Lena and Buzz’s wedding from Leo Druker Photography took place at the incredibly picturesque Murray Hill in Leesburg, Virginia.  Lena incorporated Asian elements to honor her Vietnamese heritage, from Lena’s jade jewelry to orchid floral elements to the color palette of red, gold, and black.  The wedding began with a Christian-Buddhist ceremony overlooking the Potomac River and ended with an evening reception filled with wonderful food and lots of dancing!

From Lena: We would describe our wedding as “Modage” (modern & vintage) with an Asian flare.  The setting was overlooking the Potomac River quintessentially Virgina.  The colors and flowers reflected styles from the East, with black, gold, cranberry, and orchids.

I wore jade and diamond jewelry with my wedding dress to reflect my style and Vietnamese heritage.  Also, I was gifted Buzz’s great grandmother’s thimble (from 1914) by Buzz’s father.  The thimble was put in an organza bag and tied into the center of my bouquet.  So very special, as it was passed down for generations and used to make quilts and pillowcases.

The service was a fusion of Christianity and Buddhism.  In addition to our minister, a Buddhist monk provided a wedding blessing.  My mother was Buddhist and had passed away 3 years prior.  A white candle was lit in her memory.

The ceremony was incredibly special.  The intersection of the Christian/Buddhist beliefs captured who we are as a couple.  Our favorite memory was looking over the bluff, onto the Potomac River during the ceremony.  It was a magical moment.

In lieu of table numbers, we named each table a city we had traveled to together.  Many of the tables were cities in Vietnam (where my mother is from and where we became engaged).

We loved our centerpieces!  They were potted orchids, given to guests to take home at the end of the night.

Lena’s advice to other DC-area couples:

Prioritize!  You can save money on so many things if you know what’s important to you as a couple.  What are you passionate about?  Also, make sure you genuinely trust and enjoy the company of the vendors your working with.  It will decrease stress when the big day nears, as you’ll put it in their hands.  It’s like working with family!

The following Washington, DC area wedding professionals contributed to Lena and Buzz’s wedding:

Venue: Murray Hill
Catering: Windows Catering
Photography: Leo Druker Photography
Floral Design: June Hambrick, 540-554-8857
DJ: Ian Lade, Digital Sound Services
Hair: Thomas Shelton
Makeup: Blend
Officiant: Debbie Dodson Parsons, Leesburg Presbyterian Church
Tent Rental: Loudoun Event Rentals
Restroom Rentals: Blue Ribbon Restroom Trailers

Don’t forget to visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals or our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings!

Photo Credits: Leo Druker Photography

Submitted via Two Bright Lights