Esprit Ecstasy!

Okay, maybe not ecstasy but that sounds better than "pretty darn excited." I just found out that I'm a finalist for the International Esprit Award for Best Wedding of the Year (Budget over $200,000) for "A Red Hot Wedding." Woo hoo! "A Red Hot Wedding" already won the Capital Award for Best Wedding of the Year and now it's on to the big league. My competition is a pretty over-the-top wedding from Canada so fingers crossed!



"A Red Hot Wedding" was the wedding of Sasha Lewis and Chris Heinz that took place last February. The ceremony took place at St. John's across from The White House and the reception was held at the Mellon Auditorium. It was an unbelievably gorgeous and unbelievably complex event (and also unbelievably cold) with vendors flying in from all over the country to bring it together. In the end, I had five assistants to help me handle the nearly 450 guests (not to mention the incredibly complex seating arrangements).

Here is the Dream Team from the award-winning bash:

Ceremony Site:St. John's Episcopal Church

Reception Site:The Mellon Auditorium

Caterer:Occasions (Joel Wolke)

Event Designer and Florist:Van Wyck & Van Wyck

Photographer:Denis Reggie

Videographer:Jenny Lehman

Staging and Sound:All Stage and Sound

Band Backlines:Drums Unlimited

Fabric Draping and Kabuki Drop:A Vista Design

Piano Rental:Jordan Kitts

Dinner Band:Bob Hardwick Sound

Dancing Band:Tainted Love

Cake:Patty Cakes

Lighting:Atmosphere

Tenting:Sugarplum

Valet, Shuttles and Limos:Atlantic Valet

Bridesmaids' Hair and Makeup:Andre Chreky

Rentals:Party Rental and Perfect Settings

Plant Rental:Plants Alive

Babysitters:Wee Sit

Museum Tour:National Gallery of Art

Welcome Cocktail Party Flowers:Helen Olivia

Welcome Party:Four Seasons Hotel



The winner is announced at the end of August at a big banquet so wish me luck!