Weddings by Michelle

There is surely plenty on your wedding planning to do list and we would like tot ake one thing off of your mind- looking fabulous for your wedding rehearsal! And we think since you are the bride you should show it by wearing white. We found three super-stylish crochet inspired dresses, at several different price levels.

ALICE by TEMPERLEY will run you $522.50 with a simple white slip and a sheer crochet overlay with a sweet detail of flowers.

BHLDN at Anthropology is an ode to the past and has a bit of 70’s flare, with long sleeves and an adjustable bow tie, with a price right in the middle at $320.

Our most affordable option is from the always-classy Anne Taylor Loft, with a lace sweet A-line silhouette with scalloped edges and lace at only $98. Ding, Ding, Ding, we have a winner!

Today we’re taking time out of the busy wedding season to sit down with Jennifer Herzog, Catering Sales Manager, with the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel.  Jennifer has seen quite a bit overseeing weddings at this great property, and we’re glad she could share of her expertise with us today.

Take it away, Jennifer-

How did you get your start in Weddings?

I actually started out in the Hospitality Business when I was 17 and worked in Operations at a the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers and the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront.  In 2008, I decided that I wanted to be in Hotel Sales instead of Operations and I essentially drove the Regional Sales Director for Crestline Hotels and Resorts (then THR) crazy for about 6 months until she finally gave me a chance.  I started out with the company as a Sales Manager but within about a month and a half they decided that I needed to interview for the Catering Sales Manager Position at the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront.   I had no idea what a Catering Manager did and surely did not know anything about weddings but I interviewed anyways and here we are today, three years later and I love it!  I have had amazing people around me who have taught me the ins and outs and I love them for it! 

What are the ingredients for a memorable wedding day?

Relax and enjoy the day!  If you don’t you will waste it.  Treasure moments … soak them in and have fun!

What are some of your personal wedding dos and don’ts for brides as they plan their wedding?

My biggest DO for a bride is to relax and trust your professionals, we do it all of time and we see what does and does not work.  We have the luxury of trial and error, while most brides, only do this once.  My biggest DON’T is in regards to hiring or appointing friends or family to do any part of your event.  Yes, they may have done it before but unless they are a professional, it can really through a wrench in things.  Anyways they are your friends and family and they should also be able to enjoy the day with you.

What is your most favorite Wedding memory?

I have some many wonderful memories and I am at a loss for a favorite but I will say that the most shocking and exciting Wedding moment I had was when one I my brides during her first dance, did the worm!  It was amazing!  And they were amazing, full of love and laughter, which is what you need to get through the years.  J

What advice can you give brides to ensure they enjoy their Big Day?

First, before hand in the weeks and months leading up to the Big Day, run the day through your mind, and start a list of all of the things you will have to do and what you will need to do each of those things.  Keep that list nearby and you will find that you will be adding to it regularly of items that you forgot.  Doing this far enough in advance gives you time to work out the hinks in your mind.  Then, if possible, take everything to the venue or the coordinator a day or two before hand, that way if you forget something you have time to remember that you forgot.  And then finally when it gets to the Big Day, roll with the punches.  If you forgot something, it is okay, see if there is a simple way to fix it and if not then move forward and stay calm.  Getting stressed out on your Big Day is a sure way to not enjoy it.  Enjoy it, relish in it and ALWAYS remember to smile! 

Thanks Jennifer for stopping by!

Photo credit:
Expressions Photography

Gorgeous desserts are a must for a fabulous wedding, and this one was no exception. The coordinating color combination with the décor makes for a sweet treat departure from the traditional wedding cake.

Photography by Catie’s Photography

Katie Lombardo designed these utterly amazing shoes with handmade feather details fluttering along the edges of a silk stain.

Today on our vendor spotlight, we’d like to share with you the fabulous husband and wife team of Jeff Greenough Photographers, who have been capturing memories for over a decade.

Jeff is a seasoned photographer, who has traveled throughout the United States for comissioned assignments while Jane works one and one with the clients to ensure they know how special they are to them.

The Greenoughs take tremendous pride in their supreme customer service, as well as love the opportunity to get to know each and every client.

We were thrilled to share our FIRST wedding feature in a national publication with Jeff….
It was for Jason and Jessica in 2008 in the Premiere issue of Southern Weddings!

For more information, visit their web site at www.jeffgreenough.com.

This little sweetheart is being patient waiting for her little moment in the spotlight to walk down the aisle and toss flowers to prepare for Janice to walk down the aisle.

Photography by Sam Hughes Photography

Weddings are all about love, and so it comes as no surprise that the symbol most associated with love is hearts. These Kate Spade sling-backs will have your toes feeling the love with multi-colored hearts adorning this pretty pair.

Today, we’re chatting with Justin Hankins of Justin Hankins Photography. Justin is a Virginia Beach-based photographer who travels around the world documenting the happiest moments in people’s lives. He was named a Best of Weddings winner by The Knot magazine for both 2010 and 2011, and his work has earned an accolade of excellence from Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. In addition to weddings, Justin teaches workshops on photography and Apple software,and volunteers his services to several local nonprofit organizations.

Without further ado, here’s Justin-

How did you get your start in Weddings?

I was the Creative Director for a design firm in DC and made the decision to spin my photography work into a new career. I focused on commercial and fine art work until friends of mine got engaged and essentially forced me to photograph their weddings. At the time, weddings terrified me. I was nervous about carrying people’s priceless memories on my shoulders. But after the first one, I was completely hooked. It’s extremely fast-paced, difficult work, and I found that I thrive in that type of environment. The bonus, of course, is that I get to spend every weekend celebrating some of the most special moments in people’s lives. It’s a very challenging, rewarding experience.

What are the ingredients for a memorable wedding day?

No bride is an island! Surround yourself with a team of people who can provide you with a great customer experience, then hand them your trust and let go. Be the CEO of your wedding, not the mail-room clerk who has to oversee all the tiny details. You don’t have the time or the sanity for that. Steer your team. Advise them. Offer constructive feedback, but don’t tell them how to do their jobs. And remember: your role is as critical as anybody else’s — be timely and thorough with your communication.

The saddest thing I see at weddings is when a bride has to answer everybody’s questions all night, and she doesn’t get to enjoy her own event. Create a master plan with your team of vendors, commit to it ahead of time, and then relax and enjoy your evening.

What are some of your personal wedding dos and dont’s for brides as they plan their wedding?

Do:

Assemble the best team you can:
- Make sure your vendors have insurance.
- If you don’t hire a wedding planner, make sure you hire a doubly-amazing DJ.
- Evaluate third-party review websites when choosing vendors.
- Make sure you get along with your vendors and feel comfortable
voicing your opinions.
- When interviewing bands, ask how often they take breaks during the night.
- Interview officiants as critically as you’d interview other vendors.
- Invest in photography — it’s the primary tangible memory you’ll
have after the day concludes.

Don’t:
- Don’t hire your relatives.
- Don’t hire your relatives.
- Don’t hire your relatives.

What is your most favorite Wedding memory?

There’s a point in every ceremony when the bride and groom experience an acute moment of clarity — where they realize the culmination of what led them to that point, and they relax and let go of whatever stress they’re carrying. For a brief second, they’re living entirely within that moment, and everything in their world is completely perfect. The simplicity of that instance, and the purity of that love, knocks me over and leaves me in tears at every wedding I photograph.

What advice can you give brides to ensure they enjoy their Big Day?

Weddings are an interesting hybrid of emotion and logistics. On one hand, you have the dreams and aspirations that have been swirling around your heart since you were little. On the other, you have a very complicated puzzle of events that needs to be solved as efficiently as possible. It’s important to understand the reciprocal nature of these two ideas and determine areas where one can yield to the other in favor of improving the overall experience.

A great example of this is finishing all your formal photos before the ceremony. On one hand, your emotions are telling you that seeing each other ahead of time violates some unspoken wedding day rule. On the other, your brain is calculating how much time (and money, and sometimes quality) you’ll sacrifice by waiting until after the ceremony to do them. Being honest with yourself about why you’re making decisions, and maintaining balance between logistics and emotions, will help keep you on the path toward a great wedding day experience.

Thanks Justin for stopping by!

Contact info:

Justin Hankins Photography
http://www.justinhankins.com
http://www.facebook.com/justinhankinsphotography