding in 2010 (I think) that had a 4 tier cheesecake wedding cake where every layer was a different flavor. Beat that wedding world. That said, this whole trend where if you’re not in the mood for just another slide of wedding cake you can choose between 5 or 6 (or just choose all) home made pies is kind of wonderful. It’s pretty much true that there’s nothing better than pie, it’s actually been proven. But if you’re awesome enough to have pies at the reception, the only way you’ll one up it is if you can somehow manage to get all of your mom’s friends to bake them. Side bar here, I did see a bridesmaid drink a bit too much and then eat a bunch of strawberry pie before getting sick - that officially changed my life and not for the better.
Lace and Pearls : It just is so incredibly classic y’all. So I didn’t grow up in the south and I fought southern culture a bit kicking and screaming for awhile. You still won’t catch me watching nascar or wearing camo that isn’t tailored and from a story you’ve heard of. I’ve changed my mind a bit on country music, but still kind of prefer the “bro country” that I’m not sure really qualifies me as a southern guy for liking. All that said - lace just has my heart. Satin dresses are pretty, and tule can be cute too, I love cool cut lines and unique silhouettes but there’s just something about a beautiful lace dress fitted snug that feels like a wedding to me. I’ve never quite gotten behind the guys in khaki pants and suspenders thing, but a long elegant lace gown with a pearl necklace just wins over and over for me. Bonus points - if your pearls are your moms, grandmas, or have a story at all… I’m in. To be honest, I love any jewelry with a good story.
You may kiss the pig. I got married in September. Tim Tebow played against Darren McFadden and I missed the entire game. It turns out that even though at the time that was a really big deal - my wedding was more important (at least to me). That said, college football is kind of a big deal. If you guys spend your Saturdays calling the hogs, and you can find a way to tip the hat to the fact that whether he knows it yet or not, you loved a mascot before you loved him - I’d say go for it. I’m obviously a little biased here with my love for Arkansas, but the truth is any fun little nod to your alma mater is kind of cool, just don’t expect me to sing along to anybody else’s fight song.
Light it up : Here’s a love hate one for me. First off, it’s not unique anymore. And let’s be honest, you spend 4 hours indulging a bit with a bunch of friends and before you send them back into the world to chase down some advil and pediolyte you’re about to put fire works in their hands and run through a tunnel of sparks with a hair full of hairspray. What could go wrong? All that said, in all of the times I’ve done a sparkler exit I can definitely say 2 things. 1 : I always think they look cool even though it’s not exactly the freshest idea on the block and 2 : I’m the only one that ever gets burned. (Actively hoping to never repeat that second one.)
“Hey Miles!” The best feeling you guys. For real. This isn’t just a “southern” thing but let’s just be honest. People in the south like sweet tea and hugging in public. It’s just this thing we do. And after spending 20 hours prepping for your wedding, 10 hours shooting your wedding, and lord knows how many hours editing your wedding running into you and getting a big public hug is kind of awesome. In fact these days (after nearly 500 weddings, albeit not all in Arkansas) we run into past clients all over the place. Real talk, if you see me at a concert, sipping coffee at Onyx, the gym, church, or just on the street. Stop and say hey! Let’s spend a few minutes catching up because before I was a photographer (wait for it) I was a person. And people like friends.
Leave room for the holy spirit. I was running through this list with Max and he said “when the couple gives the guests communion”. Y’all how cool is that? I don’t know if I’ve ever actually really seen that, but now I want to! That said - he has and it sparked a whole conversation for me about how cool it is that our southern couples spend a little extra energy on the good stuff. If you’re a religious person (I am) pray for dinner, pray at the ceremony, pray with your girls before you come down the aisle. Nothing beats those photos of you praying with your ladies right before the big thing starts and there’s nothing cooler than making sure that Jesus gets some attention.

**Note : Many of these images are taken by other photographers on the MWB team. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by so much talent and would love for our team or myself to be able to work with you on your wedding day!