How to Plan a Laurel Falls Asheville Wedding
Have you been considering Laurel Falls, Asheville as your wedding venue?
As a resident of North Carolina (and a wedding photographer) finding and shooting at incredible wedding venues is one of my favorite things to do, and of course to recommend my top spots to others as well!
I recently had the opportunity to shoot a wedding at Laurel Falls and I fell absolutely head over heels for this venue again when I was selecting the photos that I’ve added to this blog for you to see.
Laurel Falls promises to provide you with a unique experience that will immerse you in the gorgeous mountains and wildlife of Western North Carolina.
If this is something you know that you want – read on to discover more about Laurel Falls!
But this isn’t just a blog about Laurel Falls – I’m also sharing with you what you need to know about hiring the right vendors for your wedding day and what to do if you find yourself in a position where it rains on your wedding day. Plus, I’m also showing off the most gorgeous photos from Julia & Nate’s wedding I shot at Laurel Falls this past May.
Why?
Because both of these were significant at the most recent wedding I photographed at Laurel Falls and I know will help you as you plan your own wedding day as well.
So let’s get into it!
Why You Should Choose Laurel Falls, Asheville for Your Wedding
If you’re not familiar with Laurel Falls you’re probably wondering where it even is…
The great news is that Laurel Falls is conveniently located just a few minutes outside of Asheville and just minutes from downtown.
But that’s just one layer of the cake!
Laurel Falls has so much to offer as it is an incredibly unique venue that boasts a waterfall, panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a 1920s-era private estate on the property, and so much more!
Here are some additional features/amenities that the property offers –
A hot tub with a waterfall overlook
Private nature trail
1 fire pit with on-site firewood
2 gas grills
Outdoor WiFi in select areas
Multiple outdoor decks, porches, and patios
Outdoor Lighting
And all of their cabins have:
High-speed WiFi
Smart TV and YouTube TV
Central Heat and A/C
Fully equipped kitchen
Washer and Dryer
For more information and details on Laurel Falls, you can read more directly on their website here.
And so you can see for yourself what Laurel Falls looks like from behind-the-lens of a wedding photographer check out these photos of Julia and Nate at Laurel Falls for their wedding.
The venue perfectly reflected their love for the outdoors, hiking, and Western North Carolina. Through these photos, you can see the joy and love that radiates from Julia and Nate on their wedding day.
Laurel Falls is perfect for you if you want nature to be the backdrop for your special day and want to be whisked away to a wedding venue that shares your love of adventure and scenic beauty that can’t be easily replicated.
How You Can Hire the Right Vendors for Your Wedding Day
Julia and Nate choose the perfect vendors for their wedding day at Laurel Falls – and you might be worried about who exactly you’re hiring for your own wedding day, but this is something that I don’t want you to get too stressed out over. There are ways to make sure you and your partner find the perfect vendor that matches your energy and is equally as invested in your wedding day as you are.
So let’s talk about it…
How do you choose the right vendors for your wedding day?
First, schedule calls with potential vendors.
I want you to do this with all the people you’re considering so you can get to know them and learn right away if you work well together.
Let’s look at this from the perspective of choosing a wedding photographer.
For example, when a couple sends me an inquiry for their wedding day I always schedule a phone call or a Zoom call with them.
This is incredibly important because it’s during this discovery call that you are going to figure out if you and the photographer are a good fit together. I know weddings are an investment for every couple, even if it’s a big or smaller wedding, you’re spending your money, time and energy on something very important.
I understand this and understand that my services are an investment, scheduling a phone call or Zoom helps me establish a better connection with the couples I’m serving. It means a lot to me to be able to see your face and interact with you on a deeper level so we can know by the end of the call if we are a good fit or not.
Remember, you spend so much time with your photographer and you depend on us to capture all magical moments and be one step ahead of the schedule to anticipate the stolen glances, kisses and perfect candids.
Scheduling calls with all of your vendors will ensure that you understand their personality and style as well as their communication skills so that you can find the perfect fit for you
Next, ask the right questions!
You’ve narrowed down and scheduled your calls with the list of vendors you’re considering.
Now that you’re planning to talk with them make sure you have a list prepared ahead of time of questions to ask them.
Some of my personal recommendations, specifically to ask your wedding photographer, are –
Can we see a full gallery of a recent wedding?
How would you describe your photography style?
Have you shot at our venue before?
How do you handle the timeline of the wedding day?
These are just a few examples of questions you could ask a wedding photographer but remember to create personalized questions for each vendor you’re considering so you can get a full picture of if they will give you what you want.
Final tip, check their references.
If you can try and get in touch with past clients of the vendors so you can ask them more about their experience and the quality of their services too! You can always read their Google Reviews on their business page and or see what other vendors have to say about them. Word of mouth is a powerful networking tool for wedding vendors!
Remember, the goal for any couple on their wedding day is to do two things: get married and have fun! Sounds easy, right?
The goal for vendors on your wedding day is almost the same thing: to get you both married and make sure you have fun!
Sounds like we’re working on a common goal, right?
Making sure you have the right vendors for your wedding day that you vibe and connect with is imperative to ensuring your wedding day is perfect.
As a wedding photographer, I make sure that you and your partner enjoy your day and the photo-taking experience during your wedding.
Photography definitely moves along the wedding day quickly but I know you don’t want to spend all day taking photos away from your guests and family.
One of the ways that I help with this is by providing my couples with a photo timeline before their wedding day that corresponds with your wedding coordinator’s overall timeline.
Together we collaborate on this timeline via a phone call that allows us to have a discussion about your wedding day and talk through how photos will take place throughout. Trust me after this phone call you’ll have a much better idea of how your wedding day will go and how photography will play out through the day. My couples always feel a sense of relief once we come up with their personalized photo timeline!
Remember, with all the other vendors you hire for your wedding day, every one of them is a huge investment into your special day and you want us to be just as invested in making sure your day goes something.
For Julia and Nate, they chose Laurel Falls as their venue because it matched their love for nature and Western North Carolina. They also provided lodging for them and the guests on the property!
They also hired Carolina Love Events for planning and coordination because they always do a superb job of working with their couples as well as other vendors and guests during the wedding. They hired Homegrown Catering which provided a delicious all-vegan burger and taco bar for the vegan couple
All of these vendors were vetted by Julia and Nate and offered exactly what they were looking for which is why they were the perfect vendors!
What to do if it Rains on Your Wedding Day
Speaking of vendors and choosing the right ones – this all comes into play when it comes to weather.
*deep breath* Rain.
The most dreaded thing on a wedding day since the first wedding got rained on.
But if you have the right vendors by your side I promise you that this will not be a problem at all – so make sure you also ask your vendors about their action plans when it comes to weather!
In my years of being a wedding photographer I have dealt with expected rain, unexpected rain and even power outages due to storms but rain has never ruined a wedding day, stopped the couple from getting married or prevented me from taking beautiful photos.
My approach for inclement weather on your wedding day is to keep documenting the day as it unfolds. If it rains, it’s a part of your day and it will become something magical you’ll look back on years later!
Also, just so you know it’s actually commonly believed that rain on your wedding day means good luck!
But regardless I understand, no one wants it to rain on their wedding day.
My couples trust me to still do my job no matter the weather because I offer creative solutions and am prepared for the unexpected.
Tips for if it rains on your wedding day
Always have a backup plan if it rains (multiple ceremony locations)
Make sure your venue has umbrellas for guests if needed
Just focus on the ceremony and everything else will fall into place
Wear waterproof makeup
Embrace the rain!
Don’t look at the weather on the day of, just enjoy the day as it unfolds and trust your vendors.
If it happens to rain on your wedding day just remember that it doesn’t have to ruin your special day.
There are always ways to work around and with the rain and your vendors are also there to assist and support you to still help make everything run as smoothly as possible.
What Makes Every Wedding Photographer Happy
I love it when the couples I’m photographing stop worrying and trust their photographer to capture their day perfectly.
It allows me to focus on my artistry and get the perfect shots at the perfect moment.
I also love it when I’m able to have a good time with the couple and their wedding day.
It goes a long way if we’re able to laugh and have a great time together while taking photos. I want to bring out the best in you and your partner so I can capture the best photos!
There’s a lot that happens on any wedding day and the years I’ve been photographing weddings have provided me with clear insight on how weddings should go, how long certain photos should take and where we should take them.
At Laurel Falls there was no shortage of gorgeous locations at the venue so getting photos of Julia and Nate was a no-brainer.
Final Thoughts: Laurel Falls, Asheville
I know that was a lot of information, but I hope after reading this not only that you learned more about the beautiful wedding venue in North Carolina that is Laurel Falls, Asheville but also that this post helped alleviate some of your worries about weather and wedding vendors!
Rain or shine, just remember to find wedding vendors who are committed to making your wedding dreams come true. And if it happens to rain on your wedding day, there are always ways to take action and ensure your day remains beautiful and memorable.
Also…
If are still looking for the perfect photographer to capture your dream wedding here in Asheville, North Carolina You can click here to learn more about my wedding photography services or you can head over here to get in touch and start planning your dream wedding!
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