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A bride and groom stand before a floral arch, holding hands and exchanging vows during their outdoor wedding ceremony, with a priest officiating the service. The arch is adorned with an abundance of colorful flowers, including roses and lilies, set against a lush, green backdrop.

Weddings

Planning a Spring Wedding In Virginia

June 24, 2024

Interested in planning a Spring wedding in Virginia? This article is for you! You want your wedding day to be among the most special and cherished moments of your life. It’s about sharing joy and emotions with friends and family as you create your unforgettable day.

Among the many choices you will face when planning your wedding, one that is key is what month you choose to have your special day! This is where I am here to tell you how magical planning a spring wedding can be!

As a Virginia wedding photographer, I have experienced firsthand how breathtaking weddings can be, especially spring weddings. I was recently lucky enough to photograph a really special spring wedding at Upper Shirley Vineyards and I would love to share the details with you in this blog post too.

So wait no more and let’s dive in to uncover some of the key elements in planning a spring wedding in Virginia. Discover what makes this season so special and get a glimpse into a heartfelt spring wedding I recently captured, brimming with love, laughter, and unforgettable candid moments.

A bride and groom share a kiss outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery. The bride holds a bouquet of white flowers and greenery, while the groom, dressed in a black suit, leans in for the kiss.

Why Choose a Spring Wedding in Virginia?

Alright, first things first, you’re thrilled to plan your wedding but undecided on the perfect season, right? Each season brings its own set of choices, pros, and cons, making it a bit of a puzzle to find what truly suits you as a couple. But why should you opt for a spring wedding, you wonder?

First off I would like to tell you about the seasonal beauty of planning a spring wedding. Spring symbolizes fresh beginnings, making it the perfect time for you and your partner to embark on your new married life together. With fresh blooming flowers literally jumping into life, it’s this energy and burst of color that shows the season is full of life and joy, exactly what your wedding should reflect!

The climate in Virginia in springtime is also perfect! The temperatures are just right, so the guests who dislike the heat or the cold should be comfortable together. One of my personal favorite positives about a spring wedding is the natural light, it’s a photographer’s dream! It gives me bright, beautiful photos that pop, especially with the fresh new flowers on display too! With the bright sky against your finest wedding outfits, it makes for dreamy photos of your special day.

Key Elements to Plan Your Perfect Spring Wedding

When you talk about Spring weddings there are a few things to plan that will really embrace the theme of a spring wedding. Here are a few that I think are a great addition to a springtime wedding. The first is the color scheme.

Popular and vibrant color schemes for spring weddings

There are many variations of color palettes you can choose in spring wedding preparation. The firm traditional favorites for spring color palettes are those soft pastels like mint green, blush pink, light blue, and lavender, reflecting what can be seen in the surroundings of Virginia at this special time of year. 

These colors are very easy to incorporate into a traditional wedding style, adding splashes of color to bridesmaid dresses, table settings, your wedding cake, and of course, your floral arrangements. Pairing these gentle tones with neutrals like ivory can add an elegant and classic feel to your wedding vibe, if that is what you are looking for.

Of course, not everyone wants a traditional wedding and I have worked with clients that love to mix things up, which I find great fun! If you want to make a bold statement but still keep that spring feel then pops of bright colors like sunshine yellow, bright fuchsia, or turquoise can bring that extra surprise to your wedding. You can lean into this as much or as little as you want, after all, it’s your own unique wedding day!

This vibrancy can be added to centerpieces, bouquets, or if you are wearing a suit, your tie, pocket square, or even the suit or dress itself! You can also mix bright shades with softer pastels and create a visual palette that stands out and embraces all that comes along with the freshness and rebirth that is springtime.

A bride and her bridesmaids walk together outdoors, smiling and holding bouquets of flowers. The bride wears a white dress, while the bridesmaids are dressed in shades of pink and floral prints, creating a vibrant and joyful scene against a green, natural backdrop.

Spring-Themed Invitations and Stationery

A perfect opportunity to let guests know that you are planning a spring wedding could be your wedding invitation design. Adding floral motifs and pastel colors is a beautiful touch to let your wedding guests get a feel for what your spring wedding will be like.

I have seen recently some wedding invitations using eco-friendly and plantable seed paper. I love this idea! Not only is it great for the environment but it also adds that additional layer of spring vibe with sustainability and regrowth. More of this please!

Planning Spring Wedding Floral Arrangements

When you talk about spring weddings, what is the first thing to ‘spring’ to mind? The flowers! You are literally spoilt for choice when selecting the flowers you want for your special day. When you speak to the florist for your wedding you’ll discuss your color palette and the vast array of spring flowers available to complement this. 

Think colorful spring blooms like daffodils, peonies, and ranunculus. As well as the traditional places like bouquets, these beautiful flowers can be incorporated into a range of places to create a cohesive look throughout your wedding day. You may want a floral arch to walk or stand under during the ceremony for example. They are great for adding little touches of color to the detail shots of your jewelry and wedding rings and don’t forget you can use the colors in the petals tossed down the aisle to add that special springtime touch.

A close-up shot of a wedding arrangement featuring a pair of gold rings in a white velvet box, a bottle of Jo Malone perfume adorned with small pearls, and delicate flowers on a vibrant pink floral fabric.

Spring Outdoor Ceremony and Reception

Springtime is when people are often keen to get outside and soak up the sun after a dark winter. With a large selection of outdoor venues in Virginia, it is easy to take advantage of the change to pleasant weather and plan for your wedding day to be outside. 

Your wedding reception can also set up outdoor lounges with comfortable seating for guests to enjoy the spring scenery.The weather in Virginia can be unpredictable this time of year, so be sure to discuss a ‘rain plan’ with your venue. Having a backup indoor space ready for spring showers is advisable. Make sure it’s a place you will love!But what a great way to spend a wedding evening if it is a little chiller, with fire pits and cozy blankets for the guests and married couple to chill out at and exchange stories and maybe some oozing smores!

A beautifully decorated wedding reception under a clear tent, featuring round tables draped in pastel-colored linens and set with elegant glassware and floral centerpieces. Overhead, string lights and greenery-adorned chandeliers add a warm and romantic ambiance to the spacious outdoor setting.

A spring wedding in Virginia with Sarah and Reilly

The venue for this extra special day was Upper Shirley Vineyards in Richmond. This venue provided the perfect setting for their spring wedding. It’s steeped in history and offers exceptional food, and that’s even before I mention the amazing handcrafted wines of course! It’s situated along a river which meant I was able to take some precious memorable photos of the happy couple with the river in the background making the wedding outfits and floral arrangements pop under the soft glow of spring sunlight.

What really shone through at this wedding for me was the bright and unique take on a spring wedding, as well as the closeness and fun had with family and friends. Capturing Sarah and Reily’s wedding was an absolute joy, especially with their infectious energy and the genuine camaraderie among their friends and family. Every moment exuded warmth and happiness, from spontaneous laughter to heartfelt embraces. As well as some posed portraits I was able to enjoy photographing genuine candid interactions and fun-filled connections between loved ones that made this wedding truly memorable

I can’t talk about this wedding without mentioning Anne M Forbes the wedding planner from The Hive. The Hive Wedding Collective is based in Richmond, Virginia, and provides various wedding planning services to couples all over the nation, personalizing each service to your wedding size and budget. Anne was absolutely incredible and gave such a bright and unique take on a spring wedding, I loved it and it was clear the guests and couple did too.

Final Thoughts on Planning a Spring Wedding

So there you have it, why I think planning a spring wedding should be at the top of your list of seasons to consider. A spring wedding can be like stepping into a beautiful fairytale. The whole season comes alive with color! Whether you are planning a traditional wedding with pastel colors or something a bit more vibrant, a spring wedding with fresh wildflowers and lush greenery can provide a stunning backdrop for any wedding day!

And, if you are still looking for the perfect wedding photographer to capture your dream wedding wherever that may be, I would love to chat. I love being part of your special celebration and being the person that can capture those memories for you to cherish forever is one of my favorite things.
You can click here to learn more about my wedding photography services or you can head over here to get in touch with me. I can’t wait to hear all about your wedding plans!

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I'M EILISH

Photographer, amateur snowboarder, dive bar connoisseur,  inspired by music, good movies, and you.

I'm a Charlottesville wedding photographer and I specialize in capturing wedding days with a documentary approach. Love is pretty rad, and your photos should be, too.