summer wedding

Erin and Nick's Meadowlark Botanical Garden Vienna, VA Wedding

Nick and Erin were the SWEETEST couple!  I had so much fun planning with them, as well as with Erin's parents.  Nick is a golf pro at the Chevy Chase Club, so having a venue with tons of green seemed perfect.  Although it was hot outside, it was a beautiful day, and we were still able to have the ceremony outside.  As always, Barbara at Growing Wild, who I've been working with for over 15 years, did a beautiful job.  Officiant was really great too.  Cake was delicious (as Edibles Incredible always is!) - Enjoy these beautiful photos by Maddie Williams Photography!

Venue: The Atrium at Meadowlark @theatriumatmeadowlark

Catering: Great Blue Heron (in house caterer)

DJ: Kelton Higgins @luvdupdjs  

Harpist: Melissa Dvorak @capitolharpist

Photographer: Maddy Williams @maddywilliamsphotography  

Florist: Growing Wild @growingwildfloral

Hair and Makeup: Make up by Anab @makeupbyanab

Officiant: Drunk in Love Weddings @drunkinloveweddings

Cake: Edibles Incredible @ediblesincredible

Rentals: Select @selecteventgroup 

Colin and Mara's Torpedo Factory Alexandria, VA Wedding

Photo by JPG Photography

Photo by JPG Photography

Colin and Mara were married at The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA this past August - on a hot, but luckily, not stormy (!) day. Mara’s family is Portuguese and she was able to integrate some Portuguese touches throughout the event (including Portuguese music and of course - dancing!) that made it really special. They got ready at nearby Hotel Indigo and did photos prior to the ceremony around beautiful Old Town, while we were getting the venue ready for their big day! D Nicole Settings provided a gorgeous fern wall for their ceremony (which covered the somewhat odd staircase at Torpedo Factory!), while Main Event Catering, Growing Wild Florist, and John Farr lighting also did an awesome job making the space look beautiful. After a very personal ceremony, cocktails were outdoors on the waterfront patio (with no rain! whew!), followed by dinner and dancing indoors. The Bachelor Boys kept the crowd dancing all night long, and Gustavo from JPG Photography provided these beautiful photos. Enjoy!

Mara and Colin’s Wedding Vendors:

Coordinator: Katie Wannen, The Plannery

Venue: The Torpedo Factory

Caterer: Main Event Catering

Photographer: Gustavo, JPG Photography

Music: The Bachelor Boys

Florist: Growing Wild

Fern Wall: D Nicole Settings

Hair/Make-up: Modern Bridal Studio

Lighting/Draping: John Farr

Linda and Chris Carnegie Institution for Science DC Wedding

Photo by Margaret Wroblewski

Photo by Margaret Wroblewski

Yes, we worked another Carnegie Institution for Science wedding. And yes, I loved it just as much as I always do! This really is one of our favorite venues and Linda and Chris’s wedding was no exception. They got married in late August this past summer, and it was such a lovely day! They didn’t want to see each other prior to the ceremony, so they had some family photos done separately and then we made sure we hid Linda (and her stunning-as-all-get-out dress) away in the upstairs library. After a beautiful ceremony officiated by a friend, they took some more photos outdoors (the weather was great!) while guests enjoyed the cocktail hour and photo booth inside. After a delicious meal by Main Event Catering, some toasts and the cake cutting, we got to my favorite part: a surprise Linda had arranged (with my help) for her groom after their first dance. She had Old Line Garrison - an awesome organization that brilliantly brings together Star Wars costume enthusiasts with charity - surprise Chris with stormtroopers crashing the dance floor! Old Line Garrison was so wonderful to work with - they’re an entirely volunteer-based organization that will show up to events and weddings as Star Wars characters out of their sheer love of dressing up, and for a donation to a charity. SUCH a cool idea - and Chris LOVED it (as you’ll see from the photos, by Margaret Wroblewski, below.

Some other favorite details include the glow sticks they handed out for an end of the night photo (which always makes the dance party more fun!), and the fact that they actually rented fake flowers for their centerpieces (from Wedding Flowers for Rent). I NEVER would have known - the flowers were really exceptionally lovely and it was a cost-efficient option I’d never seen done before and was frankly surprised at how beautiful they looked!

Congrats again to you both!

Linda and Chris’s Vendors:

Coordinator: Katie Wannen, The Plannery

Venue: The Carnegie Institution for Science

Caterer: Main Event Catering

Photographer: Margaret Wroblewski

DJ/Photobooth/Uplighting: DJ Dan Goldman

Cake: Fluffy Thoughts

Hair/Make-up: Les Bourgeois Artistry

Personal florals: Flor de Casa Designs

Centerpieces: Rented! Wedding Flowers for Rent

Dodi and David's Shenandoah Woods Wedding

David and Dodi were wed in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain on a dreamy summer day in August. On that very morning, in the very same spot they exchanged vows, I saw the cutest brown bear roaming around just hours before guests arrived.  The only reason I didn’t freak out and am able to call it cute is because there was ample distance between myself and the furry guy as I worked to set up David and Dodi’s event. The Pavilion at Shenandoah Woods is such a gorgeous venue, offering magnificent views and sightings! 

The vibe of the event reflected both David and Dodi’s lively, beautiful, kindred personalities equally. It was rewarding as a planner/coordinator to watch their ideas and visions unfold and come to life. In working with David and Dodi, it was clear that their plans were driven by passion, which in turn led to the most magical, meaningful, memorable day. The major highlights would have to be the following: 1) Dodi’s show stopping lace romper worn at the reception and 2) The Silent Disco!!! 

As they celebrate their one year anniversary (boy does time fly!), I can only hope that they are still basking in newly wed bliss and that their passion is just as fierce as the day I met them! Congrats again, Dodi and David!

Dodi and David’s Vendors:

Coordinator: Tarra Morgan, The Plannery

Venue: Shenandoah Woods

Catering: Valley Pig Pickin

Photographer: Josef Sullivan Photography

Silent Disco: Headphone Disco

Bartenders: Garnished Events

Florist: Vivian’s Flowers

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals