A Family Tribute with an ECO flair

My May was stocked full of amazing events.  May 15th was no exception.  I met Danielle and Ken in January of 2009.  I loved them at "hello".  Ken is from Philly, so we quickly bonded over the Eagles and Danielle was just so darn cool!  She knew exactly what she wanted and it was so unique and uncharted, that I couldn't wait to jump in.

The venue, 101 Constitution Ave, Rooftop.  The caterer, Charlie Palmer's of course!  The concept, a produce market.  I quickly found out the bride was the product of two supermarket families from the north, Pathmark, which I have fond memories of from my childhood in NJ, and Food Emporium in NY. Danielle wanted everything we used for the wedding to be reused by her guests, and they all literally ate it up!

Given the location, a lot of decor is not necessary.  The Capitol Dome in the background presents the greatest focal point of all.  Together, we created the bright, lushness or a produce market under the tent and on each of the guest tables.  My favorite piece, a flowers and food cart, similar to those seen on NYC street corners or at DC Metro entrances, that greeted guests as they stepped outside the elevators onto the rooftop.  At the end of the evening, brown paper bags were left on guests chairs and by the cart so everyone could take the fresh flowers, fruits, veggies and herbs, they didn't already consume, home with them.

This wedding shouted personality everywhere you turned.  The day started with a triathlon that ended in the popular college game Beirut, or beer pong, at the reception itself.  All players were given shirts with the couple's logo on it and the theme carried through to the glasses and ping pong balls used late Saturday evening.  Another treat, one of the very talented bridesmaids, serenaded the bride like she did back in college with an amazing rendition of "Lean on Me". 

Guests from up and down the east coast and some from the west celebrated until 1am and I'm pretty sure they could have kept going.

Danielle and Ken, thank you so much for making me a part of your big day!

 

Thank you to all the amazing vendors who worked on this event.
Justine Ungaro Photography
Capital Decor Events
Jared Rosen through Bialek's Music
Paul Tewksbury, Guitarist
Charlie Palmer's
Pattie Martin Makeup
Olga Carballo Hair

Sara

Real-Time Wedding Planning {The Venue Search}

I have spent the last several years assisting Amy with weddings for Engaging Affairs. However, this year there is one major difference - I’m engaged! Two months ago, my boyfriend proposed in the beautiful Mayan Riviera, Mexico and we spent the rest of our weeklong vacation enjoying our semi-secret engagement. We called our parents, but waited until we got back to announce the news to everyone. As a wedding assistant, I love seeing the details that each bride has chosen to incorporate into her wedding day, but now I am really paying attention to all of the options and creative ideas. Even more lucky for me, I have the fabulous team at Engaging Affairs to help me in my own journey towards our big day, and I couldn’t be more excited!

Two days after we returned from our sunshine-filled vacation, I sent a few e-mails out to potential venue choices and was a little surprised that over a year out, places were booking up fast! What mattered to me most was that we could get married outdoors, but also have a good back up plan should the weather turn ugly.

With my fiancé and parents in tow, we spent our first Saturday back touring three potential venues. We all immediately fell in love with the first one we saw, the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. The other two venues we toured did not compare to this one, so after an additional week of searching, we booked it for our wedding! I had stumbled across this venue in web browsing before, but I wasn’t quite sure based on the pictures on the website (they don’t do this place justice!) There is a beautiful outside patio overlooking the gardens where the ceremony will take place followed by cocktail hour. Incorporating the garden setting inside the Atrium, there are eight live trees growing as well as a stream running through the building to connect the inside and outside fountains!

If it should happen to storm on our big day next year, we can pull the whole thing inside.  And between the indoor foliage and glass windows surrounding the building, it would still feel like we were outside! Here are a few pictures of the venue with more to come on my journey to my own big day!

Reneé

Creative Escort Card Displays

In fifteen years planning weddings, we've seen tons of escort card displays. At minimum, they tell guests where to sit at the reception, but the displays can also reveal lots about the personality of the couple getting married. Here are a few escort card displays that have inspired us lately with their originality and style.

Photo Credit: The Knot

Apparently, this quirky display was inspired by the father of the bride's habit of putting his tie around his head at fun weddings. (Alternative explanation: the happy couple meeting at a "My Tie" party in college.)

Photo Credit: Jesse Leak

Adore these vintage library drawers featured on Brooklyn Bride. The handmade escort cards were made to look like min scrapbook pages, sprinkled with photos of the bride and groom. Such a darling idea!

Photo Credit: The Knot

Pop quiz time. Handwritten pebbles in lieu of traditional escort cards are:
 a) totally charming
 b) breathtakingly easy
 c) exquisitely eco-chic
 d) captivatingly cost effective
 e) all of the above

Photo Credit: Martha Stewart Weddings

This wreath is festive and delicate. A lovely option for any season!

And finally, because it's Friday, here's a sweet looking display to send you off into the weekend.

Photo Credit: Tammy Golson featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs

We'll have more unique escort card displays next week, so stay tuned!

Danielle and Ken's Wedding {Video Sneak Peek}

Danielle & Ken's Wedding from Justine Ungaro on Vimeo.
Check out this fun "market" themed wedding that Sara did a couple of weeks ago!

Just Peachy Inspiration Board

Last week, Amy asked me to make a peach-colored inspiration board for one of her upcoming weddings. It's a color that can be tricky to execute, but when done right, looks so refreshing and sweet. We love it paired with other warm colors: shades of gold, and ivories and greens with yellow undertones.

So what do you all think-- is peach ripe for a comeback, or did it never really leave?

Photo credits: Peach lamp shades from The Knot, cake from Brides.com, bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, bridesmaid dresses from Elegant Bride, table setting from The Bohemian Bride, place setting necktie from The Knot, photo of saturn peaches from Cannelle et Vanille, Save the Date by Lucky Luxe, bride from Rebecca Thuss

Memorial Day Wedding at The Mellon {A Sneak Peek}

Just a teaser photo from my wedding on May 30th at The Mellon. More fun details and photos to come! Thanks to Hamilton Photography for the photo!

A Wedding Planner Gets Hitched at The Washington Club {Amy & Clark}

Just a few short weeks ago, our very own Amy walked down the aisle and married a really great guy. We all love Clark and he makes Amy really happy!

Since Amy had quite a bit of experience planning weddings and had seen tons of cool things, she had pretty good ideas of what she wanted for her wedding. She had a fabulous vision of a very elegant garden tea party (but set inside a stately D.C. mansion). She wanted a daytime event in the Spring that would have an elegant feel with touches of whimsy throw in.

Having loved a wedding she planned at The Washington Club, Amy selected the gorgeous Dupont Circle mansion for her ceremony and reception venue.

She chose the Mayflower Hotel right up the street as the perfect place to get ready and take some great portraits ahead of time. Hair was done by the always amazing Susie Ruckshal and makeup by the divine Pattie Martin. These two ladies always make our brides look stunning!

Amy's gorgeous Ulla-Maija gown and veil came from Hitched Bridal Salon in Georgetown (always an Engaging Affairs favorite). Her bridesmaids wore fabulous blue Dessy dresses from The Bridal Closet in Vienna. Check out the sassy blue shoes Amy wore under her dress!

Amy and Clark also wanted a focus of the day to be on the ceremony itself. They created a meaningful and personal ceremony and then added some dramatic impact by having the Howard University Gospel Choir perform. Amy and her Dad walked in (well, danced in, really) to "This Will Be"and she and Clarke recessed to "Oh Happy Day!" The choir was amazing and added great energy and joy to the day.

I love the chandeliers, sconces and tapestries in the ceremony room. And check out the cool balcony in the back!

After cocktails, guests were seated for lunch and were treated to a truly fun Southern menu (fried chicken and shrimp and grits--can you say yum?) with a few twists like the fabulous cheese course served with Tupelo honey and the passed brownie pops and miniature ice cream cones. The fabulous Joel from Occasions made sure that everything was perfect.

Petal's Edge created the floral decor to bring the outdoors inside by creating grass and tulip table runners on long rectangular tables and vintage teapots brimming with Spring flowers on round tables. Deep blue linens were the perfect background for the vintage patterned china and gold rimmed crystal that Amy selected to evoke the feel of a formal tea party. The custom-designed menu cards echoed the programs and even the invitations (all created by the same designer, Jason Vandorsten).

Amy and Clark had a beautiful wedding cake (with three flavors inside: carrot, mocha and Tupelo honey) created by the amazing Kendall's Cakes plus a "cheese" cake. This fun stack of cheeses sat by the wedding cake and made everyone look twice.

After lunch and a series of heartfelt toasts, guests danced to the sounds of "Groove" through Bailek's Music and Amy and Clark dashed off for a fun Dupont Circle/Mayflower portrait session. Thanks to Juan Carlos Briceno of Fotobriceno for sharing the gorgeous photos with us! Video was done by David Morley (we can't wait to see it).

I go to a lot of weddings and I can truly say that this was a special day full of joyful, unique touches. Congratulations Amy and Clark!

Laura

Creative Cupcake Displays

A cupcake is by its very nature, adorably delicious. And a group of cupcakes together is a scrumptious sight indeed. So a post on creative cupcake displays may seem a bit like gilding the lily. After all, can a good display really increase the quality of a cupcake? After more than two years doing weddings, and lots of research, I’m convinced the answer is yes.

For proof, look no further then this amazing suspended cupcake tower featured on Hostess With The Mostess. I love how it takes the natural charm of cupcakes and ups the whimsy tenfold.

Speaking of whimsy, I’m convinced these cupcakes in teacups are what Alice would serve at her own Wonderland wedding. I love the literalness of the idea, so chicly executed.

Photo Credit: Flickr

This moss covered branch stand gives the cupcake presentation a rustic, more masculine feel. And how divine do those chocolate cupcakes look? I would like three, immediately.

Photo Credit: Altamodabridal.com

And finally, sometimes the most creative display hinges on a simple idea, flawlessly executed. This acrylic tower is pretty basic, even with the floral details, but what really makes the display is the matching background and hanging black and white photos. We have lots of brides who want to include pictures of other family weddings on their big day, and this would be a perfect way to do that.

Photo Credit: The Knot