We recently blogged about Nicole & Matt’s wedding but didn’t have the professional photos to share.  Well, their photographer, Jimmy Ryan, came through and sent me some images from the event!  I thought he did a great job capturing the day and wanted to share.  Without further ado, here’s Nicole & Matt’s big day:

I loved Nicole’s gold flats.  The flowers on top matched the garden theme perfectly!

Didn’t Nicole make a beautiful bride??  I loved how she had her hair only half up instead of a super-hairsprayed ‘do.  She was beaming but still looked like herself:

I loved this shot of the processional:

The adorable flower girl basket.  Can you believe they got the flowers from Wegman’s grocery store??

Our happy couple:

Meadowlark makes the perfect backdrop for portraits:

Nicole & her sister Amy, one of our 2007 brides:

The flower girl, looking over the edge of the balcony at Meadowlark:

Meanwhile inside, the reception gets under way!

To fit with the garden theme, Nicole named her dinner tables after flowers.  She framed seed packets to help guests find their tables.  Here’s the head table with a mini wedding cake as the centerpiece:

More Wegman’s bouquets:

I really loved the mini cake centerpieces.  Check out how adorable these little guys are!

The wedding guests really loved cutting their own mini cakes.  What a perfect conversation piece!

Congratulations again, Nicole & Matt!!

We often get inquiries from engaged couples who aren’t sure how much help they need for their wedding.  While of course we always advocate having a planner on hand to manage the little details, the following quiz can help you determine if you need a wedding coordinator or not:

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WishQuiz: Do I Need a Wedding Coordinator?

1. Do I have a break between my ceremony and reception?

• I’m not sure.  I don’t have a venue selected yet.  4 points
• No.  Everything is at one venue.  3 points
• No but my guests will need to travel between two places. 2 points
• Yes.  I have a couple hours in between the ceremony and reception. 1 point

2. Am I a DIY-er? Maybe I’m making my own invitations, place cards, favors, or programs? At the extreme, maybe I’m even purchasing my own tablecloths, arranging my own flowers, or using my friends as vendors?

• We haven’t gotten this far yet.  Why would we need invitations?   6 points
• We’re doing almost everything ourselves! Weddings are so expensive and it’ll be nice to save some money. 5 points
• I have some medium-size projects but am mostly relying on professional vendors for the wedding day. 3 points
• I’m not crafty and those things aren’t important to me. I’d much prefer to skip the accessories. 0 points

3. Am I planning on asking my friends or family to help set up on the wedding day?

• Uh oh, I’m not sure.  What am I going to do with all these DIY projects?  5 points
• Of course! That’s what the bridal party is for, right? 4 points
• My caterer or hotel person said they’d do this – 3 points
• I’ve thought about it but am not sure I want to ask my family or friends. 2 points
• No, I’d much prefer to trust the vendors I’ve hired. What could go wrong with Grandma’s heirloom cake topper? 1 point

4. Who have I asked to clean up at the end of the evening? My guest book, toasting flutes, cake knife, and wedding gifts need to make it home somehow!

• I don’t know but don’t like the idea of asking a guest to stay late. 6 points
• My mom, my maid of honor, or I will be staying late after the reception to gather up my personal items. 5 points
• Doesn’t my caterer or hotel  representative do that? 4 points
• I won’t have any personal belongings at the end of the wedding.  No guests are bringing cards or gifts and everything we’re using will be rented. I don’t even want to keep the top of my wedding cake . 1 point

5. Do I trust the vendors I’ve hired for the wedding day?

• I’m not sure — I haven’t hired a lot of my vendors yet. 6 points
• I am relying mostly on friends and family for the catering, photography, venue, flowers, and music. What could go wrong? 5 points
• No, I booked most of my vendors through the yellow pages or through bridal show promotions.  I’m not confident that they’ll all show up. 4 points
• Yes, most of them are great. One or two companies are hard to get in touch with but I’m sure they’ll be fine. 3 points
• Yes, entirely!  I relied on personal recommendations from friends and have been very happy with the service I’ve received from everyone. 2 points

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Add up your points and see how you scored!

0-5 points: I probably don’t need a wedding coordinator. Not all engaged couples need someone around on the wedding day.  Since my wedding is at a full-service hotel or catering facility and I’ve hired top-notch professional vendors, I’m probably alright on your own.  I don’t mind being distracted by questions from vendors in the morning and during the wedding reception

6-9 points: I should consider a wedding day coordinator. At the very least I can assign a friend to the setup/cleanup duties at my wedding.  I’ve done that for many of my friends and am sure they wouldn’t mind working for a few hours.  It’s the least they can do for the four-hour open bar, right?

10-16 points: I should absolutely hire a wedding day coordinator. I’m pretty organized and have things planned well but don’t want to deal with last-minute emergencies and setting up the decorations on the wedding day.  After spending so much on the whole wedding, I’d much prefer to invest a little bit more and ensure I’ll be a guest at my own party.  Having a Wedding Day Coordinator will take care of all the little details so I don’t have to worry about them.  It’ll be nice to relax and have fun with my new spouse.

17-22 points: I probably need some assistance with the rest of the wedding plans. Maybe I have a few more vendors left to book or I haven’t thought all the way through the details.  A Partial Wedding Planning package might be the best fit for me so I can wrap up the loose ends and create a solid plan for the day.  It’ll be nice to know that I’m covering all my bases.

23-27 points: OMG! HELP! I don’t know what I’m doing and really need the advice of a professional.  If I can’t afford Full Service Wedding Planning, I should at least seriously consider some Hourly Wedding Planning Help on an as-needed basis.  This will give me the education I need to get organized and on track with the wedding plans.  It’ll be here sooner than I think!

A few months ago, Nicole & Matt tied the knot!  Sorry I didn’t post photos sooner — while I don’t have a lot of pictures from the day I just came across these and thought I’d share them.  I believe their pictures are online somewhere so I’ll try to get the pro ones to share too!

Nicole is the younger sister of Amy, one of our 2007 brides.  It’s always so lovely when families know we’ll do a great job on the wedding day and call us again for younger siblings.  It was really a pleasure to work with these ladies again.

While I don’t have photos of the ceremony, Nicole & Matt exchanged vows at St. John Neumann’s in Reston.  St. John’s is a very big, modern, and airy church that lets in plenty of sunlight.  It was really a beautiful and touching ceremony.

Once at Meadowlark, Nicole & Matt wanted to use the beautiful natural scenery for their bridal party photos.  Here’s photographer Jimmy Ryan doing his thing:

I really thought these bridesmaids dresses were fabulous!  When’s the last time you’ve seen a patterned gown like these?  They were perfectly summery and looked great on the girls.  Nicole’s sister, Amy, is the second one from the right:

Inside, the reception’s in full swing!  The Reston Hyatt’s Regency Caterers did a wonderful job with the food & service.  I really liked the gold linens in the room — it looked really elegant and understated:

One of my favorite details of this wedding were the mini cakes!  Each table had a glass cake plate with a small cake instead of a centerpiece.  They went perfectly with the wedding’s garden theme.  Pastries by Randolph did a great job on these:

After Nicole & Matt cut their own little wedding cake, they invited guests to slice & serve each cake at their table.  Everyone had a blast with that!

The first dance:

Congratulations again, Nicole & Matt!  Talk to you soon!

This weekend I had the pleasure of working at Cara & Dave’s wedding!  These two exchanged vows and celebrated at the Galleria at Lafayette Centre in downtown Washington, DC.  We had an all-star team of vendors who pulled of a beautiful event.  Check it out for yourself!

Guests arrive for the wedding ceremony, set in the main space at the Galleria.  I thought DaVinci’s Florist did a great job decorating the perimeter of the room with drape and uplighting it.  They also provided the chuppah and altar pillars:

This is a view of the aisle from the ground floor on the opposite side of the room.  Cara & Dave are getting married!

I really love the tall ceilings and glass atrium feel at the Galleria.  It’s so airy and spacious there!  In this photo you can see photographer Genevieve Leiper, doing her thing.  I can’t wait to see her images!

Since the ceremony and reception took place in the same spot, R&R Catering got creative and staged the tables behind the draped area.  Here’s the dinner tables off in the wings, waiting for their moment to shine:

I couldn’t believe how quickly the room was flipped!  Within 20 minutes, R&R Catering had brought out 18 tables, the DJ moved to a new spot, and DaVinci’s set all the centerpieces and adjusted the drape:

There was a mix of tall and short centerpieces to create some interest in the room and also fit the spacious feel of the room.  Here’s one of the tall ones:

Here’s the other tall arrangement.  It’s decidedly different and very modern, but still fits in with the decor of the party.  Granny Smith apples are stacked and submerged then one sprig of deep purple orchids crown the top:

I especially loved the low centerpieces.  Look at the vibrant colors!  There was a lush mix of hot pink, tangerine, lime green, and deep plum all in one arrangement:

The cocktail table arrangements complimented the dinner table pieces:

The Galleria is such a pretty place for a wedding!  Here’s the whole space as seen from the second floor balcony (where we hosted cocktails):

Did you see that?  The cupcake tree?  YES!  Cara & Dave ordered an acrylic stand which imitated a wedding cake design and displayed the cupcakes perfectly.  I really loved the big momma cupcake on the top.  Tim at Baked & Wired hooked us up with the yummy cupcakes:

Cara & Dave used the topper for the cake cutting ceremony then guests took their cupcakes directly from the stand:

One little detail I liked was that the tables were named after important places in the couple’s history together.  DC locals will appreciate this one:

Check out their adorable wedding flavors!  One of their friends handmade candy apples for all the guests.  She even used green candy coloring to match the wedding colors:

Another cute detail was the guest book.  The pages were illustrated!  Each illustration told a part of Cara & Dave’s story.  Guests then signed in the blank spaces around the illustrations.  Check it out:

I also really liked how she tied the guest book pens with colorful ribbon:

Another view of the party from above.  Cara & Dave are the first couple I’ve met who danced to a Chicago song for their first dance!  DJ Derek Romanoff from Bialek’s Music kept guests on the dance floor the whole night long (literally!):

A big special thank you goes to my assistants Kenlinishia and Megan, who were wedding day rock stars.  All those candy apples weren’t going to put themselves out.  Thanks guys!

Congratulations Cara & Dave!  I really had a wonderful time at your wedding and was glad to be a part of it.  I hope you have a FABULOUS time in Thailand later this week!

Hello friends!  I have some exciting news to share.

After years of happily attending weddings as a guest, wedding singer, bridesmaid, maid of honor or wedding planner, I will now attend my first wedding…. as a BRIDE!   My wonderful fiancé John proposed at sunset on the beach in Naples, Florida a few weeks ago while we were in town for  – you guessed it – a wedding!  I said yes…well, I’m told I squealed a bit but we’re pretty sure there was a yes in there.  Either way, the ring is on my finger and although the “happily-staring-at-my-own-ring-phase” isn’t quite over yet, I promise that I keep it to a minimum…well, at least in public.

So that means I’m planning my own wedding.  Although I can’t invite you all to join me on the big day, I can invite you along in the planning process.  You’ll get a unique look into planning a wedding from the perspective of a wedding planner-bride!   I won’t be able to share everything, but I’ll gladly let you in where I can.  Here’s some info on me that should give you a better idea of what’s to come:

1.)  I’m a hugely creative person with a big DIY side: expect lots of hand-made touches and plenty of attention to detail.

2.)  I’m very family-oriented: Yes, it’s my day (and John’s day) first and foremost, but since friends and family are so important to us, it’s really important to me that they be comfortable and have a lot of fun.

3.)   I don’t believe that “wedding” should be synonymous with “bankruptcy.”  It’s not about how much money you spend, but about how you spend it.  I hope to throw a wedding that’s chic, fabulous and memorable, without spending a small fortune.   Difficult?  Maybe.  Impossible?  Definitely Not.

I plan to have a lot of fun on this journey and will definitely still be planning weddings for others as well.  Wedding planning (especially as a bride) should be a fun and stress-free.    I plan to keep it that way!  So if you don’t get a regular post from me, assume that I’m busy planning my wedding or someone else’s and will post as soon as I find a few free seconds.

See you back here soon!

In this series, we interviewed our team with a handful of lighthearted questions.  You can read Cristin’s formal bio here. Read below to learn a bit more about who she really is inside:

How would you describe your approach to planning weddings?
I am a very organized, creative person and I bring those elements to the table whenever meeting with a couple.  But then I really let them dictate my approach since it’s their big day, not my production.   Once I have a feeling for the couple and their style, I use my experience, organization skills and creativity to bring their vision to life for the big day.

What do you do for fun?
I plan weddings for fun!  But aside from that, I work on way too many craft projects, sing, do yoga, play softball, ready celebrity magazines, watch football, shop and cook (although not always very well!).

What’s the most important piece of advice for brides?
Always remember that your big day might not be perfect, but it will be perfect for you.  Just like a marriage, your wedding is likely to have a few surprises. Once the day arrives, don’t sweat the little things.  The day is about celebrating your love and new life with another person, so don’t let the details keep you from enjoying your own celebration.

What inspires you?
People.  Whether its crafts, music, a wedding….I like using my talents to creat things for others that will make their life a little happier.

What sets you apart from other wedding planners?
When I’m working with a couple in the weeks before a wedding, I like to focus all of my time and energy towards that couple.  I prefer to only take one wedding a month so that I can immerse myself in that wedding and ensure that it is a memorable day for everyone involved!

What blogs do you frequent often?

Style Me Pretty, Etsy Wedding, Cupcake Takes the Cake

What’s the best thing about weddings?
I love watching the first dance and imagining what the bride and groom are saying to each other as they twirl (or maybe trip a little!) around the dance floor in the middle of all the people that mean the most to them.

What’s the worst thing about weddings?
The cost.  I love working to help keep costs reasonable for each couple.

What would you do with $1 million dollars?
Buy a house in Arlington with a yard for dogs. I’m not sure I’d have much left after that!

What is your favorite wedding trend right now?
I am becoming a fan of engagement rings with gemstones as the center stone instead of a diamond.  Princess Diana did it years ago (she had a sapphire surrounded by diamonds) and I thought it was beautiful.  I think a ruby, aquamarine, pearl, sapphire or other precious gemstone can be unique and different way to show someone that they are special and beautiful (I’m partial to vintage aquamarine).   And if you really want diamonds, surround the gemstone with diamonds or add a diamond band as the wedding or anniversary band.   I’m also a big fan of cupcakes, but I have to say that I’ve been a fan of cupcakes BEFORE cupcakes were cool!

What is your least favorite wedding trend right now?
iPod playlists without a DJ.   I know it’s cost-effective, but a great DJ or band really sets the mood for the whole party.

A few weeks ago, we were invited to an open house at a new venue, 1777 F Street, NW. This gorgeous venue houses the Council on Foreign Relations, but also serves as a venue for meetings, receptions, and all kinds of events.

When you walk into the venue, less than a block from the Old Executive Office Building, you are greeted by the welcoming lobby.

(Sorry, my photographs don’t do it justice!)

Here’s a picture from the venue’s web site of the reception space outside of the larger reception room.

You can certainly bring in your own lounge furniture for the space and create a great lounge, but the furniture that’s already there is SO comfortable!

The first floor boardroom can be used in a number of ways.  There were cocktail tables set up throughout the room, as well as a few appetizer stations and bars.

Different caterers were set up on the various floors of the venue — unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of the caterer on the first floor!

When you go back into the lobby, there’s a grand staircase that leads to the second floor.  At the bottom of this staircase were the adorable ladies from Sweet Ladies Bakery.

Can I just say, YUM!?!?!  Here’s a guest, enjoying one of their delicious cupcakes:

And a display of a few of their mini cupcakes:

They also had a display of these adorable “lollipops,” including a brownie lollipop, a chocolate truffle rolled in coconut, and cheesecake lollipops!  I’ve already referred one of my brides to them — they have great prices, and are the nicest girls to boot!

On the 2nd floor, there are a number of areas that couples can use in a variety of ways.  I think if it were me, I would do my cocktail hour on the rooftop terrace (which you’ll see soon), and dinner and dancing in the second floor “ballroom.”

The room holds about 175 for dinner, so probably around 140 for dinner and dancing.  Or you could have dinner in the ballroom, and have dancing just outside the ballroom in the reception space (photo from 1777 F Street web site)

All of the furniture can be moved out, and this would also be a great area for a little lounge (all of the furniture you see is yours to use however you’d like!)

On this floor, delicious food was offered by Susan Gage Caterers.

You then take the elevator up to the 7th floor, where the spaces are more designed for meetings, but I had to mention the wonderful ladies from Ridgewells Catering.  I ate the MOST DELICIOUS chocolate peanut butter bonbon…with pop rocks on the bottom.  I LOVE POP ROCKS!!!  They also had these delicious little poached apples with a brie mousse, and look at these adorable little “ice cream cones”!

They were filled with various fillings, and were AMAZING!  The folks at Ridgewells are just so creative, I love it!

After visiting and snacking on the 7th floor, I headed up to my favorite part of the venue, the 8th floor terrace.  (Again, I apologize for my less than stellar photography skills!)

As with the other floors, these benches and tables can be used however you like, plus, of course, you can supplement with cocktail tables and bars.  The terrace also has a great view of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building:

If it rains, though, the space inside is still really pretty, and also has a great built in bar:

One of the best things about the venue is that, if you’re renting it for a weekend, you get THE ENTIRE BUILDING!  What other venue do you know where you get four floors of space to do whatever you want with?!  Their prices are really affordable, so if you’re looking for a new, unique venue near the White House with an outdoor terrace, check out 1777 F Street, NW. You can call them at 202.509.8465 or email them at dcrentals@cfr.org.

Thanks for inviting us to your open house, gang — we had lots of fun!