Wedding Planning Tips Mini Series | Lynchburg Wedding Photographer
Hey guys! I hope and pray everyone is staying healthy and positive during this time! At the beginning of all this pandemic I will admit I was uninformed and didn’t take it too seriously… James has always been very informed and is the reason we have kept things afloat in our personal life and business! I know that I also went through this moment of uneasiness for the future but after much prayer and giving my insecurities and worries to God I have felt such peace during this crazy time! I have seen God do amazing things during the time of uncertainty in my personal life and in the lives of my friends and family!
My friends and family NOT in the wedding world have asked how this is affecting the wedding world. I have also seen a huge shift in the wedding industry. The pain of a postponed wedding has definitely affected vendors and couples but I have also seen that everyone is pushing forward! I have the sweetest couples inquiring with us for their 2021 weddings and they such incredible hope and cheerful attitudes. I know that right now it is hard to keep positive but weddings are not going to stop. In fact, I think something like this pandemic makes everyone more aware of how important photos and videos are to document special moments.
I truly believe that every industry is going to come out of this adapting to the new normal. With this in mind, I wanted to start a mini series on choosing your wedding vendors!! It is so crucial (especially for all the 2021 weddings!!) to book the vendors you want FAST before they are booked. For a wedding day there are SO MANY VENDORS you need to make your wedding day vision come to life! So where do you start?! I have a list of the top 5 vendors I would recommend that you book first before they book up!
So if you are a newly engaged couple booking vendors for your 2021 wedding this post is for you!!
PS: You don’t want to miss my BONUS BOOKLET for you at the end of this post!!!
#1 Venues
If you are in the world of weddings even for a minute you probably know that wedding venues are the first to fill up. It is so important to find the perfect wedding venue that fits your guests count, style, and aesthetic for your wedding day.
Wedding Venues are #1 on the list because they SHOULD only host one wedding a day (usually, there could be multiple ceremony sites so there are exceptions) but this means there a limited number of dates available. Make sure you decide on the season or month and definitely tour the venue in person! If you are unable to see the venue in person, see if they can send you a gallery of photos, virtual tour, or look at blog posts from photographers who have photographed a wedding there. This is a great representation of how a real wedding looked at the venue!
If you LOVE a specific wedding venue but it is booked for your date, reach out to your photographer or planner and see if they know of a venue that is comparable. You may find a new venue that is a better fit!
#2 Photographers
Every wedding needs to be photographed right? If you want to remember this day for years to come, it is important to have the right photographer for your day! A timeless reminder of those sweet moments is one of the only things you will have after your wedding day. So choose this vendor carefully!
I know there are HUNDREDS of photographers if you search your area on google but trust me when I say, the good ones will go first. If you have NO IDEA who to choose, reach out to your friends who were recently married or look at the reviews from past clients! I know for James and I, we only book a total of 25 weddings a year. So with the rescheduling 2020 couples and the newly engaged couples getting married in 2021, our dates are going fast!!
You deserve an experienced wedding photographer who will capture your personalities, provide a fun experience, and delver timeless photos of your best day ever. So don’t wait to book your photographer!!
Need help on how to choose a wedding photographer?? Check this post out HERE!
Inquire with James and I here! We would love
to chat with you two about your day!! 🙂
#3 Planners
This is another vendor that books up so fast. A planner can save you so much money with your wedding planning so I really recommend that you book a planner next. They are going to know the best vendors and can even get you exclusive deals.
Planners can only be in one place at one time so that is why they are #3 on the list!! Some planners only book one wedding a weekend which limits their dates even more! Like I said with photographers, the good ones will go first. Chelsea with One Fine Day Events in Roanoke (pictured above) is definitely at the TOP of my list when it comes to planners! She is phenomenal and even taught me a few things the last time we worked together. I can’t remember enough!! Check out her work here!
I have worked with some very experienced planners and know first hand that every wedding that has a planner on sight has gone smoothly. When there is no one to lead on the wedding day, this falls on the photographer which means the final gallery will suffer. I hate to say that but its the sad truth…So help set yourself and your wedding vendors up for success and hire a wedding planner!
#4 Videographers
As a wedding photographer, I highly recommend our couples invest in an experienced videographer for their day. Especially given the times, having a wedding video would be a great thing to have to remember your day. This is something James and I were not able to invest in for our wedding day and I am sad we missed out on that opportunity. This vendor is easily in this top 5 list because again, the good ones book up first!
Investing in an experienced video team is SO IMPORTANT. If the price is very affordable, this probably means that the experience level will reflect that cost. This vendor affects not just your photographer during portrait time & ceremony, it affects the entire timeline for the wedding day and the rest of the vendors. James and I prioritize our couple’s investment by putting their final gallery AND the video a priority. However, if the videographer does not have the same priorities it can cause both the video and photos to suffer.
So booking a recommended and experienced videographer is very important for the flow of the day. If you have NO IDEA who to choose, reach out to your friends who were recently married, ask your photographer or planner, and look at the reviews from past clients!
If you’ve had mission BBQ you know why they are the best!!
#5 Catering
This is the other big vendor for your day which is why they are the last vendor on my top 5 list. Some companies are only able to take on a few weddings (or one wedding) a day or weekend. So if you have your heart set on a specific chef or catering company get on their books quick! Food is usually what your guests will remember from your wedding so selecting a crowd favorite meal is important early on in the planning process.
If you have no idea if you want a plated meal or buffet style ask your catering team or planner! They will know what’s best for your venue, guest size, and reception events. Choosing an experienced team is so crucial to the flow of the evening once the reception starts! There are so many other vendors but my love for some delicious wedding day meals pushed catering onto my list of the vendors that book up fast.
If you have NO IDEA who to choose, reach out to your friends who were recently married, ask your photographer or planner, and look at the reviews from past clients!
Did someone say BONUS BOOKLET?!
This is the first post of this wedding planning tips mini series and I can’t wait to share my next post next Wednesday!! I am interviewing some vendors I have worked with in the past and can’t wait to learn from their expertise! In the mean time, I created a FREE booklet full of tips for choosing your wedding vendors.
This booklet has links to each vendor’s website as well as tips for each category. I usually send this to all the brides who book with us but if YOU want this booklet of my FAVORITE local wedding professionals, I would be glad to share it with you!
Until next time,
Learn more about our services here!
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Hey there, I’m Emily!
James, and I are a husband and wife wedding photography team based in Lynchburg, Virginia. We specialize in weddings and engagements and serve Virginia, DC Area, South Carolina, and beyond!
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In today’s Wedding Wednesday with Em’s series I am sharing, the best times to start your wedding ceremony in each season. This start time affects when you can start your reception as well as how many bride and groom portraits you get in your final gallery!!