WEDDING BLOG

Art Deco Inspired Georgia State Railroad Museum Wedding

February 6, 2023 | justine

Lindsay and Chris’ Georgia State Railroad Museum wedding celebrated timeless elegance and classic sophistication. With stunning hints of Art Deco, the pair channeled the era using fabulous florals, sleek gilded decor, and chic wedding fashion. The couple’s choice of theme was a fitting tribute to the museum’s rich history and a perfect complement to its rustic industrial aesthetic.

The couple exchanged heartfelt vows in their courtyard ceremony under a lush square arch that contrasted beautifully with the black barn door and exposed brick walls. After promising a lifetime of love to each other, they moved the celebration inside the historic train yard. Their cozy and romantic reception featured long elegant tables with towering centerpieces filled with rows of candles.

The couple took great care in selecting elements that reflected their values, vision, and love story, and the result was truly unforgettable. From the spectacular venue to all the romantic details, these incredible images captured by Mackensey Alexander Photography are guaranteed to sweep you off your feet!

The Couple:

Lindsay and Chris

The Wedding:

Georgia State Railroad Museum, Georgia, United States

A Meaningful And Sentimental First Look

While it’s hard to frame the most memorable moment, we were surprised at how meaningful and memorable the first-look experience was for us—from seeing each other all dressed up to the intimate portrait session. Sharing this time as a couple carried a deep sense of mindfulness and climatic anticipation for our wedding.

Supporting Black And Female-Owned Businesses

We chose Savannah, Georgia, because it was an untapped destination for 99% of our family and friends. As such, we aimed to create a genuine local experience across our wedding weekend–from the welcome reception to the farewell brunch. What’s more, we felt proud to have committed to partnering with female and black vendors. Given the imbalance of female and black-owned businesses in the wedding market, we appropriated our most significant investments to these vendors—planning, catering, and photography.

The Inspiration Behind Their Georgia State Railroad Museum Wedding

We wanted a classic and timeless feel to our wedding from the start, particularly given the location. We gained inspiration from the Art Deco period, including the color palette, florals, and decor, which became our design north star. However, we didn’t want it to feel too “Gatsby.”

Staying Organized, Setting Aside Time, And Having Clear Goals Made The Planning Process Seamless And Stress-Free

We found the planning process to be enjoyable and largely stress-free. Much of that was due to how we structured and organized our approach to planning. We highly recommend couples consider hiring a wedding planner, which genuinely pays dividends in an unrealized capacity. Apart from a planner, we recommend couples (and parents) define clear moments to engage in wedding planning activities—for example, every other Sunday. This creates dedicated head space to fully immerse yourself in planning without the weight or distraction of day-to-day life. If something came up outside our dedicated time, we took asynchronous notes and addressed it during our “wedding planning time.”

Setting Aside Extra Money For Unforeseen Expenses

In partnership with our wedding planner–who had relevant data–we created a budget by comparing previous weddings with similar facets, such as venue and the number of guests. Once we landed on a comfortable budget, we added a 15% cushion to account for any surprises throughout the planning process.

Avoiding Unnecessary Drama at their Georgia State Railroad Museum Wedding

We’ve been fortunate to grow with many dear friends throughout the various seasons of our lives. However, we decided early on not to have a wedding party. Instead, we decided to only have a maid of honor and a best man, which eliminated any impression of hierarchy among our dear friends. Breaking away from traditional norms allowed us to prioritize certain things while avoiding the unnecessary drama that may typically plague couples.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Mackensey Alexander Photography
Event Planning – Ivory & Beau
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Georgia State Railroad Museum
Catering + Cake – Thrive Catering Savannah
DJ + Live Music – Sir Foster
Videography – Square City Productions
Invitation Design – Zola
Makeup Artist – Southern Belle by Maria Noel
Wedding Dress – Kinsley James
Second Outfit – MISHA
Groom’s Apparel – Tom Ford
Rings – Trabert Goldsmiths + Tiffany’s
Rentals – Savannah Vintage & Events
Transportation – Callan’s Classics
Favors – Alake Ga Pecans

Congratulations to Lindsay and Chris on their Art Deco inspired Georgia State Railroad Museum wedding. And a big thank you to Mackensey Alexander Photography for capturing every moment of their special day that they will remember for years to come.

Choosing a theme that complements your wedding venue is essential for creating a beautiful and cohesive event. It can be achieved when the decor, lighting, and other elements are carefully chosen to work together and complement each other. And just like this wedding, the result is a seamless and stunning affair that is memorable for all the right reasons.

Why You Need A Wedding Videographer

February 5, 2023 | kailey

Image by Joe And Jen Photo. Wedding planning by Laine Palm Planning.

When it comes to planning the wedding of your dreams, you’re often trying to fit everything you want within your budget. We’re talking about your venue, decor, a team of vendors, and so much more. And while you’re scouring the internet for help, you might find a lot of articles that cause more wedding planning stress rather than provide answers to your questions.

We hate those stressful articles too, so we’re here to actually help. Our top priority is making sure you have no regrets after your wedding day. And we think skipping out on a videographer might just be one of those things you’ll regret not investing in. So if you’re not convinced a videographer is a must-have vendor, sit back, relax, and scroll down for everything you need to know about wedding videographers.

Reasons To Hire A Wedding Videographer

As with any major life event, videos capture the moments that photos just can’t. It’s said that pictures are worth a thousand words, so videos are definitely worth more. From candid moments to the sentimentality of it all, here are a few reasons why you should hire a videographer.

1. See Moments You Might Have Missed

Your wedding day is going to go by in a snap of a finger. You’re going to wake up the next day and wonder how time flew by so fast. In the midst of getting ready with your wedding party and hitting the dance floor, it’s impossible for you to see every memorable moment. That’s where hiring a videographer comes in handy.

Your videographer will be able to capture all the moments you’re not able to soak up during your big day–think your guests’ reactions during the ceremony, adorable moments from the wedding party, hilarious dance moves, and so many more. When you hire a videographer, you can almost guarantee that moments you might have missed will be captured on video for you to rewatch for years to come.

2. Share Your Day

Hiring a wedding videographer will let you rewatch your special day over and over. But it’s also a great way to share your day with family and friends who couldn’t attend or those who might have had to leave early. This is especially handy for those dreaming of an elopement but still want their loved ones to feel included.

Plus, if you get the right package, you might get a shorter video to share on social media—a major plus!

3. You Can Re-Watch Your Vows

If you plan on writing your own vows, then you definitely want a videographer to capture the ceremony. Sure, you can ask your guests to record your ceremony, but a videographer can share your declarations of love in a cinematically beautiful way. Plus, you can make it a tradition to rewatch your vows every anniversary.

4. Video Captures Visual and Audio

There will be various moments you’ll not only want to re-watch but also listen to again, such as speeches, toasts, and your guest’s well wishes. Having audio will turn your video into a sentimental family heirloom that all in attendance will hold close. And this is something photos just can’t capture.

5. Have A Seriously Unplugged Ceremony

You want an unplugged ceremony, we promise. Hiring a videographer will capture the moments that you and your guests were able to be completely present for without all of their dang phones in the way. Not only are videographers professionals who know where to stand to get that perfect shot, but they won’t ruin the visuals of your day to get it.

6. Camera Shy Couples Don’t Need to Pose

If you’re uncomfortable in front of the camera and worry about not looking natural, you should prioritize hiring a videographer. Of course, top-tier photographers will work their magic to make you feel comfy during your portraits. But with your wedding video, there’s no need to stress about posing.

Wedding Videographer Costs

Are you officially convinced a videographer is a must-have wedding vendor? The next step is to work them into your wedding budget. On average, most couples spend between $1,500 and $2,500 on their wedding videographer. Depending on location, add-ons, and hours of coverage, your price can reach up to $12,000.

What does this average cost entail? Well, here’s a breakdown:

Time — How long your videographer is present at your wedding definitely impacts their cost. Many wedding videographers create specific packages that include both the amount of time that they’ll spend at your wedding and editing costs to create your video. The more time you book them for, the more money it’s going to cost you. And if you want your videographer to cover other wedding events, like your rehearsal dinner, this will cost you more
A second shooter — If your wedding videographer needs a second shooter or an assistant, their costs may increase. If you’re able to find a photographer who doubles as a videographer, you might be able to get a lower rate since you’d be hiring one vendor to capture your day. However, keep in mind they’ll likely work as a team if this is the case, so you should expect to add a second shooter
The finished products — After all the filming, your videographer will provide you with an edited highlight reel and wedding film, and you may even get some b-roll footage. This takes both time and effort for your videographer to create a film that is perfect for you
Travel — If your wedding videographer has to travel a long distance to be present at your wedding, you’ll likely have to pay for their fuel, airfare, hotel, or other travel-related expenses
Extras — Nowadays, many videographers offer drone footage, Super 8 films, USB drives, and other extras. Depending on what type of film you want, you may experience additional fees

Wedding Videographer Hiring Timeline

There are so many details on your wedding planning timeline, and it can be easy to get them confused. Whether you’re working with a 12-month timeline or a two-year timeline, hiring your vendors is almost always one of the first tasks. This is especially true when hunting down your videographer.

You’ll want to book your videographer near the same time as your wedding photographer. We recommend starting no later than 10-12 months prior to your big day. However, wedding professionals appreciate it if you reach out as early as possible—the sooner, the better. For couples who have a much shorter timeline, prepare to reach out to a few different wedding videographers to find someone with open availability.

We know that planning for your big day can sometimes feel like a full-time job. That’s why we can’t stress enough the importance of hiring a trusted team of wedding vendors. And if you’re officially convinced a videographer is a must-have, then here’s everything you need to know before signing that contract.

Image by Grace Torres Photo. Wedding planning by Carefully Curated Events.

Common Wedding Fights and How To Resolve Them

February 5, 2023 | justine

Image by Kelly Mossop Photography. Keep scrolling for the most common wedding fights and how to resolve them.

Wedding planning is exciting but can also be stressful and emotional for couples. It’s not unusual for conflict to arise during the planning process—from disagreements over the guest list to debates about the wedding budget. Whatever the case, take comfort in knowing that you probably aren’t the first to argue it out with your partner or loved ones before the big day.

The question is, how do you navigate them? You can resolve conflict during the wedding journey with patience, open communication, and willingness to make concessions. And we’re sharing with you our insights on the most common wedding fights and what you can do to work them out.

Image by Made In The Mountains Photo

Common Wedding Fights

Finances

Making decisions about money isn’t easy, especially when it involves a lot of money. So, of course, seeing all the costs add up to a hefty price tag can cause some tension. It’s important for couples to set a budget early on in the planning process and to stick to it as much as possible. This may require some compromise and negotiation, but it’s essential to avoid financial stress in the long run.

Discuss how involved parents or others will be in financial decisions if they’re helping fund your wedding. Before accepting a financial present from someone, determine whether you can use it at your discretion or if it’s intended for a certain purpose. Planning a wedding you can afford on your own may be the best option if the gift comes with uncomfortable conditions.

Guest List

One of the most frequent sources of conflict is the guest list. Couples may have different ideas about who should be invited to the wedding, leading to arguments over who should be included and who should be left off the list. Family members may feel hurt or offended if they aren’t invited to the wedding. It’s crucial for couples to communicate honestly with their families about their guest list expectations and to try to find a middle ground that works for everyone.

Having Opposing Views

You may want a more traditional wedding while your partner wants something more relaxed. Or vice versa. Whatever the case may be, as you begin the nitty-gritty of planning, you may find yourself battling with each other and having completely opposing ideas about how you want your wedding to look and feel. It’s often one of the first arguments you need to play out. Take a breath, stay calm, and take turns discussing your ideas and reaching a compromise before moving forward.

Sharing The Load

One partner feels they’re doing all the work, while the other simply agrees with everything the other says. Before you know it, your disagreements are quickly intensifying, leading to a major meltdown at some point during the planning phase. Be sure to communicate from the get-go about expectations so one person doesn’t feel like they’re carrying all the load.

From large ideas to little details, jot down your thoughts and identify what’s most important to you for the big day and what’s not. After that, discuss your list and talk it out. As you find tasks you prefer, divide them to create a better balance. Doing this will make you feel more involved in wedding preparations and give you the opportunity to do something you care about.

Family Expectations

For many couples, prioritizing their wedding vision may mean skipping family or cultural traditions. So conflict is expected to arise when family expectations compete with the couple’s wishes. Before diving too far into planning your wedding:

Think about what you and your partner want
Talk honestly about your family’s traditions and expectations
Agree on how you want to include these aspects into your big day

Clashing With Your In-Laws

Marriage isn’t just between two people. It’s the merging of two families as well. So, when two families become one, there may be problems that you can’t avoid. And you, unfortunately, might have to deal with difficult in-laws or other family members. Every family has different dynamics and every situation is unique. But it’s no secret that this can affect your relationship, health, and well-being.

So when things are getting too stressful and you’re not sure how to handle the person who is a big part of your future, it may be helpful to put things on pause. Take a step back from communicating with them and doing any wedding planning at all. When you’re in a better head space, it may be easier to talk directly with your in-laws to find common ground.

Appropriate limits are the cornerstone of our self-respect and one of the pillars of every healthy relationship. Setting boundaries is essential, but maintaining them is even more crucial. Make sure your in-laws understand your comfort level and your limitations. And don’t be afraid to stand by your principles, even if it means saying “no” to them. Keep the lines of communication open with everyone, uphold your limits, and just take a deep breath for the sake of your sanity.

Other People’s Opinions

People may offer unsolicited advice because they’re excited about your wedding and genuinely want to help but don’t understand that their comments can make you feel burdened or overwhelmed. As the advice and opinions roll in, what do you do about all those comments? Thankfully, many people who say things like this may only do it once or twice in passing and then stop talking about it. And the best thing to do is smile, nod, and move on.

But when people in your inner circle tell you what they think, it can be hard to deal with their strong opinions. Not all advice is equal, and it’s important to consider the source and their motivations. Consider whether they align with your wedding vision. By being mindful of whose advice you value, you can ensure that you receive information and support that’s relevant and meaningful to you.

Second Marriages And Blended Families

Blended families often have unique challenges, especially regarding how people feel about their children, ex-partners, or spouses. When planning a second marriage, it may be essential to consider an ex-spouse,any children from a previous marriage, and how things work with adult children. Does your new partner get along with your kids? Do your kids from your previous relationships get along? Planning a wedding can also lead to important talks about where you’ll live, your finances, and who will have custody of your children.

Image by LeeAnn B Stephan

Tips On How To Resolve Common Wedding Fights

Identify The Source Of The Problem

Finding the cause of a disagreement is the first step to solving it. Once the problem is clear, it is easier to devise a solution that works for everyone. You may need to make a compromise, but before doing so, all options should be discussed and weighed. Wedding planning conflicts can be solved if everyone focuses on the problem at hand and works together.

Communicate Openly And Honestly

Open and honest communication is critical during wedding planning. It helps establish clear expectations, avoid misunderstandings, and build trust. It’s also an opportunity for you to express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas–leading to a more collaborative and productive relationship. Throughout your planning journey, set aside time for regular check-ins where you can address issues as they arise. This helps to prevent small problems from escalating into larger conflicts.

Set Clear Boundaries And Expectations

If setting boundaries isn’t your strong suit, you might be nervous about setting limits with your family and your partner’s family. Sit down with your partner and discuss the things that you can’t give up. It’s important to communicate your expectations clearly (respectfully and kindly) as soon as possible. Your loved ones are more likely to want you to have the best day ever and will respect your boundaries.

But what if you encounter resistance? Set the proper limits based on the situation, and let them know what you need so that those limits are respected. It’s important to listen to what they have to say and let them know what you think as well. Often, the hard-to-get-along-with loved one just wants to be heard.

Choose Your Battles

Not every issue is worth fighting over, and it’s vital to prioritize what’s truly important. By focusing on the bigger picture, couples can avoid getting bogged down in minor disagreements and stay focused on what truly matters. Not everything will be worth your time and energy. While certain issues merit debate and discussion, it’s usually wise to move past others. Save your energy for organizing your big day and taking care of your mental health. Pick your battles wisely and try not to worry about the little things.

Lean On Your Wedding Planner

If you hire a seasoned wedding planner, there’s a good chance they have stories about how they dealt with challenges while planning a wedding. Don’t be afraid to ask them for help because it’s likely that they’ve been there. They may have some wise words or similar past situations to help guide you through yours. Most wedding planners have thick skin, too. They may not mind taking responsibility for certain wedding-related decisions to keep you out of the hot seat, like helping with seating, who gets invited, or anything else that might upset other people.

Seek The Help Of A Professional

Getting help from a professional can be a good way to solve problems when planning a wedding. This can be a wedding planner, a counselor, or a mediator. They bring impartiality, experience, and professional skills to the table, which helps to solve conflicts in a calm, objective, and effective way. They can help people talk to each other, settle disagreements, and come up with creative solutions that work for everyone.

Remember What’s Really Important

It’s easy to get lost in the details, but it’s important to remember why the wedding is happening in the first place. Your wedding and marriage are about the two of you. You and your spouse-to-be are a team. At the end of the day, no matter how stressful things get, it’s not about the flowers and decor or who sits where at the reception. The most exciting thing is that you and your best friend promise to be there for each other for the rest of your lives.

Image by Iron + Honey Photography