Winter Wedding at the Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens

Written By J. Sasu

Jackie and Patrick

 

Jackie and Patrick had their winter wedding in January at the Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens located in Vienna, Virginia. If you’re from the east coast, a January wedding sounds like like it could be a snow, blistering, cold affair but their wedding was the opposite.

Their wedding day was fairly warm, sunny and their friends and family provided plenty of heat for them. They had plans planned out their day with the help of myself and their wedding planner and because of it, they were able to do everything they dreamt of including a first look, their ceremony at a Catholic church, sunset photos and spending time with all of their guests.

As a wedding photographer, i’m always checking my watch to see how we are doing with time and its such a relief to tell my couples “we have plenty of time” as the day progresses. If I could give future couples a few tips on how to have a smooth, stress free wedding day schedule, those tips would include:

  • Keep your photographer and wedding planner involved in all timeline discussions. Be sure to tell them what you would like your day to include and allow them to give you estimates on how much time you will need for each of these things. Be sure to include 5 minutes on the beginning and end of each event in case the unexpected happens.

  • Plan around the big moments of the day and be flexible with the smaller plan. The big moments are obvious: first looks, ceremony, cocktail hour etc. The smaller moments or things you want and not necessarily need should be flexible.

  • Keep your family portraits small and organized. Family portraits can be one of the biggest timeline hurdles. Make a list of must-have groupings beforehand and assign someone (like a coordinator or a bridal party member) to help gather family members quickly.

  • Get ready early! Hair and make up can also take up a lot of time especially when touch ups and redos factor in. Consider getting your hair and makeup done first.

The Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens is such a versatile venue for weddings. They’re accomdating for outdoor and indoor weddings as well as super spacious for all of your guests. Its easy to find and away from the bustling and congestion of the city. And if you’re a person who loves sunsets, the sightline to the sunset is clear and easy to see. A sunset portrait should absolutely be on your list if you pick this venue for your wedding.

Even with the most perfectly planned timeline, things might not go exactly as scheduled—and that’s okay! Trust your vendors to handle any small hiccups, and most importantly, enjoy every moment of your wedding.

If you would like a detailed wedding day timeline template, let me know! 😊

J. Sasu
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