The historic Hotel Washington was closed down last year and is reopening as the W Washington DC!  Slated to be ready in July, this hot property is in a fantastic downtown location at 15th & Pennsylvania.  Those of you who know that Mr. Obama lives at 1600 Pennsylvania realize that this hotel is right in the middle of things.

Mariam Karim is the new Director of Catering and has shared a few sneak peeks of the hotel & meeting space.  Keep in mind these are only renderings but they should be pretty close to the real deal.

The Dining Room (aka ballroom?):

The Living Room (aka lobby?):

The Sky Terrace Bar (aka rooftop deck):

The W is actually one of the few places in DC with a fantastic view of the White House, Ellipse, and several of the famous presidential monuments.  While I’m not sure you could rent the bar area for a private event, you could most certainly have an afterparty there!

To schedule a time to see the space for yourself or inquire about holding a wedding there, email Mariam or call her at 202-661-2426.  Special thanks to Doreen at Engaged! Magazine for sharing this with us.

Hey, gang!  Due to unforeseen circumstances, one of our couples is moving the date of their wedding.  As a result, the beautiful Oxon Hill Manor is now available for the evening of Saturday, October 17th, 2009.  If you’re still looking for a venue, don’t rule out this gorgeous building.  It has beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces and you can bring your own caterer.

Here are some pictures from their web site.

Entrance to Oxon Hill Manor

Beautiful Walkway paved with flowers, and you can see the river!

Gorgeous courtyard where you can have your ceremony or cocktail hour

Great water feature that I picture with tables all around it

GORGEOUS brides room!

Foyer for an escort card table or a bar

Use the ballroom for dancing or dinner

Last week I took a trip to visit Katie Martin, owner of Elegance & Simplicity.  They’ve been in business since 1998 and have a beautiful office in the heart of downtown Bethesda.  Katie started as a wedding planner and over the years has added floral services and a bunch of other things to her offerings.  Here’s a sneak peek at some of the floral designs she creates:

One of the greatest things about Elegance & Simplicity is their commitment to the environment.  They only source flowers from farmers who are VeriFlora certified or USDA Organic certified and use sustainable farming methods.  They also support smaller co-ops and farmers who prove fair wage practices.  Their shop is wind-powered and they offset their carbon footprint.  They even drive smaller fuel-efficient delivery vehicles instead of gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks.  This florist is GREEN!

Something else that helps them stand out are the varied product offerings they have.  Did you know you can rent glassware and scoops for a candy buffet without having to buy all those vases yourself?  They have over 500 pieces to choose from so you can get a modern eclectic mix or go classic and matchy.  Elegance & Simplicity can even bring the candy:

There are several companies that provide chuppahs, mandaps, and wedding canopies.  Have you ever seen a wooden one like this, though?  Their in-house carpenter makes these gorgeous arbors.  They have two sizes…one smaller for three people to stand under (you, husband, and the officiant) and a larger one for the whole gang:

A lot of brides call us inquiring about hanging Chinese-style paper lanterns.  While we can’t provide that as a decor service, Elegance & Simplicity can!  Check out this beautiful wedding with dozens of strung orange lanterns:

Here are a few more photos from their website that I found appealing:

If you are a current Wish bride looking for a florist, Elegance & Simplicity is offering 10% to our clients!  Please let us know that you plan to meet with them and we’ll hook you up.

What are you doing this Sunday?  If you answered “going to see Laura at the Engaged! Magazine bridal event at the Willard hotel” then you would be correct!  Join us this weekend for one of the most luxurious bridal shows of the year.  Here’s more details from the Engaged! website:

As you begin your wedding planning journey, be inspired and attend Engaged! at the Willard!  Meet the charming Clinton Kelly, co-host of TLC’s ‘What Not To Wear’ as he shares his styling expertise with real brides on what TO wear on the big day.  An elegant brunch will be served in the Grand Ballroom of the Willard Hotel during Kelly’s presentation.

Additionally, you will find absolutely the area’s finest wedding vendors – from fashion to flowers and everything in-between, you will meet the professionals with must-have products and services for the sophisticated bride and groom. Enjoy one-stop shopping with the best of the best!

Truly, a celebration of style!  Join us!

Click here to purchase your tickets.  $55 seems steep but is a fantastic value.  Your ticket gets you a fabulous brunch from The Willard, a chance to chat with Clinton Kelly, meet & greet time with many top DC-area wedding vendors, and even a hair and makeup trial from the ladies at Elizabeth Arden.  Think of the time you’ll save by meeting all your wedding vendors at the show instead of scheduling individual appointments all over the city!

Still looking for a reception venue?  Or how about a place for your guests to stay?  This weekend, eighteen different DC-area Marriott hotels are hosting an open house.  They will set up their ballrooms as they would for a wedding reception.  They’ll give tours of their guest rooms and have sales associates ready to answer questions.  This is the perfect time to choose your reception location and nail down your wedding date.

When: Sunday, February 8th, 1pm-5pm
Where: Any of these participating hotels:

DC:
Washington Marrriott at Metro Center
Washington Marriott
Renaissance M Street Hotel
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
Renaissance Washington DC Hotel

Virginia:
Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport
Crystal Gateway Marriott
Fairview Park Marriott
Key Bridge Marriott
Tysons Corner Marriott
Washington Dulles Airport Marriott
Washington Dulles Marriott Suites
Westfields Marriott Washingon Dulles

Maryland:
Bethesda Marriott
Bethesda Marriott Suites
Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
Greenbelt Marriott
The Inn & Conference Center, University of Maryland University College

The kicker is that they have fabulous door prizes to give away (including a honeymoon by Marriott and a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes).  The more hotels you visit the better chances you have at winning!  Check out their website for more specific information on this fantastic city-wide event.

Two weeks ago I promised photos of the National Press Club.  After doing a walkthrough with our clients and their vendors, I’m thrilled to share more information with you.

The National Press Club is a beautiful venue in the heart of downtown DC.  They are near 14th & F, just north of the J.W. Marriott.  What a perfect location!  Not only are there hotels within walking distance, there are also several restaurant options for rehearsal dinners and tons of stuff for out-of-town guests to check out.

As you walk in, there is a large lobby space with a large glass and marble staircase.  This is a great spot for wedding party photos:

The view from upstairs:

Just beyond the staircase leads you into the ‘Holeman Lounge.’  This is a great big area for cocktails with plenty of space to mingle with guests and lots of natural light:

Looking back towards the door.  Check out that beautiful fireplace!

Off to the left is a built-in wooden bar.  I’ll give you one guess why they call it the ‘Square Bar:’

Just beyond the bar there is yet another cocktail room!  They call this one the ‘First Amendment Lounge.’  This is where we’ll put some stationery hors d’oeuvres and some casual cocktail seating:

Yet again, more natural light!  What hotel ballroom can promise this many windows?

Headed back the way we came, we find ourselves back in the Holeman Lounge.  If we were to turn right instead of left, another bar!  This one is beautiful too:

If you’re lost already, there is a helpful floor plan here!

Beyond the bar is the Ballroom.  This is what you see on CNN all the time and has hosted countless famous speakers through history.  It has nice tall ceilings, a balcony on two sides, and is completely functional for handling large groups:

The view from the balcony.  Imagine the photos your photographer could capture from up here:

Just outside the ballroom is a hallway that features photos of all the celebrities who’ve spoken at the Club. Most of them are signed a la Sardi’s.  You just have to check it for yourself to see who they have:

There is also a nice large bridal party room at the end of the hallway.  This is nice because it’s so close to the ballroom!  No stairs or elevators or anything so bridesmaids and brides have access to their totes, flip flops, lipstick, and whatever else they need.  It’s nice to be able to store all your personal items away from the party, too, so your overnight bag isn’t peeking out from under the gift table.

Don’t forget the Press Club is offering an amazing deal for August weddings next year!

The words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic were written here.  Martin Luther King finished off his I Have a Dream speech in his guest room.  The city’s first mint julep was mixed here by a Kentucky senator.  Abraham Lincoln racked up a $700 tab while hiding from assassination attempts before his move into the White House.  The modern-day term “lobbyist” was coined from this very hotel lobby, where President Grant would sit and be influenced by local advocates.  Steven Spielberg used the hotel for his movie Minority Report.  Some former guests include Harry Houdini, Charles Dickens, P.T. Barnum, Mark Twain, Mae West, Emily Dickinson, and Walt Whitman.  The Willard Intercontinental truly is an all-American landmark in an all-American landmark kind of town.

The building we see today was erected in 1901, fell on some rough times in the 60s and 70s and took 6 years to renovate to it’s original glory.  It was designed by the same gentleman who designed the Waldorf-Astoria and the Plaza hotels in New York City.  It truly brings you back to a more elegant and proper time in our history.  What a wonderful venue for a wedding!

The entrance to the hotel is at the corner of 14th St. & Pennsylvania Ave.  What a posh address!  This is smack dab in the center of town:

Looking down Pennsylvania Avenue from the front doors, the US Capitol is off in the distance.  The White House is just two blocks down at 16th & Pennsylvania:

Across Pennsylvania we have Pershing Park.  Did you know this turns into a public ice skating rink in the winter months?

Before we step inside, let’s go around the corner.  Between the hotel and the Willard office building there is a beautiful courtyard.  Where there was once a fountain will soon be a flat patio!  This is exciting to me since it means this space can be tented for events.  They hope to use this as ceremony and cocktail space once it’s completed:

Upon entering the hotel, the lobby makes you feel insta-glam.  It’s like you step back into an old classic movie:

The floor is an incredible original mosaic of teeny tiny tiles.  This beautiful W seal is over by the concierge desk.  It’s about 2′ across which helps you see how small those tiles really are:

I love this old-school front desk:

The ceiling of the lobby boasts these beautiful tiles representing each state in the Union:

Just past the lobby is the Peacock Alley.  This famous promenade cuts from the front door to the back entrance of the hotel.  Back in the day, mothers would bring their eligible daughters to strut back and forth for the prominent gentlemen sitting here.  It was truly the place to see and be seen:

Comfy seating is set for small groups all the way down the promenade.  In the afternoon they have a wonderful formal tea service:

I could sit in this hallway all day and adore the details.  These doorknobs caught my eye:

Off of Peacock Alley, the Crystal Room awaits.  This room is elegantly appointed in gold tones and huge crystal chandeliers.  It seats up to about 170 guests for a wedding:

On the second floor there is a small L-shaped room called The Nest.  You can squeeze about 70-80 guests up here.  I think it would be lovely for a rainy day ceremony backup plan.  Here is the crux of the L, set for a small wedding reception:

Here’s one leg of the room set up for the wedding ceremony.  I love the fireplace with the woodworked mantel:

And check out the view!  Across the street is the Ronald Reagan Building:

Downstairs we have The Grand Ballroom.  Here is the lobby/cocktail area with built-in plush seating:

There are even private elevators that go straight to the parking garage so regular hotel guests don’t interfere with your party:

Through the double doors we are treated to the ballroom!  This room is absolutely gorgeous.  It has 18′ ceilings and can seat about 300 guests for a wedding:

My favorite part are these stunning crystal chandeliers.  This photo also shows a track with some built-in lighting.  Their in-house crew can do professional lighting in here or the hotel surprisingly allows you to bring an outside team:

I really enjoyed my visit with Steele at The Willard and can’t wait to go back!  AJ coordinated a wedding in the Crystal Room in 2007 and hopefully we’ll book something in the Grand Ballroom this coming year.  I recently attended a wonderful luncheon here, too — stay tuned for photos from that event soon!

Thanks to our photographer friend Justine Ungaro, we were introduced to the wonderful EcoLimo!  Did you know there’s an environmentally friendly transportation option in DC?  This great company also operates in LA, SanFran, NYC, and Vegas.  Imagine your guests getting picked up from the hotel in this bad boy:

How about a sweet ride home at the end of the night?  You and Hubby can jet off in this beautiful bio-diesel Mercedes Benz E320 CDI:

Or perhaps your parents are coming into town and want to rent this Tahoe gas/electric hybrid to haul all your gifts from the reception to your condo:

Have you thought about the transportation for your wedding yet?  Be sure to consider this eco-conscious company.