10:46 p.m. Bride Morgan McKernon tosses her bouquet at The Jefferson Hotel on July 9 as groom Matthew Schwartz (left) looks on. Chris Smith photo
Most Beautiful Reception Spot:
The Jefferson Hotel
101 W. Franklin St., 788-8000
The Jefferson Hotel sets the bar high for Richmond weddings, with its 36-step marble staircase and stunning rotunda. There are four spaces available for receptions, including the rotunda. Newlywed couples receive complimentary deluxe accommodations for their wedding night — including champagne.
2. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
3. Maymont
Best Place to Learn How to Dance for Your Wedding:
Rigby's Jig
5470 W. Broad St., 864-2300
Rigby's Jig offers choreography for wedding dances, and helps you choose the best music and dance steps for your special day. For couples who want something nontraditional, Rigby's has choreographed dances to the Black Eyed Peas' "Let's Get it Started," as well as songs by Lady Gaga and Pink, says owner Eleanor Robertson.
2. Dance Masters Studio
3. The Dance Space
Best Bridal Salon:
Bella Rosa
3979 Deep Rock Road, 855-1000
Bella Rosa's salon is a "one-stop shop" for wedding planning, with tuxedos, shoes, flower-girl frocks and bridal accessories all for sale. Plus, all alterations are done on the salon premises.
2. Tiffanys Bridal
3. Jingles
Most Attentive Wedding Planner:
Naomi Meyer of Bridal Consulting by Naomi
270-1237
"I'm a people person, and I love working with families and planning," says Naomi Meyer, who's been in the event-planning business for 25 years. She works with all of the players, from photographers to florists, allowing brides to focus on their big day.
2. LK Events & Design
3. McBride Events
Best Band for the Reception:
Casper
The band has been together for 35 years "in one form or another," says 35-year veteran Oscar Bowman. Their most requested dance songs: "Cupid Shuffle" and "Forget You." "And at the end of the night, everyone from grandparents to the bride and groom want to hear ‘Shout,'" says Bowman.
2. Three Sheets to the Wind
3. Kings of Swing
Best Mother-of-the-Bride Looks:
Bella Rosa
3979 Deep Rock Road, 855-1000
Salon Manager Christine Podlesny says that brides' mothers come to Bella Rosa because "90 percent of what we have we can order in other colors and sizes." Both short and long dresses are available for moms.
2. Tiffanys Bridal
3. (Tie) David's Bridal; Nordstrom
Best Wedding Makeup Stylist:
Lou Stevens' Glam Squad
305-3965
"Our reputation makes us the most popular," says Lou Stevens of her on-the-road styling business. Dressed in hot-pink and black "Glam Squad" aprons, this team of seven stylists has "glam-ified" bridal parties for 20 years. Typically, the salon does three to nine weddings every weekend, and the team does weddings only.
2. Joy Pfister of Faces by Joy
3. Emily Hudspeth
Best Wedding Hairstylist:
Lou Stevens' Glam Squad
305-3965
"We bring great energy to the ‘getting ready' process," Lou Stevens says. On a stressful (but exciting) day, Lou Stevens' Glam Squad meets the beauty needs of the bridal party while creating a fun environment. And if the bride is happy, everyone's happy.
2. Joy Pfister of Faces by Joy
3. Emily Hudspeth
Best Bridesmaid Dresses:
Bella Rosa
3979 Deep Rock Road, 855-1000
It's not especially nice to stick your best friends in puffy, unflattering dresses at your wedding. Bella Rosa has you covered with a wide array of beautiful frocks for bridesmaids. The large retail space offers approximately 4,000 bridesmaid dresses to choose from — including the more recently popular cocktail-style dresses.
2. Tiffanys Bridal
3. David's Bridal
Most Creative Florist:
(Tie) FloraCulture; Vogue Flowers & Gifts
355-1096; 1114 N. Boulevard, 353-9600
FloraCulture's philosophy is, according to owner Al Brockwell, "It's not how many flowers you can cram in a vase, it's how they're designed." Whatever your event — from a Wizard of Oz party to a 50th birthday with a theme of "total death" (yes, really) — FloraCulture will match it. Vogue Flowers & Gifts, a family business with 25 years of experience, has got procrastinators covered: It's the only local florist that delivers seven days a week.
2. Flowers Make Scents
3. Coleman Brothers Flowers
Photographer Who Gets the Best Candid Shots:
Hayes & Fisk: The Art of Photography
740-9307
Hayes & Fisk strives to tell your story through photographs. To get to know you better, they don't just ask questions — they visit your home to get a sense of your taste. "You cannot separate the experience of being photographed from the images themselves," says photographer Jamie Hayes.
2. Don Mears Photography
3. Mike Topham Photography
Best Groom's Cakes:
Cakes by Graham
718 N. Cleveland St., 288-1920
A recent challenge for Cakes by Graham owner Graham Haddock was to create a groom's cake — in the shape of a submarine — for a man serving in the U.S. Navy. "Coming out of the submarine is a missile on which his [two] dogs are riding," says Haddock, who was working on the cake when we spoke to him. Haddock specializes in custom orders like this.
2. The Mixing Bowl
3. (Tie) A Cake to Remember; The Buttercream Bee
Best Place for Wedding Parties to Stay:
The Jefferson Hotel
101 W. Franklin St., 788-8000
Apart from its genteel atmosphere, The Jefferson Hotel has the means to meet the needs of everyone in the wedding party, from shuttle service to especially adroit concierges. "Each customer we have receives great attention to detail and special service," says Rick Butts, director of sales and marketing.
2. Omni Hotel Richmond
3. The Westin Richmond
Best Place to Hold a Wedding Shower:
The Jefferson Hotel
101 W. Franklin St., 788-8000
The Jefferson has three dining options in the hotel for your wedding shower: Lemaire Restaurant, TJ's Restaurant and Lounge, and afternoon tea around the statue of Thomas Jefferson. Each choice offers a unique style and setting. Sunday brunch in the rotunda is another favorite.
2. VMFA
3. (Tie) At Home; Can Can Brasserie
Most Spectacular Wedding Rings:
Adolf Jewelers
1537 N. Parham Road, 285-3671
Offering traditional wedding bands, as well as rings with stones of various colors and shapes, Adolf Jewelers often uses its own designs or custom designs from clients, making each ring truly special. "We use extremely high-quality gemstones to make these rings," says Ronnie Adolf, who celebrates 50 years in business in 2011.
2. Schwarzschild Jewelers
3. Vera's Fine Jewelers
Best Place From Which to Order Invitations:
By Invitation Only
4017 Lauderdale Drive, 364-8474
By Invitation Only carries invitations for weddings and other celebrations, but the shop also carries invitations for those not-so-ordinary events, such as divorce parties. The staff recently worked with a client who ordered engagement-party invitations — or so she said. When her guests arrived, it turned out they were attending her wedding.
2. The Cordial Cricket
3. Paper on the Avenue
Most Attentive Limousine Company:
James Limousine
1207-D N. Boulevard, 342-2214
The entire staff at James Limousine is concierge-trained, so they guarantee royal treatment. Need to stop for a cup of java or pick up a pair of shoes? James Limousine has you covered. The driver can even add a "Just Married" banner to the car.
2. TNT Limousine
3. Down Under Limousine
Best Place for Wedding-Party Gifts:
Tweed
4035 Lauderdale Drive, 249-3900
Owner Carol Viall and her daughter Kate Stottlemyer say customers enjoy giving Tweed's personalized wine glasses as wedding-party gifts. The two love working with brides during the planning process. "It's just so much fun," says Viall. "I ran out of daughters, so I can't plan any more weddings myself."
2. By Invitation Only
3. Mongrel
Most Creative Caterer:
Mosaic
6229-A River Road, 288-7482
Mosaic creates unique menus for each event, says owner Ryan Traylor. One client requested a sushi station served atop a live female model, and Traylor has engineered desserts that lower from the ceiling to the table. For more typical affairs, Mosaic can accommodate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets.
2. A Sharper Palate
3. (Tie) Champagne Taste Catering; Great Seasons
Best Wedding DJ:
Choice Entertainment
788-4603
Owner William Gilliam likes to make wedding receptions entertaining by creating everything from a special "love story" tribute to the newlywed couple to a wedding party "flash mob" that decreases in size as each wedding party member is announced and seated, setting the stage for the bride and groom's first dance.
2. Martin Ramirez
3. Manny Green Entertainment
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