The Ultimate Hampton Roads Wedding Guide

If you’re planning a wedding in Hampton Roads, you’ve come to the right place! Here you’ll find everything you need to plan your Hampton Roads wedding: a sample wedding timeline, vendor recommendations, wedding photography tips, and more! If you have any questions or need additional guidance, feel free to email me anytime at info@mariagracephoto.com.

Ideal Wedding Timeline

Building a wedding timeline is difficult, and I absolutely recommend that you hire a day-of coordinator or wedding planner to help you with the process! To help with the initial planning, here is one possible wedding timeline for your special day. Click here to download a more detailed wedding timeline.

1:00-2:00pm – Detail Pictures/Getting Ready Shots (hair/makeup should be finished by 1:00pm)
2:00-2:15pm – Bride puts on her wedding dress
2:15-2:30pm – Travel to Ceremony/First Look location
2:30-3:00pm – First Look/Bride & Groom Portraits
3:00-3:30pm – Bridal Party Portraits
3:30-4:00pm – Ceremony Detail Pictures
4:00-4:30pm – Ceremony
4:30-5:30pm – Cocktail Hour
4:30-4:50pm – Immediate Family Portraits
4:50-5:30pm – Reception Detail Pictures
5:30pm – Grand Entrance
5:30-6:00pm – Reception/Dancing
First Dance, Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/Son Dance
Introductions and Prayer
6:00-7:00pm - Dinner
7:00-7:20pm - Toasts/Cake Cutting/Dance floor opens
15 minutes before Sunset – Bride & Groom Sunset Pictures
10:00pm – Sparkler Exit

Wedding Venues

There are so many beautiful wedding venues in Hampton Roads for every style and budget. I couldn’t possibly list them all, so click here for my Top 10 Wedding Venues in Hampton Roads. On the list are…
The Chrysler Museum of Art (Chrysler Hall) in Norfolk
The Historic Post Office in Hampton
The Smithfield Winery in Smithfield
Two Rivers Country Club in Williamsburg

Wedding Planners & Day-of Coordinators

Everyone who has planned a wedding knows that wedding planners and day-of coordinators in Hampton Roads are worth their weight in gold! I have worked with some amazing people that I can hands-down recommend.
Everly After Events
Mann & Wife
Greenery & Grace

The dress

There are lots of wedding dress stores in Hampton Roads, so you want to choose a bridal shop with the best customer service and the best designs.
Blush Bridal (Newport News)
Ava Clara Bridal (Virginia Beach)
Studio I Do Bridals (Virginia Beach)

Beauty

When choosing your Hampton Roads hair and makeup artists, you want someone who can create your perfect wedding day style AND get it done in time! These are the best of the best.
Dhalia Edwards (makeup)
Blushtones (makeup)
Best Face Artists (hair & makeup)
Stephanie Michelle Hair

Florists

Your bouquet will be in almost every picture, so you want to make sure your florist in Hampton Roads knows their way around any kind of flower and can make every detail beautiful.
Aleen Floral Design
Isha Foss Design
The Hanging Gardens
The Main Event by Emily

Invitations & Calligraphy

Having custom invitations and calligraphy can change the whole look of your wedding, and there are several Hampton Roads invitation designers who can serve you well!
PaperDolls Design
Lauren Perry Studio
Ceindy Doodles

Cakes & Desserts

Beyond just finding a wedding cake in Hampton Roads, there are donuts and other dessert options, too! All of these are certified delicious.
Incredible Edibles Bakery (cakes and cupcakes)
Rachel Bakes (cakes)
Glazed Doughnuts (donuts and donut cakes)
Lolly’s Creamery (ice cream)

Live Bands and DJs

Finding the best live bands or DJs in Hampton Roads can be tricky, and this element alone can make or break your reception. I have personally worked with each one of these and would recommend them over and over again.
Inside Out Band
The Bachelor Boys Band
E and E Special Events
Astro Entertainment

Rentals

The best rental companies in Hampton Roads arrive on time and bring beautiful pieces to make your wedding complete.
Mad Hatter Vintage
Distinctive Event Rentals
Waterford Event Rentals

Catering

Different venues have different catering requirements, so make sure to check with their staff first! These are my favorite caterers in Hampton Roads…I would eat their food anytime, anywhere, and they are very accommodating of food allergies, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan weddings.
Sweetwater Cuisine
Montero’s Restaurant
Chef by Design

Transportation

Make sure your guests get to and from your wedding safely with these transportation services and limos in Hampton Roads.
Truffle Shuttle
Newton’s Bus Service
Legacy Coach

Photography Tips

Wedding photography is the only way you will have to preserve the best day of your life, so you want your pictures to be the best they possibly can be! Here are a few tips to ensure amazing wedding photography for your day, regardless of when or where it is in Hampton Roads.

Make sure you connect with your wedding photographer.
This is by far my #1 piece of advice. You will spend more time with your wedding photographer than almost anyone else (including your spouse!) on your wedding day. Make sure you get along with them and their style is a good fit for what you want. Don’t be afraid to ask for a full wedding gallery so you can see exactly how they capture everything, from getting ready to the sparkler exit. A good photographer won’t be afraid to share it all!
Schedule an engagement session.
Booking an engagement session before the wedding is the best way to get comfortable in front of the camera and get to know your photographer. It allows you to ‘practice’ before you’re on an oh-so-tight wedding timeline, and most importantly you’ll walk away with beautiful photos from this unique season of life.
Choose to have a first look.
I get it - seeing each other before the ceremony isn’t ‘traditional’…but weddings today look very different than they did 50 years ago! Since I can’t cover it all in just a few lines, here are two blogs that explain why a first look is amazing for so many reasons - most of all, you’ll enjoy real, unhurried time with the person you love the most.
The Wedding Timeline - The First Look
Advice from a Bride: Why I Changed My Mind about a First Look
Plan your outdoor ceremony in shade, or later in the day - or both!
Most couples don’t even think about the lighting of their ceremony, but this is one of the key elements to getting the best pictures! If you and your guests are in full sun in the middle of July for 30-45 minutes, the results will be less-than-ideal pictures and a whole lot of sweat - neither of which you want! If there isn’t a shade option, just move your ceremony a little later in the day. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
Hire a day-of coordinator or wedding planner.
At first glance, this has nothing to do with wedding photography - but, in fact, it has EVERYTHING to do with it! If you don’t have someone else running the day, the responsibility often falls to a family member, yourself, or even your wedding photographer. Each one of these people has a lot more to focus on than running the timeline. Coordinators are worth their weight in gold and allow you, your family, and your photographer to focus on the joy of your marriage instead of the (potential) stress of your wedding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many hours of wedding photography coverage do I need?
Most wedding days need 8-10 hours of coverage, depending on factors like travel time, the reception, and any special exits. I would love to help plan a timeline of exactly what you need for your wedding day - just send me an email at info@mariagracephoto.com.

Q: How many images will I receive from my wedding?
This depends a lot on how many events are happening and how many hours of coverage you choose, but you can generally expect 75-100 images per hour of wedding coverage. This means that for an 8-hour wedding day, you will usually receive 600-800 images.

Q: What is the one piece of advice you would give to a bride planning her wedding?
Hire a wedding planner or day-of coordinator…and make sure you connect with your photographer! I know that’s actually two pieces of advice, but you should absolutely do both to make sure your wedding turns out as beautifully as you hope.

Q: Are there any other resources that can help me plan?
Absolutely - I’ve written so much to help you plan! Here are a few of the best wedding resources to get you started.
The Wedding Timeline Series
5 Things Most Brides Don’t Know
The Biggest Wedding Time Stealers
How to Choose the Best Getting Ready Space