keeping it local

You all know how difficult it was for Topher and I to decide on the location of our wedding.  Once we had that piece nailed down, we began the hunt for local vendors to suit our vision, budget, and personalities.  I say local very specifically because Topher and I really wanted to support local businesses in Frederick with our wedding choices.  We have been there so many times in recent months and have fallen in LOVE with the town and the funky, hipster vibe of unique downtown Frederick.

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Frederick is somewhere around the 250-year-old mark and harbors some incredibly awesome Civil War history (for the dorky history majors like myself).  It's just south of Gettysburg, and home to famous Barbara Fritchie, a staunch Union woman who waved her American Union flag in defiance at marching Confederate soldiers.  This historic town's old town area was revitalized in the late 1990's/early 2000's when a promenade was created for Carroll Creek running through the town and Baker's Park itself was overhauled and revamped.  Topher and I love these parts so much we got our engagement photos taken on the Promenade and in Baker's Park.  Historic downtown now houses eclectic small shops and amazing restaurants, as well as fantastic antique and vintage shops.  

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This recent revival has given some deserved attention to Frederick's artists and businesspeople.  In keeping with our socially conscious wedding planning hopes, we chose to seek out photographers, florists, and other vendors from the area.  We were incredibly lucky to discover some talented, down to earth people who really got us and wanted to work with us. 

We plan on continuing to booster Frederick's economy by scouring the antique shops for vintage travel props, postcards (for our guest book!) and the like.  We'll also continue our foray into the many amazing restaurants in the area- all in the name of supporting small businesses, of course!  

How are you choosing your vendors? Did location come into play when choosing them?