Mia Crump

Burying the Bourbon for Clear Skies (& a bright future)

March 15, 2025 by Mia Crump

Why do we bury the bourbon?

This Southern wedding tradition, while very common, is rooted in mystique. No one knows exactly where it originated, though many believe it to have emerged in Kentucky, where bourbon production is almost hand in hand with state culture. Whatever the true roots, we know one thing for sure – Any wedding planner or photographer in the South who’s even a little superstitious has a story about bourbon warding off rain.

Legend has it that burying a bottle of bourbon upside down thirty day before your wedding day brings clear skies on your special day. Digging it up and toasting together after your ceremony will bring longevity & lifelong happiness to your marriage.

Because so many wedding ceremonies take place outside in Virginia, it’s no surprise that many couples buy into the superstition behind the tradition. You may as well, right?

I’ve seen this work countless times, but the best, most clutch moment was June of 2023. As our bride, the ever stunning-even-under-emminent-gray-skies Tucker, finished her hair & makeup at Farmington Country Club and stepped outside for photos with Katie Lewis, thunder rumbled ominously and gray clouds steamrolled in, truly like a scene from a movie. We all kept our cool,

because after all, the bourbon had been buried–surely things would turn around!

Sure enough, a quintessential Virginia summer thunderstorm raged through the area for about 15 minutes, while our bride, groom & wedding party were safely under cover. The humidity broke and the skies cleared, again, almost unrealistically, like a scene from a movie.

Our ceremony took place indoors, and by the time guests were out at cocktail hour, Tucker & Billy and dug up their bourbon and toasted the success of this Southern wedding tradition.

That’s not to say bourbon is everyone’s cup of tea, though it does bring folks together for a celebratory toast. I’m ever charmed by this shot by Hunter & Sarah Photography of our gorgeous bride Michelle, moments after she married her high school sweetheart Andy at their family’s estate in October 2024.

Here’s how to bury the bourbon, according to superstition:

Go to your ceremony location 30 days before your wedding date.
Bury an unopened bottle of bourbon upside down (pro tip: wrap it in a plastic bag so you don’t find yourself opening a very dirty bottle of bourbon in a month!)
Enjoy sunny skies on your wedding day!
Dig up the bourbon after your ceremony and toast with each other, or invite your wedding party to join in the fun!

2025 Wedding Trends Hot Take

January 1, 2025 by Mia Crump

What’s trending for 2025 weddings?

We’re counting down our faves.

Part of the fun of wedding planning is that you’re getting married NOW. This is YOUR year, and while we aim for all our weddings to be timeless in that they will age well (we never want you cringing looking back on photos), it’s super fun to embrace things that are hot right now. Especially when the trends

in 2025 are geared toward expressing yourselves through your wedding design & celebration, and toward your guests having such an epic time they’ll be raving about your wedding for years to come! So, grab your favorite bevvy and enjoy reading about our Top Ten Favorite Wedding Trends for 2025.

10. Retro Cakes

These hit 2024 wedding desserts like a wrecking ball, and I predict it’s here to stay. I think we are seeing a resurgence of classic tiered wedding cakes, but with a twist–Cakes are true works of art and a centerpiece of the wedding design. We are also jazzed about exciting twists on the wedding cake tradition like the Italian millefoglie.

9. The Arch Shape & Natural architectural design elements

The arch shape and soft, rounded edges in general are here to stay. Plus, we are seeing fun shapes & diecuts coming into stationery as well! My favorite detail that harkens to natural elements from one of our upcoming 2025 weddings? Soap stone table numbers & bar signs.

8. Bold Color Palettes are here to stay

Mocha Mousse is the Pantone color the year, and she’s earthy, chill, and oh so chic. Meanwhile Verona Sunset is the Brides x Minted color of the year, and she’s bold, vibrant, and here to express herself. My favorite palette from one of our 2025 weddings? Sage & lavender with jewel pops. Whatever your vibe is, make it yours and let us guide you toward something that will make a statement AND age well. It’s a fine, very chic & fabulous line. Put a bold color palette in a petal bar and I’m yours.

7. Statement lighting

I talk about lighting SO much! Aside from the SIX walls of your reception, this may be the most important element along with florals. But seriously, lighting is everything. It greatly affects the ambience and the vibe inside a reception space. I’m loving statement lighting (beyond cutie lamps–more on that below) hanging from tent ceilings, and inside draped reception spaces. Rattan lanterns are having a moment in 2025, as well as intricate lighting designs above dance floors, bars, and head tables.

6. Immersive Experiences

2025 is the year of doing you and doing you a little EXTRA. See also our fabulous blog on making it extra for fun ideas on how to spice up your guest experience. This one is a honed in take on making it extra–Immersive guest experiences. We are talking anything & everything that is SO you, and SO not a typical wedding trope. Culinary performances, tarot readings, favors made on site…You get the vibe.

5. Statement Bars & Statement Dance Floors

Custom. Bespoke. Just for you. A bar with your monogram, a dance floor of flowers & butterflies, wall paper inlaid in the front of a wrap around bar…The ideas are endless, the statement is priceless.

4. Draping

This is such a vibe and I’m here for it, and excitedly designing a few of our 2025 weddings to feature draping that transforms a space. Draping is playing dressup for the ceiling & walls, and can bring cohesion to a design and literally transform a space from basic to next level.

3. Ruffles

The ruffle silhouette is having a moment, and as she should. This shape is delicate and playful, yet can still pop off as elegant & refined. I’m loving it in place settings, statement furniture, and even in lighting. This fun & flirty trend works in neutrals & in color.

2. Lamps

We are loving lamps on bars and as part of tablescapes alongside candles.There’s also something to be said for lamps in lounge spaces and overhanging bars. Bringing elements of “home” with a luxe twist, inviting guests into the space to stay awhile, relax, enjoy the experience of your wedding.

1. Last but not least of the 2025 wedding trends: Making it yours!!

It’s 2025, people. We are bold, we are ourselves, we are real, we are beautiful. And this includes at our weddings. Gone (and so dead) are the days of doing things just because “that’s what you do at weddings,” like me doing a garter toss at mine in 2016. (**An aside hot take–IMO, the garter toss is dead, BUT if it’s you, be true to it!) Gone are the days of conforming to tradition. It’s literally YOUR era, so live it up, and be true to yourselves & your love story!

Make it Extra: Level up your guest experience

December 15, 2024 by Mia Crump

I always tell couples that guests should walk into your wedding and think “that’s so them.” Your wedding shouldn’t feel like just anyone’s cut & paste. It should feel authentic; visual elements should tell your love story; experiences throughout the day should be things that matter to you. I’m loving the direction weddings have taken over the last few years — out-of-the-box, intentional, & exciting new immersive activities are coming to the forefront, as we are seeing couples prioritizing guest experiences & quality time with their gathered guests. Here’s a few out-of-the-box ideas that are sure to leave your guests talking about your wedding for years to come!

Permanent Jewelry

How fun would it be to know your guests left your wedding with something permanent to remember the day by? Permanent jewelry is usually super thin link bracelets, often in gold, that are sized perfectly for each individual and don’t have a clasp. I see this in a wedding day as a fun cocktail hour activity or late night vibe, think in a gorgeous lounge space set near the bar at your reception.

Guest Portraits

Preferably with a super unique & fun backdrop, courtesy of a pop-up design company like Parlor the Studio. Here’s my key stance on this: How often are any of us dressed to the nines, in full celebration mode? It’s such a nice gesture to acknowledge the effort your guests put into being present for your day – from finding childcare or a petsitter, to traveling from afar to be in attendance – not to mention getting all dressed up. What a gift for your loved ones to walk away with professional portraits, freezing in time the memory of your wedding celebration.

Tiny Tattoos

As an avid tattooed creative, this one is super fun in my eyes. There’s a sidebar to be said for the fact that I’m a big fan of tattoos with meaning, all of mine tell a story from some moment or chapter in my life. But, the same could be said of a tiny tattoo procured at a wedding! Would I do it if I was a guest? Definitely! I’ll also note how incredibly important it would be to find an artist whom you trust to create a safe environment for this! Somewhere, there’s a blurred line of elegance & over the top fun that I think would strike a super cool balance.

Tarot Readings

Just yes. What fun. It’s something so many people can get into, from so many different backgrounds. You can buy in or not, but it’s still a fun experience! Add a craft cocktail (with or without alcohol) of interesting aromatics, and this feels like the ultimate cocktail hour experience, I’m picturing it outside among cushy velvet pillows & ethereal floral arrangements. I could also see this one hit late night vibes.

Culinary Emersions

Here’s just a few we’ve curated lately, or are planning for 2025:

Oyster bar
Create your own crab cake
Cannoli piping on the dance floor
Late night bites passed on the dance floor (a few recent faves include tot nachos, hot pretzels, ice cream sandwiches, and hush puppies)
Build your own pasta chef-manned station
Aperol Spritz bar

Tini Towers

Champagne towers will always be a classic for me–a stack of 30 crystal coupes filled with bubbles is just a yes. But it doesn’t have to stop there! This year we’ve vibed with espresso martini towers, dirty martini towers, and Aperol spritz towers, as well as a few class champagne towers (one with sabered bottles!)

Etched Glass

A favor guests will actually use! Engraved onsite for your guests as a keepsake, whether with your wedding crest, date, names…or whatever your guests choose! Either way, a fun take-home treasure that guests are sure to enjoy!

The Vibe Check: Finding Your Perfect Team

December 4, 2024 by Mia Crump

The Vendor Vibe Check (& Who to Hire First!)

Yay! You’re engaged! Now what? It’s a fast spiral from super excited to absolutely panicking as you realize the daunting to do list that now stretches out before you. So, who should you book first, and why? First off, your planner (hi, it’s me!) is the most crucial piece of the puzzle. We have the connections to build a team that is best suited to YOU, your priorities, your budget, your style, aesthetic, ALL. THE. THINGS. And, we know who to call and when.

When it comes to booking your vendor team, we all know the vibe has to be there. That initial consultation call, especially with your planner and your photography/cinema team, should feel like a conversation with an old friend. You should feel comfortable, seen, and instantly connected. And you should leave that call with a weight lifted off your shoulders.

You’ve hired your planner, now what?

Once you’ve found the perfect planner, we will start building your vendor team based on who books only one wedding a day, and by prioritizing what matters most. We typically start with your photo/cinema team for two reasons: They will only book one wedding a day, and when all is said and done, you’ll have the memories and the photos (and video, should you opt for cinema). This is easily the most important key player besides your planning team.

From there, we work down the list of key vendors: Floral designer, Music, Hair & Makeup (if applicable for your wedding), Catering, and Transportation. We will discuss your priorities every step of the way, and align your perfectly matched team with your budget. Is the party everything? Let’s book a band! Do we love a certain floral aesthetic? Whimsical or traditional? We know who to call! Are you big foodies who love to cook together? Let’s prioritize high-end cuisine and high-touch service. Building your vendor team is a matchmaking process and each decision should feel like the best fit as we create your highly specialized dream team.

No wedding is the same, and each of our weddings are produced by teams curated to each unique couple. LAE works with the best of the best in Charlottesville, Virginia. You’ll always catch me singing the praises of our trusted vendor partners, and I’m always happy to refer people who I know hold your wedding in high esteem.