MY Preferred VENDOR LIST

One of the most frequently-asked questions I get is:

ANSWER: YES — You’re in luck. Scroll down to see my preferred list!

🏆 list of great venues in NC/SC

This is not a list of preferred venues. Rather, a list spanning various categories that have beautiful vendors in each one. Scroll further down for my “preferred vendor list,” which some of these venues also do happen to make that list. This list also does try to satisfy a variety of visual aesthetics, as well as size of venue. Whether you’re looking for a wooded, rural farm location, or something a little more metropolitan, you can find a preferred wedding venue on my list.

Note: Charlotte isn’t known for beaches or mountains, but they’re within a short (2-3 hour) drive. I have some slightly further highly-recommended suggestions too.

🏆 Top Picks | Preferred Vendor list

CRITERIA:

Below is a list of all of the amazing venues and wedding industry vendors that I personally prefer to work with.

This isn't just a Googled list of venues in the Charlotte area — I mean, anyone could make that. A simple search on The Knot will return you a list of 500+ venue names, that you’ll then need to go sift through, narrow down, research, call and visit.

I’ve done over 200+ weddings, and know what “excellence” looks like in a wedding vendor.

What’s below is a list of wedding venues that I have actually photographed for an actual wedding. It took me a lot of time to make this list, and there are a lot of people with amazing work that I simply can’t put on this list… because they’re unresponsive, assholes, or in multiple other ways, very difficult to work with.

For a venue or planner to have made this list, they have to be incredible to work with. This is a trusted recommendation, which believe me, doesn’t come easy for me.

These are GOOD, NICE PEOPLE, with AMAZING WORK and PROFESSIONAL REPUTATIONS that I ALSO PUT MY PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION ON THE LINE FOR.

Let me explain: I have shot at MANY venues — 100+, for sure. And many of them, sadly, I wouldn’t be able to recommend as a top choice.

I stand by these recommendations. Meaning, I’ve worked with the staff at the venue for at least one — but in many cases, several events, and I have experienced their facility, event coordination and overall product firsthand as a fellow wedding vendor. Here is a list of the amazing vendors that I prefer to work with:

For a venue to have made this list, they must have demonstrated the following:

• Beautiful location with versatile offerings

• Great value for money spent

• Must work well with outside vendors

• Known for accommodating, understanding staff

• Known to be accommodating and reasonable with photographers

For a vendor to have made this list, I have to have worked with them multiple times, and they must consistently have demonstrated to me the following:

• Excellence in their field

• Highly responsiveness with both with clients and industry partners

• Great personality

• Flexible/will travel

Preferred Venues

• Camelot Meadows (Charlotte area) - Located in Belmont

• The Long Room Charlotte (Charlotte area) - Located in Plaza Midwood/Uptown neighborhood

• Statesville Country Club (Charlotte area) - Located in Statesville, NC

• Temple Beth-El (Charlotte area) - Located in South Charlotte

• The Morehead Inn (Charlotte area) - Located in Plaza Midwood/Uptown neighborhood

• The Oaks Events (Charlotte area) - Located in Midland

Preferred Wedding Planners

All below full-service coordinators and day-of planners located in NC/SC:

• The Perfect Peony Events (Carla Moss)

• A Simple Affair Events (Tina Sheets)

• As You Wish Events (Bethany Crews)

• ASE Planning (Rionne)

• Golden Forest Events, LLC (Morgan Parker) - Western NC area

• Bluebird Events (Lyndsey Fitts)

Preferred DJs

• Events by Lor (Chong)

• DJ Smylee (Chanel)

• Split Second Sound (Vinny)

• Elegant Soiree DJs and Photobooths (Victor)

• Hagan Williams DJs (Hagan)

Preferred Photographers

• J.P Photography (Charlotte area) - Jordan is my most experienced photographer and has done 100+ weddings with me over the last 9 years

• CLT Weddings (Charlotte area) - (Disclaimer: Alan’s social media presence isn’t as robust as others but he is quite experienced. He shoots with me often)

• Polymath People Productions (Philly area) - Conrad

Preferred Florists 

• Viivi Floral Studio - Owner: Sofya Masiukevich (Charlotte area)

• Little Flower Creative Floral Design - Owner: Elena Motalkina (Philly area)

• Carl Alan Florals Artistry (Philly area)

• Seiji Hana Floral Design (Philly area)

Preferred Gown Shops

NORTH CAROLINA

• Classic Bride & Formals (Charlotte area) - Located in Huntersville - Ask for Phaedra and tell her you know me

• Bedazzled Bridals (Charlotte area) - Located in Gastonia

• Poffie Girls (Charlotte area) - Located in Gastonia

PENNSYLVANIA

• The Wedding Shoppe (Philadelphia area) - Located in Wayne, PA

• The Sample Rack (Philadelphia area) - Located in the city

Preferred Hairstylists & Makeup Artists

NORTH CAROLINA

• Ulyana Kozlovsky - Hairstylist & Makeup artist (Charlotte area)

• Kath Makeup Artistry (Katherine Bracamonte) - Hairstylist & Makeup Artist (Charlotte area)

PENNSYLVANIA

• Gina Pede - Hairstylist (Philadelphia area)

• The Glam Girly (Angelika Varela) :: Hairstylist & Makeup Artist (Philadelphia area)

Preferred Live Entertainment

• Langdon Quin (California area, requires flight in) - Singer/Pianist - Have known for 15 years and he sang at my wedding. In a past life we were in a group together. Contact me directly to request he perform at your wedding.

• Pope & Bert (Charlotte area) - Band located in Greenwood, SC, available across the South

FOR More

For a full list of 500+ wedding venues in Charlotte, and its surrounding areas, start here.