Anna and Brandon just got married here in Richmond, and their black tie Jefferson Hotel wedding was one of those days where everything just went well. When you spend the whole day at The Jefferson, things always seem to run a little smoother.

Want to know the real reason it all ran so smoothly, though? It might have a little to do with The Jefferson. But mostly, it has to do with Bryce.

Bryce from Carson Ashby Events – Black Tie Jefferson Hotel Wedding

Bryce from Carson Ashby Events planned this wedding, and honestly, go back to any of our blog posts with his name in the vendor list. I bet every one of them says the day ran flawlessly. He’s a 100 out of 10. We love him so much.

What Bryce does so well is balance everything that happens on a wedding day. Some planners are very couple-focused, which is great, because the couple is your client! But a smooth wedding day means juggling a lot of moving pieces at once, and Bryce is the king of juggling. It also didn’t hurt that Anna and Brandon are the most easygoing, fun-loving, here-to-have-a-good-time people ever. Their families were so, so, so sweet. Put all of that together and you get a perfect day.

A Calm Morning and a First Look on the Porch

When we walked in, the wedding party asked us, “Can you tell the vibe?” Super calm, and everyone was just having a good time. Anna and Brandon did a first look, which always frees up more time later in the day. We still used The Jefferson’s quintessential porch for their first look. We didn’t have to, but it’s just so classic. And then we went outside to the side of the building, getting the best parts of the building, including the cobblestone roads for wedding party, and the weather was absolutely perfect.

Ceremony Flowers We’re Still Thinking About – Black Tie Jefferson Hotel Wedding

Can we talk about the flowers for a second? They were incredible! Erica from Black Creek did all of the ceremony florals and the table-scapes. Those ceremony flowers! I texted her immediately: “Erica, are you kidding me?!” They were gorgeous, and they were repurposed beautifully for the reception stations and the bar.

Anna’s bouquet and the handheld flowers were made by a friend from Jasmine Flowers. The two florists’ work balanced each other so well. They weren’t the same, but everything went together perfectly, and both had space to shine. It was so sweet that her friend got to be part of the day and still get to enjoy the rest of the night as a guest, without worrying about working the flowers the whole day.

The Best Harpist in RVA – Black Tie Jefferson Hotel Wedding

We finally got to work with Christina, from RVA Harpist, and she is just the best. Her music is beautiful, and really creates such a stunning ambience. The most impressive part was how fast she moved! Here’s the thing about The Jefferson. The ceremony was in the ballroom on the mezzanine level, way in the back past where you’d have afternoon tea. Cocktail hour was where you’d go for Sunday brunch. That means a flight of stairs, or an elevator if you’re carrying a gigantic harp.

Christina wrapped up that harp in zero seconds flat, hustled it to the elevator, and was already playing at cocktail hour almost before anyone else got there! Her music covered so many genres, too. Your grandma would be listening like, “Oh, this is nice,” and meanwhile you’re thinking, “Wait, is that a Disney song?” We’re pretty sure she could play “99 Problems” if you asked.

A Four-Piece Band That Sounded Like Nine

Their band needs a shout-out too, They sounded like one of those eight- or nine-piece bands, and there were only four guys! They were so nice and so, so good. Not to hate on bands, but sometimes a band starts strong and fades as the night goes on. Not these guys. We were there until half an hour before the end, and they sounded great the whole night. Their set had great transitions and a clear build, so it never felt like it was jumping around.

You might expect four guys to stick to one genre, but they covered everything. They did everything from Chappell Roan to John Denver and the crowd loved it!

A Little Halloween at The Jefferson Hotel

Speaking of props, we loved the Halloween touches they brought out for the late night! There were orange glow sticks and light-up necklaces, along with drink stirrers shaped like little glass pumpkins and ghosts. They were so cute.

Honestly, we’d expect that from Bryce, because he’s huge into Halloween. But Anna told us they liked the idea of leaning into the wedding being so close to Halloween. It didn’t take over the decor at all. It just came out when the late night snacks kicked off, and right in time for the “Monster Mash.”

A Downtown Richmond Wedding Day Where Everything Went Right

There were so many cool things about this day that made it so wonderful. The Jefferson, an incredible planner, beautiful flowers, a lightning-fast harpist, a great band, and two families who were just the sweetest. Anna and Brandon have been together for what feels like a million years, and you can tell. They complement each other so well and are an absolute delight to be around.

Anna and Brandon, congratulations! We loved getting to photograph your black tie wedding at The Jefferson Hotel in downtown Richmond. Enjoy many, many of our favorites!

Looking for more from Anna & Brandon? Here’s their engagement session at Belle Isle!