Virginia Wedding Photographer | Charlottesville Wedding Photographer | North Carolina Wedding Photographer | Asheville Wedding Photographer

Hey ladies!! Planning a wedding can be hard, right? From picking out a dress to choosing a cake flavor, and heaven knows if it’s going to rain on your wedding day - YIKES! So why not take some advice from the professionals who experience weddings weekend after weekend and help couple after couple! Below we’ve listed some well-known Roanoke Virginia wedding vendors and their top advice to help any bride who needs it!

From our perspective as a wedding photographer, we want our brides to remember their wedding experience. Not just from their pictures but the actual moments that happen on wedding day. Take time to drink a mimosa with your girls. Take time to hug and dance with your mom. Take time to check out your reception decor before people get there. Take time because it flies by on wedding day and the next thing you know… you’re walking out to your car and ready to crash. No matter what happens, make the most of it! Our wedding day was a whirlwind and even with me being a professional wedding vendor, things still went wrong. It is what it is. Of all things, it poured rain! You know what though, it was perfect!

RSP Entertainment

Allow the professionals you hire to help make your day easier! There are so many moving parts so brain storm your ideas then let them work their magic so you can relax! Also remember, budget is important, but try to work with the vendors that make you feel relaxed and at ease. Trust me, once the big day gets here, their professionalism to adjust to anything that may come up is going to be worth much more to everyone involved vs that bottomline price.

Click here for more about RSP Entertainment

Elegance Artistry

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN! If you're not already, the minute you become engaged start taking care of your skin. It's important to put your best face forward because you'll be taking a lot of photos. Establish an easy skincare routine that's appropriate for your skin type. My top 3 must-have steps are a good cleanser, a good eye cream, and a good moisturizer! Another thing most people don’t know is to wear a white or off-white shirt to your makeup trial. You'd be surprised how much a bold color or print that doesn't look anything like your wedding dress can throw off your makeup.

Blush Baking Co.

Don't be afraid to bring inspiration to the tasting! As a cake designer, I love getting to see your invitations, pinterest boards, pictures of bridesmaid dresses, your favorite flavors, etc. All of these items help in getting an overall feel for your wedding and help me with designing a cake for you! Make your wedding your own! Don't feel like you need to follow all of the classic traditions during the ceremony & reception. Do what feels right to you as a couple and even make some of your own new traditions that might be passed down in your family! At the end of the day, the most important thing is getting married to the one you love.

Studio I Do

After working in bridal for 13 years, I seem to find myself giving the same advice appointment after appointment. “Be prepared to say yes!” When booking your appointment, be mentally prepared to find your gown. The experience you have when you try on the one gown you can envision yourself walking down the aisle in, that “say yes to the dress” moment, is one you will never get back. When brides want to sleep on it, versus being in the moment. The phone call to Studio I Do to order a gown doesn’t seem as magical as it would be if you could rewind, celebrate in the store, all while wearing your future wedding dress! Trust your gut and think with your heart!

Your wedding gown will be the most self-expressive gown you will ever wear. Be sure to bring the people whose opinion you cherish the most, but also, try to limit to no more than 5. After all, the more opinions, the more difficult it can be for YOU to make a decision that is solely based on your opinion.

Click here for more about Studio I Do

Garden Rose Design & Events

In 2019, 90% of the weddings we worked, rained or threatened to. That is why it is important to LOVE your rain plan just as much or more than your outdoor ceremony! Keep this in mind when choosing a venue or if you have already chosen your venue, ask them what different rain plans they have seen executed in their space and what worked the best.

The worst thing you can do when the weather is unpredictable is also be an unpredictable bride. Your family, bridal party, and wedding planner all want to see you happy but when it is time to make the final call on indoor or outdoor, make the call and commit. It will make your whole day run so much smoother!

Also keep in mind that rain is not always a bad thing! Many of my favorite client wedding photos are romantic rain shots. Buy some clear umbrellas to have on hand and enjoy the rainy moments. Remember, all that matters, is at the end of the day, you get to marry your best friend!

Florals by Kimberly

Find a florist that shares your values. This is true for all your vendors! We also recommend booking your photographer before your florist and spend your flower budget where you will see it the most in your photographs, like your ceremony site or your bridal bouquet. If you need to trim your list, consider omitting aisle markers and boutonnieres for the men. If you are lucky enough to have grandparents attending your wedding, consider honoring them with a floral hair comb or boutonniere. As a rule, we do not provide florals for your big day if you do not have a professional photographer. Those images help us to explain and market our brand, so they need to be good! And you want that too, we promise.

Click here for more about Florals by Kimberly