Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been filling your feeds with romantic stories, dreamy venues, and boss vendors. Today, we want to speak directly to those thinking about, or currently planning a wedding in Western North Carolina. We present to you the Asheville Wedding Cheat Sheet. Dah da da daaahhh!!
We’ve put together 3 top tips from our brides and coordinators, as well as thrown in 3 additional vendors that we think are quintessentially Asheville.
TIPS:
- From AVL Wedding Bride: Linda Senyo,
“Hire a wedding planner, even if it is just for the day of. You will be happy you did!”
There are some places to cut corners, and others where you shouldn’t. The happiest day of your life doesn’t have to be wasted away with stress and organization. As Linda says, do yourself a favor and hire someone else to deal with all that crap.
2. From AVL Wedding Bride: Ali Whitman,
“I feel like we budgeted very wisely; but, I’m also likely to be organized and get bargains. So I saved a lot of money doing things myself, and hunting deals. We also tapped into friends and acquaintances for a good portion of our services, which aided our budget.”
An important fact we have stubbornly clung to throughout this series is that you don’t have to refinance your life to achieve your ultimate wedding fantasies. Be creative. Get resourceful. Don’t be too proud to ask for help. Everyone loves to be involved with weddings so be sure to tap into your tribe.
3. From AVL Wedding Coach: Emmaleigh Argonauta “While the bulk of my work with couples focuses on strengthening effective communication skills to healthily manage the stress of wedding planning, I also provide some basic planning and coordination tools, budgeting assistance, and help with research or referrals and styling.”
If you’re planning a wedding in Asheville, especially if it’s a destination wedding, you need to find good local assistance. Bargain hunting and creative improvisation can be difficult when you are already under so much stress. However, good help isn’t hard to find. Do a little delegating, let someone else sniff out deals and vendors, and you can spend more time and energy enjoying the anticipation of your big day!
VENDORS WE LOVE:
1. Jack’s ’47 Dodge.
Yes, it’s a truck; but it’s so much more than that. You can’t have a quintessential “Asheville” wedding without serving up some craft beer. Soooo, it’s a truck AND a tap.It also provides the perfect rustic backdrop for any rehearsal or reception (not to mention pictures). Not sure which beers/ciders/wines to choose for your event? No problem. Bryce (great, great-grandson of “Jack” and restorer of his 47 (Dodge) is happy to make recommendations based on the vast research he has put into local products. He’s even creating a video series to help planners along the way.
2. Folk + Wayfarer Wedding Photography
Throughout this series, we have harped on the fact that low-budget can still equal big magic for a wedding. The one area we wouldn’t recommend penny- pinching is on the photography. Go for quality, go for drama.
That’s why we are recommending Folk + Wayfarer, a dynamic duo made up of Tessa and Chris.They’re parents and travel bugs, and photography allows them to do both.Instead of a bunch of photos of posed people, Tessa and Chris prefer to capture the more candid and emotional moments of a wedding. That’s why you won’t find many staged images on their site. Tessa says, “I think the secret to capturing the best moments at a wedding is to be involved.” Their personal touch and style are what sets this team apart from the competition, and why we have fallen in love with their Instagram.
Also, love the featured image of this post? Yup that’s from them too!
Ladies and Gentlemen, this one got us right in the feels. Megan Johnson is a single mother, and a boss babe. She started her Asheville-based business as a means to spend more time with her daughter. As the owner of Carolina Music Planner, she connects couples with the musical talent they need. Whether it’s a great local band for the reception, or a string ensemble for the ceremony and cocktail hour, Megan has the contacts and expertise to ensure a high-quality performance every time. And don’t worry, she makes sure the couple gets a fair price, and the performers receive a fair pay. Talk about taking the stress out of planning.
For any and all comments and questions, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line. Let us know how we’re doing! The wedding series is almost over (thank goodness, we’re tired from trying to keep up) so be sure you don’t miss the finale!