Meet Wedology 101: Petites Bouchees*

There's no other way to put it- very simply, I'm obsessed with Petites Bouchees. More specifically, Veronica Perez and the way she is blazing a trail for good taste and wedding style here in Richmond.

Veronica first came on my radar at food festival Broad Appetite last year. Through some tweeting, social media-ing and good old fashioned networking, I had the pleasure of meeting Veronica. And know what? She's straight delightful.

If her macarons weren't heaven enough, she's now introduced her fabulous Dessert Displays. I still remember the moment I walked in on her recent photo shoot- because it took me five minutes to pick my jaw up off the floor. So when Veronica approached us about partnering with Wedology 101 and and featuring her amazing Dessert Display, I couldn't say yes fast enough.

So without further ado, here's Veronica-

Why does Petites Bouchees stand out from the rest?

Flavor. When you bite into our baked treats you taste the distinct flavor of our premium ingredients that only high-end pastry shops in bigger cities use. I grew up in a restaurant and bakeshop that never used mixes or preservatives so I apply that philosophy in everything I make and bake.

What is one of your favorite “bridal moments” over the years?

Iʼve had a couple of brides or their moms tell me that my macarons were the best thing theyʼve ever put in their mouth. Also when they taste my chocolate cupcake, they would say “Now hereʼs a chocolate cupcake that actually tastes like chocolate.” Again this goes back to flavor.

What is your biggest Wedding Day “Don’t”?

When it comes to my macarons and cupcakes, please donʼt display them under the sun.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing brides today with their wedding plans?

Budget. Thereʼs also too much information on the web and on print so brides get confused with all the choices and options.

What should a bride always have handy when planning her wedding?

All the important numbers: event planner, florist, venue, caterer etc. The inspiration items for her wedding like a swatch or some photographs from magazines that may be the basis for her theme.

If you had one piece of advice to share with our brides, what would it be?

Donʼt strive for perfection or you will never be happy and would end up a nervous wreck. So what if it rains during your outdoor wedding, just make sure you have a backup plan. Instead, think of details which would make your event memorable for you and your guests. It is your day, but remember the comfort of your guests is also important, after all you invited them to celebrate this special day with you.

To learn more about Petites Bouchees, please visit their web site as well as her fabulous and highly addictive Blog, Kitchen Musings. You can also find her tweeting away- quite often, with me!

You can also meet Veronica and see check out her dessert display first hand this week (!!!!) at Wedology 101 on Sunday.

Cheers,
Meghan


Meghan Ely is one part of the Wedology 101 team, and owner of OFD Consulting, a niche Marketing/PR firm servicing the wedding industry and the Managing Director of the Richmond Bridal Association. She is a contributing writer with Virginia Bride magazine, and has been published in Premier Bride Richmond. She and Jennifer write a Wedology 101 column for the Richmond Times Dispatch's Celebration section. She loves late harvest sauvignon blancs, letterpress anything and cakes shaped like Death Stars.

Meet Wedology 101: James Limousine*

Wedding transportation is such an interesting category because to me, it’s one of the most important yet it tends to be booked near the end of the wedding planning process. I can’t tell you how many brides have looked at me with a blank stare when I ask them how they plan on getting from the ceremony to the reception.

The good news? When you’re ready to book, look no further then Wedology 101 gurus Randy Allen and Kate Kirby of James Limousine. We were just thrilled when they decided to join our team of wedding professionals.

As you’ll see, what’s wonderful about James Limousine is that it’s so much more than the drive. Emergency Bridal Kit? Yes please!

Take it away Randy and Kate-

Why does James Limousine stand out from the rest?

James Limousine stands out because for over 18 years we have provided an impeccable service with amazing attention to detail. We go the extra several miles for our clients. Our chauffeurs are like family to some of our clients and we treat all of our clients with professionalism and respect.

What is one of your favorite “bridal moments” over the years?

Favorite Bridal moment: Steve, one of our chauffeurs was doing a wedding point to point service for a lovely and slightly klutzy bride. She was one of our brides that prefers to "stage" in the car waiting for the right moment to pop out and walk into the church. As she pops out of the car she promptly steps on the inside hem of her gorgeous gown tearing the hem and creating a hole. Steve not only caught her from falling forward to certain disaster he also broke open our Emergency Bridal Box and whipped the hole closed with needle and thread. Talk about going the extra mile!

What is your biggest Wedding Day “Don’t”?

Brides should never just assume the transportation will happen. It does take planning and payment and lots of brides make the mistake of not planning. They wait until a few weeks or a month before and they have to scramble and use the vehicles that are "leftover" from the brides that did plan.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing brides today with their wedding plans?

One of the biggest challenges facing brides is cash flow for the transportation. It seems to something that is overlooked until the last minute and so they usually don't allow enough in the budget to cover their vision for their wedding day transportation. Never fear, Kate is here and with quite a bit of creativity on my part and flexibility on the bride's part, the chariot will arrive!

What should a bride always have handy when planning her wedding?

A bride should always have a camera or picture phone handy. Best way to remember the tiny details that will have a big impact.

If you had one piece of advice to share with our brides, what would it be?

Brides should always have an open mind. Yes, you have always dreamed of a fleet of stretch limousines whisking yourself and your entire guest list to and from the events of the day but realistically, an elegant town car sedan is picture perfect (and budget friendly).

To learn more about James Limousine, please visit their web site as well as their Facebook page.
You can also meet Randy and Kate at Wedology 101 coming up in less than two weeks on August 15 at Wyndham Virginia Crossings.

Cheers,
Meghan


Meghan Ely is one part of the Wedology 101 team, and owner of OFD Consulting, a niche Marketing/PR firm servicing the wedding industry and the Managing Director of the Richmond Bridal Association. She is a contributing writer with Virginia Bride magazine, and has been published in Premier Bride Richmond. She and Jennifer write a Wedology 101 column for the Richmond Times Dispatch's Celebration section. She loves late harvest sauvignon blancs, letterpress anything and cakes shaped like Death Stars.

Meet Wedology 101: Classic Party Rentals of Virginia*

When I got engaged early last year, I was giddily making phone calls to parents, immediate family and friends. But guess who was next on my list? That’s right- Classic Party Rentals of Virginia.

I love a good linen and how it can transform a room, even with a minimal investment. I didn’t know much about what I wanted for my own wedding but I did know I wanted those chocolate brown pintuck linens *sigh*.

Nina and Angela with Classic Party Rentals of Virginia was one of our first calls when putting together Wedology 101. After all, these ladies are the party rental experts, and I couldn’t have imagined doing the event without them.

Take it away Classic Party-

Why does Classic Party Rentals stand out from the rest?

Our name stands out due to our impeccable service and simply put, the caring for our brides. Ask any of our brides and they will tell you that we genuinely care about them and their weddings, which sets us apart from the rest. Our Director of Bridal Services will schedule a "play-date" with the brides to go over everything for their wedding - linens, china, glassware, tents - and she will spend as much time as it takes until the bride is comfortable with her decision and loves her choices. She will also assist you with referrals of other wedding professionals that you are in need of. We want the brides to know that we care about them and their guests, all the more making their wedding day just as important to us as it is to them.

What is one of your favorite “bridal moments” over the years?

It is very difficult to nail down only one favorite bridal moment when you have worked with so many wonderful brides. We love when a bride brings her mother to our showroom and they get to make the choices together and once they come across the perfect tablescape, you see the two of them looking at each other with tears in their eyes because they have just had the vision of their reception come true.

We also really appreciate and enjoy immensely when a bride comes by or calls us after the return of her honeymoon to personally thank us for making their day so special. I recently had a bride stop in to give me a beautiful thank you note, a bottle of wine with fresh rosemary and a couple of photos from her wedding showing how happy they both were and even showing off some of our rentals. She is a bride I will now forever call my friend, as well as a return customer for any future events she may have.

What is your biggest Wedding Day “Don’t”?

Our biggest wedding day "don't" is PLEASE DO NOT COORDINATE YOUR LINENS WITH YOUR WEDDING DRESS OR YOUR BRIDESMAID'S DRESSES.....you do not want to become "one" with your tables!!! Also, no cans or kegs at your reception.....bottles or glasses please.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing brides today with their wedding plans?

Spending too much of their budget in the beginning stages without thinking of reception decor. Guests are more interested in where the reception is, how the room will look, what food they will be eating, what they will drink and how much fun they will have! Guests do not care how much money you spent on your dress! Brides tend to skimp in these areas because their budget is shot. You would be surprised at what we can do for you on a small budget.

What should a bride always have handy when planning her wedding?

A bride should always have a book of ideas with pictures. Even if you only use a notebook, cut out your fave flowers, cakes, dresses, tablecloths, etc and glue them on your pages. We also HIGHLY recommend a wedding planner.....they are worth every penny!!!

If you had one piece of advice to share with our brides, what would it be?

Our advice to the brides is to consider your guests at your reception BEFORE you buy the $10,000 dress......brides can wear a $500 dress and still look just as beautiful. Focus on the reception decor, catering and entertainment and of course, the photographer/videographer to capture all of it!

To learn more about Classic Party Rentals, please visit their web site as well as their Facebook Fan Page. You can also find Nina and Angela tweeting away at @cprofva

You can also meet Nina and Angela at Wedology 101 coming up in two short weeks on August 15 at Wyndham Virginia Crossings.

Cheers,
Meghan

Photo credit: Meghan McSweeney Photography

Meghan Ely is one part of the Wedology 101 team, and owner of OFD Consulting, a niche Marketing/PR firm servicing the wedding industry and the Managing Director of the Richmond Bridal Association. She is a contributing writer with Virginia Bride magazine, and has been published in Premier Bride Richmond. She and Jennifer write a Wedology 101 column for the Richmond Times Dispatch's Celebration section. She loves late harvest sauvignon blancs, letterpress anything and cakes shaped like Death Stars.

Meet Wedology 101: Bill Gilliam and Choice Entertainment*

To me, Choice Entertainment has always been synonymous with Richmond Weddings. I still contend that one of my favorite moments during each wedding is when I was waiting for the new Mr. and Mrs. arrive at the reception, and my Choice DJ would come out in a tux and say, “Ladies, it’s Saturday night.”

Today, we’re chatting with Wedology 101 teamster Bill Gilliam, owner of Choice Entertainment. Bill and his group of seasoned consultants blow the lid off of the old DJ stereotypes of yore. Ever the professional and ever the team player, Choice Entertainment was one of the first calls I made when I got engaged last year.

So enough about why I love Choice Entertainment- here’s Bill--

Why does Choice Entertainment stand out from the rest?

How much is REALLY good advice worth? When you speak with a Choice Entertainment Consultant about a wedding, you are talking to someone who has guided literally thousands of couples to the right DJ or band for their weddings...even better yet, all of the Consultants at Choice are also among the most respected entertainment directors in the wedding business...performing at dozens of local weddings every year. The advantage to Choice clients is advice from someone who knows every venue in town, understands how wedding receptions REALLY work, and has the experience to offer creative ideas and suggestions that are based on the latest trends in wedding entertainment. Choice consultants make the process of finding a great DJ or band easy and fun.

What is one of your favorite “bridal moments” over the years?

As wedding entertainers, we often sit around swapping stories about specific receptions we have performed for, and one type of "bridal moment" comes up over and over again.
When a really skilled entertainer connects with a really fun, happy, energetic crowd, something happens as you move this group through and evening of fun and dancing...and as you come down to that last hour or so, and the party literally takes on a life of its own, we call that the "magic time". This is where we are literally hanging on with this audience as we take them on a dancing, partying "rollercoaster" ride. It is the most fun you can have as an entertainer and the most satisfying too! If you do your job well, you leave them exhilarated, but tired and wanting just "ONE MORE SONG!!"

What is your biggest Wedding Day “Don’t”?

Don't get too caught up in having a wedding reception timeline that is timed down to the minute. Hire an experienced wedding planner, and an experienced wedding entertainer to keep things running smoothly...even if it's a few minutes different from what you planned.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing brides today with their wedding plans?

The biggest challenge we see in wedding planning is all of the poor advice, on-line and in magazines, from sources who have never really "worked" at a wedding reception. Often this advice is a thinly disguised ploy to sell a product or service, or advice from a well-intentioned writer who has done some research, but has never really "worked" at a wedding. The best advice comes from wedding veterans with hundreds of successful weddings to their credit.

What should a bride always have handy when planning her wedding?

When planning her wedding, every bride should always have a number of trusted friends handy (available by phone or in person) to render very honest and frank opinions on any buying decisions. Take them with you on appointments, to wedding shows etc

If you had one piece of advice to share with our brides, what would it be?

My ONE piece of advice for brides... the internet is a great place to begin your research, but nothing replaces face-to-face meetings with professionals who you will hire. If they will be providing a service you value highly, beware of anyone unwilling to meet. Insist on meeting in a professional office to see if they are as professional as they present themselves on-line!

To learn more about Choice Entertainment, please visit their web site. You can also meet Bill at Wedology 101 coming up in two short weeks on August 15 at Wyndham Virginia Crossings.

16 days and counting- who’s excited?!

Cheers,
Meghan

Meghan Ely is one part of the Wedology 101 team, and owner of OFD Consulting, a niche Marketing/PR firm servicing the wedding industry and the Managing Director of the Richmond Bridal Association. She is a contributing writer with Virginia Bride magazine, and has been published in Premier Bride Richmond. She and Jennifer write a Wedology 101 column for the Richmond Times Dispatch's Celebration section. She loves late harvest sauvignon blancs, letterpress anything and cakes shaped like Death Stars.

Meet Wedology 101: First Things First of Greater Richmond

When Jenn and I first sat down to iron out the Wedology 101 details, plenty of vendor categories came to mind- music, rentals, flowers and so on and so forth. What’s great about working with Jenn though, is that we both agree that at the end of the Big Day, there is now a marriage, the most important thing of all.

Very quickly, we decided that Bob Ruthazer with First Things First of Greater Richmond, simply had to be a part of Wedology 101. Yes, it’s important to know how to survive planning your Big Day- but even more important are the skills for enjoying a lasting marriage.

Bob stopped by today, to give us a sneak peek into First Things First of Greater Richmond--

Why does First Things First of Greater Richmond stand out from the rest?

Before you tie the knot, Let us show you the ropes! First Things First is all about strengthening families for a better community and we believe that the most important way to do that is to help couples have strong, lasting marriages. Our dream is every child growing up in a home with a mother and father who love each other and love their children. I think that’s a dream that most couples have when they think about getting married—a relationship that will endure even as children transform the nature of that relationship. We believe that the best way to ensure those happily ever-afters is to help couples prepare for a life together through mentoring and counseling and to reinvigorate their relationships through a variety of great dates, seminars and getaways. Our proven marriage skills programs can be found at http://www.firstthingsrichmond.org/

What is one of your favorite “bridal moments” over the years?

Actually there have been many, but what comes to mind is a recent ceremony where almost two dozen couples renewed their vows. Some had been married just a few years, some had been married 40 years or more. The room was filled with much of the same joy and delight that I’ve seen at weddings. What was surprising was the number of couples who had experienced great challenges in their marriages, had overcome them, and are now living out the life that many envisioned on their wedding day

What is your biggest Wedding Day “Don’t”?

Don’t forget to stop, look around and inhale the moments that make the day so special but remember: a wedding is a day but marriages is forever. Brides and grooms invest so much in the planning and execution of the wedding and reception, and get so caught up in meeting and greeting that they sometimes forget that this is their moment. They have to look at videos and photos to see what happened. I’d suggest that they have their wedding planner make a point of pulling them out of a crowd, to get them quiet on the edge of the reception and just observe the people who are invested in their happiness. They should observe the setting—the tables, the flowers, the food—all of it. A minute focused on their friends and another on each other will help a couple embed indelible memories of their wedding day.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing brides today with their wedding plans?

The biggest challenge is balancing plans for the wedding day with plans for a lifetime. Since most of their lives will be spent after the wedding, we encourage couples to spend a few hours getting ready for after the honeymoon. For many years First Things First has been offering courses like It Takes Two: Keys to a Rewarding Relationship. We have also trained more than 100 mentor couples who volunteer to meet with engaged couples (and some that are thinking about getting engaged) to help them prepare for the transition from singleness to marriage. They utilize a very effective inventory called Prepare-Enrich. This inventory uses a series of questions to gather and compare data that reveals strengths and growth areas for each couple who sign up for the mentoring sessions. The mentors are seasoned married couples, not counselors, who share what they have learned in their marriages that will benefit newlyweds. Some of our volunteers work primarily with blended families and those who were previously married. Others work with those who are marrying for the first time. Mentors can be found in churches throughout the metropolitan area or can be located by contacting info@firstthingsrichmond.org.

What should a bride always have handy when planning her wedding?

She should have a calendar that not only includes all the important activities that lead up to the wedding, but also includes some planned dates with her husband during their first year of marriage. The bride and her fiancé should set dates three, six and nine months out to talk about what’s working and what isn’t and to draw up plans to keep the relationship fresh. Those dates will help ensure that the first anniversary celebration will be great. One of those post wedding dates should be a marriage seminar, like the Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage event that will be here in Richmond August 20th and 21st. Getting together with other couples, learning more about the differences between men and women, laughing together—these activities will enliven a marriage and get couples talking about why they got married in the first place. And the planned dates provide a forum for addressing little problems before they become major ones.

If you had one piece of advice to share with our brides, what would it be?

Treat your wedding like the beginning it is, not as an ending. Save enough energy to really enjoy your honeymoon and come back refreshed so your first weeks of marriage are as delightful, vibrant and romantic as your wedding and honeymoon.

Remember you family will always be YOUR family… if there is a family challenge, have blood deal with blood… do not ask your fiancé to deal with YOUR family issues.

To learn more about First Things First, please visit their web site.

You can also meet Bob at Wedology 101 coming up in three short weeks on August 15 at Wyndham Virginia Crossings.

Cheers,
Meghan

Meghan Ely is one part of the Wedology 101 team, and owner of OFD Consulting, a niche Marketing/PR firm servicing the wedding industry and the Managing Director of the Richmond Bridal Association. She is a contributing writer with Virginia Bride magazine, and has been published in Premier Bride Richmond. She and Jennifer write a Wedology 101 column for the Richmond Times Dispatch's Celebration section. She loves late harvest sauvignon blancs, letterpress anything and cakes shaped like Death Stars.

Meeting Wedology 101: A Cake to Remember*

Today is a particular fun introduction for me, because I’m a long time client of this Wedology 101er. Kara Buntin with A Cake to Remember here in Richmond is not only fabulous at what she does- but she’s a straight shooter and doesn’t (warning- pun ahead!) sugar coat things for you. If you have an outdoor wedding in July, she’ll tell you why buttercream is a no go, and I respect that about her.

She and I always got along well because I’d come to her with the most outlandish of ideas (case in point: Death Star wedding cake), and she’d make them into a reality. More importantly, she’d be just as excited as you were when all was said and done.

So you can imagine I did a little happy dance when Kara signed on to Wedology 101- I just know the brides are going to love her!
So enough about my cakes, let’s give the floor to Kara--

Why does A Cake to Remember stand out from the rest?

A Cake To Remember was never meant to be a cake assembly line. I give a lot of attention to every cake that I make, which includes baking them from scratch and not using mixes, and doing a limited number of cakes per week. It’s more of a boutique cake business, as opposed to a bakery that does a lot of production and bakes cakes using mixes and freezes them. I design cakes individually with each client, and I do everything custom so that each cake is unique to the couple and the event.

What is one of your favorite “bridal moments” over the years?

Without a doubt, I love the moments when a couple comes to a cake design meeting and starts by saying “This is going to sound kind of weird.” That’s the moment that I know they have an idea for a cake that’s going to be really crazy. A wedding cake that’s different is a conversation piece at the reception, and usually ends up being much more fun to make than a “standard” white wedding cake.

What is your biggest Wedding Day “Don’t”?

Please, don’t smash the cake in each other’s faces. It’s just a bad idea.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing brides today with their wedding plans?

I’d say that budget is always number one on the list, as well as just having so many choices. There are so many sources of information, pictures and ideas in magazines and online, people start to get confused about what they really want. It’s good to have options, but you get to a point where it can be overwhelming and you get paralyzed. Hiring a good wedding planner and other professionals who can help you narrow down the options is a good way to deal with wedding overload.

What should a bride always have handy when planning her wedding?

“The Binder” with all of the lists…I’m a list-maker, and when I see brides who have “the binder” I know that I’ll be able to get all of the questions that I have answered. I’ve filled out entire information sheets with “to be decided” because the bride doesn’t have any information with her yet. It just reduces the amount of follow-up on everyone’s parts if you can get the information that you need without having to hunt the bride down later.

If you had one piece of advice to share with our brides, what would it be?

Don’t believe everything that you read in wedding magazines. They exist as a way to sell wedding dress advertising, and a lot of the articles on other subjects are thrown together by people with no experience in those areas. Ask questions to the professionals who you hire and don’t assume that just because something is in print somewhere that it’s right. Also, ask around for referrals to professionals to hire. If you hear the same names over and over that’s a good indication that they’ll do a good job for you. But that’s two pieces of advice…

To learn more about A Cake to Remember, please visit her web site as well as her Blog. You can also find Kara tweeting away at @acaketoremember

You can also meet Kara at Wedology 101 coming up in four short weeks on August 15 at Wyndham Virginia Crossings.

Cheers,
Meghan

Meghan Ely is one part of the Wedology 101 team, and owner of OFD Consulting, a niche Marketing/PR firm servicing the wedding industry and the Managing Director of the Richmond Bridal Association. She is a contributing writer with Virginia Bride magazine, and has been published in Premier Bride Richmond. She and Jennifer write a Wedology 101 column for the Richmond Times Dispatch's Celebration section. She loves late harvest sauvignon blancs, letterpress anything and cakes shaped like Death Stars.

Meet Wedology 101: Meghan McSweeney Photography*

Today at Wedology 101, we sat down with Meghan McSweeney with Meghan McSweeney Photography, a gal whose heart is as big as her talent. Her swoon worthy style always puts an extra bounce in my step.

For those who may not know, Meghan has received quite a bit of attention for her work as of late, as she’s been recently featured in Style Me Pretty, Snippet and Ink and Grey Likes Weddings. She was also handpicked to be a part of Lara Casey’s coveted It List. Plus, she’s just plain fun to be around.

You can then imagine how thrilled we were when Meghan decided to join the Wedology 101 team.

So without further ado, here’s Meghan--

Why does Meghan McSweeney Photography stand out from the rest?

I feel like I try as a photographer to really relate to my clientele. I get them to fill out extensive questionnaires so that I get to know their story as well as what is important to them as a couple. I love knowing how they met, more about their group of friends, their style as a couple, places they have been together, the parts of the wedding that are important to them. I feel like it sets me apart that I really take the time to get to know them during the whole process from their engagement sessions to their bridals and then to the actual day of the wedding and beyond. I am really lucky that a lot of my clients end up being very easygoing and lovely people to work with. I feel like it is reflected in how I shoot them and how we work together. I work very hard to make sure that they are comfortable with me and that they trust me when it comes to the wedding day.

What is one of your favorite “bridal moments” over the years?

I have certain times of the day that are my favorite throughout a wedding. When the bride and groom write their own vows and really make an effort to step out of their comfort zone pronouncing their love of each other. As for photographic moments throughout the day, I love taking pictures of the grooms face as the bride turns the corner and walks down the aisle. I also love when they have just been married and they turn and come down the aisle. There is typically so much joy in their faces and it is my ABSOLUTE favorite when they look at each other when they are traipsing down the aisle. Other than that, I really just love to capture the emotion of the couple throughout the day. It really is a special thing to be able to capture for them the love and joy that they are feeling throughout that day. It makes me feel good that they will always have that to come back to throughout their marriage.

What is your biggest Wedding Day “Don’t”?

My biggest wedding don't is when a bride is so stressed out from planning her day that she really isn't able to enjoy herself. It is one of the many, many reasons why I recommend hiring a wedding planner!

What are some of the biggest challenges facing brides today with their wedding plans?

I really think that the biggest challenge with planning a wedding is that bride and grooms have so many options at their disposal. If they aren't in the industry or completely obsessed with their wedding, it's really hard to know all of those options like where the best place to go for a unique linen or if they want a tent that is different or a band that isn't completely mainstream. I think it is really easy to get bombarded and overwhelmed by the choices that are available hence some of the other reasons that I think it is a really important thing to hire vendors whom you trust.

What should a bride always have handy when planning her wedding?

A planner or at least a really good an efficient type-a person helping them out.

If you had one piece of advice to share with our brides, what would it be?

My biggest piece of advice to brides is to remember to enjoy themselves. It's a day that only happens once and it's really important to be able to let go of all of the nitpicky details once you get to a certain point so that you can enjoy each other and your day. I think it is really important to be able to sit for a second and enjoy each other's company. I find it really sad when bride and groom's are running around like crazy during the reception talking to all of the guests and they aren't able to just be together for a little while. While I think it is important that you recognize your guests and that people made a big effort to get to your wedding for you both, I think it is also important to be able to take a minute to soak it all in and appreciate the love between each other and your community that gathered for you.

To learn more about Meghan McSweeney Photography, please visit her web site as well as her Blog. You can also find Meghan tweeting away at @McSweeneyphoto

You can also meet Meghan at Wedology 101 coming up in four short weeks on August 15 at Wyndham Virginia Crossings.

Cheers,
Meghan

Meghan Ely is one part of the Wedology 101 team, and owner of OFD Consulting, a niche Marketing/PR firm servicing the wedding industry and the Managing Director of the Richmond Bridal Association. She is a contributing writer with Virginia Bride magazine, and has been published in Premier Bride Richmond. She and Jennifer write a Wedology 101 column for the Richmond Times Dispatch's Celebration section. She loves late harvest sauvignon blancs, letterpress anything and cakes shaped like Death Stars.