This was an editorial shoot for Roanoke Wedding Planner Magazine that I did back in June and now that the issue has hit the stands I’m going to share a few of my favorite shots that didn’t make the issue and a few that did. It was a challenging shoot with a day full of rain but we were lucky enough to get a few hours in with just enough sunlight and overcast skies to make for almost perfect conditions.

It was absolutely delightful working with Courtney Garrett, Miss Virginia 2014 who was full of enthusiasm and patience to get this done in some challenging conditions. I’m a huge fan now. She was totally in tune with everything I asked for and brought so much of her own charm and graciousness. I think it is evident here. Gorgeous inside and out, she was just perfect.

Every so often I get a chance to meet wedding professionals who are new to the area. I love meeting new people anyway, but it is always a treat to have a chat over coffee or lunch with the people from other places who are in the wedding business and bring a different perspective or fresh ideas with them. So, I was very happy when Michele Robb of The Perfect Fairytale contacted me and wanted to introduce herself. I invited her over to the studio so she could see firsthand what I offer my clients and to find out a little more about what she does as a wedding planner.

I really enjoyed my talk with Michele and it became apparent during our conversations about various things as they pertain to the wedding planning process that she was very interested in making sure her clients were matched with vendors that suited them. I’ve always felt that when it comes to photography, I’m not the choice for everyone whether it be an issue of style, budget or personality so her thoughts resonated with me very much. I like it when objectivity is involved in the planning process and business relationships are put aside.

“I try to select vendors based on their experience and creativity shown in their work,  their professionalism and their personality”, Michele said. “When I select my preferred photographers, I find them strictly by their photographs on their website and blog sites. A photographer is one of the most important vendors in a wedding because they truly capture the day with each moment and event that takes place. They need to be artistic, creative, and amazing with their photography angles and ideas. If I do not like what a photographer showcases on their website, I wouldn’t make them a preferred vendor. – I absolutely have to love their photography because I know that is what my clients would like as well.”

Welcome to Roanoke, Michele. I think you will find this an awesome place for weddings and you’ll find a wedding community that is friendly and open, always willing to share.

These were the flowers from yesterday’s wedding, the first wedding of October which is one of my favorite wedding months. I love the fall colors and weddings always reflect this time of the year, even when things may still be a little green. Mark Frye and his talented crew at Creative Occasions did these and  I have to say I thought they were spectacular. Rich with color and texture and set off by my favorite of all colors….purple. I just had to share a peek at these.

I got this idea back in the winter that I wanted to do a fashion shoot at The Taubman Museum. I have loved The Taubman and its contribution to Roanoke since its very inception and have been a big cheerleader, even when it seemed that no one had a nice thing to say about it. Now that it is here, I think everyone can see that this incredible structure is truly one of Roanoke’s most treasured buildings. And what a fantastic place to have a wedding and/or reception!

I had great plans to shoot from the exterior of the building as well as the inside, but May wasn’t exactly noted for cooperative outdoor weather. Sure enough, on the day I had scheduled the shoot we had sketchy weather forecasted. I thought we might have a window of opportunity during the time the shoot was planned, but as it turned out….nope. So, I was pretty much contained to the interior of the museum but that is a pretty wonderful place to shoot on its own.

Thanks to Wayne Spencer and Jane Godfrey at Amrhein’s Brides and Formals for helping me put this together. They have some of the most beautiful wedding dresses you will find and you cannot beat their service. My brides love them!

Also, many thanks to the folks at The Taubman for making this possible and putting up with us for a couple of hours one Thursday night. If you are planning a wedding, you must check out what they have available for an authentic and inspiring Downtown Roanoke event.

I met up with bridal consultant Elizabeth Stevens of That Wedding recently and we had a really nice chat about the wedding business and lots of things. Of course it started off about dogs because we’re both dog lovers and have our own beloved pooch at home to keep us company while we’re holding down the fort.

Getting that out of the way, we finally got down to talking about the wedding business. I showed her my albums and she showed me her impressively organized portfolio of EVERYTHING weddings. Then there was lots to talk regarding the various facets of the wedding business…. what’s new….. what’s old…..what’s hip….what’s not. She knows her stuff and comes with a long resume of working in the event industry, so I was all ears.

I’ve said this so many times and it is SO true, weddings do not just “happen”. Anyone who has ever planned one knows that they require a lot of work just to plan. I had a couple in here the other day who commented on how overwhelming it can be when you realize that you’re engaged and now the WORK begins. It’s a lot of fun of course, but there can be a lot of questions. I try to be as helpful as I can, what’s a good ceremony time for great lighting outdoors on your date, how much time should you plan for portraits, etc. But, there are so many other aspects of wedding planning that I have no real expertise in. It also blows my mind how often I have clients who are in the middle of another major life event and are trying to plan a wedding at the same time. Ever study for the bar, or graduate and begin a new job, or move across country and try to plan a wedding at the same time?

Then there’s the execution of the day. Keeping things on time. Making sure everyone knows what to do and providing gentle guidance when necessary! I will never forget a father of the bride calling me one Saturday evening as I was on the road returning from a wedding. He was VERY concerned about all these youngsters getting out of hand and not doing what they were supposed to do on the wedding date. He wanted advice. My advice…..hire someone to be in charge.

So, that’s what the bridal consultant can do for you. They’re a mediator when people aren’t getting along (happens!), they’re an adviser when you haven’t a clue, they’re the fashion consultant who’s up on all the trends, they’re a coordinator to help you line up vendors who match your style, and they’re the supervisor in the background (and up front when needed!) on the wedding day so you don’t have to sweat the details.

If you are in the market for a bridal consultant or think you may want one and just want some details, give Liz a call.

Elizabeth Stevens, Bridal Consultant
Member, Association of Bridal Consultants
That Wedding
phone: 540.520.2772
email: elizabeth@thatwedding.net