The Barn at Reynolda Village is happy to welcome guest blogger, Elsa Judkins of Elsa Judkins Photography. Elsa is the creative genius behind hundreds of amazing images of The Barn at Reynolda Village and Reynolda Gardens. We are grateful for this terrific blog and hope you enjoy these helpful tips! All photos below are courtesy of Elsa. Check out Elsa’s site for timeless, true to color photography. 

If you’re planning an engagement session in Winston Salem, there is nowhere quite as picturesque as Reynolda Gardens! With blooming florals, a stunning conservatory, and a historic art museum, it’s a dream location for couples and photographers alike. To help you make the most of your engagement photo experience, here are our top 5 tips for planning the perfect engagement session at Reynolda Gardens.

1. Visit the Gardens Ahead of Time 

Before your engagement session, take a walk through Reynolda Gardens with your fiancé or your photographer. Exploring the space ahead of time helps you get a feel for the area. You can see how the lighting looks and choose which backdrops you love the most. Visiting early can also help calm any nerves before your session.

2. Choose the Best Time of Day for Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important factors in creating beautiful engagement photos. Typically couples love shooting for golden hour, either one hour after sunrise or one hour before sunset,  for that glowy look. Be mindful of cloudy days and the time change. 

3. Take Your Time

One of the best parts about Reynolda Gardens is that there are so many incredible backdrops. You not only have the flower gardens and the conservatory, you also have the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, the fields, The Barn at Reynolda Village, a gazebo in Reynolda Village, the boathouse, and the waterfall. You may not be able to cram all of these spots into one session, so take your time at each spot, making sure to get the best photos instead of just trying to rush off to the next location.

Tip: Don’t forget to book your session on the Reynolda Gardens website. They allow for 1.5 hours of photography, which is plenty of time to include a few location changes and maybe even an outfit change.

4. Coordinate Your Outfits with the Season and Setting

Be sure to choose outfits that help you and your partner stand out, but also match the setting of the gardens. For example, soft pastels work well in spring, while rich earth tones suit more for fall. Flowy dresses and neutral colors always photograph well against the garden’s natural backdrop. Your photographer can help you plan a look that complements both you and the setting.

5. Capture a Close-Up of Your Engagement Ring in the Flowers

Don’t forget the details! The gardens are filled with seasonal blooms that make the perfect setting for an engagement ring photo. Ask your photographer to capture a close up of your ring resting on a flower. This is also a great way to show off your ring on your wedding website or save-the-date announcements.

Plan Your Engagement Session at Reynolda Gardens

Whether you’re a Winston local or traveling in for a special shoot, Reynolda Gardens offers one of the most romantic backdrops in North Carolina for proposals, engagement sessions, and weddings. With its natural beauty, historic architecture, and endless photo opportunities, it’s the perfect place to capture your next chapter together.

Fun Fact: Couples who book their wedding in Reynolda are given a complimentary engagement session. (Permit fee waived - Photographer is additional)

Ready to plan your celebration at The Barn at Reynolda Village? Give us a call at 336.758. BARN or send an email to tabatha@reynoldabarn.com. Find prices and packages on our website and enjoy beautiful images on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Hope to see you soon!

We are delighted to welcome guest blogger and award winning wedding planner, Ashley Murray of charming Carolina to our blog page. thank you for this brilliant and helpful essay ashley!

Weddings are beautiful celebrations filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt moments, and one of the highlights of the reception is undoubtedly the toasts. Whether you're the best friend, sibling, or coworker, delivering a memorable toast can be a daunting task. But fear not! We've compiled a list of do's and don'ts to help you nail your wedding toast and leave a lasting impression on the newlyweds and guests alike.

Photo courtesy of Aurelia Baca Photography.

DO'S

Keep it Concise: With the excitement of the wedding day and the anticipation of hitting the dance floor, guests are eager to keep the momentum going. Keep your toast between 2-4 minutes to ensure it's engaging and impactful.

Establish Your Relationship: Introduce yourself and briefly touch on how you know the couple. Share a sweet anecdote or memory that highlights your connection but remember to keep the focus on the couple.

Speak to Both Members of the Couple: Even if you're closer to one person, acknowledge both members of the couple in your toast. Share stories that celebrate their relationship and what makes them a perfect match.

Photo courtesy of Rebekah McClure with The Family Films.

Balance Humor and Emotion: The best toasts strike a balance between humor and heartfelt sentiment. Share funny anecdotes that will have guests laughing, but also include touching moments that tug at the heartstrings.

Incorporate Meaningful Quotes: If you're struggling to find the right words, consider including a beautiful quote or scripture that resonates with the couple. Avoid generic advice and opt for something personal and meaningful.

End on a High Note: Conclude your toast with a joyful and hopeful message, inviting guests to raise their glasses in celebration of the couple's love and future together.

DON'TS

Don’t Drink Too Much: While it may be tempting to calm your nerves with a few drinks, it's important to maintain composure during your toast. Avoid causing unnecessary stress by delivering your speech while intoxicated.

Don’t Start with Negativity: Refrain from beginning your toast by expressing nervousness or dislike for public speaking. Find your inner confidence and focus on delivering a heartfelt message.

Don’t Wing It: While spontaneity can be charming, it's best to have a plan for your toast. Outline key points or jot down notes to ensure a smooth delivery.

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Renay Photography.

Avoid References of Past Relationships: Keep the focus on the couple's love story and avoid mentioning past significant others or relationships.

Steer Clear of Embarrassing Stories: Remember, this is a wedding, not a roast. Avoid sharing stories or making comments that may embarrass the couple, especially in front of family and friends.

Respect Their Family Planning Choices: Avoid assuming or referencing the couple's plans for children unless they have explicitly shared them. Respect their privacy and focus on celebrating their love.

With these tips in mind, you're ready to deliver a heartfelt and memorable wedding toast that will be cherished by the newlyweds and guests for years to come. Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever after!

Thank you Ashley!

For more information on hosting your toast-worthy event at The Barn at Reynolda Village, visit us at our website, Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook page. Or give us a call at 336.758.BARN.

Fabulous photo of Ashley Murray courtesy of Alexandra Scott Photography.

The Barn at Reynolda Village is happy to welcome guest bloggers, Jennifer and Jessica from Green Bee Floral Designs. Jenn and Jessica have been a part of The Barn family since day one and we are grateful for the many ways they have enhanced our space with their amazing floral talents! Read on to enjoy a terrific perspective on 2024 floral wedding trends!

Bouquets + Personals 

Gone are the day of heading to Pinterest and creating an overload of bridal bouquets pins on a board that has no thoughtful intent toward style, silhouette and overall design of your wedding gown. You spend so much time and money toward picking out your bridal gown, why would your not do the same selecting the one item you hold that highlights it?

Your bouquet should be the perfect compliment to your wedding gown. We want to see you walking down the aisle, not just what you are holding. 

Your bouquet should be light, airy, and easy to carry and move around for pictures. Think beyond your bridesmaids' dress colors, and be more intentional about size, color contrast (including greenery), and weight.

If you are considering stronger colors in your bouquet, know that in most cases, the contrast against any shade of white is going to give you a lot of impact, so often a smaller bouquet is suitable. Consider mixing in shades of muted tones, pastel, or white and ivory to bridge that stronger color and soften it. 

The same holds true for bridesmaids' bouquets. As a rule, we like to go smaller in general. Should they have darker dresses, lighter florals are going to give more bang for your buck, so no need for a larger bouquet here. 

Overall, you will find that smaller, more delicate and thoughtful bouquets and personals are always more appreciated over large and bulky that covers everyone up.

Photo courtesy of Julia Wade Photography.

Timeless Ceremony Decor

Your ceremony florals should always frame and highlight the main event and never take away from it. If you are going big and bold with your florals early in the event, we will always encourage you to have a secondary focal place to have those florals later on. 

Going big doesn't mean over the top and distracting to the bride and groom's presence. We want a lot of impact, with not a lot of focus taken away from the couple. Sometimes that means less florals, sometimes not.

As long as big impact, large budget flowers still convey quiet elegance, with purposeful intent to the overall floral budget, then we are all in! 

Photo courtesy of Julia Wade Photography.

Bold Focal Cocktail + Reception Pieces

As florists, we understand the transformative power of flowers. They have the ability to elevate any space, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. When it comes to the wedding reception, we see more brides making a move toward bold floral arrangements  at some focal area of the night. 

Make a dramatic statement right from the start with a stunning floral piece that greets guest at cocktail hour, whether it's a floral chandelier over the large bar or a massive escort card display with vibrant blooms or minimalist and modern. A bold cocktail hour installation sets the stage for the festivities to come.

Large scale florals that anchor the room full of blooms, branches, and foliage in tall glass or metals stands are always show-stoppers. These larger-than-life centerpieces are beautiful whether pin-lit or glowing by candlelight. 

Dance floor and band stage florals are the ultimate splurge, helping create a photo-worthy backdrop for so many of your reception moments. Whether it's a full-scale living wall covered in greenery and flowers, a simple display of loose greens, or rambling planters along the dance floor;  each option provides the perfect aesthetic for capturing lasting moments with your loved ones.

Remember, your wedding day is a reflection of your unique style and personality. With the right floral arrangements, you can turn your wedding reception into an unforgettable experience that will be remembered for years to come.

Photo courtesy of James Piedad Photography.

As wedding florists, we are honored to bring our clients' visions to life and create magical moments that will be cherished for a lifetime. Whether it's an intimate garden affair or a lavish modern celebration, flowers have the power to transform any space.

Here's to celebrating love in all its forms, and to the endless possibilities that lie ahead in the world of wedding flowers. Cheers to a spring wedding season filled with what we do best, a abundance of exquisite flowers. 

We are so glad you are here!           

Jennifer + Jessica

Photo courtesy of David Howell Photography.

Ready to see how florals can play a part in your celebration at The Barn at Reynolda Village? Give us a call at 336.758. BARN or send an email to tabatha@reynoldabarn.com. Find prices and packages on our website and enjoy beautiful images on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Hope to see you soon!

Typically at this time of year, we would take advantage of the plethora of information available about the hottest, newest, latest, trendiest trends for weddings in the New Year!  If you follow any of the wedding bloggers or resource webpages you know that there is no shortage of information and opinions about wedding trends.  They are fun to peruse and read about.

However, as I set out this year to cull through the trends and provide our own “top five” or “top ten” list, I was actually taken aback and found myself asking the question:

Has it all gone a bit too far?

Here are the items that made me think that way.  A quick disclaimer before I share them:

I am not against any single one of these and if it’s your thing and you love them, go for it!  This article is not a judgement of the actual items, it’s more a reflection on wedding day priorities. 

With that said, here are examples of real, honest-to-God published 2024 wedding trends that had me scratching my head:

·       Permanent jewelry stations as favors

·       Secret cocktail menus that require a password

·       Laser show exits

·       A day-after recovery lounge with IV drips

·       Live tattoo artists giving guests tattoos

Whatever happened to simple trend alerts like “pastels are really in this year” or “Grandmas make great flower girls”?

At the risk of seeming old-fashioned and out-of-touch, I’d like to take a step back and suggest that a few other wedding day moments step forward and reclaim some of the focus and energy that has been devoted to new trends. Doing so will create a little extra magic for your celebration."

Photo courtesy of Adornment Photo.

Private Vows

What if the words of promise and devotion that you proclaim to each other happen away from everyone, ahead of your ceremony? Combined with a first look moment, this is an especially nice option for introverts or those who tend to be highly emotional and worry about the distraction of speaking in front of dozens of people.  Private vows allow for an intimate and extremely personal experience for just the two of you. Your officiant can lead the ‘til death do us part’ portion at the ceremony after letting guests know that private vows were already exchanged.

Your Music

Whether you hire a fabulous DJ that came recommended by friends or a wedding band that will have everyone on their feet, spend some time curating your playlist.  Have an in-depth conversation about your favorite and most sentimental songs and make sure they are timed on the playlist so that you hear them!   Did you meet at a Justin Timberlake concert?  Then make sure your hear Can’t Stop the Feeling as you and your new spouse enter the reception.  Was a certain song playing during the proposal? It might be nice to hear that when you’re seated at your sweetheart table, having your first meal as a married couple!

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Russell Photography.

The Menu

Speaking of your first meal together – how about making your reception menu something really special?  Choose foods that connect to the two of you!  This doesn’t mean it has to be high-end!  However a menu that relates to YOUR story will be enjoyed by guests and talked about for years to come.  One black-tie wedding had a hot-dog station and a crab cake station!  Weird combo right?  Except the bride was from Maryland and the groom was from Chicago and there was adorable signage at the stations that said so. Very memorable and who doesn’t love a good hot dog?

Photo courtesy of Adornment Photo.

Last Dance

Bubbles, cold sparklers, bird seed, pom-poms all make for a festive departure for the two of you at the end of the night.  Yet there’s an opportunity for magic just before that too!  Your last dance of the night.  Months of planning and preparation has gone into this amazing day that was just for the two of you, to rejoice in your new chapter in life as a married couple.  Slow it all down…. Look around… take it all in! Choose a special song, clear the dance floor and as you hold each other, you will be reminded of what brought you to this moment in the first place.

Trends come and trends go but the memories from your wedding day are your treasures to keep and revisit for decades to come! With some careful thought and reflection, you will know exactly what’s most important to you about that day and we wish you all good wishes and joy in bringing it together!

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Russell Photography.

For more information on how your wedding day can happen in historic Reynolda,

visit our website, Instagram and Pinterest pages, or email us at tabatha@reynoldabarn.com.

And give us a ring at 336.758.BARN!

Photo in Reynolda Gardens courtesy of Adornment Photo.

Let’s face it, there are only 52 Saturdays each year. 

You begin planning your wedding and naturally the day that immediately comes to mind is Saturday. you’re planning a year in advance so you should have your choice of dates, right?  Not always.

If you have been dreaming about a perfect, sun-kissed spring day or a golden-glow autumn celebration, you may be surprised to find the Saturdays in your dream month have been sold out.  In the spring, wedding events compete with proms and graduations for venue space; and in the fall, regional events and reunions. Do not panic!  For every Saturday, there’s a lovely Friday and Sunday on either side just waiting to be your anniversary! 

Here are a few considerations if you find yourself struggling to find an open Saturday at your favorite venue.

• Friday weddings allow guests to have their entire weekend to do other things.  Maybe they traveled in from out of town and want to explore the area.  Some couples take advantage of having family in town by hosting a casual get-together the day after the wedding.

• Your out-of-town guests can spread out their flights and not feel like they’re coming into town for a few hours only to leave again a few hours later.

• Many venues offer different pricing on Fridays and Sundays.  Choose a non-traditional wedding day and you just might find yourself with some extra cash left for that honeymoon!

• By considering a day other than Saturday, you are likely to find that more of the vendors you desire are available!

Photo in Reynolda Gardens courtesy of Adornment Photo.

Photo in The Meridale Room courtesy of Alayna Kaye Photography.

• Some couples like to plan for DIY wedding décor the day before.  You’ll have a much better chance of being able to rent a few hours at your venue for decorating on a Thursday than on a Friday!

• Rehearsal dinner options are more plentiful on Thursdays than Fridays.

• A non-traditional day might help with your honeymoon plans.  Airfare tends to be less expensive on Saturdays and, if you are thinking about a cruise, there are many fabulous itineraries available with Saturday and Sunday departures!

• Something about Sunday creates a sense of relaxation, so if you are hoping for a more casual, laid back wedding celebration, take advantage of that Sunday afternoon mojo!

• Who doesn’t love a Sunday Brunch? Serving brunch might be a fun option that you don’t typically see at other weddings and a hearty brunch is often less costly than dinner.  Made to order waffle station?  Yes please!

• Sunday weddings tend to have lower levels of alcohol consumption. Since most people will be returning to work the Monday after a Sunday wedding, they may be more inclined to keep alcohol-related shenanigans to a minimum.

• Hosting a Friday, Sunday, or even a weekday wedding might garner you more guests!   During the peak wedding seasons, people are often invited to multiple weddings, some on the same day! The odds are higher that there will not be a conflict with a non-Saturday wedding.

Photo at The Barn at Reynolda Village courtesy of Wyeth Augustine Photography.

Friday/Sunday Tip: take advantage of a Save-the-Date mailing to encourage all travelers to make their travel arrangements!

In the end, Your wedding date is your wedding date and that makes it special in and of itself! There is no one day that is inherently “best” to choose. It’s all about what is best for the two of you.

To learn more about wedding package options for every day of the week, visit our website or call 336.758.BARN.