• Vendor Guide
  • Tips and Advice
  • Real Weddings
  • bridal showers
  • daily pretty
  • dc weddings
  • discounts + freebies
  • diy
  • elopements
  • engagement sessions
  • inspiration
  • maryland weddings
  • proposals
  • Real Weddings
  • rehearsal dinners
  • sunday brunch
  • Tips & Advice
  • upcoming events
  • venue tours
  • videos
  • virginia weddings
  • weekly round-up
  • Submissions
  • Subscribe
  • About Us

  • Home
  • Vendor Guide
    • Attire
    • Cakes and Desserts
    • Catering
    • Event Planning and Design
    • Floral Design
    • Gifts
    • Hair and Makeup
    • Jewelry
    • Music and Entertainment
    • Officiants
    • Photography
    • Rentals
    • Stationary and Calligraphy
    • Transportation
    • Venues
    • Videography
  • Real Weddings
    • By Color
      • Black
      • Blue
      • Grey
      • Green
      • Metallic
      • Orange
      • Pink
      • Purple
      • Red
      • White
      • Yellow
    • By Location
      • DC
      • Maryland
      • Virginia
    • By Season
      • Fall
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Winter
    • By Theme
      • Barn
      • Beach
      • Black Tie
      • Casual
      • Classic
      • Cultural
      • Luxury
      • Military
      • Modern
      • Rustic
      • Tented
      • Traditional
      • Vintage
  • Tips & Advice
  • Travel & Honeymoons
  • Shop
    • Beauty
    • Bridal Shower & Bachelorette Party
    • Bridesmaid Gifts
    • Decor
    • Groomsmen Gifts
    • Headpieces & Veils
    • Shoes
Search results for monument. If you didn't find what you were looking for, try a new search.

Jessica + Jonathan’s Classic Washington DC Engagement Session
February 17, 2012

Jessica and Jonathan are tying the knot in Florida, but wanted to bring a little bit of their Washington, DC home to their down-south wedding.  So they hit the major monuments with Amber Reinink to capture the true essence of all that is our nation’s capital.  If you live in DC but are marrying elsewhere, this is a great idea to give faraway guests a glimpse into your life, and to bring a little bit of home to your destination!

world-war-ii-memorial-engagement-session

world-war-ii-memorial-fountain-engagement-session

washington-dc-world-war-ii-memorial-engagement-photos

washington-monument-engagement-session national-mall-engagement-session

washington-dc-engagement-ring-shot

national-monument-engagement-sessions-in-washington-dc

jefferson-monument-engagement-session

jefferson-memorial-engagement-session

lincoln-memorial-engagement

lincoln-memorial-engagement-session

washington-dc-waterfront-engagement-sessions

Congratulations Jessica and Jonathan!

Looking for more on engagements?  Check out other local engagement sessions, or find out what to wearand how to do your make-up for your engagement session!

Photo Credits: Amber Reinink

Read More
No Comment

engagement sessions  / inspiration and ideas

Elegant Fall Wedding in Washington, DC: Sara + Niko
February 13, 2012

Today’s gorgeous fall wedding comes to us from Katie Stoops Photography.  Sara and Niko planned a sophisticated and elegant Washington, DC wedding, with a ceremony at the historic manor setting of Tudor Place and a reception at Brasserie Beck.  Sara and Niko worked with Emilie from Weddings and Events by Bliss to make sure the day went off without a hitch.  While the October weather was a bit too cold and rainy for an outdoor ceremony, they handled the switch to an indoor ceremony with aplomb and later snuck away for a stunning portrait session with Katie in Tudor Place’s beautiful gardens.

From Sara: We decided to have a smaller wedding 60 people which allowed us to focus on pretty little details, like historic DC maps in the invitations and on the programs and table confetti.  With an evening wedding, we wanted to showcase the sophisticated side of DC, with sparkly navy cocktail bridesmaid dresses balanced with soft pastel bouquets and groomsmen in classic black tuxedos.

Two small details I loved too are the little feather butterflies on my shoes and the gorgeous silk lining of Niko’s tux.  These are little things that only the two of us really knew about or noticed on the day, like a secret. 🙂

I’m a design nerd so I loved the elegant letterpress printing process from Digby & Rose on the invitations tempered by the kraft envelopes, the vintage DC maps on the programs and the envelope liners which herald our local roots.  We worked with our musician friend Pete Muldoon to design acoustic versions of our favorite songs for the ceremony.

It rained on our wedding and was the coldest October 1 on record.  I was very sick too, having just returned from Thailand for work on a last minute opportunity.  I got home 4 days before our wedding.  The ceremony was supposed to be held outside in the garden of beautiful Tudor Place in Northwest DC, but the cold and rain drove us inside the Administration Building, which was lovely but not our first choice.  I decided that I couldn’t be bummed out by these realities and instead chose to look at the little adversities as a metaphor for life: you can plan all you want but things have a way of changing on their own and you can either be frustrated or decide to be happy.  We chose happiness!

The food was very personal for us.  Niko loves the lemon ricotta iced cookies from Cork Market and my mom baked a version for our pre-ceremony snacks to accompany my all time favorite cocktail, Pimm’s no. 1.  Dinner was held at a longtime favorite of my family’s, Brasserie Beck, and it is close to our neighborhood so we literally felt at home.  We had mini favor boxes at each setting with Jordan Almonds wrapped up in them, which is a traditional Greek wedding accompaniment, along with personalized matches for the sparkler Grand Exit from dinner.

At the reception, my brother Ben and best friend Craig surprised us all with an amazing slideshow of our childhood pictures.  That was such a fun surprise and only slightly embarrassing!

Sara’s advice to other DC-area couples:

We did most of the big planning ourselves but do get yourself a month or day-of coordinator, at least!  Emilie was a lifesaver and great stress reliever.  This was great advice heeded from a good friend who was married the year before.  Hire a photographer who’s work you love and build a relationship with them so they know who you are and can capture that.  Use a budgeting tool or software to stay organized!  Don’t be afraid to bargain hunt and DIY, it makes you all the more invested in the events!

The following Washington, DC area wedding professionals contributed to Sara and Niko’s wedding:

 

Ceremony Venue: Tudor Place
Reception Venue: Brasserie Beck
Photographer: Katie Stoops
Wedding Planning & Coordination: Weddings and Events by Bliss
Floral Design: Anthomanic
Videography: Craig William
Officiant: Reverend John Gaffney
Ceremony Guitarist: Pete Muldoon
Cake: Creative Cakes
Wedding Dress: Amy Kushel purchased from Hitched
Bride’s Shoes: BHLDN
Bride’s Veil: Fascinating Creations
Groom’s Attire: Astor & Black
Hair + Makeup: Alison Harper & Company
Transportation: Monumental Limo
Alterations: The Gown Doctor
Invitations + Stationery: Digby & Rose

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: Katie Stoops Photography

Read More
17 Comments

dc weddings  / inspiration and ideas  / Real Weddings

Vicky + Andy’s Nostalgic Washington DC Engagement Session
February 3, 2012

Vicky and Andy went back to the very beginning for their engagement session, Masa 14, where they had their first date!  They shared a celebratory glass of champagne at the place that started it all and then headed to DC’s iconic locales with Deb Lindsey Photography, stopping by the World War II Memorial (a less frequented stop on the monument circuit) for a few shots with that picturesque fountain.

masa-14-washington-dc-engagement-session

masa-14-engagement-session masa-14-engagement-photos

engagement-session-world-war-2-memorial

world-war-two-memorial-engagement-session washington-dc-engagement-session

engagement-session-world-war-two-memorial

washington-dc-memorial-engagement-session

engagement-session-washington-dc-monuments washington-dc-monument-engagement-session

washington-dc-fountain-engagement-session

Congratulations Vicky and Andy!

Looking for more on engagements?  Check out other local engagement sessions, or find out what to wearand how to do your make-up for your engagement session!

Photo Credits: Deb Lindsey Photography

 

Read More
1 Comment

engagement sessions  / inspiration and ideas

Rehearsal Dinner 101
December 20, 2011

Welcome back to our series on rehearsal dinners!  I thought we should jump right in into the nitty gritty.  The details.  The little things that you need to know in order to pull off a fun and festive party before your wedding.  Your rehearsal dinner is a chance to connect with friends and family, and take the pressure off of the big day.  Today, we have the rehearsal dinner basics from Washington DC area wedding planner Vicky Choy, owner of Event Accomplished.

Let’s back up for a second though.  What is a rehearsal dinner?  As I said before, there are no rules and thus rehearsal dinners are different things to different couples.  If we were to sum up a rehearsal dinner, it is this:  The night before a wedding celebration, the couple and the wedding party meet at the ceremony site to go over the details for the next day.  They will be shown things like where to stand and when to walk.  After the rehearsal, a dinner of some sort is hosted.  It is intended to be a smaller, more intimate gathering for those that are closest to the couple.  After the dinner portion, out of town guests or other wedding guests can be invited to share in the party or desserts.

Now that we have that covered, let’s turn to our expert from Event Accomplished.  Take it away, Vicky:

Outdoor-Virginia-Wedding-Rehearsal-Dinner-Jason-Keefer-Photography-41
Photo Credit:  Jason Keefer Photography

Who hosts the rehearsal dinner?
Traditionally, the family not paying for the wedding.  However, it is perfectly acceptable for others to host.

Who is invited to the rehearsal dinner?
Your wedding attendants plus their significant others, immediate families and grandparents of both sides, and if there are children involved in the ceremony, the children plus their parents.  Some couples also include extended families.  Please also extend an invitation to your officiant.

What happens at the rehearsal dinner other than eating?
The couple can present their gifts to their attendants.  Those in the wedding party and family members not speaking at the wedding are welcome to give speeches during the rehearsal dinner.  We’ve also seen clients share a photo slideshow of the couple’s life and how they met.  Sometimes, couples elect to do a groom’s cake at the rehearsal dinner instead of at the wedding reception.  However, you do not have to do any of the above.  At my wedding, we had a wonderful dinner and thanked our families for coming.  No elaborate speeches or roasting of any kind was done.  At our friend’s wedding, all the groomsmen gave a speech, or more like a roast!

Invitations?
You should send out your rehearsal dinner invitation two to three weeks after the wedding invitations go out.  If you have planned ahead and know exactly whom you are inviting and want to save on postage, you can put it with the wedding invitation envelopes as well.

What time to hold the rehearsal dinner?
I recommend starting the dinner between 30 – 60 minutes after the end of your ceremony rehearsal.  Choose the appropriate gap according to where your dinner is being held and how your guests will get to the venue.  Since most rehearsal dinners are held on Friday evenings, please allow plenty of time for your guests to fight through rush hour traffic.

How long should the dinner last?
No more than three hours.  If you are having a gathering or welcome party after the dinner, you don’t want it to start too late.  Also, all those in the wedding party will want to get a good night’s sleep so don’t party too late and don’t drink too much!

Transportation?
Do inquire with your rehearsal dinner venue about the parking options.  Do they have valet parking?  If yes, what are the charges?  Would you like to pay for your guests’ parking fees?  If valet parking is not available, you should inquiry about nearby self-parking options such as the closest parking garages (What time do they close?) or street parking and inform your guests accordingly.  Metro or walking are also great options.  If most of your dinner guests do not live in the area and you are afraid that they may get lost, you can also consider providing transportation to take them to and from the dinner.

How much should I expect to spend?
The range varies greatly depending on a variety of factors including restaurant choice, food and beverage selections, and number of guests.  Remember to ask restaurants about food and beverage minimums.

Outdoor-Virginia-Wedding-Rehearsal-Dinner-Jason-Keefer-Photography-12 Outdoor-Virginia-Wedding-Rehearsal-Dinner-Jason-Keefer-Photography-16

Photo Credit:  Jason Keefer Photography

General Tips:

  • The rehearsal dinner should not upstage the wedding to follow.
  • If you are at a restaurant, it is likely that the restaurant is open to the general public.  Ask your venue contact how your event will be separated from the rest of the restaurant (if semi-private) and how your guests will be handled.
  • If you are hosting the dinner at a private residence or at a special events venue, consider using your wedding reception caterer to also cater your rehearsal dinner.  You may be able to realize some savings.

How to Break the Rules

  • Type of Meal:  Keep in mind that the rehearsal dinner does not have to be dinner at all.  We’ve had clients host luncheons instead.
  • When:  Your dinner does not have to immediately follow the ceremony rehearsal or even on the same day.  We’ve had clients hold their rehearsals on a Thursday and then a dinner on Friday.

Other Fun Ideas

  • If you are offering transportation like a bus service, why not tag on a DC monument tour at night?  Your guests can see the sights in a whole new way.

——————
Thank you so much Vicky!  If you are looking for more rehearsal dinner ideas, check out Vicky’s rehearsal dinner series on her blog.  She has reviewed lots of great venue options, giving pros and cons, like Sequoia in Georgetown, Columbia Fire House in Alexandria, Coco Sala in downtown DC, and many more.

Don’t plan your rehearsal dinner yet!  We have lots more rehearsal dinner week posts coming your way!  And, if you loved the pictures in this post, then you’ll for sure want to come back tomorrow, because we have this whole real rehearsal dinner in Charlottesville and it is fabulous!

Read More
3 Comments

etc.  / miscellaneous  / planning and budget  / rehearsal dinners  / Tips & Advice

Favorite Local Engagement Session Spots
December 8, 2011

Happy Engagement Season! The holiday months also mark the height of engagement season and for all you newly engaged locals out there looking to plan a photo session to celebrate, we’re here to help. We asked photographers in the area to tell us what their favorite spots were for engagement photos and man did they deliver! From urban backdrops to open vineyards, the DC/MD/VA has it all covered, so take a peek and find out why photographers love these locales!

On the Capitol, “Shooting at the Capitol is the consummate DC photography backdrop.  No place in the world has such an iconic building that singularly speaks to a location.  And so picturesque…” – Chris Zarconi Photography

capitol-building-engagement-sessions

Photo Credit: Chris Zarconi Photography

On the National Gallery of Art, “We love shooting there because it’s a beautiful, bright space with unique backgrounds and architecture.” – Maria Vicencio Photography.

national-gallery-of-art-engagement-sessions

national-gallery-of-art-engagement-session

Photo Credits: Maria Vicencio Photography

On the Lincoln Memorial, “For couples seeking a location that is very identifiably DC, there are few better spots for an engagement session than the Lincoln Memorial. Not only does it offer gorgeous views — especially at sunrise — of the reflecting pool, Washington Monument and Capitol, the steps and memorial itself are very picturesque and there are some lovely riverfront spots just a short walk away.” – Jennifer McMenamin Photography

lincoln-memorial-engagement-session

Photo Credit: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

On Georgetown’s Dumbarton Oaks Park, “It’s one of the most unique locations in the area, especially for a romantic Secret Garden-like storybook feel. It’s rarely busy, often different, but always perfect.” – Rebekah J. Murray Photography

dumbarton-oaks-park-engagement dumbarton-oaks-park-engagement-session

Photo Credits: Rebekah J. Murray Photography

On downtown Baltimore, “Lots of interesting, old spots to explore, lots of color, urban esq and the also added benefit of being by the water.” – Kate Haus Photography

downtown-baltimore-engagement-session

baltimore-engagement-session

Photo Credits: Kate Haus Photography

On the Naval Academy, “Everybody shoots in Annapolis, but not many people venture onto the Academy itself. Between the footbridge and the awesome water access, there are also a number of really unique building interiors.” – Emily Chastain Photography

engagement-session-at-the-annapolis-naval-academy

Photo Credits: Emily Chastain Photography

On Old Town Alexandria, “I love Historic Prince Street’s Cobblestone Road in Old Town Alexandria. I also love the yellow wall of the Big Wheels bike shop in Old Town.” –Vicki Grafton Photography

old-town-alexandria-engagement-sessions old-town-alexandria-engagement-session

Photo Credits: Vicki Grafton Photography

And on Old Town’s Waterfront, “When living in Old Town, I would run on the Mt. Vernon trail everyday and always would pass the Washington Sailing Marina. I am a huge fan of being by the water and I find that many of my clients are as well. So sometimes I’ll incorporate a couple of boat photos into the end of the portrait session.“- Sweet Tea Photography

old-town-alexandria-waterfront-engagements old-town-alexandria-boat-engagement-session

Photo Credits: Sweet Tea Photography

On Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, “I can wander along any path in Meadowlark Gardens and find pockets of picturesque settings for my clients.  There are a couple of great ponds, and the gardens are full of beautiful flowers and trees.  It’s the perfect setting for any nature lover.” – Laurie Bracewell Photography

meadowlark-botanical-gardens-engagement-session

Photo Credit: Laurie Bracewell Photography

On local vineyards and wineries, “We love Veritas Winery for its beautiful mountain backdrop, gorgeous green fields, and most importantly … the amazing light!“- Elisa B. Photography

veritas-winery-engagement-session

Photo Credit: Elisa B Photography

On Burke Lake, “I love Burke Lake because there are so many different options for pictures- the fields, the lake, the paths. They all make for beautiful outdoor engagement pictures! It’s a place with many options, yet secluded enough that you can have privacy if the couple doesn’t feel comfortable taking pictures with people watching.” – {a}strid photography

burke-lake-engagement-session burke-lake-virginia-engagement-session

Photo Credits: {a}strid photography

On Old Town Manassas, “Old Town Manassas is charming for a lot of reasons.  It’s a small town with lots of unexplored and unexpected treasure.  I stumbled into this bookstore one cold winter day and knew I needed to find just the right couple for it!” – Stephanie Ascari Photography

old-town-manassas-engagements engagement-sessions-in-oldtown-Manassas

Photo Credits: Stephanie Ascari Photography

Looking for more on engagements?  Check out other local engagement sessions, or find out what to wear and how to do your make-up for your engagement session!

Looking for more inspiration and ideas?  Be sure to check out our galleries.

*{a}strid photography, Stephanie Ascari Photography, Sweet Tea Photography & Vicki Grafton Photography are a few of our fabulous sponsors.  For information on our editorial policies, please click here.

Read More
1 Comment

engagement sessions  / inspiration  / inspiration and ideas

Kim + Lee’s DC Landmark Engagement Session
December 2, 2011

Kim and Lee will be marrying in Rhode Island so they wanted to embrace all of DC’s finest locations for their engagement session and showcase the city they live in and love.  They hit local favorites like Ben’s Chili Bowl (Mmm!) and Clarendon and, one quick wardrobe change later, a few classic landmarks.  They ended the day with a little fun, caught on camera by Kate Triano Photography, at the Lincoln Memorial.

bens-chili-bowl-engagement-session dc-engagement-session-at-bens-chili-bowl

dc-engagement-photos

washington-dc-engagement-session washington-dc-engagements

engagement-session-in-washington-dc engagement-session-in-dc

washington-dc-engagement

dc-engagement-session washington-dc-engagement-session-at-the-monuments

lincoln-memorial-engagement-session

Congratulations Kim and Lee!

Looking for more on engagements?  Check out other local engagement sessions, or find out what to wear and how to do your make-up for your engagement session!

Photo Credits: Kate Triano Photography

Read More
1 Comment

engagement sessions  / inspiration and ideas

Classic Washington DC Wedding at the Hay Adams: Courtney + Cameron
November 9, 2011

Today we’re back in the heart of downtown Washington, DC with a chic and classic wedding at one of DC’s most iconic wedding venues, the Hay Adams.  Courtney and Cameron knew that they wanted a quintessential DC wedding for their early summer nuptials, bringing the ladies of SoCo Events on board to help bring their wedding vision to reality.  Jennifer Lust Portrait Design documented the entire day, from the ceremony in Georgetown to the evening reception overlooking the White House and Washington Monument.

From Courtney: We wanted out wedding to be traditional, chic and very DC.  After looking at numerous venues, we chose the Hay Adams because the view is amazing and the roof terrace was enclosed and air-conditioned, which is important for the unpredictable weather in DC.  Our colors were purple and blush, with just a hint of green.

I love my Monique Lhuillier dress!  It was re-embroidered lace, mermaid cut, with pearl buttons down the back.

One of my favorite memories from our wedding day was riding in the classic Rolls Royce with my dad on the way to the ceremony.  It was a wonderful time to just relax and chat with my dad.

Cameron and I wanted to be married in a church.  We love Georgetown, and since I am Lutheran we decided to find a Lutheran church in the Georgetown area.  We used to walk to Georgetown together on the weekend when we first started dating.

Courtney’s advice to other DC-area engaged couples:

Give yourself time to be engaged at least the first month.  Listen to suggestions from family members and friends, but you don’t have to use them.  Pick three elements of your wedding that are important to you and splurge on those.

The following Washington, DC wedding vendors contributed to Courtney + Cameron’s wedding:

Venue + Catering: The Hay Adams
Event Planning: SoCo Events
Photography: Jennifer Lust Portrait Design
DJ: Dan the DJ via Bialek’s Music
Bridal Attire: Monique Lhuillier, purchased at Carine’s Bridal Atelier

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

Photo Credits: Jennifer Lust Portrait Design

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Read More
3 Comments

dc weddings  / inspiration and ideas  / Real Weddings

Elegant Washington DC Inspired Invitations
September 27, 2011

When we featured Ashley and Kevin’s wedding, we were so in love with her paper details!  Now, I know that it is my partner who is the paper aficionado, but I do love a pretty invitation now and again!  The bride, Ashley, told us that she splurged on their paper goods, and for good reason.  They wanted invitations to reflect their city inspired elegant wedding.  Tifany from Gourmet Invitations created a custom invitation suite with a beautifully illustrated Washington DC skyline.  The monuments flank both the invitation and stamp, while an elegant scroll is carried throughout.  The navy blue and green color palette help to make the suite both elegant and modern.  Here are some photos from Kristen Taylor Photography.

blue-green-monogram-washington-dc-wedding-invitation-suite

blue-green-monogram-washington-dc-wedding-invitation

blue-green-monogram-washington-dc-wedding-invitation-band

blue-green-monogram-washington-dc-wedding-invitation-envelope

Lovely, no?  To see more of Ashley and Kevin’s wedding and even more of their paper details, check out their original post here. Thanks so much Gourmet Invitations and Kristen Taylor Photography for sharing your work with us.

Be sure to visit our inspiration galleries for ideas, and our advice page for tips from the pros.

Photo Credits:  Kristen Taylor Photography for Gourmet Invitations

Read More
1 Comment

dc weddings  / inspiration  / inspiration and ideas

How to Get Married on the Mall
July 19, 2011

We shared Nikki and Dave’s video (If you haven’t seen it already, you should go check it out here.  It is super cute, I promise!!) earlier this morning.  In order to get their post up I was doing some research.  Nikki and Dave will be married this fall on the National Mall in Washington, DC.   It occurred to me that there might be other couples out there who are also interested in having their wedding ceremony on the Mall or other national parks and monuments in DC.  Here is what I found from the National Park Service.  I hope this helps in your quest for the perfect wedding venue in DC!

washington-dc-wedding-potrait-on-national-mall-kate-haus-photography

Photo Credit:  Kate Haus Photography

There are three locations on the National Mall (This includes the Mall itself and all of the monuments, like the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.) in DC where you are allowed to have your wedding ceremony (not your reception, just your ceremony).  The locations are:

  1. The west lawn of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial;
  2. The George Mason Memorial; and
  3. The DC War Memorial.

A wedding ceremony on the National Mall is considered “special use” and you must fill out this permit application and pay a non-refundable $50.  (You can also find the Special Use Permit application here on the National Park Service website.)  You might also find this Special Event Guidelines document from the National Park Service helpful in your wedding planning.

We also checked in with our recent bride, Nikki, and she offered this advice about getting married on the Mall:  It’s important to note that there are constant construction issues with the National Mall.  That is what pushed our wedding from May to Sept, and they will still be working on the reflecting pool.  It requires alot of patience to get in touch with the office [National Park Service].  And, you can’t serve drinks, have amplification devices, hang/nail/tape anything up.”

Keep in mind that having your wedding ceremony on the National Mall is different than taking your engagement pictures, or stopping by one of the monuments to have pictures taken on your wedding day.  But, that’s another post for another day!  You’ll have to check in with your photographer about those rules.

Also, the National Mall and the monuments are separate from the local parks operated by the local DC city government.  If you are interested in becoming married at one of the local parks in Washington, DC, you might need to go through DC Parks and Recreation here for a permit.

So, there you have it:  how to get married on the Mall!  Hope this helps!

 

Read More
4 Comments

dc weddings

Early Spring Virginia Wedding with Filipino Traditions: Toni + Carl
March 16, 2011

I absolutely love it when couples incorporate cultural traditions into their wedding and today’s spring wedding in Virginia from Jan Michele Photography is no exception.  Toni and Carl celebrated their wedding during last year’s cherry blossom season, incorporating many Filipino traditions into their day in honor of Carl’s Filipino heritage.  Of course, they couldn’t resist a few portraits under those gorgeous cherry blossoms and I totally get it, I can’t wait for this year’s cherry blossoms to make their appearance in just a couple short weeks!

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Rings

From Toni: Carl is Filipino and we wanted to incorporate the Filipino traditions into our ceremony.  Some of these customs include principal and secondary wedding sponsors and a Arrhae (coin) ceremony.  We chose some of Carl’s aunts and uncles to be the principal sponsors, or godparents, of our wedding.  We chose our bridesmaids and our groomsmen to be our secondary wedding sponsors and gave each couple a specific function: lighting of the unity candle, putting on the veil and the cord.  Additionally, the arras symbolizes 14 tenets of an enduring marriage, which include: love, harmony, cooperation, commitment, peace, happiness, trust, respect, caring, wisdom, joy, wholeness, and nurturing.

 

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Dress Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Shoes

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Tagalog

Carl and I wanted a relatively simple wedding.  We got married at the very end of March with Spring right around the corner.  I thought it was appropriate for the bridesmaids to wear green.  When I think of Spring, I think of the earth being reborn in lush vibrant colors.  Carl and the groomsmen wore a barong tagalog, the traditional Filipino dress shirt.

 

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Orchid

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Groom

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Groom-Getting-Ready

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Bride-Yellow-White-Bouquet Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Ceremony-Program

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Ceremony

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Ceremony Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Ceremony

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Bride-Groom-Portrait-Monuments

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Bride-Groom-Portrait Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Bride-Groom

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Bride-Bridesmaids-Bouquets

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Bridal-Party-Portrait

Carl and I decided to invest in a great photographer!  Our wedding day was a blur, which is why we were so thankful to have such beautiful pictures of our special day.  Even though it was raining the day we got married, we still wanted to have our wedding pictures taken outside near the cherry blossoms and in front of the beautiful doors of the National Gallery of Art. Hiring a great photographer was our priority and money well spent!

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Bride-Groom-Portrait Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Portrait

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Orchid-Centerpiece Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Bride-Groom-Dancing

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Green-Cupcakes

Instead of purchasing wedding favors, we decided to donate that money to a local charity.  This money went to Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), where we regularly volunteered together.  We also decide to get cupcakes from Buzz Bakery instead of a traditional wedding cake.  We also hired a jazz trio for the cocktail hour followed by a DJ for the reception.

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Reception-Toasts

Spring-Washington-DC-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Reception-Dancing

Washington-DC-Spring-Cherry-Blossom-Filipino-Wedding-Reception-Dancing

 

Congratulations Toni and Carl thank you for sharing your lovely wedding with us!

The following Washington, DC area wedding vendors contributed to Toni and Carl’s wedding:

Ceremony Venue: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Reception Venue and Catering: Hilton Arlington
Photography: Jan Michele Photography
Floral Design: James Flowers Love
Wedding Cupcakes: Buzz Bakery
DJ: The Lace Music
Transportation: Chariots for Hire

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: Jan Michele Photography

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Read More
5 Comments

inspiration and ideas  / Real Weddings  / virginia weddings

Newer Posts Older Posts

  • Sponsored

  • Instagram


  • Follow Us On

  • Recent Posts

    • A Tale of Two Destination Weddings at El Dorado Resorts
      September 21, 2021
    • Bright Hay Adams Wedding Inspiration
      November 20, 2020
    • Festive Fall Burgundy and Red Virginia Wedding
      November 18, 2020
    • Classic Catholic University Wedding in DC
      November 16, 2020
    • DC Kennedy Center Engagement Photos
      November 13, 2020
    • Butterfly Kisses Minimony Wedding
      November 10, 2020


@unitedwithlove

© 2010 - 2017 United With Love, All Rights Reserved. Photo Credits: Lisa Blume Photography