Tips for Gorgeous Bridal Portraits

According to Southern Weddings, the southern tradition of the bridal portrait most likely started prior to World War II it was rare for a photographer to attend a wedding, so bridal portraits would be taken in a photographer’s studio prior to the wedding. While the traditional studio portraits are becoming a thing of the past, the tradition is still very much in style for today’s modern brides. We’ve had our fair share of gorgeous bridal portraits taken here at Dellwood over the years, so we wanted to share a few tips for brides planning for bridal portraits.

Tips for Gorgeous Bridal Portraits

Tip #1: Schedule Your Hair and Make-up Trial to Coincide with Your Portraits

Since you are most likely planning a hair and make-up trial, schedule the trial for the same day so you can give yourself a full trial run of the look you want for your wedding day – the dress, the shoes, the jewelry and the flowers. Not only will you get an idea of your full bridal look, but you’ll get an idea of how easily you’ll move in dress and how it feels to carry your bouquet.

Tip #2: Determine the Look You Want

Understanding your personal style and the "look" you want in your photos is very important to discuss with your photographer. Are you going for rustic? Vintage? A little bit of both? Talk through the options with your photographer and decide on locations that will work best for your vision. Not sure the style you want for your bridal portraits? Check out our Pinterest board for bridal portrait inspiration.

Tip #3: Be Open to Suggestions from Your Photographer

While you may have a Pinterest board with various poses and looks you want, your photographer has years of experience to help you look your best. Be sure to work with your photographer to not only convey your ideas and vision for your bridal portraits, but also be open to multiple angles and locations. Also, be open to trying something a little different – that might get you your favorite photo!

Tip #4: Be Yourself!

Most importantly, just be yourself! Do not be afraid to let your personality shine through with different poses or photo locations that show your true personality. We couldn't help but include this amazing photo of Priscilla in the tub in the bridal suite - now she looks like a girl who is up for anything! Photos like this will be treasured for years to come and be great conversation pieces with family, friends and future generations to come.

Do you have any bridal portrait advice you'd like to share with future brides? Did you take bridal photos or not? We'd love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below to share with new brides-to-be!

5 Questions Brides Forget To Ask When Evaluating a Wedding Venue

Congratulations! You’re engaged! But now what? While there are so many things to think about when starting to plan your wedding such as colors and themes, the first big decision will be to find your wedding venue. And since we know choosing a wedding venue shouldn’t be a decision you take lightly, we wanted to share the questions you should be sure to ask when searching for the wedding venue for your big day.

5 Questions Brides Forget to Ask When Evaluating a Wedding Venue

1. How many people can the venue accommodate?

While this is usually a question most brides don’t forget to ask up front, they often forget to ask if there are different areas or rooms within the venue that are best to accommodate different sized weddings from intimate (usually around 50-65) to large (250+). If the venue says they can accommodate your guest count, be sure to ask how its usually done and the layout of the venue, as you might not be 100% on board with how they’ll make it work. Also, sometimes with larger guest counts, some venues require a tent or only allow a standing reception vs. seated dinner.

2. What’s included in the venue fees?

Unfortunately, when searching for a venue, no two proposals or fees are created equal. Some venues provide you with a blank slate for your wedding in which only the basics are included, which most times is just an empty space and restroom facilities, while other venues can include much more including a tent, tables, chairs, linens, floral arrangements, etc. When comparing venues, be sure to add up all possible hidden costs when making the final decision, as sometimes the option that can appear to be low cost might include hidden fees you were not expecting.

3. What are the venue’s rental policies?

Some venues have specific policies that could end up costing you more in the long run as well. Some venues require that every wedding have a wedding coordinator or planner to be the point of contact for all vendors, while others have strict policies regarding the use of sparklers, confetti or flower petals. Its best to check the fine print of your contract prior to signing to ensure there are no surprises later, as you wouldn’t want to have your heart set on a sparkler exit and learn your venue doesn’t allow it. Pro tip: try to ask as many questions as possible prior to signing and negotiate any special requests up-front.

4. Does the venue allow outside caterers?

Many venues have a preferred caterer list, which is a list of caterers the venue approves to provide services at their venue. These caterers are selected and provided for brides to choose from because the venue knows they will do a great job for the bride while working within the guidelines and policies of the venue, which often times includes set-up, break-down and clean up. Always ask for the list of preferred caterers and their contact information when touring the venue to start the catering proposal process to ensure the venue and catering fees will fit within your planned budget.

5. When can we have access to the venue?

When evaluating a potential wedding venue, you may not think about the actual logistics of the day – as it may seem so very far away, especially if you have a year-long engagement. However, you’ll want to understand if your wedding is the only wedding that day or the night before and how early you’ll be able to set-up decorations, etc. Also, you won’t just want to think about access to the venue the day of the wedding, but also how flexible and responsive your contact is at the venue to be able to set-up appointments with vendors to make plans for layout, décor, etc.

Here at Dellwood Plantation, we provide more than just an empty space for our brides and include a tent, tables, chairs, restroom facilities and a mistress of ceremonies for our brides for one all-inclusive price. We also have packages that can accommodate any guest count and budget. Contact us today for more information on our pricing packages and availability for your big day. 

Real Weddings: Lauren & Lance

June is a beautiful time at Dellwood Plantation! And this June, we were able to witness the beautiful union of Lauren and Lance. The sun was shining, the sky was the most beautiful shade of blue, the flowers were in bloom and the grass was oh so green. As you can clearly see from the photos, the two of them are so in love. 

The details were beautiful, simple and absolutely stunning!

Laren & Lance, we enjoyed being a part of your day. We wish you many years of joy and happiness in marriage!

Real Weddings: Quian & Edwin

It was a lovely day on the plantation for Quian and Edwin. These two had a wonderful day filled with tradition, family and friends - not to mention, lots of beautiful color! Just wait until you see the gorgeous pairing of aqua and bright pink and peach. Simply gorgeous!

Photos courtesy of Daniel Min Photography. 

Real Weddings: Teresa & Michael

Teresa and Michael had a beautiful wedding at Dellwood in May. Spring weddings are at such a wonderful time in Virginia - the grass is fresh spring green, the trees are in bloom and the weather is always wonderful. Teresa and Michael had a wonderful intimate wedding that utilized our outdoor ceremony space with the reception inside and outside the manor house. It was a wonderful day filled with family, sunshine and laughter.

A special thank you to Alysha with Blessed Beginnings Photography for sharing the photos of such a gorgeous and love-filled day!