If Lindsay & Sam’s feature wasn’t enough, I flipped the page and my mouth dropped open.  We had TWO weddings in the Washingtonian!

Sara & Tyger’s wedding was a blast and we were thrilled to be a part of it.  Here’s their spread, found on pages 82-83:

And the second page:

A big big big kudos to DC wedding photographer MK McKenna who shot the wedding and submitted it to the magazine.  We’re so lucky to work with DC’s most talented vendors and MK definitely fits that category.

Congratulations Sara & Tyger!  I hope you get it framed!

Jillian and Chris took a non-traditional perspective to the design of their April wedding. Merging both of their careers and passions in life, the whole wedding took on an architectural perspective that highlighted their taste for modern design. For them, red really is the new black

Before we get started, all of the pictures are courtesy of the fantastic Brian Tropiano. It is an incredible pleasure to work with him and, well, the photos truly speak for themselves. Thanks, Brian!!

The ceremony took place at the beautiful St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill.

The bouquets, created by Laura Williams of Loda Floral Design, were a composite of various red flowers. Laura even crafted small floral combs for the ladies to wear:

Jillian opted to wear a white orchid in her hair but wanted to complete her ensemble by wearing the perfect red shoes:

With a few hours between the ceremony and reception, Jillian and Chris headed out to parts of Capitol Hill and Old Town Alexandria to take a few photos. The photos are stunning…

From here, everyone headed to the party. Everything was a wash with Jillian and Chris’s colors: red, black, and white. From the table linens by DC Rentalto the uplighting by John Farr, the Torpedo Factory had a hip but classic vibe that resonated with the couples’ feel for design.

The biggest surprise of the night was the main course: pizza!! Alluding to the start of their relationship, Jillian and Chris chose to serve pizza to their guests. The two started dating while studying abroad in Rome (how romantic!) and, well… as they say, the rest is history.

The delicious pizza and gelato was catered by Larry Ponzi and Cafe Pizzaiolo.

The one detail from the entire wedding that took my breath away was Jillian’s dress. From the start of the planning process Jillian told me that her sister would make her dress. This is such a beautiful, personal touch to the wedding that I was excited – but I didn’t know how gorgeous the dress would be! I wish Jillian’s sister had her own company (because I would recommend her!!) but until she fully enters the world of fashion design, we will just have be marvel at this beautiful couture gown.

Best wishes for all the happiness in the world, Jillian and Chris! I enjoyed working with you and appreciate your “out of the box” thinking. Hope to see you in Old Town some time soon.

Cheers,

Melissa and Jeff were married in November but now that I have their professional photos I can’t wait to share.

The entire wedding centered around bringing their families together in an elegant, fun way. Melissa and Jeff came to me with the idea to create an Americana-themed wedding — highlighting local flavors of their families while encouraging them to explore DC. Each detail was selected with this in mind and created a beautiful event for their guests.

All photos are by Cecilia Marshall.

Custom DC-themed stationary from Sway Space.

Details from Melissa’s custom dress and flowers from Yellow Door. Each bouquet had a unique insert – the bride had wheat, which was also a part of the groom’s boutonniere.

The beautiful St. Patrick’s in Chinatown.

Married!!

Steelers jerseys and pom-poms for getting the party started

The guests took home a personalized “Terrible Towel”.

Part of the Americana theme — Apple pie (instead of cake).

The cutest “pie” toppers from Goose Grease (via Brooklyn Bride).

From Red Ruby Rose the cutest custom bridesmaids gifts – purses made with the wedding-color peacock fabric and lined with red silk.

The day-after shoot was a great idea – Cecilia went with Melissa and Jeff all over DC, including Lindy’s Red Lion.

Congrats, Melissa and Jeff! Hope all is well in New York.

Cheers,

Sunday was a beautiful day for a wedding. Danielle and Steve were so lucky to not only have great weather but to enjoy the view from the gardens at the Meadowlark Atrium.

Martha Fitzsimon Photographers took fabulous pictures so here is our sneak peek…

Hope you are enjoying Antigua, Danielle and Steve!!

Cheers,

 Whatever you were up to on Valentine’s Day it wasn’t as beautiful, as much fun, or as memorable as Sara and Tyger’s wedding! I met Sara and Tyger late in 2008 and had a fabulous time working with them – both busy professionals, they made my job easy thanks to being super organized (Sara is a former planner) and their all-star cast of vendors.

The day started at Christ Church of Georgetown . When guests stepped off the motor coach from Chariots for Hire they were greated by Norm Weaver, bagpiper extraordinaire, who piped before and after the ceremony, as well as at the entrace to the reception.

After the ceremony was over, Sara and Tyger took a vinatge Rolls Royce from A Regal Limo  to the reception, but not before taking a few picture with MK McKenna. The guests boarded the motor coach and headed to the reception at the Arts Club of Washington. Brennan Hurley and Jon McCracken were amazing to work with – a last minute scheduling change caused the guests to arrive an hour early for cocktails! Jon’s response “No problem!”; everything was in place when the bus pulled up. Thanks for your great work!!

Everything at the reception was fantastic: English Rose Garden  provided beautiful bouquets and centerpieces, Heidelberg’s cake was (as always) delicious, and the Millennium Band created the best party atmosphere. Everyone had a fabulous time!

Once the reception was over, the bride and groom went with their guests to the Hotel Palomar for a celebratory drink. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

I pulled a full of my favorite images from photographer MK McKenna’s blog.  She captured some really beautiful photos!  To see the rest, check out the slideshow on MK McKenna’s blog:

Sara and Tyger, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special day! You have been a great couple to work with and I wish you all the best with everything you have going on (especially with medical school, Sara!). Congratulations!

Cheers,

Just a little something to share the holiday spirit…

{ draped hallway  |  bouquet |  favors }
{ tub love |  bridesmaid |  christian louboutin |  table |  bouquet |  calligraphy }
{ dresses |  cab |  lounge }

Happy Holidays!

A black and white color scheme has become popular lately, especially with a yellow accent, but think of it as a starting point…

{ row 1: table | lounge | guest basket }
{ row 2: food | monogram | invite | bride }
{ row 3: cake | bridesmaid | flowers | chandelier | invite | bouquet }

It isn’t just the color you select, but the way you use it. Black can be a heavy color for a wedding, but when used as the base of a color pallet, it can enhance the other colors you have selected.

Here, a black and white pattern is the backdrop for sprinkling yellow (or the color of your choice) and a dramatic statement. Incorporating subtle patterns in the table linens, invitations, favors, and even the bridesmaid’s dresses will bring a balance to your decor without drowning the reception in bold or vibrant solid colors.

These colors were also used to create a more modern twist on a slightly retro feel – from the lounge furniture to the centerpiece vases, this wedding incorporates vintage items in a sleek way. Event the all white cake has a textured feel that mirrors the “bubbles” on the vases, flowers, and bouquet.

And for the bride who has her own special statement, try the knee length dress with a touch of crinoline.

In this series, we interviewed our team with a handful of lighthearted questions.  You can read Jessica’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?
In one word: organized. There is so much to keep up with — at least 4-5 vendors, transportation, arrival times, deadlines, guest list, special requests, surprises, etc. — you have to be on your toes. Last minute plans cause so much stress so be organized and plan ahead!

What do you do for fun?
You mean there is a life outside of wedding planning?! Well, there is always attending a wedding (I like being a guest!), spending summers by the pool, and volunteering for Tri Delta. I love dining, so any chance I have to try new restaurants or visit old favorites is a welcomed treat.

What’s the most important piece of advice for brides?
Never stop thinking about the Big Picture! When you visit the florist and see the economy bouquet, then you see the extravagant bouquet, which one do you pick (”Well, it is only $50 more…”)? Then you repeat this process with the caterer, photographer, stationier , dress boutique… and you budget very quickly increases by thousands. If you keep the Big Picture in mind you will realize that you will be just as happy with the selection that fits into your budget as you would be with the one that breaks the bank. And in the end, when you have the money for a fabulous honeymoon, you will be 10 times happier than you expected.

What are you listening to right now?
The Beatles. I love the song “When I’m Sixty-four ” as a cake cutting song. It is light hearted and catchy, just what I would want playing in the background as I smush cake into The Love of My Life’s face.

What blogs do you frequent often?
The Preppy Wedding is one of my absolute favorites because of the colors, simplicity, and understated elegance.

What’s the best thing about weddings?
The ceremony. It is the only aspect of the entire day that makes a wedding, well, a wedding. My favorite are church weddings, where the larger-than-life doors open, the organ resonates off the walls, and the bride walks down the aisle. It is a breathtaking entrance that fills the entire room. How can you not remember that for the rest of your life?

What is your favorite memory from a wedding?
At the very end of the night, as she and her new husband are leaving the reception, the bride came up to me and thanked me, profusely, for helping make her day not only special but spectacular. She had the biggest heart and was so overwhelmed with happiness that she wanted to share with me how I had contributed to all that she had enjoyed. I was so touched by it that I remember her smile and sincerity as she and her Mr. Right left the reception.

What would you do with $1 million dollars?
I would start a scholarship for college students who have to work to afford their own tuition. Whether you opted to go to the more expensive school because of the quality of the education (which your parents’ can’t afford), or just want to make it through a junior college to improve your quality of life, everyone should have the college experience without worrying if you can continue next semester.

What is your favorite wedding trend right now?
Hanging things from the ceiling is the neatest thing! Whether it is lighting, fabric, or millions of tiny crystals people are just starting to realize the incredible effect that rigged decor has on the style of your event. We have all seen nice table settings but when it is lit just right there is a whole new ambiance and intimacy to the room.

What is your least favorite wedding trend right now?
Chocolate fountains!! They are definitely on their way out but every so often you walk into the reception and BAM – six tiers of molten chocolate ready to make the mess of a lifetime. There are so many things wrong with this: communal food source, splatter on everything within six feet, chocolate on the bride’s dress, small guests clogging the drain with every pretzel stick in sight… Could we all agree to leave this to children’s parties and The Melting Pot?