Stay Calm and Plan On

Drink Stirrers – This throw-away item is a great touch to help personalize your day. There are a few varieties, but generally they are about five inches long with personalized signs on a little rectangle or heart at the top. Bartenders then put one in each drink.

Mints – Personalized mints with the couple’s names or the shared new name are a nice touch on a dessert table, the dinner tables or in the reception area. A recently popular idea is to place a basket of forgotten items in the bathrooms for guests, such as travel deodorant, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, and combs or brushes, and mints are a great addition.

Buying Wedding Favors

This is where wedding favors get tricky, so keep some things in mind: 1. Where you buy can make a huge difference in your experience. I highly recommend finding a brick-and-mortar company in your area. With an overwhelming selection of options, art guidelines, and delivery times, having a real person you can meet with and call when necessary provides comfort and accessible answers. Local trophy shops are a great choice because they carry these items and regularly handle lots of personalization.

2. Art and design can be a challenge. Unless you are a graphic designer, you will probably need assistance creating the final art. Most vendors are willing to help. All you do is decide initially what you want and then approve the final proof. There’s no need to be intimidated - the vendor is there for you.

3. Production times vary depending on what company you choose. If you buy from a local store, most of these products will be manufactured overseas, then printed in the U.S., and production time is usually 1-3 weeks. If you buy through a website, these items are often made and printed overseas and, between production and shipping, delivery can run from three weeks to never arriving. Supply chain and shipping issues are very real in this sector. This is another great reason to find a local vendor.

4. Minimum order quantities vary, but a good rule of thumb is roughly $200 for each item. So, if you are buying $1.50 can coolies, the minimum will likely be around 150. If you are buying $20 custom umbrellas, the minimum will probably be 10.

5. There will be a set-up

charge, whether for silk screens or production, and it’s usually about $30$50. This charge isn’t from your vendor, but from the manufacturer they use. If you are buying online and it says “no set-up charge,” rest assured there is a set-up charge. They are just adding it to the price of each item.

6. Some vendors may charge for shipping from

the factory to the local store. Sometimes the shipping cost is broken out separately and sometimes it is included in the price of the item.

This may feel like a lot, but the vendors are there to help you decide on the right product, create a great design, and get the items in time for the big day. You get to create fun personal touches for your wedding without breaking the bank.

Ken Hansen is the owner of Crown Trophy Richmond. He and Crown Trophy have been serving the RVA wedding community for 20 years and specialize in wedding favors and personalized gifts. Call Ken or any of the great people at Crown Trophy at 804-262-1000. Over 50+ Flavors of Handmade Fresh Gourmet Popcorn Custom Labeled Wedding Favors Welcome Bag Gifts | Large Orders Welcome

northernneckpopcornbag.com King of Pops makes a great treat for your guests!

Always thoughtful ingredients Prepackaged and safe Gluten-free, vegan and dairy free available Full service + drop off options

kristen.walker@kingofpops.com 804.350.4400 | @kop_richmond

Your Date is Not Available! Now What?

By Tommy Waters

The wedding world is still reeling from the monumentally difficult task of trying to stay above water and dealing with a year (or more) of having little to no income. The one thing that has continued to be proven true is that even though Covid shut down the wedding industry, couples still wanted to get married.

This current wedding season is one of the busiest that has ever been seen. The fact that the industry has become so busy, and complicated, is due to everyone trying to reschedule, while newly engaged couples are also looking at the same open dates. This flood of interest has left many throwing their hands up in the air with frustration.

But fear not, as long as you are patient and have a little flexibility, you may be able to find the perfect date. (And maybe even save a little money in the process!)

One quick way to redirect your investigation is to consider non-peak days such as Friday or Sunday. Those may not be your first choice, but there could be more availability and possibly less expensive. With most Saturdays being booked, many vendors may offer better-than-average rates. Fridays and Sundays are a perfect way to make everyone happy.

Don’t be afraid to ask your venue what is available. If your preferred date is already booked, most wedding vendors will bend over backward to find another date if you ask!

So don’t give up. Think about Fridays and Sundays, ask vendors what they have available, consider a different month, and keep options open. You will find the right date for sure!

Thomas (everyone calls him Tommy) Waters is with The Renaissance, an all-inclusive wedding ceremony and reception venue based in downtown Richmond’s exciting Arts District. To learn more about The Renaissance, please visit www.renaissanceva.com.

venues &5 accommodations

Let's help you find the perfect venue. Whether you desire intimate and whimsical or grand and glam, your dream venue is out there! This section will help you plan everything from your rehearsal dinner to reception. It can seem like there is so much to do, but don't worry! We've got your back. Check out our handy Venue Directory at the end of this section to keep you on track and break down all the important info you need to know!

wedding countdown

12-18 MONTHS Nail down your reception venue 10-12 MONTHS Choose & book a ceremony venue if separate from your reception location

Next Stop Your Perfect Venue

Catch Motion Studio Kimie James Photography Aurelia Studios Kimie James Photography

The harmonization of new and old, perfectly coming together into a venue unlike any other.

By Marissa McCormick Jordan

When an engaged couple tours Main Street Station, it’s usually the same process. They come in curious to see the venue, then once they see the gorgeous bare bones and unique city feel, their jaws drop and they can picture their wedding vision immediately.

It’s the middle of wedding season and the Richmond Weddings™ Team is sitting with Crystal Lowery, Events Manager at Main Street Station, the woman responsible for helping make city nuptial dreams come true. If you haven’t seen the shed of Main Street Station before, prepare to be wowed. Trains silently breeze by the glass box and are the perfect complement to the unique industrial feel. The concrete floors reflect the recessed lights above and give a dull reflection of the absolutely breathtaking ceiling. Exposed metal beams, the only thing left from the original building, harmonize with new wooden ones, creating that perfect balance of new and old.

Alluding to the jaw drops of touring couples, Crystal explains, “The space really has that effect!” Bring in an experienced wedding planner, and it will transform into whatever vision you’d like.

The train shed, roughly the length of two football fields can turn your wedding into a set of experiences. Break up the length by drapes, opening a section for each part of your celebration. Start with your ceremony at the front, then open a pair of drapes to high tops and a bar for your cocktail hour. Continue to your reception, eventually ending at the back of the shed with your band and dance floor. Dance the night away with your closest family and friends with the Richmond city lights as your backdrop. While the shed of Main Street Station is obviously impressive, it’s the Head House, an event space at the front of the building that hosts most of their weddings.

The Head House, which can accommodate up to 200 guests, is where you feel Main Street Station’s history. The Renaissance architecture from 1901 transports you to an older time in Richmond’s history. With two side rooms with exquisite details, one gets that old city feel when climbing the stairs to the event space. Encased on the outside with brick, the Head House is superbly intimate, and just like the expansive train shed, can be transformed into anything you’d like. Crystal explains, “We had one wedding have their ceremony in the Head House, and then everyone came down to the lower level for the cocktail hour as the catering company switched the room over into a beautiful reception.” A quaint and almost secretive balcony sits adjacent to the room, the perfect escape for you and your guests to get that breath of fresh air while looking over Main Street.

Main Street Station, in all its parts, is beautiful on its own. You don’t really need too much decor, the space speaks for itself. Completely unique and unlike any other spot on the East Coast, you can create your wedding vision. From the highway, your guests will be impressed. The glass shed and original clock tower standing tall against the backdrop of Shockoe Bottom.

The clock tower was the palate for the entire building and made an appearance on national television in 2018. When Richmond was named one of the cities in season 14 of ABC’s The Bachelorette, the Main Street Station team knew the lucky couple had to come to the Station. The couple had their date in the empty train shed and then sealed the deal with a kiss on the top of the clock tower.

Large floor to ceiling windows let in loads of light, giving you the feeling of being outside, without having to worry about the weather. Since the entire train station is climate controlled, it doesn’t matter if you’re getting married on a snowy February Saturday or the hottest day in August, your experience inside of Main Street Station will be just as spectacular.

When getting married at Main Street Station, there’s the sense of being part of an integral part of Richmond. Known as “The Welcome Mat of Richmond,” Main Street Station is bringing an exquisite air to the River City. The harmonization of new and old, perfectly coming together into a venue unlike any other. Transport your guests to a wedding experience they’ve never had before without losing that sense of YOU on your big day.

Main Street Station has been a landmark in Downtown Richmond since 1901. The station offers two event spaces, perfect for any size. For more information and booking inquiries please call: (804) 646-1862 www.MainStreetStationRichmond.com 1500 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219