Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue

Melissa Robotti Photography

As a wedding planner, I see a lot of brides forget to ask some vital questions when considering a wedding venue. Although some are pretty obvious, like, is my date available, or how many people can the facility accommodate? There are many questions that are often forgotten and could unexpectedly increase the cost of the facility, or save the bride and groom some money if known prior to booking. Here is a list of questions I highly urge you to ask a prospective venue.

1.     How many tables and chairs does the facility provide? Obviously, if the venue does not provide enough of either tables or chairs you will have to rent those from another company. Also, if you don’t care for the chairs they provide you may want to consider renting chiavari chairs, or whatever floats your boat.

2.     What time can my vendors start arriving and setting up at the venue? Is it possible for any vendors to set up the day or night before?

3.     Do you provide any of the linens? Some venues will provide you with tablecloths and napkins, but usually they are a pretty simple white or cream, so if you are hoping to incorporate your color theme, you may want to consider renting these out.

4.     Do you provide an in-house caterer, and if so, is it still possible to use an outside caterer? Many venues will not allow you to use a caterer other than the in-house caterer if they provide that service.

5.     If I hire an outside caterer, is there a kitchen available for them to use?

6.     Do you provide tableware or will I have to rent plates and silverware?

7.     Is there a cake-cutting fee?

8.     How much is the charge for overstaying past the contracted time. Many venues will charge you a couple hundred dollars per hour you stay past.

One of the most important things to remember at a venue is there is always a tax and service charge on top of the venue’s pricing. If you don’t remember this, you will be in for a big surprise when you receive the final bill. 

~Taryn

If I Have Not Love {Devotional}

I've been reading Francis Chan's Crazy Love with my high school small group for the past few months. This is probably the third or fourth time I'm going through this book and the truth in it still blows me away. As we are reading Chan's wisdom about surrendering fully to Jesus and avoiding being a lukewarm Christian, he sneaks in a wonderfully timely tidbit about what it means to love God and love others in chapter 5.

As I read this, I'm reminded of Matthew 22:37-40 where Jesus boldly states that "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." He wasn't mincing words here. There was no hesitation in his answer to the Pharisees' question of the greatest commandment. Love is the answer.

This truth doesn't shock us anymore like it must have when Jesus first said it. I find myself asking, "Is love really more important than obeying the rules and keeping a good reputation?" The answer is 100% YES! Jesus said so. He knows, y'all. Jesus knows that love proceeds right action. When we have love for God, we obey him because it honors Him. When we have love for others, we treat them as we would want to be treated and as God has asked us to treat them. When love is our motivation, our right actions have meaning and substance. When we grow in love, our wrong actions and our wrong intentions come to light. We begin to see things through a new lens - a Jesus lens, if you will.

I want to keep developing my Jesus lens. I hope looking at love in a new way can help you with yours. I leave you with 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. I hope this transforms the way you love today!

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."

"It's Your Breath in Our Lungs..."

This song has really been on my heart lately. It’s been on repeat on my phone, iPad, and just plain singing it a cappella constantly. There’s one line in the song that really gets to me, “It’s your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise to You only.” Do we really pour out our praise to God only? 

Merrian-Webster’s Dictionary defines praise as, “to express thanks to or love and respect for; to express a favorable judgment; to glorify...” I can think of a million things that we as Christians praise, simply by our actions and how much time we devote to that specific activity or thing. But are we spending the time to praise our Heavenly Father? I'm not meaning just before our three meals a day.

Hebrews 13:15 says, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks o his name” (KJV).  I want to be known for continually praising and worshiping my Father. Not only in song, but in my every day activities, in how I interact with my husband and daughter, and my witness both in word and deed throughout the community.

I encourage you yourself to put this song on repeat and just worship our Creator for all He has done for us, and His simple action of giving us the breath in our lungs!

~Taryn

{Alex + Brendan's Wedding Video}

March 8th, 2014
Irvine Estate, VA

~*~

Watch Alex + Brendan's GORGEOUS wedding video by Five Copper Creative!!


Alex + Brendan Wedding Highlight from Five Copper Creative on Vimeo.

~*~

The Story:

From Alex, the bride's, perspective:  

"From the first light of morning breaking into my room on our wedding day I felt the joy and presence of the Lord. I woke up in the beautiful Bed & Breakfast my closest friends and I were staying in and knew it was going to be the most special day.  It has always been a dream of mine to read Psalm 45 (the Wedding Psalm) on my wedding day, to remind myself that the Lord is my husband first and that His delight in me gives me my identity; He is enthralled by our beauty every day, not just on our wedding day or when we feel most beautiful. My mom and soon to be mother-in-law joined us at the B&B and we all ate a morning meal together on a huge family style dining table.  It was such a sweet way to embrace the day- with my most loving and supportive girlfriends and family members to "be led in with joy and gladness" (v.15).  We spent time praying, crying, and rejoicing together at God's redemption in my life and marveling at how the day unfolding would be such a remarkable picture of that.  We all got ready together, took pictures, danced to whatever music was playing- it was FUN and relaxed, just as I had always hoped.

I loved the idea of honoring and connecting with family members through aspects of the wedding.  My mom gave me beautiful, delicate gold earrings to wear as her and my dad's wedding gift to me. I attached a brooch that I inherited from my grandma after she passed away onto the front of my bouquet- she always wore her beloved pendants proudly.  And my Nana gave me a necklace to wear that has been worn by every bride on my Dad's side of the family for four generations. I felt honored to be included in that tradition!  Brendan and I decided not to do a first look.  We liked the idea of the patient anticipation and sheer emotion that would be raw on the aisle. I think we are a bit more traditional than we thought--except we did decide to offer whiskey toasts instead of champagne, so who knows.  

Looking back, I cherish our ceremony immensely.  Our minister is a good friend of ours and spoke truth of the Gospel in the most incredible way.  And was not afraid to throw in a few jokes here and there! Laughter made his message even more endearing.  He built his message on three aspects of our marriage which are really pictures of our life with Christ lived out: take my name, take my heart, and take my body.  All concepts which are encompassed in marriage, but more so gifts given to us by Jesus Himself…His name, His heart, and His body. I saw Jesus so much in Brendan's vows to me.  He echoed God's promises to me beautifully, "I vow to never leave you, never desert you, and never divorce you. In sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, I will never leave you no matter what."  I loved his twist on the traditional vows, that's so him, so us.    

My mom did the most amazing job orchestrating the decorations of our venue.  Every detail was thoughtfully displayed -- each handmade welcome bag for the overnight guests made with love and gifts of hospitality, every centerpiece encompassed aspects of Brendan and my relationship.  We wanted to invite people in, make them feel loved and appreciated.  Instead of table numbers, we named each table after a memory we have so that people would get to know us better and feel as though they were a part of our story, because they absolutely are!   

The rest of the night was the most joyous blur.  I was astonished at seeing many familiar faces that were faintly different after years of separation, all smiling, laughing, celebrating with us.  We ate delicious food, visited with incredible friends and family, and danced with abandon. At one point our crazy friends decided to throw Brendan in the air!…and then me!…and then MY MOM! When I remember our wedding day, I remember the joy and life we experienced in God's love expressed through each other and the people we love.  People traveled from all over the world simply to be a part of our most favorite day; and that's not to boast in ourselves…Jesus brought them to hear His truth and see His love fleshed out in two messy sinners who happen to be in love. Gosh, He is so sweet to us."

~*~

Thank you so much Alex+Brendan for sharing your day with us! It was absolutely beautiful! I don't even know you and I cried during your vows!! I can tell it was such a joyful day. :) And Alex, you are such an eloquent writer!

Thanks to the insanely talented Amanda from Five Copper Creative for submitting this film!

~Joie Mag Team

{Wedding Music}

I have been anxiously awaiting a time to post a blog about WEDDING MUSIC. Y'all, the time is now! As a semi-experienced wedding singer, I have sung my fair share of cheesy love songs amidst candle-lightings, walks down the aisle, and first-dancing. Some I've loved, some I've hated. All I've sung with a large smile and twinkle in my eye. Today, you get a look into some of the favorites I've already done and some I'm itching to do in the future. Plus, hear a couple I've even written!

1. I Choose You by Sara Bareilles 

For those that want a zingy processional or recessional, look no further than this peppy but totally adorable ode to true love and the forever choice of a life partner. 

"We are not perfect, we'll learn from our mistakes and as long as it takes I will prove my love to you. I am not scared of the elements. I am underprepared, but I am willing, and even better, I get to be the other half of you."

2. When You Say You Love Me by Josh Groban

First of all, this man is majestic. More importantly, this song is PERFECT for a first dance. Just imagine gazing into each other's eyes while Josh so sweetly lulls you into your own little world of two. Cheesy, but so accurate. 

"And this journey that we're on, how far we've come and I celebrate every moment. When you say you love me, that's all you have to say. I'll always feel this way."

3. Then by Brad Paisley

For you country loving folk, this song is tear-worthy. I love how it celebrates the journey of meeting, dating, and engagement - and then forever together! This is also wonderful for a first dance. 

"Now you're my whole life, now you're my whole world. I just can't believe the way I feel about you. Like a river meets the sea stronger than it's ever been, we've come so far since that day. And I thought I loved you then." 

4. What Can I Do (But Love You) by Joy Williams

This is a gem. Very sweet and simple, but lovely to fill the silence while exchanging rings or lighting a unity candle. 

"Now I've got someone to hold, to keep me warm when life gets cold, a little sun to melt away the gray. It happened in the nick of time, unexpected sweet surprise, with one hello I'll never be the same."

5. Lifetime by Steve Moakler

Also fantastic for a special moment mid-service, this incredible Steve Moakler song has some beautiful truth about the choice it is to promise another love forever. 

"My soul can breathe in your love. I know I come alive in your touch and I won't let go. It will take a lifetime to know all of the love I have to give you."

6. Shameless plug. You can check out Our Love or Always We by yours truly. 

They aren't perfect recordings but you get an idea of the song! :) 

Hope this inspires you to think outside the box when choosing music for your special day! Happy listening. 

<3 sarah 

{Colossians 4:6}

Getting honest here. Yesterday morning was not a graceful morning for me. My words were not nice. They were sharp and judging. They were just plain mean. When I picked up my Bible, Colossians 4:6 was the first verse I read, and it was a very humbling wake-up call. I immediately texted my husband and asked for forgiveness, which he willingly gave.

There are so many verses in the Bible about how words either speak life or speak destruction. And after yesterday, I get it. It's so true that what we say directly effects who we are talking to - or talking about. Let's let this Bible verse be a reminder to us all to think before we speak, and let our words be filled with grace.

~ Stephanie

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5 Days in Scripture // 30 Day Scripture Challenge Update

I've spent the last 5 mornings making a deliberate choice to spend time reading God's word. And it's been really refreshing. I've been reading mainly in Psalms, but today I wandered over to James 5. 

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Sing songs of praise." James 5:13

I think most of us pray when things aren't going the way we expected... and that's great, the Bible tells us to do that! But how often do we sing songs of praise when we're happy? Like actually sing out loud! To praise Jesus! I'm going to make a point of doing that more often!

If you're interested in joining the 30 Day Scripture Challenge, you should check out the hashtag #lampandlight on Instagram. Don't worry about starting 5 days late, just continue 5 days into June! And, well, forever. :) 

~ Stephanie 

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