Washington DC Weddings

Hurricane Joaquin Didn’t Slow This Wedding Down!

From Love Life Images… Kevin and Susie have a love story that goes way back. They met when they were only 5 years old, and were great friends until age 12, when Susie’s family moved to St. Louis. The pair lost touch and didn’t see each other again until age 22. After reconnecting, the pair starting dating shortly after, and it’s their early friendship that will bond them in marriage for years to come.

Their wedding was a celebration of friends and family, having siblings and childhood friends in the bridal party. With their wedding on New Year’s Eve, they knew their wedding celebration would need to be an exciting and fun affair, and thanks to ATrendy Wedding, their guests were treated to an amazing evening.

Kevin was a member of the Lehigh University choir and many of the guests were also members, so as a special honor, the choir sang ‘Ave Maria’ during the ceremony. The Fairmont was a gorgeous location for first look portraits and the wedding reception. Georgetown University and the town homes around the area provided a fun backdrop for bridal party photos. The evening ended with a bang at midnight where guests celebrated ringing in the new year with champagne and confetti!

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Carolina Herrera

Spring 2015

Spring 2016

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Think a little storm like Hurricane Joaquin would put a halt on these wedding plans? You better think again. Because this couple was ready to wed no matter the circumstances, with an awesome crew of vendors like Simply Chic, Beehive Events and Abby Jiu Photography by their side. Luckily the storm mostly bypassed their city, leaving them with grey skies, occasional raindrops, and smiles that couldn’t be contained if you tried. Lots more in The Vault!

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Fall Weddings

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This Online Love Story is the Modern Day, ‘You’ve Got Mail’

From Simply Chic… Playing off of their Fourth of July engagement, a palette of poppy red, cobalt & chambray blues, earthy taupe and weathered copper was created for Jessica and Nate’s wedding at the Hay Adams Hotel. The poppy was a shift from berry, but was a fresh twist on “autumnal” as opposed to the berry color typically seen in the fall. The poppy red also helped to create more balance between the feminine and masculine elements of the design. The palette was also a relevant way to honor the places that mean the most to Jessica & Nate – Maine, DC (Jessica’s home state), Vermont (Nate’s home state) & NYC (where they live together). Lobster cookies were included in the welcome basket as a nod to the Maine lobster bakes that Jessica loves.

In order to create a more intimate experience for Jessica & Nate’s guests, at the advice of their planners, the couple purchase weathered copper fixtures to hang over their dining tables from Pottery Barn. The classic lantern-style fixtures help elevate the overall design and add a residential feel to the gorgeous space at the Hay-Adams.

On the week of the wedding, Hurricane Joaquin threatened to avert the plans of the couple’s nuptials. Jessica and Nate along with their family kept a vigil watch on the movement of the storm all week. Luckily the brunt of the storm didn’t come to DC so there were only droplets of rain on their wedding day. There were mostly cloudy skies, but Jessica and Nate took it with a grain of salt. They were excited that all of the friends and family’s travel plans weren’t ruined by the hurricane and they could celebrate with their loved ones.

A nod to their loved ones – Nate’s father was a poet. So in his honor, Nate had a beautiful linen-bound book created of his father’s poems complete with accompanying custom artwork by a family friend. Nate gifted copies of the book to Jessica and her parents the night of their rehearsal. Additionally, Nate wore his father’s bow tie and Jessica wore her grandmother’s and Nate’s grandmother’s rings.

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Carolina Herrera

Spring 2015

Spring 2016

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We love a good online love story – so it should come as no surprise that we love Lily and Brad. Even more so? The fact that they planned the perfect party complete with classic touches, tapered David Beahm Designs blooms, flourished Laura Hooper Calligraphy, and of course the mega talented Abby Jiu capturing every moment. From the culturally significant ceremony to the regal reception, we’ve got it all in The Vault!

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See Why a 1st Anniversary Shoot is So Worth It

From Abby Jiu…Lily and Brad met on the online dating website “HowAboutWe.com”. They spent five hours getting to know one another on their first date at The Darlington House and learned that they both work for independent schools in the DC area. Brad teaches at Bullis, which is less than a mile from Lily’s childhood home. She ran on their track throughout high school! They are a true online dating success story!

Brad surprised Lily with a romantic proposal on their vacation to Spain in August 2014. He proposed in the charming city of Seville. They knew that their love for Spain would make a statement at their wedding and it sure did through their custom Sangria and tapas bar at cocktail hour!

Lily and Brad wanted a timeless wedding that they would look back on and cherish forever. The colors and look were designed specially as an overall ode to a timeless look with a modern twist. The custom invitation from Haute Papier served as a benchmark for our gorgeous different shades of grey details!

Lily wanted to give a nod to her Persian heritage with this Sofreh Aghd display at their wedding reception as well as the paisley linen that were on the reception tables. The Sofreh Aghd is a traditional wedding ceremony spread where legal marriage + ceremonial traditions are exchanged. The ceremonial traditions have been practiced for thousands of years + Sofreh Aghd spreads are usually very customary at Persian weddings. Like most, Iranians have diverse religious backgrounds and the Sofreh Aghd is a chosen cultural ceremony commonly practiced regardless of faith. There are many symbolic items in which make up the Sofreh Aghd spread, all in which represent an element of the couple’s new life + marriage together. The word “sofreh” means “spread” and “aghd” means “ceremony.” The Persian Rial (bills) were signed by her late grandfather.

Elizabeth Fogarty has officially shown us what it’s like to have #anniversarygoals. Because what couple wouldn’t want to toast the first year of newlywed bliss?! So start planning about slipping on a beautiful gown, donning a handful of florals, and let’s not forget the cake. See it all unfold in The Vault!

From Elizabeth Fogarty… For this 1st year anniversary shoot, we really wanted to capture the celebration of the first year of marriage with some simple details while also keeping the look romantic, mature, and elegant through our color palette. We love that couples save the top tier of their wedding cake for their first anniversary and bringing that fun concept into the shoot along with some champagne really allowed our couple to celebrate their first anniversary! We also incorporated a calligraphy cake topper and sign adorned with their shared last name to highlight their marriage. Our peach, pink, and gold color palette was the perfect romantic complement to our celebratory details and the accents of marble gave the shoot a mature and clean look. This anniversary session was filled with images of celebration and romance for this couple to cherish and remember for many more years to come!

Classic Black-Tie Ballroom Wedding with Timeless Touches

It should come as no surprise that this Washington D.C. The St. Regis Hotel wedding is absolutely gorgeous, especially when you consider the incredible team of vendors behind it like With Love And Embers and Amie Decker Beauty. From the beautiful Bride’s timeless ballgown to the timeless blush, white and gold color palette, this day is definitely a classic. See it all in The Vault!

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Timeless + Elegant Black-Tie Washington D.C. Wedding

From With Love And Embers…Julia and Kyle’s wedding was a beautiful classic wedding set in Washington DC at the stunning St, Regis hotel. Their ceremony was outside in the courtyard surrounded with their closest family and friends. Their reception was inside, in the beautiful ballroom filled with warm uplighting, beautiful floral center pieces and a band to keep their guests dancing the night away.

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In the world of weddings, there’s nothing quite like a classic black-tie affair. But this D.C. wedding is in a league of it’s own. Every single detail is absolute perfection—from the elegant invitation suite and gorgeous calligraphied mirror from Meant To Be Calligraphy to the Bride’s stunning Monique Lhuillier lace wedding dress and beautiful bridal makeup from Amie Decker Beauty. See each and every pretty moment from Jodi Miller Photography and Bowen Films in The Vault!

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Classic D.C. Four Seasons Hotel Ballroom Wedding

From The Bride…When Doug and I were planning our wedding, we knew we wanted to provide a unique, personal and above all, fun, experience for all of our guests. Since more than half of our guest list was not from the D.C. area where we live and I also grew up, we decided it was important to find a venue that would give our guests a true “DC experience” and something a little different from a traditional ballroom wedding. We looked at several venues but when we got to the Top of the Hay on the hotel’s 9th floor and saw the space which was framed with French doors leading to a wrap-around balcony with a commanding view of The White House, Monuments and the Potomac River, we knew it was the perfect spot for our reception. The view combined with the old hotel’s storied history, excellent service, location, and catering of the Hay-Adams made for the perfect venue.

Our wedding was a black tie city affair, but we also wanted to incorporate details from Bethany Beach, DE where we met, our families have homes and where we have developed life-long friendships with so many of our friends. Balancing the formal look of the wedding with some more casual touches from the beach also helped give the wedding a more relaxed vibe which was very important to us. To do this, we used Doug’s old life-saving buoy as our guest book and tied in popular places in Bethany such as late night passed burgers and fries in Boardwalk Fry cups and a candy cart with our favorite treats from Candy Kitchen, the local candy shop at the Delaware beaches. We also had beautiful custom save the dates that told a bit of our story from the Beach to D.C. from Cheree Berry Paper. I am still getting compliments on these!

It was critical that our guests had a great time and felt taken care of throughout the weekend. We had a casual welcome drinks reception on Friday at one of our friends restaurants so guests could get to know one another and a day-long farewell party at my parents Alexandria home on Sunday. Most importantly, we had an amazing band, The Hudson Project, who kept the dance floor packed the entire night with all of our friends and family of all age groups. I don’t think I have ever had more fun!

The final aspect of our wedding that really made it special was the ceremony. I will admit with all of the time spent focusing on the details of the reception, I had not anticipated how special the ceremony would be to me. When the priests, both of whom were my high school Principals which added another personal touch, announced us as husband and wife, the church erupted into the biggest cheer I have ever heard. The joy of that moment coupled with the love and happiness of those most important to us was something I will never forget and truly did make me feel like the luckiest and happiest girl in the world.

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Beauty

Amie Decker Beauty

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Wedding Dresses

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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BHLDN

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Nina and Michael may have had a classic ballroom wedding, but their big day was full of personality. From the delicious South American-inspired bites to the Make Your Own Caipirinha Kits as favors, this D.C. day is all kinds of fun. And with vendors like Lisa Ziesing For Abby Jiu Photography, Karson Butler Events and Amie Decker Beauty, it’s also all kinds of pretty. See it all in The Vault!

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Classic Black + White D.C. Wedding Ballroom Wedding with Pops of Pink

From Karson Butler Events…Nina and Michael are one of the sweetest couples you’ll ever meet. Michael’s explanation of why life is better with Nina had us tearing up and the look on Nina’s face when she listens to Michael talk is too cute for words. Their July wedding at The Four Seasons was full of sweet details and nods to their heritage and family traditions.

We loved designing a celebration that embraced both the bride and groom’s two cultures while embracing modern touches and feeling of the venue and couple’s style. After seeing many venues, we knew the Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC was the perfect place for Nina & Michael’s wedding. The Conservatory room provided the perfect intimate ceremony spot with marble floors and a gorgeous skylight. Dinner and dancing happened in the Seasons ballroom and we loved the non-rectangular shape and floor to ceiling natural light. Not only was it climate controlled – a must in the summertime, the culinary team was a dream to collaborate with.

Michael is Brazilian and Nina is Peruvian which we incorporated into various aspects of their wedding day. Cocktail hour offered their guests the chance to try chicken hearts, pastels, and a creative ceviche station. Specialty cocktails were a Peruvian Pisco Sour for Nina and a Brazilian Caipirinha for Michael. The culinary nods to their heritages continued throughout the night. The chef at Four Seasons DC made a special chimichurri sauce to accompany a delicious steak dinner. Lastly, the dessert display had traditional brigadeiros and mango creams. The inclusion of so many specialty items from the beginning to the end of the night made for a truly unique culinary experience for guests to enjoy.

Portuguese dance songs mixed into current beats by DJ Dan Goldman kept the dance floor packed. Guests left with a fun treat to remember the fun-loving couple. Make Your Own Caipirinha Kits were a hit (and some of the cutest favors we’ve ever made!) Guests each received a mini bottle of cachaça, sugar cubes, a lime, and a recipe card so they could enjoy Brazil’s national cocktail one more time and toast to Nina and Michael!

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Amie Decker Beauty

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Scott and Catherine’s Washington D.C. wedding is full of all kinds of pretty—the Bride’s lovely lace wedding dress, the graphic gold and white illustrated invitations the gorgeous florals and so much more in The Vault, thanks to photos from Elizabeth Fogarty. But my favorite part? The DIY “Party Animal” escort cards that set the tone for a fun-filled reception!

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Classic + Elegant Black-Tie D.C. Wedding

From Elizabeth Fogarty…This classic wedding at the Hotel Monaco was just the perfect summer day. Scott and Catherine were just giggles the whole day. They had the quintessential Washington DC wedding. My favorite detail were the gold donkeys and elephants. This was a total DIY project by the bride and groom. They were the ones who spray painted them gold! Da Vinci florist just brought so much life to the wedding with their flowers. They ended the day is the biggest dance party ever!

With Grace Kelly as an inspiration, it should come as no shocker that this Washington D.C. museum wedding is the picture of classic elegance. A timeless color palette of whites, creams, golds and silvers set the National Museum Of Women in the Arts aglow, setting the stage for these high school sweethearts’ big day nine years in the making. See every special moment captured by The Youngrens in The Vault!

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A Chic Affair: An Artisan Bridal Marketplace + A Promotion!

From The Bride…We first met in high school. While it may not have been love at first sight (Sam can thank his mullet for that), we grew to become best friends and by the last semester of our senior year, began dating. We were a long-distance couple during college, frequently visiting each other in Chicago and North Carolina, and after graduation, settled back in our hometown of DC.

After dating 9 years, it was not too much of a surprise that Sam would propose; it was just a question of when and how. I was at the beach in Delaware with my family for the week. After arranging the details with my family, Sam drove up midweek and surprised me on the beach as my family walked back from dinner at their favorite BBQ joint. When Sam got down on one knee to propose, there may or may not have been some barbeque sauce still left on my cheek (and ring finger)!

Since we are DC natives, we knew we wanted to get married downtown at a venue that captured the culture and character of the city. Sam’s mother and I had both discussed how beautiful the National Museum of Women in the Arts would be for a wedding venue, and, according to Sam, that made it a done deal.

We envisioned a timeless elegance for the look of the wedding, which is why the colors of the wedding were very neutral- different shades of whites and creams with golds and silvers. I wanted a classic look (with Grace Kelly as an inspiration) but with a modern twist, so I chose a very light blush wedding gown. The museum was so beautiful in and of itself, we wanted the flowers and decor to accentuate that beauty, not distract from it.

Incorporating family and our two religious traditions into our ceremony was very important to us. The ceremony was co-officiated by our cousin alongside our family friend and reverend. We were married under a chuppah that Sam’s mom hand-sewed to include silkscreened photos of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents on their wedding days. After the cocktail hour in the museum galleries, guests were seated at dinner tables named after our favorite restaurants that had been influential in our 9+ years as a couple (and yes, the head table was “Five Guys” – scene of our first date).

One of our most vivid and happy memories from the day is when, after spending some time taking pictures outside in the August sun following the first look, the bridesmaids dashed over, bringing us some much needed fuel in the form of a McDonald’s burger and Coke.

One of my favorite moments was dancing with my Dad for the father-daughter dance. We took a few dance lessons before the big day, though it felt like I had spent my whole life dancing with my Dad in preparation for this special moment. I loved dancing with all my family, and couldn’t believe it when my grandmother joined us out on the dance floor, just before midnight, for a rousing version of Shout!

Sam’s favorite memory was the spirited ten-minute hora (a traditional Jewish celebratory dance). It has been so great to look back at the pictures and see all of our guests, many who did not know each other before that day, mixed together and hand in hand dancing with us on the museum floor.

Calling all of you modern, stylish and seriously savvy brides. Yes, you. The bride that is all about throwing a gorgeous wedding and wants a talented team of vendors to pull it off. Enter A Chic Affair, an insanely awesome + super unique bridal experience happening on February 21st. It’s a totally inspiring group of wedding professionals meets a whole lot of awesome inspiration. Trust us, loves – you don’t want to miss a moment of this artisan bridal marketplace… OR their ah-mazing promotion!

Happening on February 21st at Dock 5 in Union Market from 11:30 am – 3 pm, A Chic Affair is as unique as it is awesome. Think a totally different type of bridal show celebrating creativity and artisan-style wedding resources and you are sooo on the right track. From yummy cocktails + treats from some of the city’s finest caterers, bakeries and artisanal food purveyors to the fabulous Beauty Bar presented by App StyleMeBar to the crazy cool Gentlemen’s Lounge (read: craft beverages, custom suiting, grooming products and snacks) to the TechieBride booths that will totally help you utilize technology to change the way you plan and execute your Big Day. There’s even an Instagram expert! So fab.

So what are you waiting for, lovelies? Head to A Chic Affair TODAY to purchase your tickets to this must-see event. And don’t forget – if you are lucky enough to score one of their VIB tickets (Very Important Bride – or Groom!), you’ll receive one hour early access with brunch hors d’oeuvres from Heirloom Catering, a VIB gift and entry into the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway, an amazing Big Day giveaway for up to 50 of your guests!

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Exclusive for Style Me Pretty readers: Purchase your general access tickets for 1/2 off using the code CHIC at checkout! Buy your A Chic Affair tickets here!

Photography: Wedding Photojournalism by Rodney Bailey

Find more elopement inspiration here!

Classic, Romantic + Glamorous Ritz Carlton D.C. Wedding

For any of you lovelies dreaming of a classic-meets-glam ballroom wedding, look no further than this D.C. affair. With exquisite white-and-gold calligraphy invitations from Laura Hooper Calligraphy, sublime fashions (we’ll be dreaming of that ballgown) and an abundance of fresh flowers, this Ritz Carlton wedding is as glamorous as can be. See all the beauty from Abby Jiu Photography in THE VAULT!

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Fall Weddings

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Glamorous

From Evoke…When you think of a D.C. wedding, you think of classic elegance with timeless touches, which is just what this fabulous couple wanted for their big day! The fabulous early Fall soirée was traditionally romantic, from Lara and Nathan’s cozy ceremony too their fun glistening reception that featured a mix of square and round signature mirror top tables. No detail was missed, every place setting had a monogramed napkin of the couples initials paired with custom laser cut name cards from Laura Hooper Calligraphy.

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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This classic D.C. fête? It’s like the Audrey Hepburn of real weddings. Timeless in every way and stylish to boot, it’s made even lovelier thanks to Floral & Bloom with Vicki Grafton behind the camera. See the full day inside The Vault, and if you’re new to SMP click here to discover the wedding style that’s just right for you!

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Spring Weddings

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Elegant Washington DC Wedding at Clarendon Ballroom

From The Bride…When my fiancé Sam and I first started planning our wedding nearly two years ago, we knew we wanted to immerse our Midwest family and friends in our new home of Washington, DC. Finding the perfect venue within the Daughters of the American Revolution National Headquarters was what finally brought our vision together. The space checked all of our boxes, including monument views, outdoor spaces and historical significance. The light and airy quality of the white marble building worked perfectly with the look that our photographer Vicki Grafton captures in her ethereal and romantic film photos.

Just as important as the venue was the food; we knew we wanted to include Sam’s Coptic Egyptian heritage into our very classic East Coast wedding day feast. We were lucky enough to find a caterer who shared our vision and presented us with a wonderful tasting of traditional Egyptian food, including Dolmas and Kofta appetizers, mixed with east coast favorites like Maryland style crab cakes. Lastly, a Baklava-flavored cheesecake was the perfect blend of cultures in lieu of a wedding cake.

Before we moved to Washington for Sam’s surgical residency, I had actually worked for a wedding consulting firm in St. Louis, MO. So, instead of hiring a planner, I decided to do most of the design work myself. I started with our wedding invitations and found a wonderful little shop in Alexandra, Virginia which allows you to use their presses to print your own letterpress designs. What would have been too expensive of an option before, now turned out to be affordable and fun. Sam and I had a great time learning how to set up the presses!

I continued to add personal touches to the wedding by assembling out-of-town welcome bags filled with D.C. favorites, creating a one of a kind guest card display for cocktail hour and even making sure our favorite fur child was represented on our special day. Sam got in on the planning by crafting our own signature cocktails, an activity that I’m happy to say took up several of our Saturday nights leading to the big day.

My favorite custom project for the wedding was by far my wedding dress. After I met Matthew Christopher at a trunk show, his team and I exchanged dozens of emails over several months in order to bring my dream dress to life. I could not have been happier with my beautiful custom dress; it was perfect for our East Coast Orthodox wedding.

From beginning to end, our wedding day was more than we could have hoped for. The classic D.C. style married perfectly with our traditional Coptic ceremony, and our guests had a wonderful time experiencing the city that Sam and I have come to call home.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Jenny Yoo

Spring 2014 Maternity

2016 Bridesmaid Collection

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I have no doubt that I’ll always be a fan of classic ballroom weddings and Washington D.C. does them like it’s their job. This elegant affair right here hits all the right notes and even adds in a romantic stroll through Georgetown for some fun. Michael and Carina Photography was there for it all, helping to make our VAULT shine even brighter – see all the pics right this way!

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Fall Weddings

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Modern Mint + White Garden Wedding Inspiration

From Michael and Carina Photography… Washington D.C. is the place for elegant ballroom weddings! Ashley and Chas celebrated their wedding day in the U.S. capital in style! They chose a coral and cream color palette and lavishly decorated the ballroom for their ceremony with florals.

Ashley’s form fitting dress from BHLDN showed off a gorgeous lace back and her full bouquet featured succulents and coral blooms. The bridal party and the couple went for a stroll through scenic Georgetown moments before the ceremony; the dainty houses and soft colors of Georgetown matched their style so well!

From the Bride… After Chas and I were engaged we had difficulty thinking of a venue for our wedding. In doing research we stumbled upon a site with a picture of a familiar venue to us. The place in which we had met three years prior, Clarendon Ballroom. We had never pictured being married at the place we had met but after seeing the pictures and reading the reviews we couldn’t imagine it any other way.

After our first visit and tour of the venue with coordinator, Sandra, we never even looked at another location. Once we made our selection for the venue, the rest of our wedding vision started to take place. We wanted our wedding day to reflect our love for each other and the thankful hearts we had for our family and closest friends. Most important to us was that our guests had a good time and felt like they were partaking in a fun celebration! Great venue, good food, family and friends, and lots of dancing!

We were so excited to have the talented Michael and Carina capture all the moments from our big day as we prepared in one of our favorite DC neighborhoods, Georgetown, and made our way to say “I do” at Clarendon Ballroom. They also worked great with our amazing wedding planners, Pamela Meiser and Sarah Keane from Post Scripted, our wedding coordinator Sandra Hoehne from Clarendon Ballroom, and our videographer Eduardo Gomez of True Vine Films. We are also forever grateful to our wonderful family, friends, and the rest of our amazing vendors for helping us make our wedding day so special.

Our wedding day was everything we could have ever wished for and it is truly difficult for us to describe in words the lasting memories from the day and our story leading up to that point. What better what to tell our story than through the photos that Michael and Carina captured.

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Peruse more classic style weddings here!

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Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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I cannot gush enough about how much I adore this wedding inspiration photo shoot. And when I saw the team of vendors involved, it’s no surprise why—it’s a wedding dream team including Kelsey Thompson, Cheers Darling Events, Buttercream Bakeshop, Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Jewel Hair Design and a Hayley Paige dress from Lovely Bride DC. Talk about a perfect marriage. Fall in love with it all in THE VAULT!

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Al Fresco

From Buttercream Bakeshop…With the District being filled with traditional venues, we love to find ways to modernize the DC bride – what better than a modern color palette of white and mint accented with mirrors in a traditional garden setting? A stunning set up thanks to Edge Flowers, Dandelion Patch, Party Rental and Laura Hooper Calligraphy created the ultimate al fresco modern ambiance – with the afternoon light reflecting beautifully off the mirrored table. Our favorite elements of the day – the save the date and our brides beautiful Hayley Paige gown, the beading and pleated skirt, we were in love.

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Hayley Paige

Spring 2014

Fall 2013

Spring 2013

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

Spring 2016

Blush by Hayley Paige

Hayley Paige Occasions

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

Blush by Haley Paige

Spring 2018

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Bonobos

GroomShop Spring 2014

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Elegant Washington D.C. Engagement Session

With the softest, most ethereal natural light and romantic outdoor setting imaginable (hello, cherry blossoms!), this darling esesh from Little Black Book photographer Hieu Pham is the epitome of springtime sweetness. From candid giggles to sweet kisses under the cherry trees, this gorgeous couple’s infectious love for each other was captured perfectly in every moment here in The Vault!

From The Bride-to-be… Alex and I met on the first day of our freshman year at the University of Maryland. We instantly became friends and eventually went on our first date on January 11, 2006, Alex’s 19th birthday. We dated for 9 years and Alex decided to propose while on a ski trip in Telluride, CO. He got down on one knee on the gondola overlooking the mountains, which also happened to be his birthday weekend 9 years later! Alex is currently in business school at UVA and will be graduating this May. We are planning on moving to NYC in July and can’t wait to end the long-distance relationship!

Photography: Hieu Pham Photography | Venue: Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Romantic Fall Art Museum Wedding Editorial

Fall and winter brides, stop and take note because this one is for you. Anchored in luxury design with the richest jewel tones and a take-your-breath-away tablescape, it’s an inspiration overload orchestrated by Elizabeth Duncan Events. Inside THE VAULT, you’ll find must-pin details like that Buttercream Bakeshop five tier creation plus so much more from Abby Jiu. Let’s get started.

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Modern + Monochromatic DC Art Gallery Wedding

From Elizabeth Duncan Events…What bride wouldn’t want to be “Married with the Masterpieces?!” Inspired by the exquisite art and 19th century estate of The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, we designed a romantic and luxurious wedding day. Thinking of our upcoming Fall and Winter brides, we incorporated jewel tones of purple and red, rich velvet and heirloom-style accents. Lush florals and abundant candlelight created an inviting ambiance for a romantic ceremony in front of the historic fireplace. A dramatic, long table was adorned with silver vases of blooms in purple, red, and peach, taper candles and hand-calligraphed satin ribbon placecards. Finished off with a toast of port and a slice of cake, our couple enjoyed a wedding as beautifully timeless as the paintings of Monet, Degas, and Renoir.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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We don’t see a lot of modern, industrial weddings here at SMP, so when we get a pretty one like this, I’m reminded of why I love them so much. And when the gorgeous couple used a team of vendors like Abby Jiu Photography, Karson Butler Events, Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Amie Decker Beauty and La Tavola Linen, it’s no surprise why this wedding is such a gem. See all the stunning details in THE VAULT!

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Museum

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From The Bride…The guest experience was really important to me so I wanted them to feel taken care of and welcomed. I also wanted a different feel from a traditional wedding and envisioned an upscale dinner party that I would host in my home.

I didn’t have a set color palette – it evolved along the way. I have always loved the industrial urban look of the Longview Gallery and knew it was the perfect venue for our wedding. It allowed so many different looks and was really a blank canvas to begin our planing process. I wanted to use metallics to bring a luxe and chic feel to the event and allowing us to highlight the modern elements in the space. From there, Emily at KBE helped me create a cohesive look with high impact elements that guests would remember.

I loved the gallery within the gallery – we hung family pictures in the transition space between the front and back gallery – it brought a personal element to the wedding, but also fit within the look and feel.

I loved so many details of the day – I think the dinner tables were one of my favorite details. I loved the lucite risers and the contrast between the tables. I also loved the personalized laser-cut name cards. It felt very personal and welcoming for our guests.

Hire Karson Butler Events!! In all seriousness, I recommend eliciting help (whether a formal planner or friends/family) because you want to enjoy the process and have fun with it. The wedding is only a single day so you want to enjoy the excitement and anticipation of the planning process.

From Karson Butler Events…Erica and John were the perfect examples of not letting rain spoil their wedding day. As unpredictable summer weather would have it, a boisterous storm hit Washington DC, but it did not ruin the day. The stormy weather added to the cozy ambience created by beautiful candle displays and lucite risers. Guests enjoyed their time together at a mix of wood and leather linen tables full of candles and small floral touches.

Erica and John have been to a zillion weddings – and DC weddings at that! It was important to create a unique design that hadn’t been seen over and over. We used the gallery as our inspiration and focused on minimal, yet high impact touches. With the help of Amaryllis, we added our own works of art such as the hanging seating assignment card table (later turned dessert display) and overhead focal installation above the bar.

Erica & John are amazing people whose love is evident for all to see. Long View Gallery was the perfect venue to showcase their modern flare while creating a warm atmosphere for them and their guests. Furniture groupings, touches of gold, and laser cut wood place cards all added to the overall experience and left guests as in love with the evening as they are with the incredible couple!

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Beauty

Amie Decker Beauty

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Mint DC Ballroom Wedding

We love, love, love seeing indoor ballroom weddings. They start to peek their way onto our pages more and more as fall and winter approach, but when we spotted this summer ballroom wedding from Audra Wrisley? With it’s incredibly refreshing palette? We did a double take. From the Bride’s sparkly number to the subtle splashes of soft mint, we’ve stored it all for safe keeping in THE VAULT.

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Ballroom Weddings

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