Beyond the Lens: Lauren McQuillan from Max & Dexter Event Design

I am SO excited to be sharing with you a new series while I'm out on maternity leave! I've asked some friends in the wedding and creative industry to write about a topic they're passionate about- whether that be tips helping brides while planning a wedding, what they've learned in their business, balancing life and owning a small business, plus so much more! Let me tell you- there's some amazing stuff coming up and I can't wait to share! 

Photo by Lindsey Hinkley

Guys! This is a GOOD one today! Lauren McQuillan, with Max & Dexter Event Design is speaking to Brides (and photographers, really!) about why you should consider hiring an event designer for your big day! I'll be honest, when I first heard about event designers, I totally thought this was something that only Brides with super big budgets did- but I'll be the first to admit I was SUPER wrong!

Lauren is amazing at what she does- she works hand-in-hand with her clients to create a unique vision and gorgeous day! I'm so excited to have her sharing with us today!! 

Why Hire an Event Designer?

As an event designer I assist my brides in so many ways that it's difficult to condense it into just a few paragraphs.  A consultation is usually the most efficient way to identify needs, wants, and dreams and determine how I can make these things a reality for my clients.  If you find yourself dreaming about a beautiful, branded, budget friendly event that celebrates your love but don't know how to make it a reality I'd love to take you out for coffee and help you bring that vision to life!  Otherwise, here are just a few ways that a designer can help you on your big day...

Photo by Katie Nesbitt Photography

Photo by Katie Nesbitt Photography

1. Conceptualization

Do you have a Pinterest board full of disjointed elements that you love with no idea how to bring them all together to be uniquely yours?  I can help!  I love to walk alongside a client in curating a wedding brand that feels so intimately theirs.  Detail photos should reflect the quirks and qualities that make you and your fiancé two of a kind.  Even if I do not participate in the wedding day at all, I am thrilled to help brides organize their thoughts into achievable, budget friendly concepts that they will cherish via their photo albums for decades to come. I am passionate about investing in home goods that play a roll in your day and then live in your house forever.  I love to shop for my brides and find practical, beautiful treasures that highlight a couple's love. 

Photo by Katie Barfield Photography

Photo by Sam Stroud

2. Set Up

Often DIY venues allow for set up early on the day of your wedding.  This can induce serious anxiety as you must then either do work or recruit others to work on your big day.  If you'd prefer to be sipping a mimosa in hair and makeup just before you walk down the aisle, then a designer can be incredibly valuable in ensuring that your set up is achieved to your aesthetic standards. Instead, use that time to get physically and mentally ready for the some of the most important moments of your life.  

Photo by Sam Stroud

Photo by Katie Barfield Photography

3. Tear Down

If you prefer that your family and friends have the freedom to celebrate the evening with you to the fullest, then outsource the responsibility of breakdown and hire a professional.  So many Mothers of the Bride are left to clean up and remove personal items and as a result, can't fully decompress throughout their daughter's wedding.  I love to assist a family by creating a detailed inventory, securing all items after your event, and delivering them to your door so that all you have to handle is your purse on the way out the door.  Wedding days are exhausting both physically and emotionally and the kindness of hiring out the late night clean up will allow your family and friends to truly enjoy you and your day.  

Photo by Katie Nesbitt Photography

Thank you for taking the time to read about how I can be of service to you.  I wish you the best of luck in your future planning and health and happiness in your marriage!  Cheers!

Lauren McQuillan

Max & Dexter Event Design

maxanddexter.com

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Ashley Eiban is a Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving the Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, and surrounding areas. Available for travel world-wide.  Ashley is passionate about cultivating genuine relationships built on mutual understanding, trust and lasting friendship.  

Currently booking a limited number of wedding and portrait sessions for 2018 and 2019.  Contact Ashley today for additional information!

Beyond the Lens: Wedding Florist || Foraged and Cut Flowers in Lynchburg, Virginia

I am SO excited to be sharing with you a new series while I'm out on maternity leave! I've asked some friends in the wedding and creative industry to write about a topic they're passionate about- whether that be tips helping brides while planning a wedding, what they've learned in their business, balancing life and owning a small business, plus so much more! Let me tell you- there's some amazing stuff coming up and I can't wait to share! 

First up, is my good friend, Natasha, who owns and is the head designer of Foraged and Cut Flowers here in Lynchburg, Virginia! Natasha was a DIY Bride who fell in love with floral design after doing her own wedding! She's since worked as a head floral wedding designer for several years, and even worked on a local flower farm.  Natasha is super passionate about supporting the American flower farmer and holds a 'field to vase' movement! Her work is absolutely stunning and I am constantly amazed at how she can take a brides vision to life! 

I'm so thrilled she is sharing all about things she's learned as a floral designer over the last 6 years! The florals you choose can really set the tone for your wedding day!

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Hey everyone! I’m exciting to be guest blogging for Ashley today. Isn’t she the best?! Let me start with saying that planning a wedding can be so stressful, right?! SO many decisions. After almost 6 years designing wedding florals I’ve talked to lots of brides & answered lots of questions. Here are a few of the conversations I’ve had.

Hopefully this will help make your flower planning a breeze!

1. Find a realistic budget for your vision. This is one of the first questions I ask a bride, “What is your budget?”. Most aren’t sure & that’s okay. Tell your designer your hopes & dreams & they can give you the reality of the cost. If you want bridal party, ceremony, & reception flowers you should expect to spend close to $2,000+.  If you need to find ways to cut your cost, consider a smaller bridal party, smaller table arrangements, or inviting fewer guests. It adds up fast!

2. Choose flowers in season. So many times brides tell me they MUST have peonies buuut the wedding’s in November when peonies are out of season. Flowers like dahlias, peonies, anemones, ranunculus, etc. are very expensive or just impossible to get out of season. If you’re set on an out of season bloom you have to be willing to pay the higher cost or change your wedding date.

3. Find your style. Take a look at your Pinterest board or wherever you’ve saved your flower inspiration. Do you have multiple styles? Try to narrow that down to just one or two. A florist can mix two styles together but combining 3 or 10 just doesn’t work.  When you get your pictures back from your photographer you’ll be happy that you carried a theme throughout your whole wedding.

4. Trust your florist. First, do your homework. Do you like their previous work, do they have experience, good reviews, & did you connect with them in your consultation? Hopefully your floral expert checks those boxes! Trust that they will carry out your vision or let them create a custom theme for you. Trust is so important in allowing you to enjoy the experience & let go of some of that stress. Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong with the flower order & those dahlias come in bruised & shattered or there’s a natural disaster & they don’t come at all. It’s out of your designers control. When the petals hit the fan (see what I did there), a good designer can use different blooms to execute your wedding vision! ‘Damage control’ goes with every job title in the wedding industry.

5. It’s not more expensive because it’s a wedding. Flowers are a live product just like food. They fade quickly & must be used when fresh. And don’t forget, you’re not just paying for the flowers! Think of your floral arrangements as custom pieces of art. There’s a lot of labor involved. From the first email, to the consultation, & eventually designing for your big day, your designer has put in a lot of hours. Annnd let’s not forget the delivery, set up, & take down. That’s a lot of time y’all!

6. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box. Girls, have you seen all the blush going around the last few years??? It’s everywhere with no end in sight. Pinterest can be a good thing but it can also limit you. Blush is beautiful but don’t feel confined by what you’ve seen on Pinterest & in blogs. Lots of those pictures are styled shoots & not real life. Some of those flowers don’t even hold up out of water! If you’re favorite color is red, rock it! Make your wedding stand out!

7. DIY doesn’t work for everyone. It may seem like a good way to save money. It may even sound fun to make your own bouquets & centerpieces. But if you’re already stressed, leave it to the professional. DIY will add a lot of time &; stress to a day that should be enjoyable! Your wedding planning & wedding day should be so fun!! Take the time to enjoy it all & to relax! Let’s not have any DIY fails on your wedding day.

To all you brides (& grooms!) planning your big day, breath. A third of the things you think are super important your guest won’t even notice if you do them or not, another third you just have to do because it goes along with planning a big event (probably the biggest of your life!) & the last third will be a breeze if you choose the right vendors! 

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Ashley Eiban is a Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving the Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, and surrounding areas. Available for travel world-wide.  Ashley is passionate about cultivating genuine relationships built on mutual understanding, trust and lasting friendship.  

Currently booking a limited number of wedding and portrait sessions for 2018 and 2019.  Contact Ashley today for additional information!

What to expect: Bridal Portraits || Lynchburg, VA Wedding Photographer

I get questions on Bridal Portrait sessions ALL the time, so why not go ahead and write a blog about them! I, personally, LOVE Bridal Portraits! I know, it's more of a Southern Tradition, but this Southern girl loves it! It's a preview time for you to see the entire look together!  

It's the perfect time to do your trial run for hair and makeup- giving you a full dress rehearsal of what you're wedding day look will be! I've had tons of brides realize that what they were expecting wasn't what they saw when they put it all together, so they were able to make that change before the wedding day! Bridal Portraits are the perfect time to see your hair, makeup, dress, shoes, jewelry, everything all together!

Bridal Portrait sessions are very different than wedding day photos! Wedding images are all about the moments as they're happening- capturing the emotions and intimacy of the day. Bridal Portrait sessions are to celebrate you and how gorgeous you look! There's something so magical about a Bride all dolled up!  

For your Bridal Portraits, I recommend bringing one or two people that you're really close with! Someone that will help you relax, laugh and be comfortable. This should NOT be someone that is critical or overly fussy.  For Bridal Portraits, we do a combination of more formal and posed shots, and then some fun, relaxed ones as well. Bridal portraits should be a relaxed, stress-free experience where you feel even more comfortable in front of the camera!

I usually schedule bridal portraits two months or so before a wedding day. Usually, we need to do these on a weekday so we can ensure that your hair and make-up artists are available and your location doesn't already have a wedding booked! Typically, I like to shoot bridal portraits in the early evening for the gorgeous glowy light and to beat the summer heat as well! 

Don't worry- we keep the dress totally clean- I have clear shower curtains, sheets, and an eye on the weather for at least the week before your session! Some brides still like to have their dress steamed once more before the wedding for everything to be perfect, but you do not have to stress about the dress getting messed up! I do recommend bringing some comfy flats to walk around in so your heels don't get messed up before the big day, but also bring your wedding shoes for some photos!   

What are you waiting for, let's get your Bridal Portrait Session scheduled!! 

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Ashley Eiban is a Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving the Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, and surrounding areas. Available for travel world-wide.  Ashley is passionate about cultivating genuine relationships built on mutual understanding, trust and lasting friendship.  

Currently booking a limited number of wedding and portrait sessions for 2018 and 2019.  Contact Ashley today for additional information!

Favorite Wedding Details || Lynchburg, VA Wedding Photographer

It was SO much fun looking through my 2017 weddings last week when I shared some of my favorite photos from the season, I wanted to continue the fun and share some of my favorite details from those weddings! I've been so incredibly blessed with the best couples ranging from Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, and Virginia Beach! I love photographing the details that my Bride's pick out! These details do set the tone for the entire wedding- and it's just There are so many special details from wearing your Grandma's wedding rings, your invitations, or a special family Bible, sparkly Kate Spades, or sewing something into your dress. 

What to expect: Engagement Sessions || Lynchburg, Virginia Wedding Photographer

Spring here in Central Virginia is just around the corner- which means Engagement Session season is going to be here before we know it! I LOVE engagement sessions because we truly get to know each other, laugh with each other (okay, sometimes the laughs are directed at me) and my couples get to learn how to overcome the camera anxiety!

I know the planning process can really seem super overwhelming- most people do have a fear of being in front of the camera- even in the day and age of the selfie! ;) I cannot even tell you how many couples tell me at the beginning of the our engagement sessions that they are not photogenic, but I make it my mission to change their minds on that!

When your prepping for your engagement session, remember that this is supposed to be FUN! This is the shoot with no pressure! On the wedding day, we'll be tight on time, have to worry about your dress, your guests, and we won't have extra time to chat and get to know each other. This is exactly why I include a complimentary engagement session with each wedding package! This is a time for us to get to know each other, feel comfortable with how I work, and have fun cuddling up in front of the camera!

*When trying to decide on your outfits- try to choose outfits you feel amazing in! Some couples choose one outfit, and others decide to do two! It's completely up to you guys! If you do decide to do two, I recommend having one casual and one dressier outfit. Just know, there may or may not be a private place to change clothes depending on the location we choose! Try to avoid super bright/neon colors, or very small/busy patterns.  Try not to match too much- instead of both of you wearing the same color tops, selecting complementary colors and patterns looks best for photos! Think coordinating instead of matching. The key to what to wear is to make sure that you look like YOU and you feel comfortable! 

*Relax & Trust me! I do NOT expect you to be a pro at this! I don't work with models, but everyday couples just like you guys all the time! I will remind you again on the day of, but it does take about 15-20 minutes to stop overthinking everything and really feel comfortable in front of the camera.  But you can relax because I will help you with exactly what to do and where to put your hands!

*I like to schedule engagement sessions about an hour and a half before sunset- any time of year. The light is gorgeous this time of day! Make sure you are on time. We schedule your engagement session for the best time of day for natural light.  

*I highly recommend considering getting your makeup professionally done! Makeup artists are really good at doing a natural look, so don't worry about looking overdone! If you do your own makeup, make sure you apply your eye makeup a little heavier than normal for your photos.  

I hope this helps you feel more relaxed and ready for your engagement photos! I cannot wait for this super fun experience with you guys!!

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Ashley Eiban is a Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving the Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, and surrounding areas. Available for travel world-wide.  Ashley is passionate about cultivating genuine relationships built on mutual understanding, trust and lasting friendship.  

Currently booking a limited number of wedding and portrait sessions for 2018 and 2019.  Contact Ashley today for additional information!