Every Last Detail - Wedding Blog - Wedding Inspiration - Wedding Vendors

Sunday, May 12, 2013 in SPONSORS 0 comments by Lauren Grove

I’m excited to introduce you all to the fabulous duo that is Concept Photography. Based in Central Florida, and traveling all over the world to capture weddings, Concept Photography’s work is absolutely exquisite!

Vendor of the Week: Concept Photography

Why do you see yourself as being Modern, Vintage, Classic, or Eclectic?

We see ourselves as modern photographers because we shoot photojournalistically, with state-of-the-art equipment and open-mindedness. But our images are defined by the style and personality of the people in them.

Vendor of the Week: Concept Photography

What is your favorite wedding detail you’ve ever seen or created?

We were lucky enough to photograph a gorgeous wedding at a castle in Germany, and the couple’s family decorated a 2-seater bicycle with strings of flowers! The bride and groom had so much fun riding it, it was beautiful and amazing!

Vendor of the Week: Concept Photography

What is your favorite store or brand?

Easy – B&H and Canon

Vendor of the Week: Concept Photography

What is your favorite thing about weddings?

We LOVE weddings, the anticipation, excitment – even the pressure. But our favorite thing about a wedding is the moment our couples see their images for the first time… knowing that they are getting to experience that day again – maybe even seeing it as better than they remembered :)

Vendor of the Week: Concept Photography

What qualities do you possess that enable you to work well with brides and grooms?

We have a hard time describing ourselves that way – so here is how one of our brides described working with us: “A friend once said that with Concept, the love just comes through the pictures. I think that pretty much sums it up right there! In addition to that though, having you guys as our photographers was like hanging out with old friends. Bret and I were both at ease and having fun – we just enjoyed the moment, the day. You guys rock!”

Vendor of the Week: Concept Photography

What steps do you take to ensure that your clients will have amazing wedding days when working with you?

The wedding experience begins with the first phone call or email we receive from our clients. We are friendly, honest and flexible – always remembering that the work we do is not about us – it’s about them. Our preference is to meet face to face with our clients whenever possible, and we skype as an alternative. It is so important to know that you enjoy the personality of your photographers, as well as their work, since you spend so much time with them on your wedding day.
Once all questions are answered, we design an online quote and contract for our couples, so that all of the information we agree to is easily available. We give our clients our cell pone numbers and ask that they call with any and all questions. About a month out from the big day, we send them a sample formals list / timeline to fill out that ensures all pictures that are important to them are covered.
On the actual wedding day, we go out of our way to be perceptive and polite. We laugh at how ofter we get complimented on how great we are to work with long before an image is even seen. We do not limit the amount of images we shoot, and we individually edit every image we give to our clients. We guarentee a 30 day turn time for all weddings.

Vendor of the Week: Concept Photography

Concept Photography

email: cptphotography@gmail.com | phone: 1.800.381.2604

website: http://www.cptphotography.com

twitter: Follow @Concept_Photo | facebook: “Like” Concept Photography!

location: Destination, Florida, International | type: Photographer | style: Eclectic, Modern, Vintage | price: $$$, $$, $

"Concept Photography" is a preferred vendor in Every Last Vendor.
To learn more about Every Last Vendor, click here.

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Eclectic & Quirky Virginia Wedding

Friday, May 10, 2013 in Eclectic 5 comments by Sammantha Boyle

Friday has finally arrived and I am excited to share a fun, quirky wedding from Don Mears Photography with you today! Morgan and Chris had a “It is what it isn’t, but it is” motto for their wedding decor. All of the details were each an own ode to a part of them and their relationship- such a great idea!

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

Wendy & Amelia at Fete Studio were indispensable. My entire family (and bridal party) lives in New England, so I didn’t have a huge support system in Richmond to help with wedding stuff. Chris & I spent lots of time at their office, and they were always were available to answer our questions. Artistically, they helped shape our ideas and creativity into a cohesive look and feel for the event. By the time we got to the reception itself, they were more than just planners – they were our friends!

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

I actually work in the wedding and event industry in Richmond, so I did have a couple ground rules: 1) the venue had to be somewhere where I had never worked. (I just didn’t want to have any mixed memories!) 2) I wanted to use vendors that are committed to their craft and educating themselves about the industry, so where possible, I used NACE (National Association for Catering and Events) members, and 3) If we didn’t have an opinion/couldn’t make a decision, we would trust the judgement of the Fete Studio team (because that’s part of the reason why we hired them!). I ended up with an awesome group of folks who went to the moon & back to make this event happen, and make it so special to us.

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

When Chris & I started planning our reception, we had two things in mind: FUN & different! We wanted our guests to be well taken care of and have a kick-ass time celebrating with us. Since we had gotten the actual getting married part out of the way, that really opened the door for doing things a little differently.

Chris and I are quirky. We know that, and it’s what our friends and family love about us. Combined with a background in the industry (and a desire to stay away from anything remotely “wedding-y”), we really tried to stay as far off the beaten path as possible. That being said, since we had taken the ceremony away from folks, we still wanted people to know they were celebrating a marriage. We still did dances and cut a cake. And leading up to the party, we kept our guests engaged with a custom email campaign that tied into our custom wedding website (morganandchris2012.com) with monthly teasers to keep them excited. As for thematic elements, we really wanted to incorporate our geographic backgrounds (Chris is from Richmond & I’m from Massachusetts) and our love for both places (we met at school in New England and now call Richmond home). We also both have theater backgrounds, so we loved the idea of putting on a “show” for our guests. Throughout the event there is a lot of what we called “It is what it isn’t, but it is”. From the regal looking & sounding save the dates that really were about cheesy souvenirs to the “chandeliers” that were made of cardboard to the cocktail hour music (pop songs sung in the style of vegas lounge singers), we really wanted to keep guests guessing and giving them the “wow” factor.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

There was a moment in the evening when I realized that these people would never be together in the same place again, and I was so excited that we had created an atmosphere and an event that they would remember so fondly. Every time we see family, or visit a friend who was able to join us, they always say – “that was such an AMAZING evening” or “it was unlike any wedding I have ever been to”. Bringing all these folks together and helping them create these memories is something that just felt (and still feels!) so good.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Hands down, hire a planner. Even if it’s just for day-of coordination, it is worth every penny to be able to “take the day off” on your wedding day. We loved that we felt like guests at our own party, as did our family, friends & bridal party members.

How much did you love that?! I love their inspiration for their details and how each part of their wedding was exactly what they wanted it to be. And, her advice to brides, spot on! So many times I hear brides who aren’t going to hire a planner and so many times I find myself reminding them that someone has to place the escort cards, and the place cards, and make the timeline, and do all of the things a planner does. One of the things I definitely did right was hire a planner- I got to spend all morning with my mom and my girls instead of having them running around doing little tasks. Great advice from Morgan!

So tell me, will you be having a planner for your wedding?

Happy Friday! Cheers everyone :)
Samm

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Don Mears Photography / Catering: Homemades by Suzanne / Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Fete Studio / Reception Venue: The John Marshall / DJ: DJ Lil'E / Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting Design / Linens: Classic Party Rentals of VA / Rentals: Paisley & Jade / Videography: inSight Creative / Cake Baker: Shyndigz / Transportation: Winn Transportation / Calligrapher: Pretty Pen Jen / Bride’s Dress: Tadashi Shoji / Shoes: Lavender by Vera Wang / Jewelry: Tompkins Jewelers: Kenneth Cole / Hair and Makeup: Mint Collective / Ety Designer: PoshStudio

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Rustic Purple & Orange Virginia Wedding

Friday, May 10, 2013 in REAL WEDDINGS 1 comment by Carlee Sizemore

They say Virginia is for lovers and that saying certainly rings true for this sweet couple. Set against the rolling hills of the Commonwealth, this rustic farm wedding from Laura Gordon Photography is full of handmade touches and darling little details (like mini-pies!). The beautiful bride, Heather, is here to share her insight with all of us today:

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

One of the best things about wedding planning, for me, was the opportunity to work with the best “wedding planner” in the whole world – my mom. She is one of the most creative, inspiring, and organized people I know with a heart for crafting and creating special, intimate, and lasting memories. She and I, with some help from Pinterest (I definitely suggest creating at least one board, especially because you can now make Secret Boards!), worked together to keep a running list on what needed to get done. It worked best for me to split up the tasks – for example, Mom finalized the florist and caterer’s contract while I did the DJ and photographer’s, or I designed and printed the invitations while she worked on the seat chart display. We held each other accountable to deadlines and bounced ideas off of each other.On the day of the wedding, though, I wanted to make sure it was stress-free for everyone so we had a family friend help keep everything on schedule, collect coats, set-up a few displays, and make sure people were where they were supposed to be. It definitely helped to have one “go-to” person so neither my mom nor I had to worry much on my wedding day.

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

There were two things that were most important to me as I chose my vendors. First, I made sure that I connected with them on a personal level because we were going to be communicating a lot the following months. I even ended up developing a friendship with my photographer and we still talk today – she’s awesome! Second, I looked for vendors who could understand and create my vision. As a creative person myself, I wanted to make sure we were on the same page and that they could help me bring my vision to life in the best way possible.

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

I absolutely loved my wedding colors and theme. Since I was young I have always loved plum purple, so I knew I wanted to start there. I chose an awesome Fall accent color, orange, to complement the deep, rich purple because we were getting married in October at a beautiful bed & breakfast (Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast) in the mountains of Virginia. The overall theme was Fall/elegant rustic with wood, leaves, moss, mason jars, floating candles, oil lanterns, mini pies and other outdoorsy and autumn details.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

My favorite thing was definitely marrying my best friend, Harrison. But besides that I loved the little non-traditional moments in my wedding. Before the wedding ceremony Harrison and I wanted to pray over our marriage together. In keeping with tradition, I did not want him to see me before the ceremony so I had him blindfolded. His sisters led him to where I was (outside next to the horses at our beautiful venue!), we held hands, and he prayed for us. It was one of the most moving things I have ever experienced.Another special moment for me was the “ring ceremony”. Before the rings were handed to the pastor we had them tied to my grandmother’s Bible (the Bible that she carried in her wedding and that my mom carried in hers) and we passed it around the congregation. Each person held the Bible and said a silent prayer/blessing over the rings. During that time my twin sister and one of Harrison’s good friends sang one of our favorite Christian songs. The moment was truly beautiful for everyone there.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

My best piece of advice would be to take the process step-by-step by using lists and more importantly to celebrate little victories. It can be a long, tedious, stressful, inspiring, fun, and tiring process, so it needs to be taken in small bite-sized chunks. That way you always know what you are finished with, are focusing on, and have left. Don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments though – if you cross something off of your list then reward yourself by taking a break, calling a friend, watching a TV show, or something other than the wedding.

I love that Heather and Harrison met by those beautiful horses to pray prior to their ceremony. What a wonderful way to begin a marriage! To make it even sweeter, Harrison was blindfolded so that he wouldn’t see Heather until the ceremony. Are you planning to see your groom for a “first look” or do you prefer to wait until you go down the aisle? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

XOXO,
Carlee

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Laura Gordon Photography / Event Venue: Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast

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Ask Lauren: How Do You Turn Down Vendors?

Thursday, May 9, 2013 in Ask Lauren 0 comments by Lauren Grove

Happy Thursday everyone! I’m tackling another “Ask Lauren” question today, and this is something that just about everyone has to do at some point in their wedding planning- turning down wedding vendors! Yes, it’s not a fun thing, but in reality, it’s part of planning a wedding. So let’s get talking about how to turn down wedding vendors, shall we?

Eliza asked:

Turning down vendors — how do you do it? I interviewed two Month-of Coordinators. I liked both and would have enjoyed working with either of them, but a decision has to be made. What’s the polite and right way to inform a vendor you’re not going to contract with them?

Ask Lauren: How Do You Turn Down Vendors?

This is an excellent question, because it was something that I myself wasn’t sure about when I was planning my own wedding- which means I’m sure lots of other people aren’t too sure too! Meeting with a few different vendors is something that most everyone has to do, because if you’re like me, you want to know your options. But at some point, you have to make a decision and get your favorite vendors booked for your wedding (because let’s be honest, they tend to book up fast!)… but what about the other vendors that you met with? What should you do if you didn’t choose them?

Well, after having been on both sides of this particular fence (bride and vendor), I think I can definitely shed some light on this topic for you all. At first, your initial inclination might be to just not let them know at all. It seems like it’s the best way, right? Just hope that they’ll eventually forget about your meeting? Well, things unfortunately don’t work that way. Wedding pros are running a business, and a big part of any business is following up with potential clients. Because truthfully, we all get busy, and before we know it, a month has gone by and we haven’t responded to emails! So it’s pretty normal for a wedding vendor to follow up with you after a consultation if they haven’t heard from you yet.

Ask Lauren: How Do You Turn Down Vendors? Image by Holly Gardner Photography

When it comes time to let vendors know that you’ve decided to go with someone else, the best way to start is to just let them know. As I mentioned before, sometimes your natural inclination is to just avoid it- at least it was for me! But letting them know is the polite and acceptable thing to do. All you have to say is something along the lines of, “It was so great to meet you! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing work with myself and my fiance! Unfortunately, we’ve decided to go with another photographer/florist/planner/vendor for our wedding, but thank you so much for your time!” And of course include the proper greeting and signature too. The key to this is to get the information across and be nice about it. :)

In addition to just letting the vendor know that you won’t be contracting with them, if there’s a specific reason that you decided not to work with them, it may help them for the future if you share that with them. Of course this isn’t necessary, but it helps to have feedback. I always say, if you don’t tell someone, they’ll never know! If you feel like you had a good connection with the vendor, and/or they’re the type of personality to be open to feedback, then feel free to provide that extra bit of info for them!

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So brides, have you had to turn down any vendors yet? How did you do it?

And vendors- do you have any other recommendations for brides on this topic?

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