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How to Welcome Out-of-Town Wedding Guests
March 18, 2015

When it comes to your wedding in the Washington DC area, you probably have plenty of out-of-town guests travelling to the area for your celebration of love! What do you need to know about welcoming guests and heelping them navigate the city? Once again, we turned to some of the top wedding planners in the Washington DC area and asked for their advice. How can couples gjve their guests ideas of what to do and where to go? Here’s what they had to say…

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Photo Credit: Audra Wrisley Photography from Classic Summer Wedding in DC

Communicate with Your Guests

It’s a slippery slope between providing helpful information and positioning yourself as their personal tour guide. Be sure to direct questions and inquiries to others, e.g. hotel concierge, wedding planner, maid of honor/best man. ” Elizabeth at Elizabeth Duncan Events

A wedding website can be a tremendous help for your out of town guests. The website may contain a page which speaks to hotel accommodations and local attractions. Another option is a “Welcome Basket.” This basket can be handed out to guests who stay in the hotel. It can contain brochures with information on local activities and also goodies for your guests to enjoy during their stay. ” Shawn at TreBella Events

Wedding websites and wedding apps are great ways to help your guests plan their trip in advance, more fully enjoy all that DC has to offer, and quickly reference celebration locations on the go. ” Ginger at Gingerwood Creative

Creating a wedding website that you distribute to guests (usually on the save the date!) with lots of great info regarding city attractions, hotels, restaurants, wedding info, etc. is a great way to help everyone from out of town plan their trip accordingly. ” Jennifer of Elegantly Chic Events

Communication is key here! Include as much info as you can in either print, the web, or an e-mail message such as hotel info, directions, addresses, contact phone numbers too just in case they need to reach someone. ” Courtney at A Sweet Soiree

Parking and Transportation

If you have a lot of guests staying at nearby hotels, arrange for shuttle buses to take them to and from the wedding so they don’t have to worry about renting cars, parking, etc. I know they will appreciate the gesture! ” Jennifer of Elegantly Chic Events

Book a hotel where the parking isn’t insanely expensive if possible, and that’s close to a Metro stop so they can explore. Include a link to Uber on your wedding web site and explain how to download the app”you can even get a wedding code to give guests a free first ride! And, if you can afford it, please provide transportation for your guests. No, you don’t have to, but it just makes everyone’s lives so much easier if you know when everyone will show up!  ” Rebecca at Blue Canary Events

Transportation is always important to mention. On welcome bag information cards, we typically suggest how to get there. Simply suggesting “cab or Uber,” “walkable from hotel,” “take the Orange Line to Clarendon” is easy for guests to help figure how to get around or at least give them somewhere to start. ” Laura of Events in the City

If your wedding is in DC and some guests are driving, make sure they download the Parkmobile app as DC parking meters are set up with that app. In Montgomery county MobileNOW is another app to be downloaded for cars as their meters are connected to that app. Like Uber, these are not quick apps to download and should be communicated to guests ahead of time. ” Katie at Elegance & Simplicity

The more information the better when it comes to transportation and driving instructions. Let guests know before they come to down if you will provide a shuttle, or if parking is difficult near your reception location. It will help them decide whether arrangements like a rental car make sense. ” Ginger at Gingerwood Creative

Give up to date information on transportation in the welcome bags including how easy or not easy catching cabs or Uber times in the area will be. You don’t want guests to assume that they can catch a cab easily after the wedding, when in fact your reception venue is off the beaten path in D.C and cabs are not frequent. ” Tabitha at Roberts and Co. Events

Creating a Wedding Weekend Timeline

If your wedding is in the city and your guests are from out of town, do yourself and your guests a favor, and put everything as close together as possible. Ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner. Getting around the city is hard enough for those of us who are experts”imagine your Aunt Ida from Paducah, Kentucky staring at Dupont Circle and just having NO idea what to do. ” Rebecca at Blue Canary Events

Keeping the Expense Down 

Make sure that your “out of town guests” are well-informed of any potential expenses they might incur. Resort fees, valet parking fees, cash bars, and high city taxes can really blow your wedding guests’s budget if they are unaware of these additional expenses in advance.  ” Kay at Howerton + Wooten Events

Accommodations

Always plan on guests wanting to stay for a mini vacation when booking your room block. Reserve rooms for a few days before and after the wedding as a courtesy so that they have the option of arriving on Thursday or leaving on Monday so that they can enjoy the city. ” Tabitha at Roberts and Co. Events

Wedding Itinerary + Welcome Bags

Book a hotel where the parking isn’t insanely expensive if possible, and that’s close to a Metro stop so they can explore. Include a link to Uber on your wedding web site and explain how to download the app”you can even get a wedding code to give guests a free first ride! Include a map of the Smithsonians and monuments, a letter with your itinerary as well as your favorite coffee shop, cupcake or ice cream place, best places for lunch, where the closest drugstore is, etc. Leave copies with the concierge at the hotel.  ” Rebecca at Blue Canary Events

Points of Interest: you can include a city’s visitors guide. What I like the most is when clients tell their guests their favorite restaurants and their favorite places to visit/activities. I think it personalizes it for your guests. One of my clients wrote out a few options for guests on “What to do on a Friday night in DC.” It was great! ” Vicky at Event Accomplished

Think about what your guests might need during their stay and share information about where they can find it. Include contact information for a couple of good hair salons, a dry cleaner, a drugstore, emergency medical facilities, nearby restaurants, shopping malls, and any other businesses your guests may find interesting or useful. ” Stephanie at Pretty Entertaining

Having a detailed wedding website that outlines your personal suggestions for how to handle attend your wedding is great for out of town guests. Providing a light itinerary and options for those who don’t know your city via the welcome bag is awesome. Don’t just throw in nine different maps and brochures. Make personalized suggestions and be thoughtful with a range in price as well. ” Laura of Events in the City

I almost always recommend that guests come at least two days prior to the wedding to get acclamation to the area and check in. This way they have at least one evening to enjoy the city before the wedding day! DC has so much to offer. Families should definitely be made aware of how the majority of our museums are free…in most major cities around the world, museums have a fee to get in. For the museums that have fees and you know your particular guests might be interested in going (like the Newseum) Call those museums ahead of time to see if they have any discounts available for large groups! You know your guests best! ” Katie at Elegance & Simplicity

For guests arriving at the hotel, a nice welcome bag to receive with some nice little personal gifts, or something that reflection of the couple, along with area tourist maps depending on the location. Tourist maps can be found at your local county visitor center or local tourism board. If you want to really customize, have your stationery designer to design custom maps of the area that will match with all of your other invitation stationery. Tara at Perfect Planning Events

Always include a welcome note at the hotels either in a welcome bag or on its own. Be sure this has a schedule for the weekend and any attire and transportation. It should also list a few places to eat and the couples favorite attractions around town. ” Courtney at A Sweet Soiree

Couples can order Washington D.C information Booklets from the D.C Tourism site for only the cost of shipping to include in guest welcome bags. This is a really useful tool for guests who are looking for unique opportunities in the city to site see around the wedding activities. ” Tabitha at Roberts and Co. Events

For guests who are coming from out of town and staying at your hotel block of choice, provide them with welcome gift bags upon check-in. While welcome bags are thoughtful, they are also extremely helpful if you include information on your city. We suggest our couples include things like: wedding weekend itinerary; local things going on/to-do/places you love (Things that make this city so special to you and your fiance.); city maps (that you can usually get for free from your tourist information center); transportation option sheet (closest metro/subway and cab numbers); and directions to the wedding events from their hotel. In lieu of guest bags, creating a wedding website with all of the information above will keep all of your wedding guests in the loop, especially those coming from out of town. Apart from those two options, we’ve seen some couples with booklet invitations that include everything from when to arrive and depart to what to do while you’re there. It’s a super cool idea, especially if you’re having a smaller wedding and want to spend the weekend with all of your guests.  Candy, of Candy + Co. Events

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Are you looking for more local wedding ideas? Be sure to look through our DC area wedding idea galleries and find wedding advice from local DC area pros. If that isn’t enough, check out our collection of local DMV weddings from the real world and the best DC area wedding vendors who make it all happen.

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planning and budget  / Tips & Advice

Modern Summer Wedding Reception in Washington DC: Rachael + Savvas
August 19, 2014

Welcome back to part two of Rachael and Savvas’ wedding in Washington, DC! After their ceremony (Don’t miss their wedding ceremony right here!) and a trip around the city for portraits with their wedding party, they turned up the volume with a reception at one of DC’s most modern wedding venues, the Newseum, with pops of bright pink all captured by Ethan Yang Photography. I love all the special touches that they added to their wedding day to make it their own!

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From Rachael: We had specific taste in music (lounge and dance music over the traditional wedding songs), food, and wine (champagne available at all times!) and wanted to find the right partners to create what we loved. We were so lucky to have such a beautiful day and everyone that participated made it special. Everyone we partnered with became wonderful friends afterwards. We brought them into our life! I only wish the day hadn’t gone by so fast! At least we had our second ceremony in Greece to look forward to afterwards. And luckily….our photographer was willing to be at both of them! 

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More from Rachael: We wanted to have dance and lounge music, and loved Spanish and jazz for the cocktail hour so we wanted a DJ that understood we didn’t want all the typical wedding songs. We also prioritized good food and drinks – which the Newseum absolutely delivered on. We went a little light on flowers – but you wouldn’t have been able to tell from our amazing florist who gracefully reused pieces and suggested arrangements that made sense for the season. She brought flowers from the ceremony to the reception and from the reception to brunch at the Hotel Monaco the next day. And, my loving mother for creating a beautiful arrangement for the escort table (copying from scratch something we found on United with Love!) and delivering lanterns to the Newseum to set them up on the balcony at night for a romantic touch.

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Rachael’s wedding planning advice for other couples:

I recommend keeping a full budget in Excel. We thought we might not be able to have our wedding at the Newseum, but when we estimated everything in it was do-able. Different venues often structure their costs differently so it’s important to understand how everything adds up. Also, don’t be afraid to find vendors that match your own style. We wanted specific music and food — you never know — just ask. You want the day to reflect the both of you — not anyone else. It’s your day to celebrate your love and include everyone in that — you want it to be authentic!

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Thank you so much Rachael and Savvas for sharing your wedding ceremony with us! The following Washington DC area wedding professionals contributed to their wedding:

Ceremony Venue: Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Officiant: Fr. Joseph Sobierjaski
Reception Venue: Newseum
Wedding Planner: Mary Cline from the Newseum
Photography + Videography: Ethan Yang Photography
Stationery: Delphine Press
Floral Design: Nosegay
Hair: Bridal Hair by Remona
Makeup: Maid of Honor
Bridal Dress: Melissa Sweet
Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Veil: Hannelore’s
Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Transportation: Prime Transportation
Catering: Wolfgang Puck at the Newseum
Linens: Party Rental Ltd.
Lighting: Newseum
Reception Music: DJ Heather Femia

For more vendors, please visit our Washington DC area wedding vendor guide and for even more local ideas visit our wedding inspiration galleries or check out our other Washington DC area real wedding features.

Photo Credits: Ethan Yang Photography

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dc weddings  / Real Weddings

Modern Summer Wedding Ceremony in Washington DC: Rachael + Savvas
August 19, 2014

Good morning and welcome to Rachael and Savvas’ wedding in Washington, DC. This couple joined their two cultures -Catholic and Greek – and celebrated with a beautiful wedding ceremony captured by Ethan Yang Photography. (They also headed to Greece after their wedding in DC for a destination wedding too!) For their ceremony, they used a sparkly metallic color palette with a dramatic and elegant feel, and then turned up the color for their reception, but you’ll have to wait until later this morning to see their reception. I can’t get enough of these mismatched bridesmaid dresses!

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From Rachael: We came from different backgrounds and wanted to create a wedding that blended those backgrounds and included the people we loved. We had both Catholic and Greek readings at our church ceremony, featured Greek music and dancing in our reception and had a few tasty Greek treats at the Newseum which were thoughtfully created by the team there. And we bucked some of the trends on “picking colors” and had a few different but blended themes – gold and pastels during the ceremony and hot pinks during the reception. 

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More from Rachael: We didn’t believe in the myth of bridesmaid dresses being “worn again” – so we picked a “gold” theme and let our bridesmaids choose their own floor-length gold and tan dresses. Each woman chose a dress that suited her body, that she actually might wear to another formal event, and one even “Rented the Runway” to make it affordable. I had several “something old” items – including my great-grandmother’s rosary, a necklace from my grandmother, a locket with a picture of my father, and a ring from my mother-in-law.

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More from Rachael: We featured a Greek reading at our Catholic wedding. One of my favorite moments was the pictures that we took after the wedding. We waited until the wedding to see each other and then rode around DC taking lovely pictures with our wedding party. Every stop was at another wonderful place in DC near the sights and with good friends in the wedding party and fun music on the bus we had a lovely tour I will never forget. Savvas’ favorite moment was when the church doors opened and saw me walking down the aisle with her brother.

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Thank you so much Rachael and Savvas for sharing your wedding ceremony with us! Be sure to come back later this morning to see their reception. The following Washington DC area wedding professionals contributed to their wedding:

Ceremony Venue: Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Officiant: Fr. Joseph Sobierjaski
Reception Venue: Newseum
Photography + Videography: Ethan Yang Photography
Stationery: Delphine Press
Floral Design: Nosegay
Hair: Bridal Hair by Remona
Makeup: Maid of Honor
Bridal Dress: Melissa Sweet
Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Veil: Hannelore’s
Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Transportation: Prime Transportation
Catering: Wolfgang Puck at the Newseum
Linens: Party Rental Ltd.
Lighting: Newseum
Reception Music: DJ Heather Femia

For more vendors, please visit our Washington DC area wedding vendor guide and for even more local ideas visit our wedding inspiration galleries or check out our other Washington DC area real wedding features.

Photo Credits: Ethan Yang Photography

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dc weddings  / Real Weddings

Happy Weekend!
May 16, 2014

Are you learning a lot from our mini-series on Washington DC-area wedding engagements? Lots of great advice on the blog this week, so make sure you check it out! There are lots of events coming in the future, so I hope you’ll take some time to check our local wedding calendar and attend a wedding event or two! On that note, wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend ahead! We’ll see you back here on Sunday!

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Some links for your weekend…

  • Loving these colorful wedding cake stands!
  • These bridal brunch ideas are simply stunning.
  • Tips for your last wedding dance!

… and what you missed right here!

  • A sweet Washington DC engagement session at the monuments!
  • More ideas and advice for Washington DC wedding engagement sessions!
  • Need ideas for how to choose a location for your engagement sesssion?
  • Don’t miss these unique ideas for groom’s cakes.
  • Bright wedding ideas that come straight from the runways!
  • This elegant wedding ceremony and reception were oozing with romance!
  • A colorful summer wedding ceremony and damask wedding reception.
  • On Sunday, we had brunch with DC-area wedding planner Ashlee Virginia Events!

Photo Credits: The Observatory

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weekly round-up

Romantic Purple and Gray Washington DC Wedding Reception: Layla + Mike
May 13, 2014

Welcome back to Layla and Mike’s dramatic purple wedding in Washington DC. Did you see their traditional wedding ceremony?? Be sure to check that out first! Let me tell you folks, I just love wedding that pairs a crisp design with a lush amount of stunning florals”especially when Elizabeth Duncan Events is behind the whole day! Andrea from The Observatory was on hand to capture all the pretty details from the day, including all of the romantic lighting like those adorable hanging votive candles!

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From Layla: My main priority was the overall atmosphere, I wanted to make sure that everyone would enjoy themselves. Since we decided to get married in DC, I wanted to showcase DC, so having the Newseum as my venue was perfect, the view was incredible. I also splurged on the photographs since it was really important to me to have nice photographs.

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I took a calligraphy class back in high school, so I decided to hand write all the escort cards, and my mom made some pillows for the reception.

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Mike’s priority was the food, and we really lucked out with Wolfgang Puck Catering, they were easy to work with and they even compared crab cake recipes with Mike.

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Layla’s wedding planning advice for other DC-area couples:

A wedding planner is a must. I would not have been able to keep my sanity the day of the wedding if she wasn’t around to handle everyone. She gave me peace of mind knowing that I could send everyone to her when they had questions.

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Thank you so much Layla and Mike for sharing your wedding ceremony with us! The following Washington DC area wedding professionals contributed to their wedding:

Ceremony Venue: Saint Patrick Catholic Church
Officiant: Msgr. Salvatore A. Criscuolo
Reception Venue: Newseum
Photography: Andrea from The Observatory
Wedding Planner: Elizabeth Duncan Events
Stationery: Just Paper and Tea
Floral Design: Philippa Tarrant Floral Design
Calligraphy: DIY
Bridal Attire: Allure from Carine’s Bridal Atelier
Hair: Jordan Pringle
Makeup: Leah Golden
Bridesmaids: Jenny Yoo
Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss
Shoes: To Boot New York
Accessories: Batman Cufflinks
Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux
Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering
Cake: Charm City Cakes
Rentals: AFR Event Furnishings
Music: DJ Dave Grimm of Bialek’s Music
Linens: Party Rental Ltd.
Lighting: Frost Lighting
Transportation: Old Town Trolley
Babysitting: Nannytainment

Visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals, our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings!

Photo Credits: The Observatory

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dc weddings  / Real Weddings

Romantic Purple and Gray Washington DC Wedding Ceremony: Layla + Mike
May 13, 2014

With spring in full force, there is no doubt that I’m dreaming of pretty florals and beautiful weather, but give me a gorgeous autumn affair and I’ll be a happy camper for the rest of my days. Today we’re diving into Layla and Mike’s dramatic purple Washington DC wedding. Andrea from The Observatory captured every second of their traditional Catholic ceremony and man, oh man is it stunning! Just wait until you see their modern gray and purple wedding reception later this morning”stay tuned!

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From Layla: We wanted to create a wedding that was intimate, warm and fun. Elizabeth was crucial in bringing everything together. Our colors were purple and gray, but I wanted to keep the purple as a surprise until the reception, so the bridesmaids wore gray dresses and had white flowers. Only I and the flower girls had purple flowers, everything else was white until the reception where we used the purple as the pop of color throughout the venue, which contrasted nicely with the grays and white.

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Washington DC Wedding Ceremony Portrait The Observatory Photography Washington DC Wedding Ceremony Flower Girls

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Mike and I wrote letters to each other to read before the ceremony instead of doing a first look. Another favorite moment is talking to my dad before he walked me down the aisle, I will always remember what he said to me.

Washington DC Wedding Ceremony

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Thank you so much Layla and Mike for sharing your wedding ceremony with us! Come back later this morning to see their reception. The following Washington DC area wedding professionals contributed to their wedding:

Ceremony Venue: Saint Patrick Catholic Church
Officiant: Msgr. Salvatore A. Criscuolo
Reception Venue: Newseum
Photography: Andrea from The Observatory
Wedding Planner: Elizabeth Duncan Events
Stationery: Just Paper and Tea
Floral Design: Philippa Tarrant Floral Design
Calligraphy: DIY
Bridal Attire: Allure from Carine’s Bridal Atelier
Hair: Jordan Pringle
Makeup: Leah Golden
Bridesmaids: Jenny Yoo
Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss
Shoes: To Boot New York
Accessories: Batman Cufflinks
Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux
Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering
Cake: Charm City Cakes
Rentals: AFR Event Furnishings
Music: DJ Dave Grimm of Bialek’s Music
Linens: Party Rental Ltd.
Lighting: Frost Lighting
Transportation: Old Town Trolley
Babysitting: Nannytainment

Visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals, our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings!

Photo Credits: The Observatory

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dc weddings  / Real Weddings

Eco-Beautiful Weddings Magazine 2014
April 22, 2014

Happy Earth Day, readers! It’s a beautiful day outside and hopefully you’ll get a chance to celebrate Mother Earth. In honor of this green day, check out the new spring issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings! This eco-friendly wedding e-zine is all about the lovely blend of nuptials and giving back to the environment. In fact, it is the only wedding magazine and daily blog dedicated to showing couples to how have a wedding without sacrificing style or the environment that’s a win, win if you ask me! And if you turn to pages 70 and 78, you’ll see two real weddings that are local to the Washington DC area. So much green inspiration to soak up!

Washington DC Area Eco Friendly Wedding Magazine

If you are looking to plan an eco-friendly wedding or make greener choices for your wedding in the Washington, DC area there are tons of great local resources and vendors to help you along the way.  Eco-Beautiful Weddings e-zine and daily blog is a great place to start looking for inspiration and ideas.  They feature not only the pretty and eco-friendly weddings, but also showcase the practical.  So, little things and touches that you can do to make your wedding more environmentally aware.  They also have a vendor list for green vendors in the Washington DC area.

There are many local vendors who are doing a world of good with their eco-friendly ways.  You could check out eco-friendly caterers like Windows or Eat & Smile Foods.  There are venues like the Newseumor Nationals Park that are LEED certified, or green hotels like The Willard, or Hotel Monaco Baltimore or The Westin Annapolis (with their rooftop honey beehive!).  You could even go green with unique transportation ideas from Capitol Pedicabs in DC or Happy Rickshaw in Charlottesville.

There are lots of way to go green!  Be sure to check out the new issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings.

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etc.  / inspiration  / inspiration and ideas  / miscellaneous  / Tips & Advice

Modern Pink and Black Wedding Reception in Washington DC: Patty + Josh
February 3, 2014

We are back with part two of Patty and Josh’s modern wedding in Washington DC planned by Bellwether Events and captured by Brian Tropiano Photography. (Did you see part one of their traditional Catholic wedding ceremony in DC?) In keeping with the bright and modern feel, they kept the decor modern and low, so the panoramic views of the Newseum weren’t obstructed. Patty and Josh satisfied every last sweet tooth with confections from Georgetown Cupcake and Fluffy Thoughts (including a fun water polo themed groom’s cake!) which they paired with desserts from Wolfgang Puck Catering for an incredible dessert bar yum!

Newseum Wedding Reception Brian Tropiano Photography (4)  

From Patty:  Our top priority was to throw a great party. For us that meant great music and food. We definitely splurged with music and had both a band and a DJ to play when the band was on breaks. Wolfgang Puck Catering also meant a splurge on food. And finally, I definitely splurged on my dress. You only get to wear something so beautiful once! The one thing we skipped was ceremony decorations. We thought the church was beautiful as is and didn’t need additional adornment.

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 Pink Washington DC Wedding Reception (5) Pink Washington DC Wedding Reception (1)

 Signature Cocktail Wedding Sign Pink Wedding Centerpieces (2)

 Pink Wedding Centerpieces (1)

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Newseum Wedding Reception Brian Tropiano Photography (2)

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Water Polo Groom's Cake

Josh is a dedicated water polo player who plays on two teams in the DC-area. I knew we were going to have a large number of his teammates (past and present) at the wedding. I commissioned a grooms cake of a water polo game to be featured on our dessert buffet. On a day where everyone focuses on the bride, the cake was a great element that was uniquely him at the reception. The water polo guys certainly appreciated it.

Washington DC Wedding Reception Brian Tropiano Photography (2)

Newseum Wedding Reception Brian Tropiano Photography (1)

Newseum Wedding Reception Brian Tropiano Photography (3) Late Night Milk and Cookies Wedding

Patty’s wedding planning advice for DC-area couples:

My immediate response when anyone asks for wedding planning advice is to get a wedding planner. Yes, you can probably do everything yourself, but you’ll probably drive yourself and your fiance crazy too. Having a professional who knows this business to support you through the wedding planning process is invaluable.

Washington DC Wedding Reception Brian Tropiano Photography (1)

Thank you so much Patty and Josh for sharing your wedding ceremony with us! The following Washington DC area wedding professionals contributed to their wedding:

Ceremony Venue: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Newseum
Wedding Planner: Bellwether Events
Photographer: Brian Tropiano Photography
Videographer: 5ive Star Multimedia
Photobooth: Booth-o-Rama
Floral Design: Janet Flowers Wedding and Event Design
Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering
Dessert: Georgetown Cupcake
Groom’s Cake: Fluffy Thoughts
Stationery: Decadent Designs
Welcome Boxes: Cityscape Papery
Calligraphy: Lettering by Liz
Bridal Attire: Anna Maier Ulla-Maija from Hitched Salon
Bridal Shoes: Glint
Bridal Jewelry: Anna Sinclair
Bridesmaids Attire: Jenny Yoo
Groom Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Hair and Makeup: Jordan K Winn & Co.
DJ: Taurus DJs
Music:  Gypsy Wisdom
Rentals: AFR
Linens: DC Rental
Lighting: Da Vinci’s Florist
Transportation: Fleet Transportation
Pedicab: DC Pedicab

Visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals, our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings and join the local wedding conversation on our DC wedding forums!

Photo Credit: Brian Tropiano Photography

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dc weddings  / Real Weddings

Modern Pink and Black Wedding Ceremony in Washington DC: Patty + Josh
February 3, 2014

Good Monday morning to you! We’re starting off the week with a heavy dose of pretty and I can’t complain! Today’s modern Washington DC wedding from Brian Tropiano Photography draws on a fresh cranberry and black color palette. It’s a nice modern addition to the traditional Catholic wedding ceremony and expansive backdrop of the Newseum (join us later to see their wedding reception!) all perfectly put together by Janice at Bellwether Events. And, we love a bride with great style! Patty rocked a Anna Maier Ulla-Maija gown and, even better, she’s here to share a little more about their wedding inspiration!

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From Patty: We wanted to throw a great party and really showcase DC to our friends and family. When we saw the fantastic views of the Capitol from the Newseum roof terrace we knew that it was a top contender for our reception site. We also loved the modern feel of the building. Add in Wolfgang Puck Catering, and we were sold. 

Washington DC Wedding Ceremony Brian Tropiano Photography (2) Washington DC Bride Brian Tropiano Photography

Washington DC Wedding Ceremony Brian Tropiano Photography (3)

Washington DC Groomsmen (1) Washington DC Groomsmen (2)

St Patricks Washington DC Wedding

Washington DC Wedding Ceremony Brian Tropiano Photography (4) Pink Boutonniere

We kept with the modern theme with our flower choices and colors (raspberry and black and a little bit of bling, too!) We incorporated this into our reception decor, welcome boxes, and ceremony programs. While we made some things ourselves we did find that there were great vendors on Etsy that can make almost anything you want from my earrings and flower girl tiaras to our wedding invitations.

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Washington DC Wedding Party Brian Tropiano Photography White Bridal Bouquet Brian Tropiano Photography

Washington DC Wedding Ceremony Brian Tropiano Photography (1)

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Romantic Washington DC Wedding

Washington DC Wedding Portraits Brian Tropiano Photography (2)

Thank you so much Patty and Josh for sharing your wedding ceremony with us! Don’t forget to come back later this morning to see their reception. The following Washington DC area wedding professionals contributed to their wedding:

Ceremony Venue: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Newseum
Wedding Planner: Bellwether Events
Photographer: Brian Tropiano Photography
Videographer: 5ive Star Multimedia
Photobooth: Booth-o-Rama
Floral Design: Janet Flowers Wedding and Event Design
Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering
Dessert: Georgetown Cupcake
Groom’s Cake: Fluffy Thoughts
Stationery: Decadent Designs
Welcome Boxes: Cityscape Papery
Calligraphy: Lettering by Liz
Bridal Attire: Anna Maier Ulla-Maija from Hitched Salon
Bridal Shoes: Glint
Bridal Jewelry: Anna Sinclair
Bridesmaids Attire: Jenny Yoo
Groom Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Hair and Makeup: Jordan K Winn & Co.
DJ: Taurus DJs
Music:  Gypsy Wisdom
Rentals: AFR
Linens: DC Rental
Lighting: Da Vinci’s Florist
Transportation: Fleet Transportation
Pedicab: DC Pedicab

Visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals, our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings and join the local wedding conversation on our DC wedding forums!

Photo Credit: Brian Tropiano Photography

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dc weddings  / Real Weddings

Favorite Museum Wedding Venues in the DC Area
August 15, 2013

The Washington DC area is home to many (many) museums, as we all know. It is what makes the capital region so awesome! But, have you thought about getting married at one of the incredible museums in the DC area? Maybe you have a favorite museum that is meaningful to your relationship! Well, next up in our wedding venue search in the DC area series this summer, we checked in with our favorite wedding planners and asked their opinions. If your client wanted to get married at a museum in the DC area, where would you tell them to check out? What are your favorite museums in the DC area that will allow a wedding? (Yes, your favorite museum might not be able to be rented out!) Take it away…

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Photo Credit: The Observatory from Eliane + Greg’s wedding at the National Museum of Women in the Arts

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“I love them all, but my absolute favorite museum – The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC – doesn’t offer weddings. I wish they did!” – from Margo, owner of Bright Occasions

“The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. It is beautiful and a unique DC setting for a wedding.” – from Cindy at A. Dominick Events

  • Also on United With Love: Real weddings at the Corcoran

“Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC. It is great for location, style and price. It works well for a good headcount. The wedding ceremony and reception can both easily be there and it has great opportunities for pictures both outside and in.” – from Laura, at Events in the City

  • See also on United With Love: Real weddings at Carnegie Institution for Science

“The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. It is just simply stunning with nothing close to it in DC!” – from Amanda at Engaging Affairs

  • See on United With Love: Real weddings at the Mellon Auditorium

A few votes for NMWA…

“National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. The museum’s relatively neutral color scheme makes it a blank canvas to work with when designing decor. It has a stately, elegant feel and guests can enjoy perusing the galleries during the event should they wish.”  from Teresa at Rex & Regina Events

“National Museum of Women in the Arts. There are very few places in the city that you dine with Frida! Katie, owner of Elegance & Simplicity

“National Museum of Women in the Arts. It is a beautiful space that isn’t too massive .” Laura, owner of Engaging Affairs

“National Museum of Women in the Arts. The combined grandeur and versatility of the space are unparalleled.” – from Elizabeth, owner of Elizabeth Duncan Events

  • Also see on United With Love: Real weddings at the National Museum of Women in the Arts

And two for the Newseum…

“The Newseum in Washington, DC. Their skyline views of DC and the Capitol Building are the best! And catering by Wolfgang Puck makes for a super culinary experience.”  Courtney, owner of A Sweet Soiree

“The Newseum. The view, the terrace, the contemporary space, and delicious food from Wolfgang Puck Catering all make this a great venue.”  Vicky, owner of Event Accomplished

  • See on United With Love: Real weddings at the Newseum

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“Baltimore Museum of Industry Even though it is a very cold and industrial place, I have done of my prettiest weddings there. It’s a challenge to soften the space and make it beautiful but it’s so worth it!” – Diana, owner of eventi planning & design

  • See on United With Love: Real weddings at the Baltimore Museum of Industry

“Baltimore is the city for awesome museum venues! Baltimore Museum of Industry, The Walters Art Museum, B&O Railroad Museum, and, of course, American Visionary Art Museum!”  – from Rebecca at Blue Canary Events

“My favorite museum by far is the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, MD. I adore its weird and quirky barn and first floor space for the ceremony. On the third floor you have a huge blank canvas with exposed brick and a somewhat industrial/loft-life vibe so your reception can have any design or decor you want.” – from Janice, owner of Bellwether Events

  • See on United With Love: Real weddings at the American Visionary Art Museum

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George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. This location has so many unique places inside to host ceremonies and receptions; the staff is phenomenal; you can be very creative in the space for decor setup; it is located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria providing your guests with history and provides easy access to the City and other areas within the metropolitan area.”  Tara, owner of Perfect Planning

  •  Also on United With Love: Real weddings at the GW Masonic Memorial

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Thank you so much to all of the wedding planners who helped out with this post! Be sure to visit their websites if you are looking for a planner in the DC area to help you find the right venue! And, don’t forget to stay with me all summer long for our DC area wedding venue search series. In the meantime, you can browse our comprehensive list of all of the wedding venues in the Washington DC area.

United With Love-DC-MD-VA-wedding-vendor-guide copy

 

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