End of Summer Garden Party {Gatsby meets DC}

Not even two weeks ago, when the weather was still warm and dry and the mornings hadn't yet become crisp, the Engaging Affairs team was privileged to co-host our annual end-of-summer cocktail party for the wedding professionals in DC.  Guests received beautiful invitations courtesy of The Dandelion Patch, which set the mood for the stylish soiree. 

Dumbarton House in Georgetown, which is known for its stunning lawn and terrace, hosted the party and it was the absolute perfect evening to be outside enjoying the gardens.  Party Rentals and Rose Rabin provided us with lovely linens and equipment.

The party's decor and ambiance was inspired by The Great Gatsby era with guests dressed in white, feathers in floral arrangements and even our own version of Prohibition bathtub gin iced down in an old fashioned claw foot tub.

Guests sipped on cucumber lemon chillers and ginger switchel with berries--yum!

In typical lawn party fashion, we had lawn games!

A rustic antique hutch draped with lace and doilies held miniature boxes of pies for guests to take home at the end of the evening.  The Pie Sisters' charming old-fashioned treats were a huge hit!

Elan Artists provided the 1920's inspired ensemble, Carte Blanche, for the evening's entertainment. What a perfect choice for the party!

On the side terrace, we set up a more masculine vignette reminiscent of a prohibition speak-easy with a wooden bar and a cigar lounge.

Nick Perez of Multiflor provided all the floral decor for the party and used lots of chunky glass and pale blossoms.  Gorgeous, as always!

Steve Dunn and Ric Marino of Well Dunn Catering provided a creative and delicious menu featuring grilled peaches with prosciutto, zucchini gazpacho, farm market verrines in glass, crab cakes and spiced chickpeas.  The evening was topped off with passed truffles and balsamic blackberry creme brulee. Heavenly!

The co-hostesses decked out in white and dolled up by Elegant Hair by Giselle and MadeUpArt by Noor Kazoun: Pam, Laura and Jamie!

Guests enjoyed chatting and basking in the late summer evening.

We took a moment to present Kelly and Patrick with a cake (provided by the talented Kendall of Kendall's Cakes) to celebrate their 20th anniversary.  Kelly and Patrick (and Justine and all the Capital Decor crew provided the fabulous furniture for the event).

Everyone enjoyed the photo booth (and fun props) provided by Holland Photo Arts!

Thanks to all the partnering vendors who made the party a huge success. These are some of our very favorite people in the business and ones we love to work with and can't recommend highly enough:

Capital Decor and Events
Capital Party Rentals
Dumbarton House
Elan Artists
Hair by Giselle
Holland Photo Arts
MadeUpArt by Noor Kazoun
Multiflor
Pie Sisters (OB Sweet)
Party Rental
Pretty Mail Calligraphy
The Dandelion Patch
Unipark Valet
Well Dunn Catering

My deepest thanks to Bill and Anne from Holland Photo Arts for sharing their amazing images and to my lovely and talented cohostesses, Pam Barefoot and Jamie Sears. It is always a delight working with these creative and fun women!
Laura