Finding the Perfect Wedding Cake || Wedding Cake Inspiration for Your Style

June 20, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Try typing ‘wedding cakes’ into Pinterest and you will find thousands upon thousands of mouth-watering, gorgeous wedding cakes. Now-a-days, there’s not just the traditional wedding cake that’s expected. From themed cakes to fun accessories, wedding cakes can be decorated to represent every couple’s unique style.

We know that finding inspiration for the perfect wedding cake can be overwhelming with so many options. That’s why we’ve created the perfect wedding cake inspiration for you! See some of our favorite weddings cakes from weddings at our North Georgia venue. The Corner District has two event spaces that serve as blank canvases so that couples can bring their wedding vision to life, and with so many weddings styles and visions, we’ve seen a lot of different cakes to match!

Feel free to use these cakes as inspiration for your own special cake, or take a picture of it to a baker to talk about how it can be personalized to fit your style.

12 Wedding Cake Ideas for Every Wedding Style

1. The moody, dramatic look

This black cake with gorgeous gold detailing + dramatic pops of dark pink was the perfect touch for this moody and dramatic Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration!

Photo: Marc and Anna Photo & Film, Cake: Cakes by Carissa

2. The clean, romantic look

We love that this cake looks so clean + romantic, almost too beautiful to eat! This type of look is absolutely perfect for a spring or summer wedding, or even a fall wedding with a unique color palette. That’s the wedding vision our bride + groom went for the inspiration for this cake! Fresh and colorful, it’s a great touch for a light + airy wedding vision.

Photo: Barefoot Blonde Photography

3. The dreamy Summer look

This cake screams summer perfection, from the gorgeous texture to soft, warm colors! This cake is perfect for an elegant summer wedding because it’s simple, but has just enough personality to give it character. The couple behind this pretty cake had an elegant, beautiful blush and navy summer wedding!

Photo: Katey Penton Photography, Cake: groom’s cousin

4. The glitz + glam look

This wedding cake has all the pretty glitz + glam + glitter that was perfect for our Gatsby styled shoot! Talk about a great party! With this cake, your guests are sure to love your glam wedding vision.

Photo: Carrie Reagan Photography, Cake: Confection Perfection Cakes

5. The bright + bold look

What makes this look so great is that no matter what bright colors you pick, it’s sure to look great with the black base. A white base still makes for a great bright + bold look, but can allow for more of the focus to fall to the colors. You can see more from this mardi gras wedding inspiration here!

Photo: Crystal Artis, Cake: Acuna Custom Cakes

6. The timeless + elegant look

Iche + Juriel’s elegant gold wedding takes the cake! Their wedding guests were impressed from start to finish by their attention to detail, I mean look at this cake! Beautifully simple + elegant detailing on this cake created the perfect timeless look, and the splash of gold ties in the couples’ vision.

Photo: Horn Photography and Design

7. The modern, industrial look

This cake is from one of our favorite shoots featured on Wedding Lovely! Inspired by a palette of copper and pale pink, The Sweet Trend dreamt up this wedding inspiration to compliment our venue’s vintage industrial vibe. This cake was— pardon the pun— icing on the cake for this inspiration! Each tier offers something unique – the sparkly sprinkle layer and copper layers were almost too pretty to eat!

Photo: Horn Photography and Design, Cake: Cakes by Carissa

8. The vintage + fun look

This one-of-a-kind geometric turquoise wedding cake was crafted for a 1950s Vintage Brunch Elopement! This 1950’s cake inspiration is perfect for couples with a deep love for the beauty of the past. Young hearts with old souls, or older couples seeking that feel of nostalgia. What a fun way to tie in you wedding colors + personality!

Photo: Kelly Berry Photography, Cake: Cakes by Carissa

9. The earthy + natural look

Naked wedding cakes are a trend we’re loving, and for good reason… just look at how beautiful this berry naked cake is! It was the absolute perfect choice for this chic winter wedding! Although naked cakes can be great all year round, we love how it compliments the cozy feel of this wedding look.

Photo: Hillary Leah Photography, Cake: Cakes by Carissa

10. The soft, romantic look

Romantic detailing like this lace or soft pops of red are sure to leave your guests speechless. A simple and clean cake like this one reminds your guests of the importance of the wedding, celebrating love. Fun touches like the couple’s favorite treat at the top can add personality to the cake too!

Photo: Sydney Bruton Photography

11. The ethereal, delicate look

This type of cake is so simple + delicate, it’s elegant! It’s one of the more traditional cake looks, but it never goes out of style. This cake is perfect for the couple who wants their wedding cake to convey a polished, exquisite, delicate style.

Photo: Horn Photography and Design

12. The magical, themed look

For our last cake inspiration, we had to include this fun + magical cake from our Harry Potter Inspired wedding! The best part about a wedding is making it true to YOU! Picking out all the details lets the couple create a wedding vision that represents them and their love story. So if a themed Harry Potter wedding or any other theme is you, then go for it!

Photo: Diana Bello, Cake: CakeDacious

You can browse our wedding galleries to get even more wedding cake + wedding inspiration for your special day!

Magical Harry Potter Wedding Inspiration at The Corner District

May 30, 2018 · Leave a Comment

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, pretty details and all things magical, then this Harry Potter Wedding Inspiration is perfect for you! You’re sure to swoon over these gorgeous fall colors with gold accents and these adorable tributes to the beloved series. Fall in love with the Harry Potter magic all over again with this Harry Potter styled shoot featured on The Overwhelmed Bride.

“This Harry Potter inspired wedding shoot was full of gorgeous fall wedding colors and stunning gold wedding accents. The bride wore a beaded wedding gown, full of movement with golden bridal flats and fall wedding makeup. From sorting hat cake, potion bottle decor vintage wedding invitations, vintage books, floating candles and winged keys, this marsala and gold wedding was absolute perfection.” – The Overwhelmed Bride

A huge thanks to all the AMAZING vendors who brought this Harry Potter magic to life!

Bold + Romantic Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration

April 18, 2018 · Leave a Comment

When you think Valentine’s Day, you think all things red, gorgeous, and romantic — and that’s what this romantic + bold Valentine’s Day wedding inspiration is all about! From calligraphy vows to the prettiest donuts you’ve ever seen, this romantic wedding inspiration is overflowing with bold details that are sure to have you planning your romantic, bold wedding! Christa O’Brien Photography perfectly captured the passion + emotion from this day!

“It features the classic reds of the holiday with modern cuts and contemporary styling, along with gorgeous old world calligraphy. The design inspiration was classic/modern twists on a Valentine’s holiday engagement. We wanted to stay pretty classic with pinks & reds, and have a more modern take on the attire and calligraphy. Poppies, Roses, and accents of anthurium created a pure, red bouquet with minimal greenery to really accent the theme! For the attire, we really wanted something modern, so we opted for the dress to have asymmetrical cuts and different textures. As for our leading man, he wore all black with a classic white jacket, but went sans tie for a fresh, contemporary look.” – Christa O’Brien Photography

You can see more of this romantic Valentine’s Day wedding inspiration on KnotsVilla here!

2018 Wedding Trends We’re Loving at The Corner District

March 21, 2018 · Leave a Comment

At The Corner District, our two event spaces serve as blank canvases so that couples can bring their wedding vision to life with the help of their Georgia wedding vendors! Our open floor plans and onsite tables and chairs allow for many unique seating layouts. With the perfect color scheme, wedding vision, and decor, the spaces can be transformed to host your dream Georgia wedding. Today we’re showing some of our favorite wedding trends and looks that are sure to make your wedding stand out!

Bright + Bold Colors

The first of our favorite wedding trends is a bright + bold color scheme! This mardi gras styled shoot is giving us some major inspiration for paring two bright colors in a way that doesn’t clash. Check out these gorgeous, bold, colorful details below.

“Designing this table was LIFE! I love dramatic designs and pairing black with pops of color created the perfect combination of elegance and drama. ” – LB Harper of Savvy House Weddings

Photography: B.Rich Photography, Precious T Photography, Crystal Artis // Designer: Savvy House Weddings // Florist: Ten Point Floral Design // Stylist: Alex Eye For Style // MUA: Monta Makeup Art // Hair: Kilah Creations

Timeless Fairytale with a Pastel Twist

Our urban vintage space offers a unique setting with a charming speakeasy feel. Complete with original wood ceilings and floors and exposed brick and white plaster walls, it’s a space brimming with personality and offers tons of natural lighting. It’s the perfect setting to host a wedding with a timeless fairytale look. But what we’re loving right now is a twist on the overdone blush wedding trends the past few years. The look below is perfect inspiration for choosing a color that still gives you a pastel, timeless feel without it looking like everyone else’s wedding.

Photographer: Arrowed Beginnings // Makeup: Vigilante Cosmetics // Styled by: Stems Atlanta, Storybook Weddings, Shannon Ford Photography, The Prissy Plate Company // Florals: Stems Atlanta // Gown: J. Andrew’s // Jewelry: Anna Bellagio

Light + Airy with a Romantic Flair

We adore this wedding trend: a light and airy look with a romantic flair. This real wedding at our warehouse and parlor venue so perfectly capture the benefits of a well-lit wedding venue! “After looking at virtually every venue from North Georgia to Macon, we stumbled upon The Corner District! As I began to explore the website, my stomach immediately got butterflies. The Venue was perfect. It was light and airy! It also had the romantic vintage flare we were looking for. ” – Our gorgeous bride, Vanessa

Photography: Allison Pedigo //Day-of Coordination: Ivy Marie Weddings // MUA: Blushed by Naomi // Hair stylist: Glam by Mami // Table settings + rentals: The Prissy Plate Company // Linens: CV Linens // Cake: Kat Lush Cakery //Signage: Along the Lines Designs

Bold + Glamorous Valentine’s Day Wedding at The Corner District

February 14, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Our North Georgia venue was a perfect fit for this Valentine’s Day Wedding shoot! Since we’re a vintage industrial wedding venue in the suburbs of Atlanta, The Corner District has all the charm of a city wedding venue, but with the quaint ambiance of a small town. Our venue is known and loved for its speakeasy-esque parlor with exposed brick and plaster walls, original hardwood floors and ceilings, and the most dreamy lighting thanks to the huge windows in the front of the building and multiple chandeliers glimmering above.

The lighting is truly what set the mood for this Valentines Day inspiration shoot, and Marc & Anna Photo and Film captured the details beautifully.

Inspiration behind the day:

This inspiration shoot was designed by wedding planner and floral designer, Ivy Marie Weddings, who dreamt up a unique take on this beloved couple’s holiday. Favorite elements of this shoot included a moody palette of black, deep raspberry, green and gold, a two-piece dip dyed wedding dress from Sweet Caroline Styles, an intimately styled setting and plenty of bling from Trumpet & Horn and Melànie D.

Advice for brides planning now:

For brides wanting to recreate this look, don’t be afraid to go bold! From a dark red lip to a crop top wedding dress, from black iced desserts to blood red candles, to make a statement that stands out – go bold! Pair moody details with refined details, such as classic pops of gold, lots of greenery, and neutrals to allow your color palette to shine.

Brides who love the idea of a colored dress, consider talking with a custom makeup designer who can make the perfect hues that will compliment both your dress and skin tone. We loved the eye shadow crafted by Love Thistle paired with a bold red lip that tied in the raspberry dip-dyed skirt. If you love the idea of black iced cakes and cookies, but don’t love the idea of it staining guests’ teeth, talk to your baker. It’s better to start with black icing and add just a little food coloring (versus starting with vanilla and adding a lot of coloring).

See Our Favorites:

You can check our this gorgeous wedding shoot featured on Wedding Chicks.

Perfect Food & Cocktail Pairing Ideas for Wedding Receptions

January 24, 2018 · Leave a Comment

At our blank canvas venue, we love seeing our couples get creative with how they celebrate– especially when it comes to food! The sky’s the limit. After all, the night is all about celebrating the bride + groom’s unique style as a couple. From burgers to salads, we’ve got the perfect food and cocktail pairing for your reception!

Depending on the schedule of your wedding day, you might be serving light hors d’oeuvres or a full, 7-course meal. Regardless of your food options, the time between the ceremony and celebration is a key time to provide guests with light snacks and spirits. If you’re trying to decide what to serve, there are quite a few options that would be perfect for your guests whether they have a seasoned palate or a family of picky eaters. Consider the following inspired food and cocktail pairing ideas for your wedding reception to make everyone happy.

Photo: Marc and Anna Photo and Film

Cheese Skewers & Wine

Wine is always a fan-favorite for many people, so it’s important to offer a snack that pairs well with both red and white wines. Not surprisingly, cheese skewers are the perfect option in this case, but try getting a little more creative and serving them in a more convenient way. Create some cheese skewers by creating small blocks of different types of cheeses on a toothpick and serving them with pieces of apple or grapes. You can use lighter cheeses to pair with white wine and heavier or older cheeses for those who will be drinking red. If you’re serving a fairly fruity wine, you might even consider skewering cheese with pears, peaches, or cherries to bring out the specific flavors in the wine.

Not only is this a great pairing for adults, but you can also offer kids the same kinds of appetizer since cheese and fruit are a fairly popular snack for kids. If you can, consider skewering the children’s snacks on a pretzel so you can avoid the safety hazard of giving the toothpicks.

Photo: Kelly Anne Photography

Sushi & Moscow Mules

If your wedding venue is located in a cooler room or climate, then sushi and Moscow mules are certainly a pairing you’ll want to consider! The cooler temperatures are important for keeping the fish fresh so that their flavors really pop and blend well with the beverage. Moscow mules are made with ginger beer, vodka, and lime juice, so the similar flavors are perfect for pairing with sushi. If you’d like, consider offering a few different kinds of sushi to meet the preferences of your guests, and hand out the beverages in smaller glasses to match the portion sizes. If you’re going with appetizers that include fish, be sure to let guests know about this in their wedding invitations. Sushi is an acquired taste, and you may need to have a backup option for some guests, like avocado rolls.

Caprese Salad & Aperol

If you’re embracing Italian-themed food options for your wedding, small Caprese salad appetizers are a must-have. This fresh dish includes ripe tomatoes, a fresh cheese, and basil leaves, drizzled with a sweet balsamic or salt. To make them more appetizer-friendly, use toothpicks to slide on a cherry tomato, a cube of fresh mozzarella and a small basil leaf. You can also drizzle them with sauce or offer small bowls for dipping. The perfect pairing for this food is a light cocktail made with Aperol or Campari, or a small glass of rosé. Aperol and Campari have reduced alcohol content and a refreshing flavor that pairs perfectly with the light snack of a Caprese salad.

Fish Tacos & White Sangria

Nothing says a beach wedding like zesty, white sangrias and fresh fish tacos! This pairing is to-die-for, with the bubbly beverage complementing the soft fish and creamy sauces of avocado and lime. To ensure these flavors blend at their best, be sure to add lemons and limes to the sangria flavor and drizzle the lime juice across the fish tacos just before serving.

Caesar Salad & Bloody Mary Cocktails

Not everyone is going to want to drink wine all day long at your wedding, and pairing oysters with a Bloody Mary is a great option for people looking for dramatic flavor. For this inspired food and cocktail idea, fill a small shot glass with a spicy Bloody Mary, and top with a shucked oyster as both a garnish as well as a stylish appetizer. The two pair well together because of the cocktail’s bright, tomato base, which goes well with shellfish. If you want, you can serve the oysters on a larger tray and opt for creating other fun Bloody Mary garnishes like celery, bacon, or spicy pickled vegetables, and decorate the glasses.

Sliders & Beer

If you’ve got a large crowd at your wedding, chances are a lot of them will prefer to have a cold glass of beer during cocktail hour. This can get tricky because of the wide variety of beers available, but there is one food pairing that you can’t go wrong with whether you’re offering a light, hoppy beer or a dark stout: sliders. Win the crowd over by offering smaller glasses of beer, alongside a small slider with whatever toppings you prefer. With endless options, the slider toppings are totally up to you or the caterer. If you want to give more options, you might opt to have a “slider building bar” where guests can dress their appetizers how they’d like.

Regardless of the toppings, a burger and beer pairing is perfect for a laid-back wedding or a summertime event. If you’re not sure what kinds of appetizers are best for you, you’ll want to reference a few factors to help you decide. Things like your caterer, venue, and theme can all help you to decide what foods will be the most fitting for your audience. For example, a traditional wedding in a boutique hotel might warrant older wines, aged cheeses, and cured meats, while a laid-back vintage theme might do better with spiked teas, biscuits, and tarts.

When it comes down to it, your personality should shine through your food & cocktail pairing, so go with food options that you and your partner love.

What are some of your favorite food and cocktail pairing ideas? We’d love to hear!

The Best of 2017 at The Corner District // North Georgia Wedding Venue

December 27, 2017 · Leave a Comment

This year was an amazing year for The Corner District. From styled shoots to real weddings, we have so many memories to celebrate! We are so thankful for every person who walked through our doors this past year. Our lovely couples, friendors (vendor friends) and guests have brought so much life + joy to our North Georgia venue. We can’t wait to see who 2018 brings to our doors!

Below we’ve shared some of our favorite memories from 2017. Check out some of the best of 2017 at The Corner District, including snow pictures!

Tips for Understanding Your Wedding Venue Contract

November 15, 2017 · 4 Comments

Wedding venue contracts can be scary and can certainly take the fun out of wedding planning. But don’t get discouraged! Most of the clauses and rules are actually meant to insure your wedding day goes as smoothly as possible. Our wedding venue manager is sharing important things to look for in your wedding venue contract. Apply this to your other wedding vendor contracts, as well!

Fees & Payment Rules In Your Wedding Venue Contract

Initial Deposit.

You will be required to pay an initial deposit to secure your wedding date with the venue. Some brides ask if their date can be held without a deposit while they consider other options. But without a deposit, a venue won’t want to pass up potential business from other brides interested in that day.

Cancellation Fees.

Don’t ignore this part, thinking “it will never happen to me.” If for some reason you have to cancel or move your wedding date, make sure you know whether or not you will be refunded the initial deposit. In most cases, if you cancel your event, you forfeit the amount of the initial deposit. However, if your date can be rebooked, you should get you initial deposit back. But, you still might incur a cancellation fee.

Payment Method Fees.

If you choose to pay with a credit card or an online payment portal that charges a fee (sometimes, they can be up to 3%), know that the charge might be passed along to you. This is so the venue isn’t loosing the required amount needed to secure your date. Some venues may only accept checks because of this.

Other Terms and Conditions In your Wedding Venue Contract

The Details.

Read your contract thoroughly to understand even the smallest of details. For example, if you’ve always dreamed of a confetti or rice exit, your venue may not allow this. Sometimes, only flower petals, sparklers or bubbles may be used as they don’t leave any trash left to be picked up. Also, pay attention at your wedding venue tour. You may find out answers to these types of questions there as well.

Damage Deposits.

If you are required to pay a damage deposit, know that you might not get it back. We have experienced children throw rocks at string lights to shatter the bulbs, intoxicated guests damage amenities, and so on. Your contract will likely say that the client is responsible in full for the actions of all guests, outside vendors or other agents. We collect a $500 security deposit that is returned within 3 days after the event upon inspection by the venue manager.

Alcohol Policy.

This one is so important! Because service of alcohol to an intoxicated person is against the law, know that the venue reserves the right to stop service to a specific individual – or maybe even completely. If the venue is a BYOB facility, you still must have a bartender and insurance/liquor liability. And if you choose to have a dry wedding, that doesn’t mean your guests can bring their own alcohol to serve themselves.

Clauses that Protect Both Parties In your Wedding Venue Contract

Force Majeure.

This one sounds silly, but needs to be included. For this purpose, a “Force Majeure Event” means if any event occurs that is beyond the venue’s control – like a national emergency, act of war, or act of God – the venue has the right to cancel or delay your wedding. You’re thinking, “that won’t happen at my wedding,” but this clause also includes very real possibilities like an earthquake, fire, flood, severe weather, power outage or blackout. This just happened to so many couples during Hurricane Matthew!

Insurance.

Our contract suggests that wedding insurance be purchased to cover the investment of the wedding. For the amount of money that is spent on the big day, an insurance policy that protects that investment can run as low as 1% of the entire cost. If you do not closely read your contract, you may miss this helpful bit of information!

We hope these tips help you better understand your wedding venue contract! From all of us at our North Georgia venue, we hope your wedding is everything you’ve dreamed of and more. Cheers!

Tips for Making the Most of Your Wedding Floral Budget

October 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment

We Used the Same Florals to Create 4 Different Looks

When it comes to a wedding floral budget, most brides have preconceived ideas because they really don’t know what is in season and how much different flowers cost. When doing your research and searching for inspiration, you will likely find that the blooms you love most are either out of season or beyond your floral budget. And if you have peony tastes on a rose budget, that’s okay! This just means it will require some imagination to achieve the look you’re going for while staying within your budget and seasonal restraints.

Our North Georgia vintage venue teamed up with Sarah Bush Designs to show brides how they can achieve various looks within one budget, all while using the same flowers and greenery.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Wedding Floral Budget:

1. Familiarize yourself with similar swaps

Peonies are one of the most sought after flowers, but they are seasonal – much like everything else. Before you write off roses, consider the fact that because they are almost always in season, the price tag won’t be as high. Plus, there are options like the cabbage rose that offer a similar look. Sarah also loves to substitute Juliet roses for peonies, noting, “I recently had a bride who didn’t have the budget for peonies, and we were able to sub in Juliet roses to achieve her vision of soft delicate flowers throughout her bouquet. The prices of roses vary depending on the type and availability throughout the year, but they’re a great flower to start your wedding florals with.

When working with greenery, Sarah says, “I’m almost always able to find eucalyptus and deep greens to design with. I’ll occasionally run through a farmers market and grab kale, rosemary and jasmine. You’d be surprised where some of your wedding florals will come from!”

2. Opt for a few of your favorite blooms, combined with more budget-friendly options

If substituting your favorite flower simply isn’t an option, consider adding in subtle touches of what you really want (like a few peonies) with other staples or budget-friendly flowers so that you can achieve the look you want without blowing your floral budget.

“On of my favorite ways to wow on a budget is by using garlands,” Sarah shares. “Garlands are a little more time consuming, but they make a lovely statement and are a great building block for your wedding. By using a garland as your centerpiece, I’m able to stretch your desired flower further by interlacing it within the garland and having it be more of a focal flower than a flower within an arrangement. I advise all of my brides that garlands will not only wow your guests, but are a great way to save in your budget!”

3. Using neutrals as the base, with pops of color for wow-factor

This shoot was all about adding to the linens and playing up the colors of each tablescape. Think about your color palette and which color you want to really shine. Using a neutral palette to make a certain color pop is a beautiful way to bring a crisp finish to the setting. Below, Sarah elaborates on how she was able to do this.

Using the Same Florals to Create 4 Different Looks:

First, I used a lot of greenery and neutral flowers to accent each table setting. From there, it was picking one flower with a deeper tone to bring out the colors and vibrancy of the setting. For the teal setting, the simple white and ivory neutrals of the hydrangeas allowed some soft blues to shine through and keep the focus on the table. The arrangement didn’t overwhelm the tablescape, but still served as a nice focal point for the eyes.

For the blush setting, it was all about letting the garland do the work and building a blush and jewel tone centerpiece within the garland. This allowed the golden tones of the vintage china to shine through and achieve a very elegant and luxe feel to the design. Using simple spray roses and eucalyptus around the backs of the chairs brought the focus not just to the garland, but to the whole design around the table from front to back.

For the jewel tone setting, an arrangement with asymmetry and neutrals with a deep plum tone made the blues of the table setting really pop against the purple of the linen.

This same arrangement was transferred to a neutral table, and instead of pulling a certain color out of the pallet, it enhanced the crisp tones of the lace and gold silverware.

One last tip! Use the recipe of “thrillers, spillers and fillers.” By using several types of fillers and spillers to create a base and shape for the arrangement, you can bring in a few types of thriller flowers (peonies, orchids, the “wow” flowers) to create a beautiful arrangement with a great deal of variety!

Photography + Florals: Sarah Bush Designs

Linens: Graceful Tables

Vintage China: Vision Expressions

Styling + Props: Twigs and Lace

How To Ensure You Get The Wedding Photos of Your Dreams | Carrie Reagan Photography

September 20, 2017 · Leave a Comment

At our vintage industrial + parlor venue, we know that every bride wants gorgeous wedding photos! And we want them to love every single photo! After the wedding, all the couple is left with (beyond wonderful memories) are their amazing wedding photos. Our dear vendor friend Carrie, of Carrie Reagan Photography, is sharing a few tips to ensure you get the wedding photos of your dreams!

Communicate with your photographer.

While every photographer has their own style, the ultimate goal is to beautifully capture your wedding day and get all the shots that you envisioned! Don’t be afraid to tell your photographer if there’s a special shot or idea that you want. After all, this is all for you to remember your special day! If you’re on Pinterest (and who isn’t?), share your wedding board with your photographer. Even if you don’t have a “must take” photo list of images, this will help give your photographer insight into your wedding style!

Details, Details, Details.

You’ve spent months planning and preparing every little detail of this day. You put thought into every little decision, from your shoes to the invitation. So why not have beautiful photos of these details? Finishing touches like writing your vows on pretty card stock instead of on crumpled notebook paper really makes a difference. Another quick tip, make sure simple things like clothing and shoe boxes aren’t scattered over the dressing room for the getting ready photos.

First look photos.

Whether you are a traditional or modern bride, first look photos are always a great idea. It’s no longer considered bad luck to see each other before you walk down the aisle, and there are pretty big perks that go with it. It gives you a chance to have a private moment before the ceremony that can ease your nerves. Plus, it gives you more time for your wedding photos, allowing you to enjoy your ceremony and reception and ensuring you get all the photos you want!

Pre-ceremony photos.

If you decide to not do first look photos, know that the bulk of your styled photos can be taken before the ceremony. Aside from the getting ready photos, it’s nice to get as many photos as time allows before your ceremony. You will be thankful you did! Taking photos of bridesmaids, groomsmen, and any family portraits before the ceremony leave you more time to actually enjoy the day you’ve spent so much time planning for. Make sure to plan your time accordingly. Leave yourself some time for touch-ups before the ceremony.

Short on time?

If your photography contract doesn’t include coverage for your entire day, make sure you make the most of it. Chances are your photographer will be there for at least a portion of your reception. Speak to your coordinator or DJ and have all the main events of your reception scheduled within the first hour. While most couples go into the first dance after they are announced at the reception, you can follow this with special dances, toasts and cake cutting. This way you + your guests are free to party the night away without strict timelines. It’s also not uncommon to do a photo send-off well before the night is over. It’s a great way to get the most out of your wedding photographer and capture all the big moments from your day.

As a North Georgia venue, the beautiful scenery always makes for some amazing photo opportunities. We cannot get enough of gorgeous wedding photos, and we love to see couples swooning over the photos from their special day! Photographers, do you have any tips for getting the wedding photos of your dreams?

All photos by Carrie Reagan Photography