Washington DC Weddings

My dears, clear you calendars for Sunday, April 27th, 2014; you’re not going to want to miss the mid-Atlantic’s premier bridal fashion event, Style to the Aisle…A Bride’s Runway! Held at the Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland, this incredible event will showcase some of the latest trends in bridal couture.

The runway will be filled with designs from some of the best emerging and well-known bridal designers such as Justin Alexander, Lillian West, TULLE New York, Winnie Couture, Christopher Schafer Clothier and more! Truly a one-of-a-kind event, brides will have the chance to see gorgeous gowns on the runway, try products and services in the exclusive Style Lounge and browse and try on accessories! With a focus on one-of-a-kind fashion and beauty, avant-garde fashion as well as classic designs, the Style to the Aisle event will be a fabulous time for all.

Brides even have the chance to win fabulous prizes such as a four day, three night honeymoon to Mexico courtesy of Palace Resorts and a gorgeous Island Bridal by H&O headpiece. Fashion Insider VIP tickets are $65, and General Admission tickets are $35 and can be purchased right here. Ready to get your tickets?! Well now’s the time, because Style to the Aisle is offering SMP readers $5 off Fashion Insider VIP tickets and $10 off General Admission Tickets with the code STYLE.  Enjoy, lovelies! xo

Photo Credits: Duke Photography | Lindsay Thorne Photography

With Simply Chic Events behind the planning, and the words “backyard Parisian weddings” in the inspiration, what comes next is pure magic. Captured by Maria Vicencio Photography, the wedding is romance embodied, complete with glittery gold Kate Spade heels. And we love it so, so much.

From the bride… Our love story started brewing when we met our freshman year of college, but it really started bubbling when the groom moved to my hometown, Washington, D.C., after graduation. For three years in the city, we were close friends attending all the same parties and functions until one New Year’s Eve where a request for a kiss led to a whole lot more. Since Washington is my hometown and it’s such a special place for both of us, we knew we wanted to celebrate our wedding in the city.

Our vision for the wedding was anything but monumental. We wanted to transport our guests outside of a concrete jungle and create an oasis in the capital. We loved the look of backyard Parisian weddings celebrated in and outside of historic homes, and when we found the Meridian House, we knew it was the perfect place. The Beaux-Arts design of the site and the removal from the hustle and bustle of the city made us swoon. We also loved that we could share our vows in the garden, toast in the pebble-floored Linden Grove, and dance among the rooms in the mansion. The unique, elegant and luxurious Jefferson hotel was the perfect pre-ceremony compliment to the Meridian House.

When we settled on an October wedding, we knew it would be a challenge to make our theme come to life — we do not favor traditional fall colors. Working with Simply Chic Events and Philippa Tarrant Floral Designs, we created a romantic, sophisticated and intimate wedding that really reflected the east coast Parisian vibe we had our hearts set on. Our palette was muted and warm — taupe undertones with ivory, dusted with champagne and rose gold highlights. Blush and peach accents completed the look along with a fair amount of mercury glass. We brought these tones into our save the date cards and invitations from Bella Figura, with rose gold edge-foiling, and gold design foiling, respectively.

With a goal of 130 guests, we incorporated antique furniture rentals with elegant calligraphy to keep the affair intimate while also giving it a refined style. My essential inclusions were Italian accents on the menu, and we worked with Design Cuisine to offer arancini hors d’oeuvres, a gnocchi first course, and copious amounts of Prosecco. The groom’s roots lie in Maine, and late-night lobster rolls were a critical inclusion to keep our guests well-fed on the dance door. We also named two specialty cocktails after the places we’ve had the most treasured memories with our family: for the bride, the “Bethany” (sparkling wine with St. Germain and soda), and for the groom, the “York Harbor” (whiskey, bitters, club soda and a sugar cube).

A special touch was added to the wedding thanks to the mother of the groom. Her close friend is a descendant of Queen Victoria’s bridesmaid, and this bridesmaid carried myrtle in Queen Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert. The bridesmaid’s family preserved the myrtle and grew a hedge from the sprigs of the bouquet. We were lucky enough to have some of that myrtle placed in my bouquet and in the groom’s boutonniere, connecting us to such a special romance.

Coffee and macaron service at the end of the night, coupled with the cutting of a Magnolia cake from Maggie Austin, tied-up the affair nicely, and we had specialty cupcake favors made for our departing guests, which were topped with an animated figure of our married name: Fox.

Photography: Maria Vicencio Photography | Event Planning: Simply Chic Events | Floral Design: Philippa Tarrant Floral Designs | Wedding Dress: Marchesa | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Maggie Austin Cake | Invitations: Bella Figura | Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids Dresses: Joanna August | Catering: Design Cuisine | Makeup: Leah McKay | Makeup: Tiffany Mason | Hair: Bridal Hair By Remona | Calligraphy: Arney Walker | Lighting: Lighting Professors | Entertainment: The Mustangs Band | Favors: Georgetown Cupcakes | Mens Attire: J.Crew | Officiant: Say I Do Your Way - Joyce Cochran | Hotel: The Jefferson | Wedding Venue: Meridian International Center | Bridal Clutch: Carlos Falchi | Bridal Jewelry: Carolee | Bridal Jewelry: J.Crew | Musicians: Sage String Quartet | Rentals: AFR Furniture Rental | Wedding Band: Gorman Jewelers | Wedding Band: Tiffany & Co.

If there’s anything that’ll get you up and groovin’ this Monday morning, it’s a lovefest from the lens of Katie Stoops. She’s a true artist in every sense of the word, but when the ahhh-mazing Events In The City, Growing Wild Floral Design and Catering By Windows are involved? Her job of capturing pretty is made that much easier. Go get your burst of color on in the gallery right here.

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From Katie Stoops… Jeff and Alex met each other in the lobby of the Kimberly hotel in New York City. Alex had just been hired in the London office of their company and Jeff had been working in the Washington DC office. They both traveled from their respective offices to New York for meetings. Alex stepped out of the elevator after her first day of meetings to go to dinner, and saw a young guy with dark hair sitting in the lobby on his iPhone. They had never met, but she took a chance that this person was her new co-worker that she had heard about, so she introduced herself. From the hotel, they went for a drink with their boss and they both had the same order – a bourbon on the rocks.

Proposal Story from the Groom

We were scheduled to take a Christmas tour of the White House on December 20th, 2011. I thought this would be a great night to ask her. The prior year we went to see the tree together, so it had some special meaning to us. The week before the night I proposed, Alex went to NYC for work and I used the opportunity to visit her parents in Maryland. I met them at their home and we walked to a nearby restaurant for dinner. It was the longest walk EVER, and of course we bumped into some of their friends, which resulted in questions about why I was there without their daughter.

Eventually we ordered a bottle of wine and as we toasted I realized that my hands were shaking so much that I had to immediately set my wine glass down before I could tell them how much I loved their daughter and how I was planning to ask her to marry me. They seemed pretty pleased at the idea, so I had additional confidence going into the day of the White House tour.

She ended up having a really long day at work, and long story short, we missed the tour. Not understanding the purpose of the evening, she told me that she wanted to skip the tree, go somewhere for dinner and then go home. I told her that it was important to me that we see the tree and that I would take her to one of her favorite restaurants afterwards, which was an easy bribe considering I already planned on having her parents and my brother meet us there.

We were walking around the tree and I was trying to figure out the best location to ask my question. I couldn’t focus on anything because I was scanning the area for a spot with some privacy. There were gates set up to keep people off the lawn in front of the White House, so I grabbed her hand and pulled her through the opening in the gate. I was almost running at this point, pulling her along behind me, and then I just stopped in front of the White House. At that point I looked her in the eyes, started telling her how much I love her and got down on one knee to ask her to marry me. We had a great time celebrating with everyone afterwards.

Favorite Wedding Details from the Couple

My parents’ close friend from college acted as the officiant for the ceremony. It was especially meaningful to me because I’ve known him my whole life and he’s always been incredibly supportive of me. His kind words created a personal and intimate ceremony that truly reflected us as individuals, our relationship and what we value in each other.

We also had straw/cocktail escort cards, pie favors that were baked, boxed and labeled with personal stamps by the mother of the bride and her sister (who are both pastry chefs), lounge seating in the garden, dessert buffet, pre-ceremony drinks, wisteria arch over the ceremony site, paper lanterns in the tent, Spanish guitar style music for the ceremony and cocktail hour.

Photography: Katie Stoops Photography | Event Design: Grit & Grace Inc | Styling + Design: Intrigue Design Studio | Floral Design: Growing Wild Floral Co. | Wedding Dress: Judd Waddell | Cake: Fancy Cakes By Leslie | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Ceremony Venue: Textile Museum | Reception Venue: Textile Museum | Catering: Catering By Windows | Makeup: Victoria Stiles | Hair: Victoria Stiles | DJ: DJ D-Mac (djdmac.com) | Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Grabielismo Productions | Day Of Paper: Intrigue Design Studio | Furniture Rentals: AFR Furniture Rental | Groom\'s Attire: Michael Andrews Bespoke

When you typically think of garden weddings, you probably don’t think of modern, but that is about to change. Because after you take at peek at this pretty captured by Ampersand Photography and planned by Bliss Weddings And Events, you’ll see modern and garden blend beautifully. This gallery is filled to the brim with all the reasons why, and you can get lost in all the lovely right here.

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From the Bride…Our wedding was held in the back garden of the Textile Museum in the Dupont Circle area of Washington DC. The Textile Museum was formerly an ambassadors residence and is on a tree lined street with many old DC buildings. It was the perfect setting for our wedding that mixed modern and traditional.

Ceremony: Our ceremony was a mix of non-traditional elements with Jewish cultural traditions. My father hand made the chuppah we stood under out of fallen branches from Rock Creek Park. The Tallit sewn into the fabric cover was my maternal grandfathers (passed). My bouquet of calla lilies was wrapped in a handkerchief from my maternal grandmother (passed). Our ceremony program was designed by one of my bridesmaids and dedicated to my paternal grandmother who could not make the trip from Wisconsin.

Reception: I wasn’t the girl who knew what her wedding would look from the age of 13 so instead my now husband and I came about our design by looking at different interior design element we like. We tend to lean towards modern minimalist so we decided on clean lines and geometric shapes. We chose Sperry Tents for the gorgeous shape and hue of their sail cloth. We chose individual rectangular tables and my mom hand made each of the table runners from two types of geometric patterned fabric. (For those that don’t sew Stich-Witch is a girls best friend). The floral arraignments carried the geometric pattern theme through with interesting shaped orchids, different square and rectangular vases and different height candle holders. The white table linen mixed with the grey and white runners, grey napkins and silver chairs with the pop of purple flowers gave the tent a crisp and airy feeling. My bridesmaid dresses from Monique Lihuiller also echoed this design.

Details: We wanted the event to be about our now shared life experiences. My husband is from San Francisco, is Italian and served in the Peace Crops in Africa. I am Jewish, Dutch and a native Washingtonian.

Cocktail Hour:The Family Tree: There was a gorgeous giant oak tree where we held the cocktail hour. I collected old black and white wedding photos from both our families, going back to great, great grand parents and hung them around the tree. It was a wonderful way to remember all the beautiful couples that came before us.

Hor de orvers: Dual of crab – My husband and I have an ongoing debate on whether west coast Dungeness crab or east coast Maryland blue crab are better so we served blue crab on Old Bay chips and Dungeness crab on Sourdough bred and took a pole of our guests on which they preferred. The debate continues.

Guest Book: Both my husband and I have traveled a lot. I have friends all over the country and he has friends all over the world so we chose a watercolor map as our guest book.

Cake Toppers: Our cakes toppers were figurines from The National Zoo. I chose a panda because I traveled to China several years ago and held a baby panda at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Center. I haven’t stopped talking about it since. My husband chose a wolf because he works on environmental issues including the protection of wolves.

Dessert Table: This was probably the most fun to put together! Instead of having a big cake we decided to have a cookie bar that represented each of us. We ordered windmill cookie direct from Holland and Jewish rugelach from NYC and a dutch cream puff tower. We sourced amaretto cookies from a small Italian deli and traditional Italian jordan almonds. The most special dessert were the purple mini cupcakes made by a friend with an amazing baking talent. She matched the icing color to our flowers and handmade mini flags with our initials and wedding date. I knew we would have plenty of dessert so we provided little bags for guests to take sweet treats home with them.

Favorite Parts of the Big Day: Its hard to choose one favorite part of the day. Getting ready in a hotel suite not far from the venue was wonderful. My maid of honor, two bridesmaids and one brides-man (best friends since we were 2) were with me all day. A dear friend came down from New York to my hair, which was amazing) and we had a gorgeous balcony to take photos on. My parents were there as well and I had a special gift for them. I had printed out a baby photos of me with each of them and gift wrapped two boxes with them. Inside the boxes where embroidered handkerchiefs with a special note of thanks to each of them. We are big criers in my family and the handkerchiefs were put to good use that day.

Parent’s Speech: My dad gave a speech with my mom accompanying him, that brought down the house. He and I have always loved the movie the Princess Bride and he ended with speech with his own toast that culminated in the best movie line ever, “AS YOU WISH”. My friends still talk about that speech.

The Moment: Brandon and I chose not to do “First Look” photographs and for us that was the right choice. I still gush when I think about the moment I walked through the doors to the back garden on my parent’s arms and saw Brandon standing under the chuppah waiting for me. The walk down the aisle to him was something movies are made of. The entire world went away and it was just me and him, together forever. We were able to take great photographs after the ceremony, have a moment to ourselves and still make our cocktail hour!

Dancing in the Air: The Horah is often the highlight of any Jewish wedding and ours did not disappoint. Brandon and I were hoisted 6 feet in the air and between moments of sheer terror and uncontrollable laughter, danced upon high, a napkin linking us together. Our photographer did an amazing job capturing all the emotions of that moment.

Together: Brandon and I will be forever grateful that so many people came from all over the country to celebrate with us; 13 states and Mexico. We were so overjoyed that everyone had an amazing time. Our dance floor was never empty, thanks to DJ Rusty B. The music never stopped and people never stopped smiling, singing and rapping! Our photographer sent us almost 1600 hundred picture, nearly double what she normally does) because there were so many wonderful candid shots of our friends and family having fun. I can’t think of any better way to start a new life together.

Photographer: Ampersand Photography | Coordination: Bliss Weddings and Events | Floral Design: Multiflor | Wedding Dress: Watters | Cupcakes: Capitol Cupcakes | Invitations: Beacon Lane | Wedding Shoes: Nina | Catering: Catering By Windows | Make Up: JKW Beauty | DJ: DJ D-Mac And Associates | Grooms Attire: Hugo Boss | Hotel: Dupont Circle Hotel | Tent: Sperry Tents | Brides Hair: Carismas Design | Bridesmaids\' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Cake Toppers: Smithsonian's National Zoo | Chuppah: Father Of The Bride - Jake Kelderman | Engagement Ring And Bride's Wedding Band: Charleston Alexander | Groom's Ring: Jesse Danger | Museum: Textile Museum | Table Runners: Mother Of The Bride - Laurie Kelderman | Wedding Program: Clifford Designs

There is adorable, and then there is adorable – and this super cute engagement shoot shot by Elizabeth Fogarty definitely falls in the italicized category. It makes me want to let out a bit ol squeal, because really, it’s doesn’t get cuter than this couple. See even more here.

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From Elizabeth Fogarty…What perfect way to kick off 2014, by doing this sweet and fun Georgetown engagement shoot. I love getting to know my couples before the big day and an engagement session is the perfect excuse to ask them about their first date and all those awkward moments they had. We made our way from the water front to the Old Stone House, the oldest building in DC, with lots of laughs and giggles from these two. I also believe Eric should start coaching other grooms out there for engagement sessions. Talk about a natural! I didn’t even have to tell him to hold her or look at her like she is the only girl in the world. Yes, I love my job!

Photography: Elizabeth Fogarty | Make-up Artist: Beauty By Jackie

Remember that time Style Within Reach gave us an inside peek at her beyond gorgeous engagement party? Total perfection, in our book. And today, she’s back to break down the DIY Heart Backdrop that took center stage. It’s the perfect decor to gussy up any Valentine’s affair, and you can find the step-by-step instructions waiting down below!

Metallic Fringe Curtain (available at party stores or Amazon)
Cardboard
Xacto Knife, Box Cutter or Scissors
Decorative Paper
Double Stick Tape or Glue Dots
Flat Tacks and Nails

 Use a piece of scrap paper to draw a large heart and cut it out. Place the heart on the cardboard and trace the outline with a pencil.

 Carefully cut out the cardboard heart. Use the same stencil to trace the outline of the heart on your decorative paper.

 Cut out the heart — giving your self a little excess paper on the edges so you completely cover the cardboard.

 Use double stick tape or glue dots to adhere the paper to the cardboard.

Hang the fringe curtain using nails or tacks.

Position the heart in the middle of the fringe curtain and slide flat thumbtacks between the paper and cardboard and onto the wall (so they don’t show)

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DIY: Style Within Reach | Photography: Natalie Franke

There’s just something about an Autumn affair that just screams romance.  A sort of cozy + comfortable vibe that reaches every inch of matrimony… and touches every second of pure pretty.  Such is the case with this lovely day captured by Snapshots by Katie.  It’s a fall love fest at its very finest, right down to the orange and yellow tree-lined streets.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

From Snapshots by Katie… It was one of the darkest days in November and yet, the gray skies made no impression on the joyous love Maura and Matt exchanged on their wedding day. Maura’s face was smiling ear to ear from the moment I saw her until the moment I left. There was a moment when she was getting ready when her dress broke and the room went silent. Her darling sister and fabulous friends hurried around her to fix everything with…. double sided tape! With only a half of second of panic, Maura remembered why she adorned that dress and her smile came back full force. It was in that moment I saw, there was nothing that could dampen her spirits and eagerness to marry her true love. Matt, is a quiet yet witty soul, the type who can charm butterfly during their engagement session. However, to balance his quietness is his quite witty candor.

This was one of the sweetest first looks I have EVER photographed. Maura called to Matt about 10 feet from him; he turned, his eyes popped and his feet began to spin. Much like ROADRUNNER. He ran toward her with a tear in his eye, astonished and so completely in love. I could not help but cry as I snapped away because that is just how powerful they are together, perfect harmony! It was simply a joy to capture their day and am humbled to have been in the presence of such love.

So as the day unfolded, Maura’s dress may have been broken, a bridesmaid’s dress may have been held together with safety pins, and the weather may have been rather turbulent but none of that swayed the joy and love shared on Nov 16th 2013.

Photography: Dc Slices Food Truck | Dress: Christina Wu | Cake: Whole Foods Market Preston | DJ: The Lace Music | Venue: Arts Club of Washington DC

Hello SMP brides! Caitlin of Style Within Reach here, and today I’m beyond excited to share the easy DIY “Bridesmaid Ask Brunch” I put together in a mere 24 hours for my girls. One of the biggest, and most exciting parts of getting married is selecting your ‘maids, so why not turn it into something a little extra special?

Deciding on bridesmaids proved to be my first big challenge. My fiance and I debated even having a wedding party for a while and finally decided we wanted to keep it small and intimate with a few close friends. I have a lot of close girl friends from growing up, my college years and my post-college life in NYC who are all in different parts of their life right now. In the end I thought about their personal situations and who I really thought could be there standing next to me on my big day.

After I made this choice (with the help of my fiance Austin!) I knew I wanted to do something special for them. When I heard they were planning a surprise trip to take me wine tasting I suggested they meet over at my place (with the exception of my long distance gal) first for brunch.

I splurged on a pretty floral arrangement to set the scene, took the time to write a heartfelt note on pretty cards and made a place setting for each girl with a simple cardstock heart and their initial. An easy fritata fresh out of the oven, my sister’s infamous lavender scones and moscato poached berry mimosas was all we needed for a lovely morning!

Having a special moment with my girls before the wedding festivities and planning really kicked off was something I am so glad I had the opportunity to do. I wanted them each to know how much I appreciate them as dear friends, but also as part of our wedding party!

Stay tuned, lovelies! Because I’m breaking down my DIY bridesmaids ask gift bags coming up next! xoxo

Photography: Kate Ann Photo | Photography: Caitlin Kruse | Floral Design: Intrigue Designs | Graphic Design (Ask Cards): The Sunny Side's Up

This morning we’re introducing a brand new blogger bride who really needs no introduction. You know her as Editorial Director over at the Glitter Guide and from her own fabulous adventures on Style Within Reach. So when a little birdie told us her beau popped the question – you HAVE to read the story – we immediately pulled out the bubbly and welcomed her into the SMP family. Congrats, dear Caitlin! xoxo

From Caitlin… Hello SMP brides! I’m soooo excited to be sharing my wedding journey here on Style Me Pretty as a blogger bride this year, talk about a dream come true!! You may know me from my work at Glitter Guide as the editorial director — or perhaps my personal blog, Style Within Reach (that’s all about living a stylish life on a budget). I create tablescapes, recipes, entertaining features and DIY projects all the time for my job — so you can imagine how excited I am to be doing this all for my special day!

When people ask how long Austin and I have been together I always shake my head and laugh because there’s not a really concrete answer! Our story started wayyyy back when we were freshman in college. We met at a classy house party through mutual friends right as we embarked on our college career and our lives have been pretty entwined ever since. We split up at the end of college as I headed up to New York City and Austin stayed down in the South. We spent several years apart before getting back together to celebrate New Year’s Eve 4 years ago and the rest is history.

December is my favorite month of the year and just thinking of the holiday season makes me giddy and happy. So, one chilly Monday in December after taking our puppy to dog school and picking out our Christmas tree Austin asked me to hang the first ornament on the tree which he had made with the date. Then he got down on one knee and the rest of the night is blur! I‘ve always known Austin was the one, or ‘my person’ as I used to call him so I’m beyond excited to finally embark on this next chapter of our lives together!

I dream of having a wedding like the ones I see on Style Me Pretty (don’t we all?)– bounitful bouquets of peonies, dreamy photographs and a lush outdoor setting — but Austin and I are working with a tight budget and with a lot of family members to invite. But don’t you worry — I still plan on making my wedding dreams come true, and I plan on sharing to the ups and downs of my planning, budget saving tips, easy DIY projects (you can do) with all of you brides to be! So pop the bubbly and let’s plan a wedding!

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Photography: Yvonne Rock | Photography: Caitlin Kruse | Necklace: J.Crew | Makeup: Christine Penny | Chambray Top: Target | Full Skirt Dress: Modern Citizen | Pumps: Miu Miu | Sequin Skirt: Lulu's | Sweater: Old Navy | Sweatpants: Nordstrom

Makeup is one of those things that I just can’t do. A well made up face is perfection, and it looks so easy to do, but when I try my hand at it, it never goes quite right. But after reading Carolyn Berry’s, of Modern Bridal Studio, tips I am ready to take another go at it. I’m sure I can do it with these tricks in my back pocket!

one | two | three | four | five

Best makeup for your wedding day, tips from a pro:

Airbrush. In the warmer seasons, I love airbrush because it takes longer for sweat and oil to break down the foundation. I also love airbrush if more coverage is needed, think acne or hyperpigmentation. All airbrush foundations are not created equally while some have a bad reputation of being heavy, we have tried and tested each of the major brands and found two we are in love with:

Temptu (one): With it’s adjustable coverage, it works great with most other brands for powder and concealers. A sheer coat of this will have your face looking flawless for 12 hours. My brides tell me they have slept in their makeup and wake up looking fresh!

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics: This produces a very sheer natural coverage that you will not be able to feel on your skin! Another plus – it’s vegan friendly!

Color tricks for the camera. Corrective concealer underneath your foundation will alter the way that the lights reflects when the camera starts flashing. Try: green for redness, purple or pink for dull skin. orange for bruising or dark circles. Use the corrective color as the first layer directly on top of your primer or moisturizer.

Our second favorite color trick is to set the make look with a professional yellow powder. It makes everything appear brighter and is a trick of the stars!

We recommend KohGenDo (five) makeup base in pink/lavender for dull skin, and our must have powder has got to be Ben Nye Banana Powder (two)!

Eye makeup tricks for everyone. We follow the red carpet on Pinterest and notice a definite trend for the incoming season:

• Gold highlights under the inner corner of the eye and smokey grey liner. Gold enhances any color which will create a subtle but magically glow for the eyes.
• Grey smokey liner is a great way to create a look that will have heads turning but a lot softer than the traditional deep smokey. You don’t need a lot of shadow on to create this look. We are loving a soft grey winged liner smudged at the edges.

We recommend Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes (three) in Metallic Yellow & Nars Eye Paint (four) in Transvaal Grey.

Makeup Specialist: Modern Bridal Studio | Photography Credit: Nessa K Photography

The clouds of baby’s breath won me over. And then the gold and pink details from Blue Canary Events held me close and whispered sweet nothings in my ear. If that’s not clear, let me put it simple: This D.C. wedding from Rebekah Hoyt Photography has stolen my heart!

Don’t miss the sweet as can be wedding film!

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From the photographer… Cary and Daniel are classic to the core and have a deep love for Washington DC. The Daughters of the American Revolution National Headquarters was the perfect backdrop for their fall wedding. Their invitations and decor paid tribute to their favorite things about DC, especially the cherry blossoms. Cary wore two gorgeous gowns throughout the day and there were hints of pale pink and gold (Cary’s favorite) throughout every aspect of the day. Cary and Daniel had a traditional Jewish ceremony at sunset on the terrace overlooking the (currently under construction) Washington Monument, followed by dinner in the Continental Memorial Hall and dancing under the stars and the twinkle lights. It was a gorgeous black tie affair, elegant and classic and unforgettable.

Photography: Rebekah Hoyt Photography | Videographer: Villatoro Productions | Event Planning: Blue Canary Events | Floral Design: Twinbrook Weddings and Events | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Bakery | Invitations: Mayla Studios | Ceremony Venue: DAR Continental Memorial Hall | Catering: Catering By Windows | Makeup: Kelli Brooks | Hair: Alison Harper and Company | DJ: Sound Wave Entertainment | 2nd Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Food Truck: Captain Cookie & The Milk Man | String Trio: Perfect Harmony Strings

If I could live inside this breathtaking inspiration shoot, I soooo would.  I’d pack up my bags, move to this pretty little garden paradise outside of D.C. and play forever in this blush meets teal beauty wearing the prettiest of Ivy & Aster gowns from Lovely.  Because every last moment planned to perfection by JoAnna Dee Weddings is simply stunning.  See them all captured by Amelia Johnson in the full gallery.

One amazing characteristic of DC is that you can often find a beautiful green space mere minutes away from the buzz of downtown. Styled by wedding coordinator JoAnna Bayliss, this shoot provided an opportunity to take advantage of some of the District’s natural beauty. The setting allowed a talented group of wedding professionals to come together to create something beautiful. The group drew their inspirations from the romantic notes of the song “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop,” by Landon Pigg. The gentle melodies directed the professionals towards a neutral blush color scheme with teal accents.

The stone wall, dotted with cream hydrangeas, and an elegant willow tree naturally enhanced the intimate feel of the shoot. As the sun set, the bride looked angelic in her blush a-line gown. The results of the collaboration were stunning!

Photography: Amelia Johnson Photography | Wedding Coordinator: JoAnna Dee Weddings | Floral Design: Rally & Root | Wedding Dress: Ivy And Aster | Wedding Dress: Lovely Bridal Shop | Invitations: The Dandelion Patch | Dinner Plates: Anthropologie | Sweets: Macaron Bee | Vintage Rentals: Chairs/Small Plates: Something Vintage Rentals

I’m a bride who chose to wear flats on her wedding day. My husband, though very manly, is a little on the petite side. And so I find it absolutely endearing when brides choose to wear flats for the same reason. It warms my heart in the best way. But that’s not the best part of this wedding. Nope. Not even top ten. The day was so gorgeous (and obviously, since Events In The City was ever present), the bride so beautiful – thanks to Claudine Fay, and the mood so happy and captured brilliantly by Ampersand Photography, I almost forgot about the flats. Almost.

From the photographer… Sam & Jaime. I affectionately refer to them as “The Power Couple,” because… well, because they are. I met them, though, and became friends with them, before they even knew each other. Sam is a strange mixture of sarcasm and sincerity, and has this funny Indian humor thing going on that is absolutely hilarious. Jaime is witty and snarky, never short of comebacks or opinions, and has a huge heart. I was friends with both of them, and didn’t realize they didn’t know each other… until one evening we were all talking, and I said, “Sam, have you met Jaime yet?” And the snarky hilarity multiplied umpteen times. He thought she was pretty, intelligent, classy, and very funny, but nothing happened right away.

But it just so happened that they were both studying for the bar exam, and ended up in the same review course. Then they learned how well they clicked. “He was really distracting while we were studying. But it was a good distraction,” Jaime says. It wasn’t long before Sam asked Jaime out, officially. They went for pizza and frozen yogurt for their first date, and then she convinced him to walk her home. “Two and a half miles. Uphill. Obviously, I knew she was special,” said Sam.

Usually I’d say the rest was history, except Sam & Jaime’s “history” involved things like hunting with Jaime’s dad in Michigan, and hiking Mount Kilimanjaro together just a couple of months after they started dating, and training for a half marathon together. Sam proposed to Jaime on the coldest day in February in a snowstorm, as they rounded the Lincoln Memorial during a training run. She was shocked, then said yes, and then made him run the remaining six miles. Jaime says that her favorite song is “In Da Club” by 50 Cent, because that was playing on my iPod when he proposed.

The night before their wedding, all guests were invited to a party that incorporated Indian traditions— like the barat, where Sam’s family danced in a procession to meet Jaime’s family. Traditionally, the groom rides in on an animal (often an elephant). Since it proved difficult to rent an elephant, Sam arrived in a convertible mustang, instead.

A few other favorite details:

– Sam & Jaime were married the same place they met— Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
– They had the theme from 30 Rock as their recessional music (they’re big fans!!).
– They had a multi-flavor popcorn bar as an evening snack during their reception.
– Some of Sam’s family traveled from India for the first time in their lives, to be at their wedding. Sam’s grandmother passed away just a few short weeks after the wedding, but danced the night away during the reception!
– Jaime had a piece of lace from her great-grandmother’s wedding gown sown into her dress.
– They had a funfetti wedding cake.

Photography: Ampersand Photography | Coordination: Grit & Grace Inc | Florist: BrookHill Florist | Wedding Dress: J.Crew | Ceremony: Capitol Hill Baptist Church | Reception Venue: Corcoran Gallery Of Art | Catering: Design Cuisine | Makeup Artist: Hair & Makeup Artistry by Claudine | Hair Stylist: Hair & Makeup Artistry by Claudine | Lighting: Atmosphere Lighting | DJ: DJ D-Mac And Associates | Groom's Suit: Sam Arora | Transportation: Prime Transportation

There is something about Washington D.C. that pulls at my heartstrings. Throw a beautiful wedding in our nation’s capital my way, and I’m done. They always get me in the best way, especially when they are as gorgeous as this one from Mary Kate McKenna. The all white ceremony is maybe the prettiest thing I’ve seen. Ever. It’s totally stunning, and the rest of the wedding? Same.

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From the photographer… Elaine Liao and Gil Avin had an incredible wedding filled with family traditions and modern elegance. It was “very DC” yet very them.

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Photographer: Mary Kate McKenna Photography | Venue: Constitution 101 | Coordinator: Lorez Reese, Simply Savvy Events | Celebrant: Rabbi Shira Stutman | Floral: Edge Floral Event Designers | Caterer: Main Event Caterers | Cake: Georgetown Cupcake | Harpist: Iraida Pobherezhnaya | Band: Sound Connection | Lighting: Atmosphere | Makeup: Kelley Woods | Dress: Carine’s Bridal Atelier | Transportation: Kenzy Sedan

I’m going to just come out and say it. Before this wedding, pink and black was not my favorite color combo. I just never loved it, until now. Maybe it was the black candles that did it to me, or perhaps it was the fluffy peach garden roses, or maybe it was all that gorgeous paper from Little Bit Heart, but whatever it was, it did the job. Strawberry Milk Events did the job. I love every single thing about pink and black together now. The gallery is the place you’ll want to be this afternoon… it’s overflowing with beautiful images from Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography!

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From the planner… Katie and Rod are a super fun NYC-based couple who hired Strawberry Milk Events as their planner before they had even secured a venue or a date – we clicked right away, and knew working together was just meant to be! Katie’s parents still live in the DC/Virginia area so they knew they would hold the wedding somewhere nearby. We explored Virginia wine country, Rehobeth Beach, Delaware and even Katie’s parents estate as possible venues for their wedding weekend before settling on the beautiful St. Regis in downtown Washington, DC.

I knew I was going to have fun working with Katie and Rod from the moment she started describing a Kelly Wearstler room design she liked in our initial consultation. When she told me that the groom was wearing velvet skull and cross bone slippers with his tux, it was just icing on the cake. These two have great style! The design for the wedding sort of evolved from those velvet slippers – classically romantic with a bit of an edge. We captured that feeling by incorporating black in different subtle accents such as the black candlesticks in antique silver candelabras. It was just enough without being too heavy – especially when accented by the fluffy peach garden roses and cafe au lait dahlias in delicate antique silver containers (many of which were the bride’s mother’s, who is an avid dinner party thrower.) The brown glass bottle bud vases had fun chalkboard labels with skull and crossbone drawings and words such as “love, fate, etc.” (which may be why I call this my Love Potion No. 9 wedding!)

Guests found their seats via a creative seating chart: an old wooden door with peach escort cards clipped onto coordinating ribbon with gold clothespins. Another motif that was carried throughout the wedding details was a french bulldog icon. It started with the wedding invitation suite (on the wax seal) and was carried throughout the escort cards, programs and welcome bag gift tags. The funny thing was: Katie and Rod didn’t have a French Bulldog…but she wanted one so bad, this was as close as she was going to get. Well, guess what? Halfway through the planning process came Porkchop – the cutest french bully you ever saw, and our official wedding mascot! There was even a lifesize moss replica of Porkchop as the centerpiece for the dessert table.

I loved all the little non-traditional touches: the black candlesticks especially, but also Katie wearing a gorgeous blush Monique Lhuillier gown, while the bridesmaids were able to select their own dresses in a given color palette. Neither the bride nor groom were crazy about cake, so their wedding cake was actually a tower of cheese wheels accented by fresh fruit. The bride wasn’t a fan of tall centerpieces, so everything was lush and low. Silver tinsel wigs were served to guests on silver platters to keep the party going towards the end of the evening, along with late night snacks like sliders.

The day was full of joy – not even the torrential downpour, which brought their terrace garden ceremony inside to a spare conference room, could dampen their spirits. And after entering the reception, not only did the bride and groom gush about how beautiful the room looked – but they said something that every planner wants to hear: “this is just soo US!”

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Photography: Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography | Event Planning + Design: Strawberry Milk Events | Venue: St. Regis Hotel, DC | Floral Design: Country Way Flowers | Reception Band: Sound Connection | Ceremony Strings: Pop Culture Strings | Rentals: Party Rental LTD + DC Rental | Paper Products: Little Bit Heart | Hair: Bridal Hair By Remona | Makeup: Blend Makeup | Dress: Monique Lhuillier

When talking about frame-worthy, this wedding photographed by Leslee Mitchell will forever come to mind. One look at the image of the Bride and Groom kissing outside of this D.C. church and I promise you, you’ll want to slap that pretty picture on your wall. Because it captures the true spirit of this wedding: timeless elegance loaded with the kind of details we go crazy for. Whether those details are the layers of white blooms by Holly Chapple Flowers or the Groom literally sweeping his gorgeous Bride off her feet, this wedding is filled to the brim with them and you can see it all unfold right here.

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From Leslee Mitchell: The opportunity to photograph a wedding in our nation’s capital was an unforgettable experience. Truthfully. Everything about Kristina and Andrew’s wedding was magical. I will always love and always remember standing above the confetti as it was fell to the dance floor during their last dance. The confetti images will forever remain special pieces in my portfolio. Kristina and Andrew are very special clients to me. I consider them friends.

From the Bride…Everyone has those prefect moments when time stops and a memory is made. We will always remember fondly our romantic weekends in Washington DC that culminated with brunch at the Army Navy Club. With such affection we chose to have our wedding in Washington DC. I wanted the wedding to truly capture the beauty of the city in the midst of the holiday season. The early winter also brought to mind the wonderful black-tie grace of the inauguration and all balls that accompanying it. With the vision in mind, the Army Navy Club was a prefect fit for the reception. No place in Washington DC (except maybe the White House) captures the illustrious rich history of the city with a dash of holiday charm. Greeted by portraits of familiar faces in American history and paintings that belong in the National Gallery, the club instantly turns any reception into a special affair filled with the tradition and elegance of past times. Still, the giant Christmas tree in the center of the lobby surrounded with neatly wrapped presents adorned with bows reminds you that everyones favorite time of year is just around the corner. As I visoned my traditional romantic winter wedding in the beautiful Capital I knew I wanted to capture a winter white wonderland so with that in mind I kept with the simple, clean, crisp, and elegant color scheme or white, ivory, with splashes of gold accents.

To accentuate the holiday feel and satisfy my serious sweet tooth, we personally designed a charming and unique dessert buffet that captured the sweet joy of the season. Baked and Wired, a delicious local bakery, provided delicious handcrafted peppermint bark and gingerbread cookies that had every guest feeling like a kid again. The Army Navy Club specially made warm chocolate molten lava cakes for the reception. Andrew and I shared a chocolate molten lava cake on our first date together back in college thus making it our personal favorite dessert of the evening. The scrumptious dessert buffet was accompanied by a hot coco bar complete with wall your favorite additives such as candy canes to dress up your favorite holiday treat. An ode to dessert and flowers (two of my favorite things) was our wedding cake. The chocolate hazelnut truffle cake frosted in Frangelico flavored meringue butter cream made by Craylon Taylor was covered head to toe in a mix of sahara and spray roses that completely rounded the rim of the cake, she did an excellent job in designing exactly what I wanted.

Making the day even more special was being able to wear my ninety three year old grandmother’s fur stole. This stole was one of the few possessions she was able to bring from Cuba when she fled in 1959. Another family touch to my attire was my veil. The veil was made of lace from my mother’s wedding dress. I was so touched and overjoyed to wear such family heirlooms on our day. These items also added a vintage touch to the day that brought to mind the classic black-tie events of decades past.

Wedding invitations and the stationary are the guests’ first glimpse into the special day, for that reason I put great effort into adding my own touch to the paper. Abby from Flaire Design in St. Louis created a classic motif that was imprinted on all paper items. Keeping with my vision and infusing some of Southern upbringing, we created a classical cursive custom monogram of our first initials and centered in Romanesque wreath. This was the perfect combination of the tradtional and classic feel mixed with a nod to the holidays. From the invitations to the menu, to the wedding program and personalized cocktail napkins, all them were adorned with our unique design.

Looking back at the most magical day of my life I can truly say the highlight was being surprised by a sliver confetti shower during the last dance. Dancing with my new husband to Fly me to the Moon the Wellie Nelson version under this soft snowlike sliver surprise was truly the most romantic way to end our classic Washington, DC winter white wedding. I have many people to thank for making my wedding weekend unforgettable and everything I wanted. From the vendors to my family everyone was supportive and played a major role in brining my vision to life. Still, I would especially like to thank our photographer Leslee Mitchell and my make up artist Kara Gaylor. Both their passion and support for my vision were important and added to the enjoyment of the weekend. Kara’s constant assistance and diligent work was an invaluable part of the weekend. Leslee’s unbelievable eye and willingness to capture the weekend from every angle was everything I could ask for and more. Thanks to her magnificent work, we will always be able cherish and relive our wedding weekend as if we were still there.

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Photography: Leslee Mitchell | Wedding Planner: The Posh Planner | Floral Design: Holly Chapple Flowers | Ceremony: Holy Rosary Italian Catholic Church | Reception: Army Navy Club of Washington DC | Stationer: Flair Designery | Car Rental: Regal Limousine | Wedding Cake: Taylor Made Cakes | Desserts: Baked and Wired | Makeup + Hair: Kara Gaylor | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids | Tuxedo Rentals: Wedding Creations| Invitations + Save the Dates: Paperzest, LLC

Classic weddings will always take the cake in my book. They’re the kind of weddings I dreamed about as a little girl and crossed my fingers to come true. They’re weddings just like this gorgeous St. Regis soiree that brings every dream to life thanks to Holly Chapple and Karson Butler Events. The ever-so-talented Vicki Grafton captured the whole day that’s just waiting to be swooned over right here.

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From Amber of Karson Butler Events…Courtney’s happiness the morning of her wedding literally brought me to tears. I wanted to bottle up her positive energy and sell it to all brides everywhere. I thought “THIS is exactly how you should be on your wedding – glowing, calm, beautiful and HAPPY. Truly HAPPY.” The minute I walked into The St. Regis bridal suite that morning and felt the wave of the best energy a planner can ever hope for, I knew I had made the right decision. You see, Courtney and Moshe married on September 2nd which happened to be my own five year anniversary. We already had another wedding booked that holiday weekend, and I had planned to take the 2nd off to celebrate. But, when we met Courtney & Moshe, we just clicked and I knew we were the right planner for this very special couple.

Courtney made the decision to truly just be a participant on her wedding day and trust the wonderful vendors on her team. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about all the details – she did, and we had so much fun leading up to the wedding designing all the wonderful elements – but she actively decided when the time came the week of the wedding she would let go and trust the team. All that was left for her was to enjoy the day. She focused on her new husband, her family and friends – exactly what a wedding is all about. And as a wedding planner, there isn’t much more to hope for than just that.

From the bride… I first met Moshe while both of us were visiting Chicago with friends in the summer of 2010.  Moshe was living in Washington, D.C. at the time when I was living in Ann Arbor, MI.  We did long distance for a few months before I decided to make the move to D.C.  Four months later on July 3rd, Moshe proposed at The Inn at Little Washington.   
 
We originally wanted to do our wedding in Charlottesville, VA because we truly fell in love with it during our many trips there.  However, coordinating a wedding from D.C. and trying to figure out how family and friends were going to get there from all over the globe became a little tricky.  We finally decided to have the wedding in the heart of Washington, D.C. The date was set for September 2, 2012, wedding and reception booked and Save the Dates were ordered.  However, it became very clear during these decisions that we wanted to truly enjoy the whole day and not worry about the little details.  Hiring the “Dream Team” was the key to success.
 
We met with so many planners before we stumbled upon Amber & Emily (Karson Butler Events).  A&E were an obvious choice for us in so many ways.  The best part of them is that they are twins (perfect for being in two places at once!). These two are truly the most easy going, fun, creative and organized people.  Perfect combination for any bride to be. A&E gave us a name of a few photographers to call.  Vicki Grafton was one of them.  In looking at Vicki’s photography and in speaking with her it was a no brainer.  Vicki use to be a wedding planner before she ventured into photography and has an eye for capturing special moments.  A&E also introduced us to  Holly (Holly Heider Chapple Flowers) who we fell in love with when we first met her.  Her arrangements are absolutely breath taking especially her Chuppah!   
 
We had so much fun leading up to the wedding day giving our ideas to our vendors and watching it all fall into place. The day of our wedding was absolutely the happiest day of our lives and we truly can’t thank our “Dream Team” enough. Without them it would have been impossible to pull off the day.

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Wedding Photography: Vicki Grafton Photography | Wedding Design + Planning: Karson Butler Events | Venue: The St. Regis | Floral Design: Holly Chapple Flowers, Ltd. | Linen and Rentals: DC Rental | Cake: The St. Regis | Invitations: The Dandelion Patch | Programs: Little Bit Heart | Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy | Band: Rhythm Nation | Strings: Perfect Harmony | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Bride’s Shoes: Nina | Hair and Make-Up: Victoria Styles | Lighting:PSAV

If there were two things that could make my day no questions asked, it’s Holly Heider Chapple Flowers and her gorgeous blooms and a winter wedding. Scratch that – there are three things, and the final is a handful of absolutely stunning photos from Love Life Images. So today, my loves, is a good day. Filled with an adorable couple, sweetly in love, and snowflakes falling from a Washington D.C. sky. This gallery is the epitome of my happiness.

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I am an attorney with the government, and Christian works in banking. Christian caught my eye at an ‘after party’ following a birthday party in the spring of 2010. Feeling confident that day, I walked right up to him, and we had a conversation about my native country, Poland. It was a couple weeks before our first date, during which we shared fun facts about each other via text message. Not too long after that, we were inseparable, eating all of our meals together and talking constantly when we were apart.

Christian proposed in a very special and personal way. We were traveling to Poland and Sweden to meet family and attend a friends wedding in Stockholm. We had an agonizing layover in Frankfurt on our way to Gdansk, our first stop. Once we arrived, we had dinner in a seaside cafe and sang Polish folk songs in an antique pirate ship that had been turned into a floating bar/museum. Despite the late hour, Christian insisted that we wind through the ancient cobblestone streets only to stop me in front of the Cathedral of St. Kataryna, the Cathedral of my name Saint. He pulled me into an alley, dropped to his knee and asked me to marry him in adorable broken Polish, which I later learned that he asked my dad to say into his voicemail so he could practice. I was quite surprised. To celebrate, we managed to find a wine bar to toast with champagne and call our parents to deliver the good news.

When I think of the most beautiful and historic Catholic church in Washington, D.C., I think of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, the church of the funeral Mass of President Kennedy, and when I think of the most “old world” elegant Washington hotel, it is the historic Mayflower Hotel, which is just around the corner from the Cathedral. After we were lucky enough to pencil in a date at St. Matthew’s, we immediately thought of the Mayflower as the perfect extension of an elegant winter wedding in downtown Washington. (President Truman called the hotel Washington, DC’s “Second Best Address” after the White House.) It is so elegant in a grown up way, with ballrooms fulls of beautiful drapes and chandeliers. It is not a space that you have to spend a lot of energy decorating.

Since our wedding was in mid-February, winter in Washington was our inspiration. The decor at the hotel is traditional and classic, no need to overwhelm it by adding any other bright colors. All of the finishing touches we chose were black, white, and silver – the colors I think of when I think of winter. Our wedding cake was white and silver, inspired by the snow, and Fluffy Thoughts did a great job making a modern, topsy-turvy cake with snowflakes and a branch. The cake was so gorgeous that we decided to make it a focal point by placing it right at the entrance to the reception ballroom. My mom and I spent a weekend covering over 100 pine cones with glitter for a snowy effect. The pine cones served as place cards at each table setting.

The material of my Nicole Miller wedding gown was a metallic crinkle metal taffeta, which also had a winter feel, like an ice skating rink. When I was getting fitted for the dress, my wedding planner Lauryn wrapped a black sash around my waist, which was the perfect contrast. A silver pair of Badgley Mischka peeptoe pups finished the look. My four bridesmaids and I went to Nordstrom one afternoon looking for something other than the traditional-bridesmaid dress, and quickly set our eyes on a simple, black cocktail dress that looked so elegant on each of them, and that the girls have worn again and again to various events since the wedding. Christian and his groomsmen all wore custom-made black tuxedos, so the whole wedding party looked like a cohesive group, but not matchy-matchy. The girls’ sashes and the ribbon on my bouquet were hand made by my future mother in law from the same metallic tafetta as my gown, which I custom ordered from Nicole Miller.

My bouquet, designed masterfully by Holly Chapple, was also wintery white — a natural stem bouquet of white roses, dusty miller, white peony, white ranunculus, with small pine cones and silver brunia. It was so gorgeous that I carefully preserved it after the wedding, and it is now displayed in our living room. The reception tables had elevated designs created with balls of white hydrangea and carnations. Snow covered branches flew out of the vases. All of the table names were Washington metro stops, chosen based on the stops we lived or worked near: Clarendon, Rosslyn, Farragut West, Metrocenter, Dupont Circle, Tenleytown.

Despite the high winds and temperatures in the teens, Jennifer Domenick managed to get the most terrific photos of us and our bridal party walking across and down Pennsylvania Avenue, with the Capitol in the background. These were our favorite photos from the day.

My “something borrowed” was a strand of pearls borrowed from Christian’s mom. It is a tradition for brides in Christian’s family to wear the pears at their weddings, and I was lucky to be able to continue the tradition. I mixed the pearls with a sparkly earring-necklace set from Nicole Miller for a fun modern & traditional look.

My grandmothers, who traveled to D.C. from Poland for the wedding, along with my godfather and first cousin, do not speak English, so we wanted to be sure to have a few segments of the wedding Mass they could understand. Luckily, our priest, Father Alexei, was fluent in Polish, and was able to deliver the nuptial blessing in both languages. My cousin Nina read each of the Bible readings in Polish, and another friend read them in English. The dinner menu was also inspired by traditional Polish dishes, with pickled herring and a sip of vodka as the starter.

I was so happy that my hands were trembling a bit when I got to the altar, and so were Christian’s. I don’t think we let go of each other during the whole ceremony. This is how our relationship is in general — we are always holding hands and making decisions as a team, and I felt so lucky to have such a caring and wonderful life partner at that moment. About halfway through the Mass, Christian turned to me and whispered “look outside, it’s snowing!” After the Mass, we exited to a flurry of real snowflakes and bubbles. 

Photographer: Jennifer Domenick, Love Life Images / Coordinator: Lauryn Prattes, Table Six Productions / Dress Designer: Nicole Miller / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Florist: Holly Heider Chapple Flowers / Ceremony: St. Matthews Cathedral / Reception: The Mayflower Hotel / Cake: Fluffy Thoughts / Officiant: Father Alexei Michalenko / Invitations: Paper Daisies

Oh my goodness, my sappy heart is just soaking up every adorable bit of this feature. One, because the wedding is just SMP perfection – timeless, elegant, filled to the brim with steal-worthy style – and two, because this pretty post just also happens to an Anniversary surprise from the Groom to his blushing (and seriously beautiful) Bride. Surprise lovely! You not only had the most gorgeous wedding day, you also have one keeper of a hubby. See more of this sweet fête by Modern Life Portraits right here.

From the Groom… A year ago today was “the best day of my life.” It is a cliche used about many weddings, but in my case, this cliche happens to be the truth. It wasn’t because of the perfect fall weather or the beautiful flowers; it was about much much more than that. Let me explain.

During my sophomore year at James Madison University, I met the girl of my dreams: Regina. The problem was that she didn’t know it quite yet! Unfortunately she was dating someone else, so I could only admire her from afar. We had limited interaction for a couple of years in the occasional mutual class or running into each other at a crowded party. Our senior year, I was able to convince her that studying together for a big test the next day was a great idea. We went to Barnes and Noble off campus and started to study, well, she did anyway. I couldn’t study because I was too enamored by her. I told her that day that we belonged together. She was still dating the same guy and didn’t agree. Flash forward a few years and and a few more occasional run-ins, and, miraculously, she was single. I didn’t waste any time and asked her on our first official date. We went to get dinner at a hole in the wall place near my house (we still go there every year on that same day). That night my years of imagining dating the perfect girl actually became a reality. She was even more amazing than what I had been imagining all those years. Luckily for me, I must have made a decent impression as well because after the first date we were inseparable. After dating for a little over a year, the feelings I had were even stronger than I could have ever imagined. I knew that my first inclination from sophomore year was right; I had found the girl I was going to marry. So I went to my family, told them the good news and asked, “What do I do now?” My sisters helped me find the perfect ring. I planned lunch with her parents and asked their permission. My family helped me plan the perfect engagement: a birthday weekend trip to The Inn at Perry Cabin on the Eastern Shore. I surprised her with the ring out on the Chesapeake at sunset, and she said yes!

As soon as the proposal was official, it was time to plan the wedding! Every girl’s dream, but not always a shared sentiment by the grooms! Regina made the planning simple and fun for me. She would send me links to Style Me Pretty and other blogs, and I would say what I liked out of those links! It was a great system. I am sure dealing with me wasn’t always as simple and fun for her, but we made it a team effort. By team effort, I mean she was responsible for 90% of making it as perfect as it was and I gave my input where needed!

We are both very family-oriented people, so after looking at dozens of venues, we did what felt most comfortable and in keeping with our lifestyle and who we are. We tented my parents’ backyard in McLean, Virginia, right outside of Washington DC. It was an intimate wedding with all the people we truly love and who truly love us. It was everything I could have asked for. Regina had planned every last thing without a flaw. From the amazing food, to the incredible band, and especially a guest appearance of September Morn sung by Regina’s dad to close out the night, all the details were perfect. We smiled, we cried, we laughed, we danced, and we walked away from that night with the only thing that mattered: each other for the rest of our lives. While the details were great, the day was all about one thing, the start of our new family. Now that a year has passed, while we both miss having the wedding day to look forward to, every day waking up to my beautiful wife Regina makes September 17, 2012, “the best day of my life.”

Wedding Photography: Mary Gardella of Modern Life Portraits / Ceremony: Holy Trinity Church in Washington, DC / Reception: The Home of the Groom’s Parents Home in McLean, Virginia / Floral Design: Gathered Stems Fine Florals / Wedding Coordination: Susan Gage Caterers / Wedding Cinematography: Monachetti / Catering + Wedding Cake: Susan Gage Caterers / Wedding Invitations: Lauren Brown / Reception Music: NightLife / Lighting: John Farr Lighting Design / Tent: Sugar Plum Tent Company / Wedding Dress: Reem Acra via The Bridal Salon at Saks Jandel / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair: Dessange / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Flower Girls’ Attire: Joan Calabrese

From wildly bright to classic black and white glamour and back again to bright comes this Washington DC love fest. But color isn’t the only thing going for it. It also has Anne Robert Photography on its side and believe me, anything this pretty lady captures is pure wedding gold. The kind of gold that instantly draws you in and makes you want to spend endless hours gazing at all that sparkle. You can do so right here.

From the Bride… Alex and I met while I was transitioning in DC, trying to figure out what to do next in my life. As you can imagine, Alex had some ideas. He proposed in a small garden in Little Washington, Virginia. We still laugh about the proposal — he was sitting far away from me so he’d have space to get down on one knee. I was annoyed he was so far away and kept insisting he sit closer. We celebrated our engagement with an amazing dinner at The Inn at Little Washington followed by a kitchen tour by the head chef. It was perfect!

I had never actually imagined our wedding before Alex proposed. So with only nine months to research, design, book and make everything, there was suddenly a lot to do — immediately! As a designer, this was the ultimate design project. As we started to plan the wedding we made two important decisions. First, we decided to ignore the countless wedding supposed-tos and to focus on what we really wanted. Second, our guests were our top priority. We started with our venue, which was key — we wanted an architectural backdrop, not a space that needed to recreated or decorated. I’m pretty sure my mother and I saw every venue within a 50-mile radius of Washington DC.  in the end, we settled on the Corcoran for its quintessential DC location, combination of art and architecture and ability to house the entire evening in one venue. In organizing the space, we worked with the strong existing architecture. We used one side of the atrium for the reception and the other side for the band and dancing. We were lucky to find an amazing florist, Bill Enright with Edge Floral Event Designers, who totally got us and our vision. We weren’t just focused on table decor, we were designing the entire space. He was able to get a lot of drama and punch without spending loads on actual blooms. We picked whimsical dark gray table linens to contrast the white marble architecture and to help the white and green floral arrangements pop. To help create spatial interest we used three different types of arrangements that varied in height and helped to activate the space.

The ceremony was perfect — we got married on the stairs in the Corcoran surrounded by art, architecture, family and friends under a chuppah my father and i made together. We used the tissue paper from gifts we received to make big white puffs. The puffs were then attached with fishing line to aquarium netting stretched between four silver bamboo poles. It was like getting married in a big fluffy white cloud. For ceremony music we had a family friend, Jackie Niemat, sing from the upper level which echoed and filled the space exquisitely. 

Weddings can strain any budget, big or small, so we were careful and concentrated on the things that really mattered. We splurged on the venue, caterer and band, and then everything else was really reasonable — even my dress. I’m pretty proud of my $15 ceremony shoes from Nordstrom Rack and our essentially free chuppah made from recycled paper. Looking back on that day, I can’t imagine a more perfect celebration and beginning of our life together. And while it may seem odd to spend so much time and money for a few short hours, I’ve been surprised how frequently I think back to that day and the impact of those memories.         

Wedding Photography: Anne Robert Photography / Other Photography: Sandi Foraci / Wedding Venue: Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC / Floral Design + Lighting: Bill Enright of Edge Floral Event Designers / Wedding Day Coordination: Cristina Maria Special Events/ Catering: Joel Wolke of Occasions Caterers / Wedding Invitation Suite Design: DIY by the Bride / Invitation Printing: Just Paper and Tea / Escort Cards, Menus + Signage: DIY by the Bride / Ceremony Music: Jackie Niemat (A Family Friend) / Band: Doctor’s Orders via Bialek’s Music / Chuppah: DIY by the Bride + Her Father / Wedding Dress: Mon Cheri / Bride’s Ceremony Shoes: Steve Madden / Bride’s Shoe Clips: Parisxox / Bride’s Reception Shoes: ALDO / Bride’s Earrings + Bracelet: Ascot Diamonds / Hair + Makeup: Andre Chreky Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Their Choice / Bridesmaids’ Parasols: Oriental Trading / Bridesmaids’ Clutches: eBay, Nordstrom + Zappos / Transportation: Premier Sedan Services, Inc / Valet: MarcParcValet, Inc / Bridal Suite & Hotel Room Block: Sofitel Hotel