Little Acorn Events

Wedding and event planning for central Virginia

Mia Crump

2023 Wedding Trends

by

As the Spring 2023 wedding season is in full bloom (sorry not sorry), I thought it a lovely time to share some 2023 Wedding Trends the LAE team and I are excited about.

At the root of these trends, I spot a theme: Elevated guest experience & joyfully leaning into meaningful celebrations. In so many ways, I feel like we have this collective sense that 2019 was last year. Like, literally, the past three years feel like one long blur. A lot of things are different as we have slowly collectively re-emerged over the past year and a half or so from the pandemic, & I see this impact reflected in these wedding trends. We are leaning into quality time together, leaning into celebration, leaning into joy, light, & love.

Color

Everywhere! Bright florals play with an effortless, garden gathered aesthetic that is literally everything. Colored tapered candles are a chance to add ambience & accent your color pallette. Place settings, glassware, & linens are delightful elements to design with colors & mixed patterns. Wedding party attire is also having a moment with mixed complementary colors & patterns, & is such a fun way to express style!

Statement Seating Displays

From champagne walls to personalized flower pots (doubles as a favor!) to handwritten thank you placecards, this is a spot to get creative. As your guests’ first greeting into your reception space, your seating display sets the tone & elevates your guest experience with thoughtful details. Here’s a few we have upcoming for our couples this season:

Mini ranch water Topo Chico bottles, displayed with names & seating assignments attached

Handmade (by the groom!) cutting boards at each guest’s seat

Personalized thank you notes (& table assignments) enclosed in envelopes in an ombre of the wedding colors

Al Fresco Celebrations:

We are living for indoor/outdoor celebrations with a natural flow & unique spaces for guests. In April, we curated a unique New Orleans celebration at one of our very own Virginia wineries, complete with lounge spaces inside & out, an outdoor bar with a beautifully light washed fountain behind it, & an al fresco dinner service. In June, we will be leaning all the way in for an intimate, lakeside reception under nothing but the sky & the glow of string bistro lights. In the fall we will lean into a few celebrations with food trucks & unique outdoor guest experiences.

And, last but not least, just for fun & pure class: Champagne towers! Such a statement & a super fun moment to incorporate into your celebration. Gatsby style coupe glasses & sparkling bubbles please!

XOXO,

 

Mia

Pricing Transparency in the Wedding Industry

by

Let’s talk wedding budgets! Actually, let’s get real real & talk about pricing transparency in the wedding industry, specifically the Charlottesville market I know & adore. I often work with couples who are planning a Charlottesville wedding from out of town (we have planned for couples from Texas, New York, Louisiana, Europe, New Jersey, Colorado, Singapore…the list goes on!) One thing that I often hear is that wedding costs are very different in different places than what we typically expect in Charlottesville, but trust me we aren’t inflating budgets. So, I think we need some transparency & education on our market.

Disclaimer: I planned my own wedding in San Diego in 2016 at 24 years old, and spent about $15,000 all in. We had a plated dinner for around 80 guests at a lovely winery with in house catering, flowers from the grocery store, & an inexpensive photographer. Honestly the only things I’d invest more in today would be florals (because I know my true self now at 31, & my true self loves flowers)…& photography, because my husband is 6’6″ & tragically missing a forehead in a lot of photos. All this to say, let no one tell you how much you “have to” or “should” spend. I spent a fraction of the typical budgets I work with, & loved my wedding (again, would spend more in a couple places but I’m also not 24 & fresh out of college). You should spend on the things that matter, & remember it is just one day (ok, one incredible, beautiful, perfect day hopefully filled with florals & a talented creative team, but hey, I’m biased).

Venue

One of my favorite things about planning weddings in Charlottesville is the incredible variety of wedding venues we have in our beautiful Blue Ridge region. From wineries to elevated barns to breweries & cideries, to downtown metropolitan vibes to private estates, we have it all! Depending on what your venue includes & what you are prioritizing, most venues that we work with in Charlottesville range from $7,000-$15,000. There are exceptions to every rule & variables such as private estate weddings, rentals, & rain plan tents, but that’s a good range to consider.

Food & Beverage

This is one of the biggest investments you’ll make, and your all-in cost is largely dictated by your guest list (more humans=more food + more drinks). You’ll make a lot of decisions that will affect this number: Beer & wine or full bar? Buffet, plated, stationed, or family style service? Passed or stationed hors d’oeuvres? From a casual BBQ menu to an elevated, multi-course plated dinner, we typically see couples invest in a broad range anywhere from $75-$300 per person.

Florals

Personally, I absolutely love flowers & I believe your wedding is an opportunity to go big on florals! (Because really, when else in your life are going to have an excuse for this much pretty?!) That being said, I like to think of this line number on the budget as a matter of your priorities. How much a part of your wedding design & aesthetic do you want florals to be? If you’re a pretty minimal flower person, you will invest less here. If you’re ready to go big & do all the things (floral ceiling installations, dreamy tablescapes, a flower-heavy ceremony design…) then this number will be bigger on your budget because it is a bigger priority for you. In general, I see a range of $30-$90 per guest when we think about floral investment, very much dependent on how much of a focal point the florals are in your wedding design.

Photography & Cinematography

There are some industry standards here, but this investment also varies based on a photographer’s experience, editing style, shooting style (film, digital, hybrid), & artistic talents. This is much the same for cinematography. The general range I see most of my clients booking is between $3,000-$8,000 each, with outliers upwards of $10,000.

Music

 

The big question: Band or DJ? The next big question: Recorded music or live musicians at your ceremony & cocktail hour? There’s a huge difference here in style of ceremony & reception & your overall vibe. I don’t believe there’s a right or wrong answer, & honestly love working with both bands & DJs. It really depends on what you’re going for at your wedding! Most DJs we work with are between $2500-$4000, with add-ons such as lighting or photo booths adjusting these numbers. Most bands we work with are between $5,000-$10,000, varying based on size of the band, requirements such as stages & generators, and opportunities to book additional services such as a musician for your ceremony and cocktail hour. If you’re going for a DJ at your reception & musicians at your ceremony and/or cocktail hour, we see numbers around $600-$1,000 for live musicians.

My Hot Take

Your wedding celebration is an opportunity to tell your love story, surrounded by the people you cherish. The biggest budgetary tip I can give you is this: First, your wedding investments should be guided by your priorities, not everyone’s opinions, Pinterest, or movies. Second, your guest list is a true turn dial on your budget: the number of people you invite affects your food, drinks, dessert, rentals, florals…almost everything. So, give serious thought to whose names you add to that list, & invest in the things that feel important to you. Your wedding is one day that is the beginning of your marriage. It is also the curation of a core memory & an incredible day you’ll hold in your heart forever. So, invest in it, but do so wisely & guided by the things you care about. And (a little biased, but it’s true) trust your planner & the team we hire together! Cheers to Charlottesville weddings in all their beauty & created by many talented hands in our community!

XOXO,
LAE Co

What To Consider For Your Tented Wedding Reception

by

Every wedding comes with a million details & logistics to consider, but when you’re planning without an indoor reception space there are a few extra things you’ll want to be sure you check off your list. Our neck of the woods here in Central Virginia lends itself beautifully to outdoor, tented receptions that showcase the natural setting of your venue or private estate. A tented reception brings ethereal elegance to your wedding design. It offers an opportunity to celebrate the beauty around you, & lets in fantastic sunlight without being too hot. However, a tented wedding also lends itself to a few logistics you might not otherwise need to consider. I’m sharing my top five tips on the extra details to consider for your tented wedding.

Tented weddings are honestly my favorite, especially in our gorgeous Piedmont region of Virginia. With many stunning venues boasting their own sailcloth tents, & the privilege of frequently planning weddings on private estates, we at LAE Co have a certain expertise when it comes to the logistics & design elements involved in a tented wedding.

The first thing to do is to consider the type of tent you’d like. Most venues that have reception tents use sailcloth peak pole tents, which are absolutely stunning and a classic, elegant wedding look (my personal fave). Another popular choice is a clear top frame tent, which gives you a literally transparent roof to protect from the elements while visually dining & dancing al fresco.

Now here’s our top five tips on which logistics you want to be sure you have covered!

Lighting

While the sunlight will create a gorgeous ambience during the day (even if it’s cloudy), you’ll want to be sure you have a great lighting plan for after the sun goes down. We love to start with bistro string lights along the perimeter and swagged throughout the tent, then build out a lighting design once we have “eyesight light” covered. A sailcloth tent in particular lends itself beautifully to hanging chandeliers, paper lanterns, or other hanging installations (hello, floral clouds!). We believe lighting should always come from above & below, so we always include plenty of candles in the table designs as well, to fill out that romantic ambient lighting. Lighting is also a consideration as guests leave the tent: You’ll need adequate lighting for the pathway to the restrooms (more on that below!) & you’ll want to be sure the way to the parking area is lighted as well.

Flooring

Many reception venues offer tents with flooring throughout the tent space, whether it’s in the form of turf, stamped concrete, or wood floors. If you’re hosting your wedding on a private estate, you’ll want to consider the ground under the tent. At the very least, you’ll need to rent a dance floor and potentially a stage if you’re hiring a band. If you don’t add flooring throughout the entire tent, the tent’s placement will become super important–are you down a hill so that if it rains, will the ground under the tent hold water? (No one actually wants a reception floor filled with hay to soak up water–it is a way to triage the situation, but it usually is nobody’s first choice). If the ground will be grass, are you providing heel caps for guests? The dance floor will get pretty dirty with folks walking around on grass & dirt, as well. Overall, we like to opt for adding flooring under the entire tent when possible, but grass can be beautiful, so you’ll just want a plan for how to execute.

Accessibility

Consider your guest list. If Uncle David is in a wheelchair, will he be able to access the reception tent & move around easily once inside? You’ll want to consider any accommodations needed to make your celebration accessible & enjoy
able for all your family & friends in attendance. This takes us to the next big thing that doesn’t always come top of mind for everyone: restrooms. If one isn’t provided by the venue, or especially if you’re utilizing a private estate, the best option is a luxury restroom trailer, which have AC, sinks, and flushing toilets. There are ADA options as well for restroom trailers. You’ll want to ensure that the path from the tent to the restroom trailer is lighted as well.

Electricity

Most venues with tents will provide a power source, but sometimes additional power is still needed (for example, some bands require a certain amount of wattage in their contract, which may mean you need a generator). If you’re on a private estate you’ll need power for the tent, the entertainment (band or DJ), the ceremony sound (microphone & speaker), and the catering tent (oh yes–a whole other tent!). The best bet here is quiet run generators through a professional event company (our go-to is linked below!)

Weather

Of course, the thing that jumps to top of mind is the dreaded…rain. If it rains on your wedding day (hey, it rained on mine & we are celebrating our seventh anniversary with two amazing daughters), you’ll need a plan for the ceremony, as well as potentially adding walls to your tent rental. You’ll also want to consider marquees to allow guests to stay under cover when walking to the restroom, and for your catering team to stay under cover when walking from the catering tent to the reception tent. If it’s going to be chilly, you’ll need tent walls & blow heaters to keep your guests cozy. Conversely, what if it is sunny & gorgeous but also super hot? A transparent clear top tent can quickly become a greenhouse, and a sailcloth tent offers some shade but it is still translucent. Thus, you’ll want to consider fans and potentially bay draping (fabric that gathers like curtains at each tent pole) to offer a little respite from the heat.

That’s all quite a lot to think about, but it is so worth it for a gorgeous tent design! I might be a teensy bit biased, but the real step one is to hire a professional wedding planner who has experience with tented weddings. Our team will think of things that you might not have considered, & help guide you through decisions to ensure the most return on your investment. A professional planner also has a network of trusted vendors & creative partners whom we can bring in based on each client’s budget & design. A few of our favorites are linked below.

A few of our go-to companies for everything you need for your tented reception!

Blue Ridge Event Production for lighting, draping, & interior design

Virginia Tent Rental for tents, bistro lighting, & dance floors

Paisley & Jade for lounge furniture, specialty bars, signage, & design elements

MS Events for all the things under the tent from the dance floor & stage to your guest tables, chairs, & place settings

Stonegate Event Rentals for generators & restroom trailers

Something Vintage for lounge furniture, specialty tabletop, & design elements

Emerson James for gorgeous tabletop options & design details

BBJ La Tavola for fabulous linens to set your event apart

Ready to plan your tented wedding or private estate wedding? Schedule a consultation call & let’s start dreaming together!

XOXO,
Mia

A Peek Behind the Curtain: Event Management, Wedding Planning, & Creative Design

by

A little about Mia…

I founded Little Acorn Events in 2018 when I was pregnant with my first baby and ready to dive headfirst into a passion of mine that I hoped would enable me to stay home with my daughter and find abundant joy in my work. At the time, I was dreaming of owning my own wedding business, crafting relationships with industry pros, and looking to build a name for myself in the beautiful & profound wedding community that exists in Charlottesville..

My beginning in the wedding profession is unique, in that I stepped into this work having planned & attended one wedding (my own), not by working at a venue or otherwise in the event industry. It was a true calling, I knew what & who I wanted to be. I had only to begin. So, when I first launched my company, I was a day-of coordinator, listening to the plans couples had created for themselves, and executing on the big day. I worked at weddings all over Virginia…at barns, vineyards, houses, inns, breweries, hotels… and I learned so much during that time in my career.

In my first year, I learned the type of people I enjoy working with, the types of venues I enjoy designing in, & the weddings I enjoy creating.  I stepped into being more than a coordinator, I became a wedding planner

…and I still am! My type A, hyper organized brain may be a lot at times for my husband, but it also means I am in the right profession! Over the past five years, I have built a community of vendor relationships, my own dynamic team of talented women, and am always armed with my impeccable attention to detail. During the planning journey, we bring your wedding dreams to life by building a team of talented wedding professionals and a thorough timeline for your wedding day, and play a managerial and collaborative role with vendors on the day of your wedding.

I love being a planner. Now, five beautiful & wild years later, I’m a wedding designer.

Wait, what’s a wedding designer?

You have so many ideas and pinterest boards, not to mention the input of your family and friends…it can feel like a whirlwind! My favorite part of the planning journey is bringing all those ideas and little details together into a cohesive vision that celebrates who you two are together. Intentionally detailed and thoughtfully curated design creates a wedding day that is beautiful and uniquely yours.

A question I get asked frequently is whether I still offer a day of coordination.

Yes, but not just on the wedding day! Because now I know better. Rather, my company offers an event management service. We button up all the final details such as layout, seating, and timeline. We confirm & then double confirm all details with your vendor team. We run your rehearsal and are on site for typically 9 hours on your wedding day, cueing all the big moments and managing all the little details.

Designing high quality and detail oriented moments for you and your guests is exactly what my team and I pride ourselves in, but the connections I am privileged to build with clients & fellow wedding creatives during the process is why I love what I do. We are passionate about love and human connection here at Little Acorn Events and we cannot wait to create that with you.

xoxo,

Mia & the women of LAE

Little Acorn Events