Tiffany + Matt | Married

Right off the bat- a few details that jump out at me are the perfect weather they had, and how AMAZING they both looked together. With just the right amount of sunshine and a cool breeze in the air, I couldn’t imagine a better setup. I have to say that one of my favorite details was Tiffany’s jean jacket. It was such a cute and practical idea for a March wedding, and I loved how it added a touch of personality to her bridal look. It’s definitely a tip that I would recommend to any future March brides out there, as I know I’ve mentioned before!

One of my most favorite moments of Tiffany and Matt’s wedding day was when I was able to photograph their bride and groom portraits after the ceremony. Tiffany was an absolute joy to work with, and it was clear that she was having a great time taking photos with her new husband, who clearly just loved every ounce of time he was able to spend next to her. They were so laid back and easy-going, which made the whole experience so much fun! I also must note that the entire wedding party was made up of great dancers and party-goers, so the energy on the dance floor was electric. Tiffany was especially impressive, as she danced the entire night away with a huge smile on her face. I was able to capture some amazing photos of the group, and their facial expressions really tell the story of how much fun they were having.

Tiffany was SUCH an organized bride, and it made my job as their photographer so much easier. From the very beginning, she had a clear vision for her wedding day, and she worked tirelessly to make sure that every detail was just right. Her attention to detail and her ability to stay cool as a cucumber was so impressive, and it was clear that she had put a lot of thought and care into every aspect of her wedding. Additionally, the coordinating team that Tiffany and Matt hired did an amazing job of keeping everything running smoothly throughout the day. The Illumination Event Studio crew was professional, efficient, and always one step ahead of the game, which made my job as a photographer so much easier. I was able to focus on capturing all of the beautiful moments of the day, knowing that everything else was in good hands.

I want to give a shoutout to Tiffany and Matt’s bakery of choice, Lana’s Cakes. They’re an artisan cake design studio serving the greater Richmond, Virginia area who I hadn’t yet had the pleasure of working with until this event. My honest review is that their cakes are not only beautiful, but they are also incredibly delicious. I got the chance to try their mini cupcakes with filling in them and I was blown away by how good they tasted. The lemon flavor was my favorite, with its light whipped frosting and delicious filling inside. I highly recommend Lana’s Cakes to anyone looking for cake options that are both beautiful and delicious. They’re a true hidden gem, and I hope to try more of their treats in the future!

As a wedding photographer, I am always on the lookout for unique and meaningful details that make each wedding special and memorable. One of my favorite things about my job is discovering new traditions and customs that I haven’t seen before, and being able to share these experiences with my clients. Whether it’s a special dance, a unique ceremony, or a meaningful family tradition, I love learning about the things that make each wedding unique and special. It’s always an honor to be a part of these moments, and I feel so lucky to be able to capture them through my photography.

One of the most unique and memorable details of Tiffany and Matt’s wedding was the 3-layer champagne tower that was set up for the wedding party during their grand entrance. I had never seen anything like it before, and it was such a cool and unique way to kick off the festivities. As they made their way into the reception, the wedding party grabbed glasses of champagne from the top layer of the tower, adding to the excitement and energy of the moment. The sparkler exit was another highlight of the evening, as the newlyweds were sent off with a shower of sparks and well-wishes from their family and friends. It was such a beautiful and romantic moment, and I was able to capture some truly stunning photos of the couple as they made their way through the crowd. Finally, they buried a bourbon bottle the night before their wedding to ensure a little good weather and good luck on their day. This is a good ol’ southern tradition that us Virginians know very well, and clearly, it worked!

Question: Tell us a short story about a core memory you took away from your wedding day. 

Tiffany’s Answer: For both of us, it was the first look!  I am terrible with keeping things a surprise, so having my wedding dress hanging in our shared closet for over 6 months and not spilling the beans on how the dress looked was a big task for me.  I was incredibly excited to do our first look and have a few minutes before the wedding ceremony just the two of us.  Ashley was great in getting me hyped up to make the first look fun and seeing Matt’s face for the first time in my wedding dress was a memory I will never forget.

Matt’s Answer: My core memory was the wedding vows. I for months was giving Tiffany a hard time about writing them ourselves as I traditionally have a hard time opening up in front of large groups of people. But, I knew it was something that was pretty special to her so I agreed. That however did not prevent me to procrastinating until the last minute to write my vows at the beginning of the wedding week. My worries were not totally unfounded as after Tiffany had concluded with her vows I was afraid of having to follow her Oscar worthy performance. As it would turn out, my vows were up to par and it’s one of the most special moments we’ve shared during our lives together!

Another core memory was Matt dancing the entire night!  Matt is not a dancer but he knows how much I love to dance.  Seeing him on the dance floor dancing with our girls and our friends was a memory I’ll forever cherish.

* Ashley’s Note: It’s clear that your wedding day was full of so much love and joy, and I hope that those feelings continue to grow and deepen as you build your life together. As your photographer, I always strive to capture those special moments that make each wedding unique and unforgettable. Tiffany, I could feel your excitement and anticipation leading up to the first look. It was such a joy to see Matt’s reaction when he saw you in your wedding dress for the first time. And Matt, your vows were so heartfelt and touching. It was a privilege to witness and capture that moment between you and Tiffany. And the dancing! It was so much fun to see you both and your guests having such a great time on the dance floor. I loved capturing those moments of pure joy and celebration.

As you reflect on these special memories, I encourage you to cherish them and use them as a foundation for your marriage. Remember to always make time for each other and to continue to create new memories and experiences together. Whether it’s traveling to new places, trying new hobbies, or simply enjoying each other’s company, I believe that the key to a happy and fulfilling marriage is to never stop exploring and growing together. Use the love and joy you felt on your wedding day as a reminder of the incredible bond you share, and let that guide you as you navigate the ups and downs of life together.

Question: Do you have a favorite memory from working with Ashley Dorton?

Tiffany’s Answer: Our favorite memory working with Ashley is actually from our engagement shoot!  Matt had purchased a blue pullover to wear in our photos just a few days before the actual photo shoot.  He was changing his shirt in the car as part of an outfit change and realized that the store left the very visible white security tag on the sweater!  Ashley laughed and said “Ok, we can work with it”.  She maneuvered us in our poses to make sure it wasn’t visible, but then had Matt hit several poses showing off the security tag!  I knew then and there that Ashley’s personality was one that would let us have fun and help us relax with whatever was thrown at us on the wedding day.  Fortunately, there were no security tags left on clothing the day of the wedding, but her “roll with it” personality definitely was in effect throughout the wedding day and made me feel so at ease!

*Ashley’s Note: I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed working with me! I have to say, Matt’s security tag mishap is definitely one of my favorite stories from our time together, too. It just goes to show that no matter how much we plan, there’s always something unexpected that can happen. But that’s the beauty of life, right? We have to learn to roll with the punches and make the most of every situation. I’m so grateful that I was able to help you both feel comfortable and relaxed during your engagement shoot and on your wedding day. At the end of the day, my goal is to capture the joy and love that you share, and I’m so glad that I was able to do that for you. Your story is unique and special, and it was an honor to be a part of it.

Question: When planning the wedding, how did you pick each vendor? What stood out about each one?

Tiffany‘s Answer: Choosing vendors is such a daunting process because there are so many talented people out there!  We were very fortunate that by working with Fairview Farm, we were provided with a recommendation of talented vendors who were familiar with the venue.  We decided very early on that vendors who were familiar with Fairview Farm would help make our entire wedding weekend run smoothly, between their knowledge of the property and the existing relationships with the owners of the venue.

Wedding Venue : Fairview Farm Wedding and Event Services– Starting from the beginning, we selected Fairview Farm as our dream wedding location.  From the moment we stepped onto the property (in the summer of 2021!), we fell in love with the rustic elements and beautiful wide open views.  The owners, Debbie and Blanton, were so incredibly friendly and very proud of their property giving us their family history of the property and immediately providing suggestions for vendors and ways we could make our wedding unique.  We also loved the inclusive packages provided by Fairview Farm and the fact that we could make it our venue for the entire weekend!  This gave us the chance to host our wedding party and close friends for the weekend and let us celebrate a little bit longer than just the ceremony and reception.

Planning Services : Illumination Event Studio– Illumination Event Studio came highly recommended for wedding planning services by Debbie and Blanton. Both Matt and I are pretty detailed oriented and had already mapped out a good portion of what we knew we wanted for our wedding, but it was such a relief to have Chelsea and Erika step in to execute our vision. Chelsea and Erika were so helpful and responsive to every little question in the weeks leading up to the wedding, and they made sure everything ran smoothly the day-of. We didn’t have to worry about a single detail or issue (and I’m sure there was something that came up… but we never knew about it, haha!).

Catering Services: EAT Catering– EAT Catering was one of the vendors also recommended by Debbie and Blanton, and we loved the homestyle vibe that was presented to us during our menu selection. We wanted to have food that didn’t feel too fancy or forced but was delicious and their barbecue menu hit all the right spots! The food was to die for… we were so grateful to have packaged leftovers to take home (which we immediately put in the freezer to enjoy post-honeymoon!).

DJ Services: Dynamic DJ Services– Jamie Timberlake with Dynamic DJ services was an absolute shoe-in when we reached out to chat with him about our wedding in late 2021.  We wanted a party atmosphere that would keep everyone on the dance floor, without any of the traditional games or activities that can sometimes break up the vibe.  Jamie fully understood exactly what we wanted and the reception was absolutely phenomenal.  We were on the dance floor the entire night, except to take a break to eat some of the delicious food, and it was exactly what we wanted!

Wedding Cupcakes: Lana’s Cakes– We decided we did not want to do a traditional wedding cake and instead wanted to have a variety of cupcake flavors that our guests could enjoy.  We met Lana DeLeon, owner of Lana’s Cakes, during the pandemic when she started making treat boxes for porch pick up in Magnolia Green.  After one treat box, we were hooked and knew that we had to have her make our wedding cupcakes.  We absolutely loved how decadent all the flavors were and how she decorated them with organic styles that matched the flavors.  My (Tiffany) personal favorite was a tie between the Celebration flavor (funfetti style) and the Wedding flavor (raspberry compote filling with champagne buttercream!).

Hair, Makeup, & Spray Tans: Island Glow Bridal Company– Michelle Walters with Island Glow Bridal Company provided the bridal party hair, makeup and spray tans. I’ve been a client of Michelle’s since she opened up her Island Glow location in Woodlake (Midlothian area) in early 2021 and her passion for making women feel beautiful by enhancing their natural beauty comes through in everything she does. I knew immediately that she would not only make my entire bridal party look and feel glamorous, but that I could trust her to help me find the look and style that matched the vision in my mind. Michelle nailed my bridal look and her team had everyone looking absolutely stunning the day of the wedding!

Alterations: Seams Alterations– Claudia with Seams Alterations provided my flawless wedding dress alterations. I found Claudia through a friend’s post on Instagram and from the second I met her, I knew I’d found the person who would put the perfect finishing touches on my gown. I absolutely loved my dress (from Celebrations Bridal and Tux in Lynchburg) but had a few ideas on how to make it my own, and working with Claudia was like working with a best friend. She is the ultimate hype-woman! She made me feel absolutely beautiful during my fittings and executed all of her work with absolute perfection.

Flowers: Something Borrowed Blooms– We went a little bit down the non-traditional path with flowers. Early in our relationship, I told Matt that I wasn’t a big flowers person (to his relief, which meant no expectations for expensive bouquets at Valentine’s Day, birthdays, etc.). So when it came to figuring out florals for our wedding, I wasn’t incredibly enthused between all the decisions that went into selecting bouquets, the cost, and the amount that goes to waste after the wedding. I came across a company that offered rental silk floral arrangements for weddings called Something Borrowed Blooms on Instagram and became intrigued. They offered curated collections of florals, complete with bouquets, boutonnieres, garlands, and centerpieces, and everything was available to rent at very budget-friendly prices. I also loved that the florals would complete my “something borrowed” part of the wedding tradition. We rented some samples and were blown away at how realistic the arrangements looked, and during a virtual styling session I decided to deviate from my original plan of white florals and went with their gorgeous “Stella” collection that included deep burgundies, reds, and creams that just happened to match perfectly with the custom ties we selected for the guys on Etsy!

Photographer: Ashley Dorton Photography– Ashley came recommended by Debbie and Blanton as one of their preferred photographers. Prior to our initial phone conversation, I had a chance to look through her work and loved the classic style she used in taking photos that didn’t look formal or posed.  I could immediately envision her work on our walls, and we could not wait to talk to her. During our phone conversation, I felt completely at ease with Ashley like we had known her forever. We flowed with ideas and laughed like old friends, and I knew she would be the perfect person to capture our wedding.

A couple other vendors (in case you want them!) that we selected:
Men’s suits – Men’s Wearhouse
Men’s ties – Arsenic and Old Lace UK (custom ties from the UK, found on Etsy!)
Bridesmaid dresses – Azazie (loved that everyone could select styles they felt most comfortable in!)

To Tiffany and Matt,

I absolutely loved being your wedding photographer. Your love was so special and it was such an honor to capture all the beautiful moments of your day. You both looked stunning and your wedding was so unique and personal. I hope the photos I took will help you relive those special moments for years to come. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness together!

And finally, a huge ‘thank you’ to all of the amazing vendors mentioned in this blog, who played a special part in making this wedding such a success! You’re all true professionals, and I hope to work with you many more times in the future!

Here’s to giving me 100 new reasons to fall in love with Spring weddings all over again!
Xo,
Ashley

(Blog designed & Written by Sarah of Aligned Artists)