Lia and Hudson's spectacular wedding continued after the gorgeous ceremony with cocktails outside on the upstairs terrace overlooking the Washington Monument and featured their signature cocktail "La Vie En Rose."
Guests enjoyed a raw bar and cocktails before returning inside for the dinner.
While guests were enjoying cocktails, the design and catering teams transformed the space into a stunning setting for dinner and dancing. I loved featuring the showpiece cake under the sheer ceremony canopy. The boxwoods were moved to create a wall in front of the dining tables and the enormous urns flanked the guests' entrance into dinner. Talk about a wow factor!
Amaryllis designed the long rectangular tables with silver candleabra and running arrangements of garden roses and greenery. Thanks you Rick!!! You are so talented and fun to work with!
The table were set with gold chargers, porcelain pheasant plates and gold-rimmed stemware. Gold-edged menu cards were tucked inside linen hemstiched napkins for the final touch. We sourced rentals from DC Rental, Perfect Settings and Party Rental to come up with the perfect combination.
After guests were invited into the main room, the groom toasted his bride and introduced the a capella group from his alma mater, the University of Maryland. "The Generics" were a fabulous way to kick off the evening's entertainment and were so much fun!
Loved these guys!!
Lia and Hudson took to the dance floor for their first romantic spin around the floor. Talk about a couple madly in love!
Then guests were treated to a six course dinner (featuring everything from a salad and pasta course to a sorbet palette cleanser and lobster tails to the almond brickle ice cream) from the amazing Jeff Judy and his team at Federal City. Jeff was an absolute dream to work with and the food was out of this world!
The bride and groom cut the Sylvia Weinstock cake after dinner and I felt like crying because it was almost too beautiful to cut! Sylvia had created a towering old-world style confection using edible gold foil and fresh flowers that was drop-dead gorgeous.
In keeping with the wedding's vintage style, the bride displayed Victorian wedding memorabilia and had guests write notes to them and gathered these on an antique tray.
Even the ladies' room had decadent toiletries displayed on antique trays.
After dinner, everyone rocked out to the Gerard Carelli Orchestra!
Departing guests were given crystal Tiffany bowls wrapped in the groom's tartan ribbon and tied with Jordan almonds. Each favor included a personal note to the guest. Such a lovely touch!
Gentleman were offered cigars as they left!
In perfect style, Lia and Hudson left their reception in a vintage car from Regal Limousines for a moonlight tour of the monuments.
This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime wedding and I feel lucky to have been a part of it. Lia and Hudson and their families and friends were all so wonderful that it didn't even feel like work. Congratulations Lia and Hudson!!
Special thanks to Greg Gibson, as always, for capturing the joy and beauty of the day. Thanks to Linda Lindamood from Linder and Associates for the flawless transportation during a busy IMF weekend. Thanks to the wonderful team at The Mellon (Heather, Sarah, Jenna and Nicole) for making the day run so smoothly, thanks to Liz and Joe from DC Rental for all their hard work and to all three rental companies who contributed to the table settings (and to my associate Amanda for sorting it all out), thanks to Matt at Nomad for sound production, thanks to Perkins for the white dance floor, and thanks to Christina at the Willard for hosting the rooms, welcome reception and rehearsal dinner. Most of all, thank you to my amazing assistants Amanda and Krista. This team was such a dream team!
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