Getting Ready Rooms || What to look for in your getting ready room for your photos!

I think you would be surprised to hear that one of the most overlooked, but important aspects of a wedding day, is the getting ready time. This time with your closest friends and family is something to truly cherish, and most likely, important moments that you want to have documented. But, often times, the getting ready room is not the perfect place for taking priceless photos!

As you are touring venues, keep a special eye out for the Bridal Getting Ready Space! Aim for a space that has at least one window, as well as plenty of room for you and your bridesmaids to not only hang out, but also to get ready! These rooms can fill up pretty quickly when everyone has their clothes, makeup, hair, snacks, etc!

Know that I will ask your bridesmaids to do a quick clean up before getting you in your dress- you don’t want to see reminders of old water bottles or snack bags in the background of you getting zipped up in your dress by your Mom, but a teeny tiny room can make that very difficult.

So, what happens if you fall in love with a venue, but the getting ready room isn’t anything to be excited about? It’s okay- I’ll just ask you to be a little flexible! Often times, especially for church weddings, the bridal room is a preschool classroom, filled with bight colors and plastic toys, so for this, I will actually have you do those final getting ready moments outside. I often look for a porch, a pretty doorway, or space outside that will help us get those gorgeous photos without the clutter and distraction!

Have questions about your getting ready space? Let me know & I’d love to help you get those dreamy photos you’re dying for!

Just got engaged.... Now what?! Creating a Wedding Inspiration Board

Did you just get engaged?! Congrats!! I know you’re feeling so excited… but maybe also a little overwhelmed and don’t even know where to begin with planning your wedding?! Trust me, I totally understand! There are so many big decisions to be made, which can seem impossible when you aren’t even sure what direction you want to go in! Which is why, I think the very first step that can be SO helpful is to create an inspiration board for your wedding! A mood board is simply a tool to help you visually create your wedding day. Creating a wedding mood board will help you to zero in on your wedding aesthetic, nail down your details, and even your style!

This isn’t where you are making all of your final decisions, so don’t worry about stressing about the perfect bridesmaids dresses, but instead draw inspiration from other weddings and images that you love. From here, you’ll be able to discover your palette, style, and design details! This should be not only how you want your wedding to look, but also how you want it to feel!

Help everyone be on the same page. Wether you’re creating a tangible mood board or electronic, being able to share and show friends, family, planners, and wedding vendors, will help everyone see your vision and help you to execute it!

Tips of stress-free wedding planning || Central Virginia Wedding Photographer

Oh the pressure I felt when wedding planning. How could you not feel the pressure?! You are constantly told that this is the happiest and biggest day of your life! Friend, I've so been there. And to top it off had to plan a wedding on a super tiny budget, without the help of Pinterest.  One of my passions in my business is helping couples lessen the stress and be able to be fully present in their big moments! 

As someone that goes to weddings almost every weekend, and has planned a wedding myself, I put together some tips to remember as you're planning your wedding day: 

1- Prepare your budget.  Doing some research on what things are going to cost will save you a lot of heartache. Sit down with your fiancee' and discuss, what's the most important things to you, will help you decide where you need to splurge, and where you can cut back. For example, you can put less money towards a wedding cake, and more towards your flowers.  Do some research on what things cost, so you're prepared on how to divi up and divide your money. Ask friends that have been through it.  Being prepared will help save you some heart break- if you are expecting to pay $400 for a videographer, it will break your heart to find out that isn't realistic. 

2- Be ready for lots and lots of opinions. Oh girl, there will be SO many opinions, from friends, family members, and even strangers. There was a time where all weddings were suuuuper traditional, every bride walked down the aisle to the same song, all of the centerpiece tables had the same floral arrangements. Some people still don't understand that there's been a shift to planning a wedding that reflects YOU as a couple.  You're never going to make everyone happy- just remember- this is your day- do what you love! 

3- Follow your heart. Be sure to not let the opinions of others change what you want to do. Every single couple has different priorities and visions on their wedding. Some people really do want a traditional wedding, in a ballgown, walking down the church aisle to their groom. While some people want to just have a small, outdoor wedding with just their closest friends and family.  If you want to have a first look, don't let your parents talk you out of it. I know I personally let other people talk me into things, and those moments are really the only regrets I have from my own wedding.  

4- Only hire vendors that you 100% trust. You're wedding day is going to be busy, and you are going to want to be in the moment and enjoying the day with your friends, family, and your new HUSBAND! If you're having to worry about a vendor, do not hire that vendor. You're vendors should be making your life easier, and your wedding day BETTER. Not more stressful.  

5- Remember, at the end of the day, you're going to be MARRIED! Things go wrong, problems come up. Just remember to breath, and remember and enjoy the day. Even if something goes wrong, You are getting married, and this is about your marriage- your life together, way more than it is your wedding day.  

Oh sweet bride, I hope that this helps you. I know this time can be so stressful, but hopefully you're able to enjoy this exciting time together! 

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Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographerbased in Central Virginia. Serving Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Farmville, Richmond, Roanoke, and surrounding areas. Currently booking a limited number of weddings and portrait sessions for 2017.  Available for travel world-wide.  

Ashley is passionate about capturing moments as they authentically happen to ensure a successful session that gives you time to enjoy each other and savor the wedding day moments.  Contact me today for additional information!