#Virginiawedding #virginiaweddingphotographer #weddingphotography #virginiaisforlovers #weddingphotographer #weddingfun #weddingtime #weddingfashion #futuremrs #marryme #tyingtheknot #wifetobe #thatsdarling #heputaringonit #soloverly #ohwowyes #flashesofdelight #aisleperfect #theknot #realweddings #weddingday #picoftheday #photooftheday #weddinginspiration #thedailywedding #richmondphotographers #richmondweddings #love August 10, 2017 at 03:48PM via Instagram http://ift.tt/2vSYyHc
0 Comments
Saying ?I Do' and Enjoying It Too (685) (NewsUSA) - For many brides, the quest to plan the perfect day can quickly turn into a nightmare trip down the aisle. Here are a few tips to keep your wedding day bliss from turning into the honeymoon blues. * Marriage Planning 101: Once the ring goes on, the race to plan the perfect wedding begins, giving couples little time to think about the marriage itself or how their wedding spending decisions could affect their future. But smart couples are now setting aside time to address pre-wedding issues such as what they will do when it comes to financial planning, spending money, raising children and family politics. With nearly half of all newlyweds taking on debt to finance their "big day," couples should take every opportunity to make their wedding-related and everyday spending count toward their future. One unique new rewards program, uTANGO.com, offers couples $10,000, $100,000 and even $1 million in cash rewards to stay married and shop with uTANGO's 250-plus merchants such as Expedia, Target.com, Nordstrom.com and BlueNile. In addition to helping couples save for their future, uTANGO.com offers free advice from wedding, financial and relationship experts. By taking a proactive approach, couples can leverage their wedding spending to ease financial worries and start building toward their future. * Destination USA: While destination weddings, especially to international locales, continue to be one of the hottest wedding trends in recent years, they can also present challenges such as increased costs, security concerns, language barriers and unreliable vendors. A less expensive alternative is to pick a centrally located U.S. city like Chicago, known for fantastic wedding and party venues, choice accommodations and activities to suit any taste and budget. It may not be as exotic as Tahiti, but couples often find that more family and friends can attend and planning challenges are drastically reduced when the nuptials stay stateside. * Managing wedding expectations: For many brides, planning the perfect wedding is a major life event decades in the making. With this in mind, it's easy to see how wedding expectations can get out of hand in a hurry. With wedding euphoria taking over, busy brides and grooms can quickly lose sight of spending, causing the perfect wedding to turn into fights over money. By managing expectations of what a "dream" wedding should be, it is still possible to have a lovely and elegant wedding without breaking the bank. * Bridezilla-free zone: The term "Bridezilla" has been used to describe a difficult, unpleasant, perfectionist bride whose obsession with planning the perfect wedding day leaves frustrated family, friends, bridal vendors and even her groom distraught in her wake. Belligerent Bridezillas beware: Horror stories of fist fights, hair pulling, kicking and screaming from out of control brides-to-be have put wedding planners, vendors and bridesmaids on the offensive. Some wedding vendors now go as far as to include language in their contracts reserving the right to cancel if the bride's behavior is determined to be "out of control or abusive." So, whether you hit the gym or hit the spa, have a plan in place to handle wedding-related stress and keep Bridezilla at bay. * Just say "no": Brides place such demands on their bridesmaids these days that it is not uncommon for them to decline, even when it's one of their best friends. Not only is the financial responsibility of being a bridesmaid staggering, but the time commitment demanded by some brides is also daunting. The massive to-do lists handed out by brides, coupled with the obligatory appearances for shopping, parties and showers, can leave bridesmaids feeling underappreciated, overworked and broke after the wedding is over. Brides should be upfront about both time and financial expectations with their friends when asking them to join their wedding party and understand if the answer is no. Martie Duncan is a nationally renowned wedding expert who has worked in the bridal industry for more than 20 years. Duncan has consulted on episodes of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and the film "My Best Friend's Wedding" and is currently editor in chief of the uTANGO.com LifeMatters e-magazine (www.utango.com/LifeMatters).
The way he looks at her is so sweet!⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .#Virginiawedding #virginiaweddingphotographer #weddingphotography #virginiaisforlovers #weddingphotographer #weddingfun #weddingtime #instawedding #weddingideas #instabride #marryme #tyingtheknot #thatsdarling #heputaringonit #soloverly #brideandgroom #weddings #ohwowyes #flashesofdelight #realwedding #aisleperfect #theknot #realweddings #weddingday #picoftheday #weddinginspiration #thedailywedding #weddingphotos #weddingpictures #weddingideas August 09, 2017 at 05:45PM via Instagram http://ift.tt/2ft1uo0 When you get to help put a newspaper together after being away from the business for several years!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ oh how I miss working in #journalism August 09, 2017 at 12:13PM via Instagram http://ift.tt/2wICOLg Pre-Wedding Beauty Tips for the Bride (383) (NewsUSA) - You want everything to be picture perfect for your wedding, including your smile. But like everything else about your big day, that perfect smile could require some work ahead of time. In fact, experts suggest starting your entire beauty regimen six months before the wedding. Here's a complete pre-wedding beauty checklist. * Lips: Get soft, kissable lips by brushing away flakes of dry skin with an infant toothbrush soaked in baking soda and water. Apply healing ointment, and in no time, your lips will be ready for that "kiss the bride" kiss. * Teeth: A cosmetic dentist can often correct an imperfect smile with veneers. But if spending painful hours in the dentist's chair getting your teeth ground down sounds like it would put a damper on all the joyful planning, here's good news: Lumineers (www.lumineers.com) are now used by thousands of dentists nationwide and can be applied in two short, pain-free appointments. Unlike other veneer procedures, Lumineers are so strong and thin that they don't require removal of sensitive tooth structure. The procedure is quick, painless and even reversible. * Makeup: Women with warm skin tones look best in makeup with pink, coral, peach, amber, brown and red with yellow undertones. If you have a cool skin tone, choose pink, berry, lilac, mauve or red with blue undertones. * Skin: Make your face glow with a good cleansing program. Use a cleanser that's appropriate for your skin type in the morning, makeup remover and cleanser at night and a daily moisturizer. Use a gentle facial scrub once a week. * Hair: If you're planning to change your hairstyle or color, experiment several months before the wedding so you have time to correct any mistakes. * Nails: If you're a nail-biter, get weekly manicures to keep your nails healthy. Plan your last manicure a couple of days before the big day. Choose a pretty pale pink or splurge on a French manicure, not just because it looks great, but because the chips won't show as much and are easy to fix. You'll have beautiful hands for the rehearsal dinner and any other festivities. Don't forget, practice makes perfect. Schedule a trial run with your hair and makeup artists several days before your wedding, so there are no surprises the day of the ceremony.
I have done this pose for one of my couples years ago and it's still one of the most requested by the #grooms.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #Virginiawedding #superheros #weddingphotography #virginiaisforlovers #weddingphotographer #weddingfun #weddingtime #instawedding #weddingideas #instabride #weddingfashion #futuremrs #marryme #tyingtheknot #wifetobe #thatsdarling #heputaringonit #soloverly #brideandgroom #weddings #ohwowyes #flashesofdelight #realwedding #aisleperfect #theknot #realweddings #weddingday #picoftheday August 07, 2017 at 05:49PM via Instagram http://ift.tt/2ujRzaT
The #superheros!⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #Virginiawedding #virginiaweddingphotographer #weddingphotography #virginiaisforlovers #weddingphotographer #weddingfun #weddingtime #instawedding #weddingideas #instabride #weddingfashion #futuremrs #marryme #tyingtheknot #wifetobe #thatsdarling #heputaringonit #soloverly #brideandgroom #weddings #ohwowyes #flashesofdelight #realwedding #aisleperfect #theknot #realweddings #weddingday #picoftheday August 04, 2017 at 02:04PM via Instagram http://ift.tt/2huCn4G Just Engaged? Your First Wedding Planning To-Dos you should definitely take your time celebrating your engagement—but when you're ready to officially start planning, here's how to dive in. by The Knot Once the initial shock of being engaged wears off (and you take a second to peel your eyes away from the new ring on your finger!), you'll need to start making decisions. Here are the 11 most important things you need to do to really kick off your wedding planning. Set a Timetable The minute you get engaged, everyone will be asking for your wedding date. But in reality, you won't be able to set an exact date until other major decisions--like choosing (and booking) your venue—are made. So first, focus on determining a range of dates that'll work for you. The average engagement lasts 15 months, but also think about what season you'd prefer, any major holidays or family events you'd like to avoid conflicting with, and how long you predict you'll need to plan. Dream Up Your Style and Pick a Location Before you try on a single gown, book a band or sample a bite of cake, look at the big picture and imagine what kind of style and vibe you want to set for your wedding—and where you want to hold it. Close your eyes and picture your fantasy wedding. What do you see? Is it a candlelit ceremony in a mansion? Are you walking barefoot on a beach in the tropics? Or maybe it's in your hometown's botanical garden. While you're picturing your perfect wedding, here are some key questions to consider: Big (everyone you know) or small (just close friends and family)? Outdoors or in? Home (one of your hometowns or your current city) or away (a destination wedding)? Modern, classic, romantic, vintage, rustic or all-out glam? Fancy, casual or somewhere in between? To help you get a better idea of what you want (and what you don't want), spend some time gathering inspiration. Check out magazines, books and real wedding photos online, but don't limit yourself to the obvious sources. Something as unlikely as a wallpaper pattern, a scene from a favorite movie, or a family heirloom can spark your creativity. Bottom line: Always keep your eyes open for inspiration. Set Your Budge tSit down with your families and figure out how much everyone is contributing. This number will affect every decision and purchase you make, so be sure to work out your budget before you start planning with our online wedding budget tool. It can be an uncomfortable conversation to have, but it's better to get it out of the way now so you have a realistic picture about what you can spend. Draft a Guest List As you begin to build your guest list, you'll need to consider a number of factors. If you have a particular ceremony or reception site in mind, for instance, you're going to be limited by how many people it can accommodate (you can't squeeze 300 people into a lighthouse). Would you rather have quality one-on-one time with each guest or throw a once-in-a-lifetime party for all your friends and family? If mom and dad won't budge about inviting throngs of friends and family, you'll have to hear them out—especially if they're footing a major part of the bill. Keep in mind that more guests means higher prices, as catering costs are generally calculated on a per-head basis. So, in addition to location, your budget will have a big influence on the size of your guest list. Register (Before Your Engagement Party!)Worried that you'll look gift-grabby if you register too early? Don't! With all the engagement parties, showers and well-wishing relatives in your future, everyone will appreciate your foresight. And although gifts are optional for engagement parties, some of your guests may want to give you something to commemorate the occasion, so register for at least a few items beforehand so they don't have to ask (or guess) what you'd like. One thing to note: Don't include registry information in your engagement party invitations or in any other formal manner. Stick to using word of mouth or links on your wedding website. Choose Your Wedding Party Now it's your turn to propose to your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Remember, the earlier you ask, the sooner you can enlist their help. And keep in mind that your wedding party is agreeing to spend their money and donate their time—be considerate and kind by informing everyone about all your plans (including costs for attire, bachelor and bachelorette parties and more), showing them a good time and making sure they know how much you appreciate them. Consider a Consultant If you're a super-busy couple, have demanding jobs or have big (read: complicated) dreams for your wedding weekend, then you should hire a full-time wedding planner to help you prepare your entire event, from the engagement party to the honeymoon. You can also hire a part-time consultant to devise a wedding blueprint—including budget, schedule, and lists of good vendor and site choices—before you launch solo into the preparations. Another option is a day-of coordinator, who will make sure everything goes smoothly on your wedding day. (Find a consultant in your area with our local wedding vendor search.) Book a Venue (and Set Your Date)Your reception venue will become the backdrop for virtually all your photos and can influence everything from heavy hitters like your budget and guest list to smaller details like your menu (if you choose a venue with in-house catering). Ensure that you get the look, price and extras you want by scouring local listings, shopping around, scheduling visits and booking early. Bonus: By signing your venue contract, you will officially have your wedding date (congrats!). Hire Priority Vendors If you just can't imagine getting married without a certain local band playing at the reception or a photographer whose work you love, act fast. Many top wedding photographers and other in-demand vendors are hired more than a year in advance, and once they're booked, they're gone. Translation: Figure out what your highest wedding priorities are, whether it's world-class catering or exquisite flowers, and snap up the vendors whose work you love. Shop Dresses! Begin your search by browsing dress photos online (and saving your favorites—you'll want to take them with you to your appointments). Then, learn the lingo before setting foot in a dress salon. Read up on silhouettes, necklines, trains and hues that might flatter you. The season will also affect your choice. Getting married in the sweltering summer? Go with lightweight fabrics such as chiffon, linen or organza. Having a winter wedding? Brocade, faux fur and velvet will keep you warm. Satin, shantung, silk and tulle are perfect year-round. Every couple have great dreams about their weddings as weddings are highly special events occurring just once in most people's lives. Therefore, it is highly appropriate that we innovate and land on some incredibly stunning kind of ideas to make them unique and highly original. There are a lot of wedding ideas and barn weddings have infinite potentials to accommodate variety and a novel kind of experience to all your guests. Owing to the huge demand for barn wedding venues, a large number of farm owners are equipping their farms with several sophisticated kinds of arrangements and facilities to make them highly suitable and convenient for arranging wedding ceremonies. Therefore, you need not have any apprehensions whether barns shall suit and satisfy the needs of the guests who are going to grace the wedding ceremony. Once you plan for a barn wedding, in the first place, it makes a great sense to visit the barn wedding venue of your choice. While a great deal of information about the various facilities and pricing of barn wedding venues are available online, you can also contact them to know the recent updates if there are any over phone. Once you are satisfied that the venue you have chosen shall suffice your needs and expectations and meet your budget, then you can make a personal visit to the venue to explore the setting, ambience, facilities and arrangements by yourself so that you get a firsthand experience that shall enable you make the right decision. Barn wedding venues have so much to enhance the wedding experience. Right from additional arrangements for your guests that you shall feel appropriate and decorations, barn wedding venues have several arrangements in place to meet your precise needs. In fact, they can help you make use of the facility in a more constructive, innovative and productive way. You can plan the different events and ceremonies of the wedding in different spots and settings. Your guests can also try out some new experiences in the barns depending on what is available there. Thus, once you plan what you can do, there are infinite possibilities to explore. The only hassle probably you might have with regard to barn weddings is to transport the entire party from their places to the barn wedding venue. However, given the availability of sophisticated, cost effective and convenient travel modes today, you can solve this issue easily with a proper planning and systematic approach. However, when it comes to thrilling your visitors with a highly novel kind of experience, no other choice can ever beat barn wedding ideas and therefore, it is really worthy giving a try so that your wedding ceremony stands out from the rest. |
About CrystalCrystal Vandegrift is a wedding photographer covering Virginia, D.C. NC and Maryland. Interested in being a guest blogger on our site? Contact us below!
Categories
All
We love Instagram! Check out our feed below and follow us!
|
Pictures were one of my top priorities for my wedding. I spent a lot of time reading through photographers and even contacting some. I was also pretty nervous, I had never been professionally photographed before. Crystal and her team were SO easy to work with and immediately took away the nerves. I trusted her completely and I am so happy I did. Cannot recommend enough! Ellen - Yorktown VA
If you're looking for an amazing photographer who is relaxed, has experience, and knowledge look no further. Crystal took our engagement and wedding photos. Not only were her photos amazing, but she is extremely responsive to messages and will even help you when planning your big day. It was important to us to work with a photographer who has experience with same sex couples, and Crystal and Casey did a great job capturing everything for my wife and I. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. - Emily - Nellysford, VA
Read more reviews here.