Ashley Hesse Photography
By Emily Mack, Mosaic
Richmond, Virginia is the perfect city for a wedding with elevated southern charm. Whatever your vibe, this eclectic city is filled with endless places to dine, drink, and explore. The contrast between the lush nature trails by the river, historic buildings scattered throughout, and the high rises downtown provide an atmosphere that is a hot spot for couples to get hitched!
Whether you are going for a contemporary or artsy feel, or looking to have a historic, sophisticated, classic Richmond ambiance, there are so many ways to elevate the guest experience and provide an evening for the ages, while incorporating the unique charm of our beloved “River City.”
Ashley Hesse Photography
Venue: First things first, you’ll need to choose a venue. Picking the venue is inevitably one of the most important parts of planning the wedding. There are so many things to consider making sure you are getting the most bang for your buck while still getting the picturesque atmosphere that will be the setting of this incredible memory.
If envisioning a contemporary setting with artsy components, there are venues throughout the city with space to host larger weddings. There are also smaller galleries to consider if you are on a budget or have a low guest count.
MJ Mendoza Photography
If you are picturing a historic building, there are countless options throughout RVA. Many of these offer a beautiful backdrop and need minimal décor. You can just utilize the existing beauty of the space.
What does the venue offer other than the space itself? Don’t forget to ask about table and chair rentals, planning services, and rooms for you and your crew to get ready. The fewer vendors to coordinate, the better!
RW TIP: Visit RichmondWeddings.com to find your perfect venue. Use the venue filter tool to narrow down choices based on your style!
Ashley Hesse Photography
Food: Another key part of wedding planning is figuring out what food and service style you are envisioning. There are so many ways to serve southern staples – comfort food to some and an introduction to southern cuisine for others.
For traditional dinner service, imagine a preset vineyard salad with a choice entrée of fish, chicken, beef, or a vegan option. For larger guest counts and a more casual cocktail style of food service, consider multiple interactive chef stations with southern staples such as a mac and cheese toppings bar, shrimp and grits bar, slider station, or a variety of other fun tapas plates.
Everybody loves an edible party favor. Think about sending your guests home with a slice of pie or a baggie of popcorn. All these options are also excellent for a late-night snack!
Beverages: Nothing gets the good times rolling quite like a good drink. Between the countless local craft beers and endless cocktail recipe options, this decision is one where you can’t go wrong.
Richmond is known for its rapidly growing collection of craft breweries, so it is fitting to serve local brews to your guests visiting from far and wide. Give them a taste of RVA with fan favorites like Hardywood’s Great Return and Triple Crossing’s Falcon Smash.
Specialty cocktails are an excellent way to customize the bar and add some personality. After all, nothing feels more quintessential Richmond than sipping on an Old Fashioned and admiring the skyline from a rooftop bar.
There are adorable beverage service carts available that are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Also consider featuring a local spirit like Cirrus Vodka or Belle Isle Moonshine. For nonalcoholic options, sweet tea and lemonade are perfect pairings for any event with a southern twist!
Rentals & décor: There are endless ways to style the wedding and hiring an experienced event designer is the key to turning your vision into a reality. Planners work with vendors like rental companies and florists to help source everything needed to achieve your vision.
Think outside of the norm and incorporate your love for Richmond in sweet little nods to your favorite city. Instead of using table numbers, label tables with neighborhood, street names, or landmarks that are sentimental to you and your partner. You can also spruce up the bar with a watercolor painting of an iconic Richmond landscape.
Florists can enhance any space, old or new, by bringing in life and color for every occasion. Florals can complement the stunning architecture of the venue without overshadowing it. We are so lucky to have so many talented florists in Richmond!
For tables, chairs, linen, glassware, and more, local rental companies have it all and then some. They can essentially turn any area into a wedding venue! Some of the most intimate, homey, yet elevated parties happen in the backyard of a family home.
Emily Mack is an Event Producer at Mosaic Catering + Events, providing top tier catering expertise and thoughtful event design since 2021. Mosaic has been serving Richmond since 1995 for weddings, cocktail parties, corporate receptions, fundraiser galas, birthday parties, and everything in between. Contact Emily from Mosaic for everything out of the ordinary!