Is it me or is D.C. getting cooler by the day? Every wedding from our country’s capital that crosses my desk seems to have a certain style and this elegant bash isn’t an exception. This couple embraced their city, from their invites by Gourmet Invitations to their cake by Fluffy Thoughts, with Andrea Jacobson for The Observatory capturing all. This gallery has me adding D.C. to the top of my travel list pronto.
From the Bride… John and I met at Howard University over a decade ago. After he proposed on New Year’s Eve, we began planning our DC themed wedding because DC is where our relationship started and grew.
When we were looking for venues, I knew that I wanted a location that would be a good fit for an elegant evening. We both wanted the wedding to be formal and fun. We decided that we wanted traditional tuxedos for the groomsmen and I wanted the bridesmaids in floor length glittery dresses. I don’t think that John liked the idea of having the bridesmaids in different dresses but I think he finally came around when he saw them all together on the wedding day.
Because so many of our guests were coming from out of town, we wanted to infuse the DC theme throughout as many elements of the wedding as possible. We searched everywhere for Save the Dates that a touch of DC and found a DC skyline Save the Date online at Etsy. However, when it came to the invitations we knew we were going to need a custom invitation because of all the details we wanted. We found Tifany from Gourmet Invitations online. We shared with Tifany that we wanted to incorporate the DC map on a custom die cut invitation, as well as emboss a DC skyline that my Dad had designed for us that included each our initials hidden in the design. The invitations Tifany designed brought together our wedding colors and showcased the DC theme.
I don’t even know if I can name just one of my favorite details of the day. I loved that we had an opportunity to have a first look because John and I were able to see each other and spend some time with the wedding party before the ceremony and reception. We were able to take pictures at the Lincoln Memorial where he proposed and John’s brother had us all laughing so hard we were in tears. I loved the ceremony because our officiant really captured who we are as a couple and John’s vows had me and guests crying.
The wedding venue, Andrew Mellon Auditorium, is amazing on its own but seeing the phenomenal flowers and décor from Amaryllis took my breath away. We utilized every space in the Mellon Auditorium. The Auditorium has a foyer that is usually used for cocktail hour but we used it for our ceremony. It was the perfect size for the number of guests and the lighting really made it feel intimate. Amaryllis provided a large frame to hold our escort cards. The cards incorporated our DC theme, we used pictures of locations throughout DC, including Howard University buildings and DC landmarks and monuments. The pictures were taken by myself and my friend, Yoori, and Tifany from Gourmet Invitations helped us design cards that looked like a Polaroid photos.
The element that really brought together the DC theme in our reception was the wedding cake with the DC skyline. Lara at Fully Thoughts made a cake that was not only beautiful but also delicious. We were able to have three cake flavors and I still dream about the pumpkin flavor. All the guests raved about it.
My favorite moment of the day was when all the wedding guests formed a circle around us and sang Lean on Me. It’s a tradition with John and his friends. John’s favorite moment of the wedding was the best man’s speech. His brother Jason had the guests laughing and in tears. The entire day was full of lots of laughs and happy tears. It seems a bit cliché to say it was the best day ever, but it was.
Photography: Andrea Jacobson For The Observatory | Videography: Dolce Studio Films | Event Planning: Bella Notte | Floral Design: Amaryllis | Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Bakery | Invitations: Gourmet Invitations | Catering: Occasions Caterers | Hair And Make Up: Shaune Hayes | Lighting And Sound: John Farr Lighting Design | Favors: Georgetown Cupcakes | Officiant: Ceremony Officiants - Rev. Laura Cannon & Associates | Ceremony Music: Champagne Consort | Transportation: Reliable Limo | Wedding Venue: Andrew Mellon Auditorium | Antique Car: Regal Limousine | Bride's Getting Ready Venue: Hyatt Regency Washington Capitol Hill | Groom's Getting Ready Venue: The Liaison Hotel | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Photo Booth: Photo-matica | Reception Music: Scratch Weddings | Rentals: Fabrication Events