Chattanooga Wedding: Advice from Top Chattanooga Wedding Vendors
Hi CTC Lovies,
Planning a wedding can be daunting but it doesn’t have to be that way, with the perfect mix of Chattanooga Wedding Vendors on your wedding day you can surely let your hair down and leave the planning and execution of your day in knowledgeable and trusted hands. Today on the blog we want to share with you wedding planning advice that is true to our local Chattanooga area to give you the jump start you need on your own wedding plans. We know that the perfect client match is essential to a great collaboration between a couple and their vendors so we didn’t just choose to talk with one or two wedding vendors but wanted to share a few of our trusted partners who we personally trust with you to help make your own wedding day a success you don’t have to take our word for it, although our years of partnering with each of these amazing teams speaks for itself all the advice from wedding vendors shared today are highly rated, trusted and insured!
Photo Credit: Alex Bee Photography
Be Fully Present at Your Wedding !
“As a wedding photographer, I want to capture you having beautiful moments at your wedding. If you are running around and stressed out about your centerpieces thirty minutes before your ceremony, you do not have the emotional space to enjoy your wedding day. You are mentally checking off a list of things you need to get done. You aren’t enjoying yourself & experiencing your day fully. This goes for your family too. If you want your mom there to help you put on your dress, she can’t be making flower arrangements.
My advice for being fully present at your wedding: hire vendors who will take care of everything for you. Stress & lack of planning can make a wedding feel more like a hectic event than a joyful time in your life. You want the space to be able to fully experience your wedding day with your partner. Let your family enjoy with this huge life milestone with you instead of bickering with them about where the guestbook should go. Hire professional vendors & let us do the planning/grunt work for you. If that’s not in your budget, keep the details to a minimum & focus on enjoying the people around you.” Alex Blackwelder of Alex Bee Photography .
Music Anyone ?
Photo Credit : Photo by Heart
Questions to ask when seeking a venue
“There are a lot of hefty decisions that come with planning a wedding; however, one of the biggest decisions is choosing the perfect venue. The price of renting an event space can eat up a good portion of your budget, so it is extremely important to ask questions and make sure you have a good understanding of your venue’s rental contract. You can gather a lot of information researching websites and/or Facebook pages of venues. Do a little investigating to see what options are out there.
Below are a list of questions to try and answer through preliminary research:
- What is the cost of this venue and what does the cost include?
- Is the desired wedding date available?
- What is the capacity?
- Does the venue have a list of exclusive or preferred vendors?
Also, try to nail down the “type” of wedding you are wanting to have. Are you thinking more casual and low key or upscale with a seated dinner? Ask yourself, “Does this venue fit that vibe?”.
From there, make phone calls to set up tours and face to face meetings.
The truth is, you’ll have a gut feeling during any of your vendor meetings. Aside from asking questions, my best advice would be to trust your gut! ” – Whitney Hill , Venue Manager and Executive Assistant – Advice from WaterHouse Pavilion at Miller Plaza
Photography and Keeping it Personal
Photo Credit: Sara Kristen Photography
Let there be Cake …. and Cake Advice!
Cake by : Cup A Dee Cakes , Tunnel Hill GA
Every girl wants to be the most beautiful on her wedding day !
Photo Credit: Sara Kristen Photography | Hair and Makeup : KT Styles Me
” Want your makeup to last forever on your big day? Try airbrush makeup . Airbrush makeup will keep you care free for at least 24-48 hours after your big day. It’s transfer, smudge, water, and humidity proof. Wearing a transfer proof lipstick such as Lipsense will last up to 8 hours without reapplying. Free trials for the bride with every wedding booking. Trials are usually great to book for a bridal party, bridal portraits, bachelorette party, or any day you just want to feel fabulous. Trials give you a chance to run through different looks with your stylist so you are beyond prepared. Congratulations on your engagement! Happy wedding planning!” – Katie Salley of KTStylesMe
“Don’t sweat the Small Things”
Catering by Events with Taste
“Don’t sweat the small things, trust your vendors. You hired them for a reason, let them do their job.”
“Don’t settle for food that is ordinary, because you think that’s what your guest will like! Tell YOUR story, your guests are there to celebrate you and this moment in YOUR life. Find a caterer that understands what you want to accomplish and have fun with your menu!”Michelle Huffman Wells, Events With Taste
Make it your own !
Cake by B’s Sweets
‘”Never settle!
Always keep looking for what you want. It’s your special day. I once had a client who’s wedding was on Halloween. They wanted a much different style cake. More color and the Halloween feel but still wedding. Other places they went everyone tried to talk them out of it and go more wedding white tradition. I totally went with it. We had a great time designing and executing this great cake for them. So no matter what you’re looking for don’t settle for someone else’s idea. Make it your own.” Brianne Hager of B’s Sweet’s
What about the Entertainment … you know the Party ?
“You got a DJ with a 1) Seemingly reputable company or 2) Part of your Package Deal. Honey Child, it’s time you put on your NCIS gloves, your skeptical bifocal glasses & your thinking cap. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. And it’s Sooo Easy! Boom, you check Facebook, their Website, and other rating platforms to see what other Brides has said… Oops, they may not have a rating section: Red Flag on the play!.. Boom, you look for photos of past happy couples, WITH said DJ… Oops, they may not have a single photo with a single Bride: Red Flag on the play!.. Boom, you get the DJ’s full name and Google it… Oops, that’s quite a Rap Sheet! Red Flag on the Play! This sounds funny but it’s in fact very serious. Your DJ — better be good: you’ve invited your entire family and spent a fortune! — better be detailed: pre-planning, song selection, equipment quality! — better be fun: this is a Celebration not a meditation! (You may even be able to use this advice for other vendors.) DJ Mark – DJ Mark is the only DJ for With Class Party DJ. Get it done Right, Get it done With Class.www.WithClassLLC.com”
Hire a Planner …..and stay clear of Summer heat!
Photo Credit: Photo By Heart | Cake: Yellow Cake Company
Hire Vendors you trust !
“Hire vendors your trust, and trust them. If a vendor with many years of experience tells you that something won’t work or that small changes would make something work/flow better, trust them! Many of us have worked hundreds of weddings and we genuinely care that yours goes beautifully and with the least amount of stress for you!” – Melody Hood , Innamorata Photography
Photo Credit: Innamorata Photography
I could not agree more with all of the wonderful advice that has been offered by some of the top wedding vendors that Chattanooga has to offer. Be sure to stop back by for more advice in the coming week as our Launch week continues. XOXO- Shaun
