Vendor Spotlight: Piedmont Club Private Events

This week we talked to Katie Simmons, Private Events Director at Piedmont Club in Haymarket, Virginia.  Piedmont Club is the venue for the Encore Wedding Giveaway that our couple Becky and Jason won.  It is a beautiful golf course venue- check it out for your next wedding or event!  For more information you can contact Katie at 703-753-5922 ext 225 or find Piedmont online at: 

www.PiedmontClub.com
PiedmontClubPrivateEvents.blogspot.com
www.pinterest.com/piedmontclub

Tell me about your business. 

Piedmont Club is a private golf club in Haymarket, Virginia. Although we are a private club, you do not have to be a Member to host an event with us. Our ballroom can accommodate up to 180 people and has a spacious patio adjacent to it. We also have our library, which is a great space for smaller events for up to 40 people, such as rehearsal dinners or bridal showers. We only host one wedding per day so that when you rent our ballroom you have total access to the entire venue whenever you would like that day. We have menus for every occasion but also enjoy customizing packages to suit our client's specific preferences and needs for their event.

What do you enjoy most when working with a bridal couple? 

I enjoy getting to know the couple and finding out what things are most important to them so that I can help them put a personal touch on their big day. I love seeing the looks on their faces when they see the ballroom and all of their ideas come to life for the first time.

From where do you draw your inspiration? 

I think that each couple has something that makes them unique and that makes their relationship special, so finding out what is important to them and what they enjoy helps me to suggest creative ideas to personalize their wedding.

What advice do you have for brides and grooms who are in the throes of planning their wedding? 

Ask all of the questions that you need to and don't be shy when it comes to letting your vendors know how you want things for your big day. It is your wedding and your vendors should always be focused on helping you make your vision become a reality.

Thanks Katie!

Vendor Spotlight: Music Unlimited

This week we had a chance to chat with James Bazen of Music Unlimited.  Be sure to check them out for all your music needs for your next wedding or event!

Music Unlimited has been in business since 1985. We book a wide variety of bands, disc jockeys and musicians for weddings, corporate events, and private functions. In addition we book various festivals and clubs around the DC area. Over the years some our clients have included Sun Trust, Kilpatrick Stockton, the NRC, and the Carnegie Institute.

While corporate work is great I think my personal favorite is to work with couples on their wedding music. I know it can be stressful for the couple but ultimately a wedding is an occasion full of love and happiness. My job is to bring that joy and, of course, the fun out through music.

When a bridal couple first contact me I ask them questions about the music they like, the venue they have chosen, and the overall “vibe” that they want to create for their special day. Together we determine what is right for them. It doesn’t matter if it is a full 9 piece band, a DJ or musicians for the ceremony. What does matter is that they are happy.

And that is what inspires me. To see a couple starting their new life together and knowing that I helped with great ceremony music and an exciting reception full of great tunes.

Many couples get caught up in what is the “right” thing to do or the “appropriate” music to play. My advice to them is there is no “right” way to do things. It is your wedding. Whatever you want is what you should have. For example some feel that classical music is the only way to go for the ceremony. But there are other choices equally valid. One of the most popular recessionals of recent years is the Beatles “All You Need Is Love”.

Another thing that helps is if the couple keeps in mind the venue where the wedding will be held. If you 250 guests in a big hotel ballroom perhaps a DJ is not the way to go. A band might be more appropriate. Conversely if there are 50 guests in an intimate historic mansion perhaps a DJ or a duo or trio would work better.

But ultimately my advice is enjoy the planning and the buildup to the wedding. It is fun and exciting. And with the right wedding professionals like – surprise! - Music Unlimited and A Splash of Elegance the entire process will be a breeze.

Thanks James!  For more information on Music Unlimited visit their website at http://www.musicunlimited.com/.  

Interview with Cindie Reinhold of Brides & Wedding of Northern Virginia

This week we had a chance to chat with Cindie Reinhold, publisher of Brides & Weddings of Northern Virginia.  Thanks Cindie!

I publish a local magazine (Brides & Weddings of Northern Virginia), website (www.bridesandweddings.com) and a blog (Bridal News Blog, http://bridesandweddings.com/wordpress), all designed to give brides helpful planning tools and keep them up to date with what's happening on the local wedding scene - be it wedding expos, bridal salon trunk shows and sales, catering open houses or available dates with area venues.

The inspiration for my business came from seeing a need in the marketplace for a quality-oriented, local planning guide. Brides who live, work and play in NoVA wanted a wedding resource that featured the vendors in their backyard. The editorial content in Brides & Weddings quite often comes from my advertisers - they are industry professionals who want to share their knowledge and expertise with the bride. And by staying in constant touch with those wedding professionals, I am able to find items of interest (and other cool stuff) for the Bridal News Blog. And, of course, I love food, fashion and fun - that's why I'm in the wedding business.

As for advice to brides & grooms: I say find the three or four things that are really important to your wedding vision, and put your time and resources into finding the perfect vendors for those products & services. Those things are going to be different for each couple. And that's where a professional event planner comes into play. She will help you identify what's important to your vision and recommend vendors who match your needs. A savvy event planner saves time, stress - and in the long run - money.

Vendor Spotlight: Photography by Mandi

Photography by Mandi White

This week we had a chance to chat with photographer Mandi White.  For more information on her business please visit http://www.photosbymandi.com/.

Tell me about your business.

Photography by Mandi has deep roots in the DC/MD/NoVa area in 2004. I owe a great deal of my success to my early clients who trusted in my ability and saw my passion even though it was young and unrefined. I graduated from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV with an Art degree, concentrating in Photography and Digital Imagery.

What do you enjoy most when working with a bridal couple?


My favorite aspect of working with a couple is the process of getting to know them. I encourage brides to communicate as frequently as possible and keep me posted about wedding details. I love to know what is important to them along the way and share in the excitement of the planning stages of the wedding. Sneak peeks of the dress are definitely among my favorites. On the wedding day, I cannot tell you how much joy I receive when I arrive and see faces light up because I'm not just a photographer at that point; I am a friend.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
Again, it goes back to getting to know my clients and blurring the client/photographer line. The more I know about my clients, the better I will be able to document their day. While I have a definite style of photography, I rely heavily on my clients personalities and the relationship we've built to capture their day.

What advice do you have for brides and grooms who are in the throes of planning their wedding?


My number one piece of advice for my brides and grooms is this: Hire a professional wedding coordinator/consultant. No matter how small or large, your wedding day should be one of the best days of your lives. Stress should be non-existent. Hiring a professional will give you the peace of mind, and let you enjoy your perfect day.

Vendor Spotlight: Officiant Diane Stanley

This week we had a chance to chat with Officiant, Diane Stanley.  For more information on her business or to have her officiate your wedding please contact Diane at eventplan4u@cox.net.

Tell me about your business.
My business was started after my retirement from the Circuit Court of Fairfax Count. I marry couples every day of the week. I meet many interesting people and have had some very unusual weddings. I married a couple dressed as penguins and had the pleasure of officiating for two Star Wars geeks.

What do you enjoy most when working with a bridal couple?
I enjoy getting to know the couple and what brought them together.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
I draw my inspiration from my heart and from my marriage of nearly 50 years.

What advice do you have for brides and grooms who are in the throes of planning their wedding?
Don't stress about the wedding, especially the small details. Focus on your marriage and the years ahead of you.

The little things that don't go exactly as you planned for the wedding will be the things you can laugh together about later.

Thanks Diane!

Sneak Peak: Kelly and Kyle

We wanted to share a few of our non-professional photos that we snapped at Kelly and Kyle's beautiful waterfront wedding!  We will post the photographer's professional photos as soon as we receive them.

Lead Planner: Lynn Nelson
Assistant Planner: Julie Daniel
Ceremony Venue: St. Mary's Church, Alexandria, Virginia.
Reception Venue: Sequoia Restaurant, Washington, DC
Florist: Great Falls Florist