Top 10 Wedding Vendors (According to a Wedding Planner)

Top 10 Vendor Rankings According to a Wedding Planner

Hilary Majercin

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It is impossible to think of a wedding day without key vendors but sometimes couples have to make cuts based on their budget.  When a planner helps a couple make these cuts they have to ensure they still get their dream day. Aside from a planner, venue, caterer and planner these are the suggested vendors needed for a wedding day.

1. Photographer. All couples want their day to be remembered.  Whether you plan on sharing your photos to social media or getting prints it is important to have all the things documented on your day of. This person (or team of people) are with you from hair and makeup through your grand exit and it is important to have someone you enjoy being around while they also capture your entire day. 

2. Videographer.  A lot of couples think you don't need a videographer if you have a good enough photographer.  I am here to tell you that is not true.  Yes, photos capture a lot, but they do not capture all the moments with exact detail.  A lot of people also think videography is the equivalent to a family friend using their iPhone to record some stuff but it is so beyond that.  With a videographer you get a movie quality film that captures all the small moments you may have otherwise forgotten about. 

3. Officiant. Well this one is obvious - you need an officiant to get married! If you are going to a church you may have a long relationship with your officiant.  But if you are starting from scratch it is important to pick someone who is properly certified to marry you in your state and someone who will work with you to make your ceremony totally custom to you. You don't want them to ramble on about things that you don't want included in the ceremony or go off script. 

4. Hair + Makeup.  If you are going to spend money on professional hair and makeup then you better be sure you will look FLAWLESS.  With all the photos and videos being taken you do not want to look back and think you didn't love the way you looked.  It is so important to find an artist who understands what you want to look like and who creates that look for you. 

5. Florist.  There are so many DIY opportunities for weddings but a lot of those end up becoming stressful on couples once the wedding rolls around.  To keep your sanity hire a florist who can at least provide your personals day of (bouquets, boutineers, and flowers for parents).  

6. DJ/Band. It is so important to find a band or DJ that knows how to keep the party going.  You won't want an empty dance floor or bad emcee.  Find a company that really matches your wedding vibe and dance the night away

7. Transportation.  Transportation between your wedding day events is SO important and is what is most often the cause for late ceremony start times.  Go with a reputable company that you and your planner trust to ensure your and your guests experience is perfect. 

8. Bakery. Because who doesn't want some delicious dessert before a night of partying? If there is one big complaint most wedding guests have is that the cake was too dry.  Pick a bakery that totally nails design but also flavor.  

9. Paper products. You would be surprised how many things a couple needs to get printed on a wedding day.  From invitations to bar signs to escort cards and beyond there is a lot to get done. Thankfully there are tons of online platforms to create these with ease now! However, you could never replace a personal designer.

10. A good rental company.  No venue will be completely custom to you as a couple but we sure can make it seem that way! By adding a few rentals like some speciality linens or glassware you can have a wedding design that is simply you. 

Provided by Hilary Majercin, Wedding Planner

Icelandic Wedding in Virginia Beach // Jordan and Stefan

Aerial Photo in Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland (Westman Islands)

ENGAGEMENT VIDEO FROM ICELAND

6 Days of adventure in Iceland with these two! Wow! Jordan is from America and Stefan was born and raised in Iceland. They met in North Carolina while he was playing College Soccer. 

During this adventure, they showed my wife and I all the touristy spots and a ton of local spots. The hidden gems! We saw so much in a short time and were doing something every minute. These interviews finished at 1:45am one night and it was still light outside! 

Thanks for enjoying our adventure!

GEAR:
GH5 & GH5S 
Phantom 4 Pro+ w Filters
GoPro 3+ Black 
iPhone 8+ 
Rode Link

WOW! These two, Jordan and Stefån are so fun to be around. It could be because we spent a week with them in Iceland before this wedding, but I don't think so. They both just have the type of personalities of people you want to be around. I know it comes from great parents and how they were raised. 

Please enjoy this video for years to come and we can't wait to see the babies. Probably not as much as your parents wanting to see their grandkids. :) 

VENDOR FRIENDS:

Venue: Lesner Inn in Virginia Beach, Virginia
DJ: DJ Rodney Charles of Astro Entertainment Inc.
Photographer: Dustin Lewis Images
Lighting: Stage Right Lighting
Officiant: Tony Hash (Studio I Do)
Videography: Gibby Visuals (Brandon + Kersey)

Reynisfjara is a world famous black sand beach found on the South Coast of Iceland, just beside the small fishing village of Vík í Mýrdal. This is also the most dangerous beach in Iceland.

Norfolk Botanical Garden Wedding | Norfolk Wedding Videographer

We loved Brooke and Kaleb's Norfolk Botanical Garden Wedding!  From the heartfelt words during the ceremony to the open air reception--everything was perfect!  We had a blast working with your star team of vendors!

VENUE: Norfolk Botanical Gardens (Ashley Nardiello & Liz Le)
FLORIST: Isha Foss Events
WEDDING COORDINATOR: Soirees by Lauren (Ashley Fussell)
PHOTOGRARPHER: Blush Wood Studios (Courtney & Michael Manion)
OFFICIANT: Cory Newell 
DJ: Astro DJ
CEREMONY MUSIC: And I Lover Her Violins
CEREMONY CHAIRS & STRING LIGHTS: Distinctive Events Rentals
CATERER: Sweetwater Cuisine
CAKE: May’s Parlor

Congratulations Brooke and Kaleb!      Enjoy this memory now and 20 years from now. We loved working with your families and getting to know both of you. If we could, I'd shoot your wedding all over again. Enjoy the advice at the end. ;) Keep in touch!

Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club Wedding Video // Rachel+Ben

Rachel + Ben

Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club Wedding

Rachel and Ben's wedding was an amazing day at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club. We were so honored to be a part of this day. We had a little rain to start, but it left us right before photos and sunny the rest of the day. 

VENDORS FROM THE DAY:
Planner:  As You Wish Events
Venue & Catering: Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club
Ceremony: St Nicholas Catholic Church
Flowers: Palette of Petals
Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting Design
Rentals: Distinctive Event Rentals
Stationery: Amanda Day Rose
Hair and Makeup: EyeDeux Makeup and Hair, LLC
DJ: Danny from Astro Entertainment
Cake: Incredible Edibles  
Bridal gown: Hayley Paige
Transportation: VIP Style Limousines, LLC
Men’s attire: Generation Tux

Washington DC Temple Wedding Video // Abby + Todd // LDS Wedding

ABBY + TODD

Washington DC Temple Wedding

Congratulations to these two! My wife and I were honored to be there. 

Photography: elovephotos.com
Venue: Washington D.C. Temple
Reception Venue: Noah's Event Venue
Bridal Gown: Latter-Day Bride (Aviana) from Gateway Bridal
Bridesmaids: Latter-Day Bride from Gateway Bridal
Groomsmen: Tie Bar
Invitations: Jaffa Printing
Wholesale Flowers: Norfolk Wholesale
Floral Design and Reception Design: Abby's Incredibly Talented Aunts!
Catering & Cake: Selena Wiseman
Music: soundstripe.com

PHOTO: Emily Gibby, elovephotos  

Questions to ask your Wedding Videographer

Questions to ask your Wedding Videographer

This post was created today from an email. I was writing a prospective Bride back and wanted to let her know I'm happy to answer any questions she has, in an un-biased way. Then I thought I'd write some questions for her to ask the videographers she was researching. Below is the list. 

As you research videographers, you'll learn they either do this for a Hobby, Side Business, a Photographer that says they shoot video, or someone who does it Full-Time. Price will range from $1000 to $10000, it’s one of those things you get what you pay for… 

Either way, the video business is what I'm meant to be in and I've met a lot others that I would say the same about. It's a blast! Shooting the event is one thing, then it comes to the edit. Do they know how to edit, audio mix, and tell a story? Or do they just know how to make a music video...you decide. 

Behind the Scenes at the Upper Shirley Vineyard - Photo: Tiffany Heidenthal 

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Here are some questions to ask a Videographer:

1. How long have you been shooting weddings?

2. Do you have LAV Mic’s for the Ceremony Officiant? Groom?

3. Do you have LAV Mic’s or a Audio recorder for the Toasts/Speeches?

4. Do you have a 2nd video shooter?

5. How do you shoot the Ceremony without being distracting to guests?

6. Have you worked with a Photographer before and do you communicate well with them?

7. When did you shoot your first wedding?

8. Do you have any Vendor References for your work?

9. Do you license your music for my video?

10. Have you shot a wedding with your camera before?

11. Do you bring a Gimbal for smooth cinematic video shots? 

12. Will you have a Wide Lens and a Telephoto lens?

13. Can I see one of your recent wedding videos?

14. What's more important to you, marketing footage or a good memory for the couple?

15. Do you outsource video editing?

16. Do you use a Video Cameras with fixed lens at all?

17. Do you have a Drone and are you Certified by the FAA? Do you own a backup drone?

18. Do you carry Liability Insurance for your business?

19. Are you good at making my wedding guest comfortable in front of a camera?

20. Do you bring LIGHTS for a dark reception?

21. Is your Business licensed and Insured?

22. Have you shot at this Venue before?

23. What do you do if it Rains, you get sick or even hurt and can't make the wedding?

24. How do you protect the footage, after the Wedding?

25. How many cameras do you bring to a wedding?

26. How much card space do you bring? Do you have backups?

27. How many batteries do you bring for your cameras?

These were all off the top of my head and could change with time, but here you go. 

Cheers, 

Justin 

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Upper Shirley Vineyard // Richmond Wedding Videography // Feature Film

These two Doctors had such an amazing wedding. They're both easy going, genuine, and perfect for each other. We were honored to capture their story of the day at the beautiful Upper Shirley Vineyards. The weather was perfect so we were able to fly some aerials to really show off the location. Just wait until you learn about them from from Pastor Hawley, Holly's Dad, and Bryan's Brother. Such a wonderful day filled with emotions, two first looks, dancing, lamb chops, tacos, a band, and lots more. Check it out!

Wedding Coordinator: Jess Aiken of Wedding Co. of Williamsburg, LLC
Caterer / Venue: Upper Shirley Vineyards
Photography: Tiffany Heidenthal (Thumbnail Photo too!)
Florist: The Proper Petal
Band: Blue Tips Rhythm Review
Ceremony Music: Diana Dunnavant
MUA: Faces by Nikki
Hairstylist: Scotland Street Salon
Transportation: Oleta
Pastor: Hawley Smith
Videography: Gibby Visuals, LLC (That's us!)

Top 5 Reasons I shoot Weddings

The wedding industry isn't for everyone. I know several business people that have been videographers, photographers or other vendors that stopped working in the wedding industry. Why? The industry can wear you out, IF you let and IF your not built for it. 

Every couple is unique in their own way and you have to be adaptable to every personality out there because you'll meet them all in the wedding industry. You're working with the couple, the parents, the extended family, the friends, the vendors, the venue, and everything in between. That's a lot of different personalities and if you can't adapt or mirror or just be sociable, it's going to be a stressful profession. 

So here are my Top 5 Reason why I'm shoot weddings

#1 REASON - I LOVE NEW EXPERIENCES

Every wedding is different in every way. The venue location, the couple, the cake, the photographer, the travel, the food, the dancing, the music, the garter toss, the exit, etc. I love new experiences with all of those things. I've traveled to 40 states and been to several countries for a reason and with weddings everyone is usually at their best. Most people are all Happy at weddings and that makes it fun!

#2 REASON - FRESH STORIES TO FILM

Every wedding is a new story to share. Check out Ricky and Brianna's story. I probably would have never met them, never, but I did and now get to share this sweet story. For me, this isn't work, capturing the moment and then interviewing is so fun for me. The work is in marketing, editing (sometimes), and other areas of running a business. During the interview, is probably one of the most interesting parts of story telling because you never know where it will go and you have to be a good listener to be able to dig into their story a little. I know Ricky + Bri weren't thrilled about doing the interview, but now that they have it recorded for ever they can see why we did it. Enjoy! 

#3 REASON - TRAVEL & FOOD

I've always been one to travel and try new food locations. During my travels, I created an account on TripAdvisor. Well they just informed me I'm in the Top 15% of Reviewers in the Virginia Beach area. Ha! With Weddings...I get to go to new locations and try new food. It's a WIN WIN for me!

#4 REASON - THE RECEPTION

I have a blast at receptions. I'm usually the crazy guy running around with the Glidecam and camera smiling. I love me some good entertainment and I've definitely had some fun at many weddings. Plus, I always chat with the DJ and have a good laugh. 

I've seen some Epic cake smashes in 2016 and they never get old. I was the type that was gentle to my wife, but man when I capture moments like this...it's so worth it. 
 

#5 REASON - DATE NIGHT

When a couple hires My Wife (elovephotos) and I it becomes our date night. We get to work together all day, hang out with vendors we may know previously, hang out with happy people, and capture couples big day in a way we would want our day covered. It's Awesome! I mean, everything isn't a bed or roses and we know what buttons to not push, but we also know how each other work and how to help each other. We had 5 of these date nights last year and are hoping for more, but we'll see. 

If you read all this. I'm proud of you! This was fun to write and rare that I wrote it. 

Justin