When I first met with Amy and Alex, the first thing I noticed was Amy’s quiet personality and Alex’s robust sense of humor.  Amy explained that she wanted a ‘French Countryside with an English Garden’ feel for the wedding.  Alex and I joked about having a helicopter transport them from the reception James Bond-style.  While we didn’t quite end up with a helicopter, I think we certainly achieved the European aura that Amy was looking for.

The pair chose Trinity Episcopal Church mostly based on it’s European feel.  While this building was built in the 1950s, it’s style is based on 12th and 13th century churches in France.  Trinity’s campus boasts a number of other buildings including an antique greenhouse and the nation’s smallest lending library.  Here’s the main church building:

Inside the church, the touching ceremony takes place.  Unfortunately Trinity doesn’t allow photographers or videographers to get closer than the front doors but our vendors made the best of it.  I’ll be interested to see how Colin from Blue Sky Films and Mark from Rodney Bailey Photography captured the ceremony!  Here’s what I got from my angle:

As a quick note, did you know that Blue Sky Films offers Super 8 film instead of traditional video?  They can mix it in with traditional video, too, so your whole wedding isn’t shot just on film.  Amy chose to have some segments of the wedding captured on Super 8.  Check out a sample here.

Meanwhile at the reception, my assistants Julie and Felicia were busy setting up the tent at Historic Long Branch.  This venue was new to me although they’ve been doing weddings for years.  Located in Millwood, Virginia, it has a robust history and some of the most serene views of the rolling Blue Ridge Moutains I’ve seen at any wedding venue.  The house is open to docent-led tours during cocktail hour and the reception must be under a tent.  Although it was a bit hot this past weekend, the Sheila Macqueen-designed gardens were blooming beautifully and the view simply cannot be beat.

Amy chose purple and ivory as her wedding colors.  We used a lavender cotton on the cocktail and service tables and a plum pintuck on the guest tables.  Select Event Rentals provided the tent and Party Rental, Ltd. brought the chairs, linens, and china:

The escort cards even had a French flair to them.  Each card was held by a pewter fluer-de-lis holder.  Unfortunately they kept blowing over since the event was outdoors.  We ended up having to lay them down on the table but I think they still looked cute:

:::WishTip::: Color-code your place cards if you are offering your guests a meal choice.  At this wedding, purple, white, and green signaled Pork, Chicken, or Fish to the wait staff.

Unfortunately the cake table sat empty most of the night.  It was too hot to display the wedding cake inside the tent.  The buttercream icing starts melting and doesn’t keep the cake layers sturdy.  At 92 degrees, there was no chance this cake would’ve made it three hours outdoors!  While dinner got underway, the cake remained in a semi-air conditioned corner of the basement.  We moved it out right before the cake cutting ceremony but even by then the layers were starting to wobble a bit.  I decided to alter the schedule a little bit before the cake smushed into itself.  Yet one more reason why having a wedding day coordinator is a good investment.

Carolyn at Taylor Made Cakes did a beautiful job on this cake.  I’m impressed that it lasted as long as it did which means she’s had experience at building structurally sound cakes.  It’s hard to see but there is a lace detail all around the bottom of each layer.  It was gorgeous!

Back inside the tent, a closeup of one of the taller centerpieces.  Maryam at Maryam Flowers was a rockstar for this wedding.  We’ve worked with her several times and she never misses a beat.  I especially liked the old-style European stands she brought instead of the typical glass trumpet vases:

These cute lanterns served as the short centerpieces.  Maryam made three small tulip arrangements for each table.  It’s hard to see but each tulip bunch is wrapped in purple wire.  It was such a small touch but shows Maryam’s attention to detail.  This image shows the true colors of the table linen and the chivari chair cushions.  Amy printed these pretty table cards, named after chateaus in France:

Tom at Pineapple Alley Catering provided the fabulous food and attentive wait staff.  I snuck a leftover hors d’oeuvre from the kitchen and was really blown away.  I had no idea an onion tart could be so sweet and savory!  Tom even worked with Amy and Alex to get European beer and wine for the wedding.  If you’re looking for a caterer, working with Pineapple Alley was truly a pleasure all the way around.

Here’s one last shot of the wedding taking place.  I apologize for the cruddy BlackBerry camera quality.  I like this image because it shows the beautiful purple tent swagging that Eric at Frost Lighting did.  I don’t have any photos from the rest of the night but the whole tent glowed purple through the evening and really came alive once the sun went down.  You can just barely start to see the effect of the pinspots on those tall centerpieces towards the back.  It was gorgeous!

Although the weather was a bit on the toasty side (I came home with a sunburn), the ceremony was heartfelt, the scenery was gorgeous, and the newlyweds were smitten with each other.  Just how a wedding should be!

Special thanks to Jodi, Julie, and Felicia who helped me out at this gorgeous wedding.  More kudos go to Aaron from Chris Laich Music Services who kept the dance floor packed all night long and rolled with the schedule changes I threw at him!  It’s always wonderful to have an attentive and professional emcee on the microphone.  One last shout out to Dan at Reston Limousine who arranged for two limos, three shuttles, and one sedan with no hiccups or delays whatsoever.

Amy & Alex, it was truly a pleasure working with you over the better part of this past year.  I really enjoyed being a part of your wedding day and wish you both the best of luck in your lives.  I’m sure we’ll see each other soon.  Congratutulations!

Remember the 2007 DC ISES expo?  Check out part one, part two, and part three if you want to see what you missed last year.

Last week, Ryan and I ventured to the Bethesda North Marriott where the DC chapter of the International Special Events Society was hosting it’s 2008 expo.  This is a spectacular trade show for event professionals that shows us what’s new in the industry and what the latest trends are.

What a beautiful hotel!  If you’re planning a larger wedding (400+ guests), this is a really nice new venue that would be ideal for a lot of people.  There are plenty of hotel rooms on-site, the ballroom is nearly new and is appointed tastefully, and the staff is used to acommodating a lot of people at once.  Here’s what we saw when we entered:

The ISES committee that put together the expo decided to go all out with a theme.  Last year’s James Bond theme was only tied into the event a little bit.  This year it was Cirque du Soleil!  You can really tell by all the beautiful lighting, swagged fabric on the ceiling, and crazy bright colors.  I liked this iridescent dance floor although it would hardly be appropriate for a wedding:

The center of the room held a huge circle of lounge furniture from Cort Event Furnishings.  Standing on the tables were Cirque-inspired performers who juggled, danced, and generally provided eye candy.  Cast of Thousands provided these characters.  There’s one in the center there wearing all black and another one off to the right with blue skin:

On the opposite side of the room, Arachne Aerial Arts did a fantastic Cirque-style performance:

One of the booths I was intriqued by was set up by Capitol Decor.  Remember when we visited their warehouse in January?  Apparently black and white damask is the hot new trend!  If you haven’t seen enough of this scheme on Weddingbee (here and here) or Junebug, you certainly will at weddings across the DC metro area over the next two years:

I liked the whole thing, really, but what really got me was the table.  Do you see how it’s a clear acrylic or lucite material?  There’s space to put stuff in between.  They used yellow roses and a layer of water:

Another little detail that struck my fancy was the damask votive holders.  Look how cute:

Another furniture rental company, Room Service, caught on to the damask trend too.  This company is new to the DC area and we’re glad to have another lounge furniture option:

Sadly I don’t remember whose booth this was and I already tossed the program (eek!).  Does anyone remember who had this cool display?  Again with the damask…those are actually removable vinyl stickers that can be applied to any surface:

The lights behind the panels subtlety changed colors!  Here it is in pink and purple:

Select Event Rentals had this beautiful mini tent set up with a tabletop display inside.  I love the ribbon inside the centerpiece vase instead of traditional clear water.  I also like the aqua-colored plates on top of the white square chargers:

American Furniture Rental set up this arrangement with funky blue suede furniture pieces:

As always, we saw a few of our vendor friends out and about at the expo.  Here’s Tonya from Blue Sky Films:

We also ran into the DaVinci’s Florist crew!  The owner Sharone is there on the left, his sister Sivan in the white coat, and Diana on the far right.  Jennifer from Syzygy Events is there in the middle.  Even when blurry they make a handsome group, don’t you think?

This proper lady was walking around, displaying brochures and candy on her tabletop skirt:

Party Rental had a beautiful table set up with all different combinations of place setting pieces:

Here are a few of my favorites:

If that weren’t enough sensory overload for you, they even had an Obama impersonator complete with a secret service agent (see his earpiece on the right?).  Obama got it right down to the American flag lapel pin.  Here he is posing with Ryan:

A few weeks ago we were invited to join Splendid Fare Catering at one of their open tastings.  They hold these events every few months and display their work at a different venue each time.  I had never been to the Carnegie Institute before so I was delighted to finally see the space.  Here are some photos I took at the event:

The impressive Carnegie Institute.  The building was completed in 1909 and just screams “DC”:

At the top of the steps you enter through these MASSIVE bronze doors:

Once inside you are greeted by the gorgeous Rotunda:

Just to your right there are two smiling faces!  These are some of the ladies from Splendid Fare.  Brittany is on the right and I feel terrible but I can’t remember who the gal on the right is.  I do remember they were both super-friendly:

Directly above there is a glass skylight and a beautifully detailed domed ceiling:

Off to the right we have a beautiful spiral staircase.  I am working with a bride who plans to use this for her processional.  Perfect!

Splendid Fare displayed a handful of tabletop designs.  All were centered around a pink and purple theme but were quite different from one another:

If you were to move straight through the Rotunda from the front door, you’d arrive in The Ballroom.  This is the largest space in the building and can seat up to 175 guests.  Here’s the view from the Rotunda:

It’s much larger when you look at it across the entire length.  Here’s how Splendid Fare set up for the tasting:

There was SO MUCH FOOD at this tasting.  I wish I had enough time to take photos of it all!  I did get to sample quite a few of the menu items and they were all fantastic.  Here’s a quick photo of a Mediterranean-themed table. It featured hummus, sun-dried tomato tapenade, roasted eggplant dip, grilled asparagus spears, honey mint couscous salad, artichocke cheesecake, and herb-crusted baby lamb chops with tzatziki sauce:

And the hummus/tapenade display closer up:

Other food included Basil Parmesan Popcorn in Mini Cones, Seared Diver Scallops, Roast Duck Crepes, Jerk Chicken on Plantain Chips, Mini Potato Samosas, Mini Hamburgers, Chesapeake Crab Cakes, Pad Thai Noodles with Chicken, Gingered Beef Satay with peanut sauce, Coconut Chicken Skewers with honey curry dip, Virginia baked ham biscuits with pepper jelly, Chicken Roulade stuffed with Cornbread, Roasted Garlic Smashed Potatoes, and Fried Green Tomatoes with herbed creme fraiche.  Hungry yet??

All the flowers at the event were provided by Petal’s Edge Floral Design.  Gerry and Rebecca did a wonderful job incorporating the pink, purple, and brown theme.  Here are a handful of their creations:

Here’s our little table set up with brochures and some accolades:

We weren’t the only vendors!  Obviously the ladies from Petal’s Edge were there.  PJ from Prime Transportation brought her beautiful new 1941 Cadillac sedan to show off.  Jennifer and Mary from Love Life Images wandered the crowd and took professional photos.  Here’s some cakes on display from The Swiss Bakery:

Did you know they make cookies too?  I thought these were adorable and perfect for favors:

Entertainment was provided by DJ Brennan Sullivan from Bialek’s Music:

Headed back through the Rotunda, there is an extra room that can be rented for events.  The Board Room can also easily be closed off if you don’t need or want it for your wedding.  I think it’s a perfect place to display desserts and that’s exactly what Splendid Fare did.

I wish I took more photos of the room itself but I was entranced by the spread of sugar before me.  Capitol Chocolate Fountains provided this beauty:

Mini bittersweet chocolate mousses and berry shortcakes:

Mini German chocolate cupcakes:

Truffles & fruit:

Mini mixed berry shortcakes:

Mini red velvet cupcakes:

Mini ginger and mocha creme brulees:

Even the coffee was delectable.  Here’s a small sampling of the ‘enhancements’ offered:

I had a wonderful time at this tasting and can’t thank Sandra, Brittany, and the rest of the folks at Splendid Fare enough.  They put on a wonderful show!  Just imagine how well they’d do for your wedding.

I also really loved seeing the Carnegie Institute because it’s a wonderful venue in a wonderful location.  It’s at 15th & P Streets NW and is really convenient to a lot of local churches and hotels…ideal for a wedding venue.  The historic feel is rather timeless and it’s got that quintessential ‘DC’ look.  I think the best part is the reasonable pricing….all three of these large rooms can be rented together for under $5k.  That’s unheard of for any other rental space of similar size smack dab in the middle of the city.  I love it!

You may remember Meghan and Eric of Washington Post Express fame — the couple who claimed to be having an elephant at their wedding?  Well, they’re married now, and although their wedding was sans elephant, it was still an amazing time!

Meghan and Eric got married on a chilly fall day at the GORGEOUS Oatlands Historic House and Gardens in  Leesburg.  My cousin married one of my best friends a few years ago here, and I was so excited to go back!  As you pull into the Oatlands in the fall, here is your view:

(I can only imagine what it looks like now, with the amazing colors we’ve been having this season)

When I arrived, the catering staff at RSVP Catering was getting everything ready inside the GORGEOUS tent, provided by Select Event Rentals. Select Event Rentals is the exclusive tent company for the Oatlands, and I can see why.  From the walls that were very lovely, to the BEAUTIFUL chandeliers, seen here:

to the MUCH NEEDED heaters (Eric, aren’t you glad now I insisted on heaters?!), they did an amazing job!

We must now pause to discuss the flowers.  OH, the FLOWERS!  I have a confession here.  Before I started doing weddings, I didn’t see what the big deal was about flowers.  Why were they so expensive?  (Okay, I still sort of think that, but I’m cheap…) Why so many?  What’s the big deal, just go to Trader Joe’s and buy some, right?  But oh, no.  Over the past few months, I’ve seen some amazing flowers, and I’ve seen some…flowers.  There IS a difference, people!  And the difference can be seen in Meghan and Eric’s flowers, provided by the outstanding Country Way Flowers of Middleburg.  I was SO in love with Meghan’s flowers, from the boutonnieres:

to the altar flowers:

to even the simple little decorations on the cocktail tables:

Everything was gorgeous.  But my favorite, of course, were the bouquets.  The bridesmaids bouquets were the perfect matching shade of red, with gorgeous red berries and lotus pods, which are my new favorite bouquet inclusion:

Meghan’s bouquet stole the show.  It smelled AMAZING, thanks to what I think was freesia (someone correct me if I’m wrong) and was filled with gorgeous flowers in shades of white, along with lotus pods, and adorable green berries.  I just can’t say enough how perfect this bouquet was, and how sweet the ladies of Country Way were.  I hope to work with them again soon.

On to the ceremony!  Meghan and Eric had their wonderful friend Jason officiate the ceremony.  I’m not quite sure how Jason was ordained, but because he lives in Colorado and isn’t affiliated with a particular church, we were unable to get him authorized in Virginia.  However, Virginia does allow residents of certain counties to become officiants on a one time only basis, so Meghan’s adorable father, who lives in Fairfax County, was able to certify the marriage on their marriage license.  I actually think this is very sweet, to have your dad “officiate” your wedding.  If you’re interested in doing something like this, definitely check your local County or City Clerk’s office for the rules.  It’s different everywhere.

The Oatlands has a beautiful location for outdoor ceremonies, but it comes with a slight logistical challenge…a GIANT urn of flowers smack dab in the middle of the aisle!  After much discussion at the rehearsal, this is how Meghan and her dad decided to tackle it:

Meghan and Eric also used one of my favorite new trends in weddings, which is multi-gender wedding parties.  Meghan had her brother as her Man of Honor, and Eric’s sister was one of the groom’s women.  (Okay, the only groomswoman, but still…)  Rather than have his sister wear a bridesmaid’s dress, she wore a lovely black gown:

and Meghan’s brother wore the same tux as the groomsmen.

The music for the ceremony and cocktail hour held a special place in the hearts of Meghan and her family (and their wedding planner), all of whom grew up on Irish music.  Celtic Marc was the Irish band hired for the music, and they were WONDERFUL!  Not only was their music perfect, but these guys were just great to work with.  I can’t recommend them strongly enough to anyone who is considering adding an Irish touch to your wedding!

At our final meeting before the wedding, Eric and Meghan realized they wanted a special “send off”, but many places have restrictions, whether it’s on sparklers, rice, birdseed, etc.  They wanted something fun!  I mentioned that I had seen ribbon wands on a wedding blog and Meghan fell in love with the idea.  She and her mom MADE these gorgeous wands, with mom sewing bells onto the ribbon, and Meghan painstakingly gluing the ribbons to each wand (in spite of some serious hot glue gun injuries…weddings are pain, people!):

I wish I had a picture of them waving, but no such luck!  Trust me, though, they were really great.

After dinner, the couple cut their DELICIOUS cake from Cake Lore (aka “Cakes by Loretta”).  The cake looked EXACTLY like the pictures Meghan provided as inspiration — great job, Loretta!

Cutting the cake isn’t as easy as it might seem — often the couple will get to the table and realize they’re not sure what to do!  Enter, your friendly wedding planner:

After much dancing and merriment, it was time to say goodbye, but Meghan and Eric, yet again, didn’t want to do something boring, so rather than your standard limo, they rented this GORGEOUS 1962 Bentley, courtsey of Regal Limousine:

If you’re looking for a “special” car on your wedding day, John Bays is the guy to call.  The driver, Ken, was a complete professional, and allowed the MANY people who wanted to photograph the car (yours truly included) tons of photos, as well as looks inside the car, and answered the questions everyone had.  Yet another vendor I can’t say enough nice things about!

The ribbon wavers were brought out again for the big send off, and the couple and their guests retired to Lansdowne Resort to meet back at the bar as the party continued!

Congratulations again, Meghan and Eric.  You guys and your families were an absolute joy to work with, and I hope to see you again soon.