Hotel Finial :: Styled Shoot

This Spring, we had the incredible privilege of creating a styled shoot at Hotel Finial in Anniston, AL. Originally built in 1888, this historic hotel was a private residence for 128 years. Later it became the Victoria Hotel, serving hundreds of visitors to the Anniston area. Unfortunately, it fell into disrepair over time. In 2015 Del and Ginger Marsh decided to revive the hotel and bring back its former glory. (And we're so glad they did!)

It has been amazing to watch the transformation this hotel has undergone, and it was such an honor to shoot the first bridal photos after the renovation - before it opened to the public! Every vendor we worked with on this shoot absolutely fell in love with every detail of Hotel Finial, and we hope that after you see these photos, you'll fall in love with it too!

Our model for this shoot was a beautiful young bride named Beth. We started our day with the "bride" getting ready in the Kirby Suite. (More glimpses of this room to come in our next blog!) Our hair & makeup stylist, Christin Ray, fell in love with the natural light in this room. She did a beautiful job on Beth's loose, classic updo and gave her the perfect makeup for a springtime wedding!

From there, we moved the bride into our favorite room - the Wilson Suite. This room is incredible - from its aqua walls, to the beautiful bay window, and gilded accents. It was the perfect backdrop for these breathtaking bridal shots. Who knew that something as simple as putting on your shoes could be this beautiful?

Our flowers were provided by Alexander's Flowers and Gifts in Anniston, AL. This bouquet of coral and peach roses created such a beautiful palette for a springtime wedding!

This stunning gown, and the tux for the groom were provided by Alexander's Prom & Bridal Shop in Anniston, AL. The gown is a Private Collection piece in ivory tulle with a sheer neck, lace bodice, rhinestone trim, and beautiful sequin, bead, and pearl adornments. From the cap sleeves to the full tulle skirt and buttons down the back - it's a timeless look for any bride.

While we finished up with our bride, the groom was busy getting ready in the McKleroy Suite. Paul is actually marrying Beth in a few months, so this was a little bit of a preview of what's to come for them! He expressed that he was a little nervous about seeing his "bride to be" (even if this wasn't their actual wedding day!)

Beth admitted that she too had butterflies as we got closer and closer to the moment Paul would see her for the first time in a wedding gown! You can see the excitement on her face as she waited to go meet her groom!

Once our models were ready, we decided to do a real "first look" with the two of them. We had the groom wait at the foot of the stairs, while the bride walked down to surprise him.

Beth and Paul were so sweet! They were truly excited and even a little emotional. This was almost like a dress rehearsal for their big day in August!

As you can see in these photos, the new style of the hotel is "past-forward" - holding true to the historic victorian architecture, original floors, chandeliers, and stained glass windows - while embracing a modern touch with glamorous decor chosen by owner Ginger Marsh and interior decorator Patsy McKinney of "Above and Beyond".

Every detail of Hotel Finial has been carefully selected. Ginger and Patsy couldn't have created a more beautiful location for a wedding, and they're now adding event planning to their plate with their new business, "Beyond the Finial"! So if you're looking for a timeless, unique location for your wedding day (or any special event), we would definitely recommend booking the Hotel Finial!

*The Hotel Finial Styled Shoot continues! Stay tuned for another blog to come with our 2nd and 3rd glamorous looks from this day!