Washingtonian Bride and Groom Show Giveaway!

Tis the season for bridal shows! So for all of you newly engaged women (or even if you've been engaged for a while), this is a great time to check out the wedding scene by attending one of the area's premiere shows. In addition to the fabulous Engaged Show, Washingtonian Bride and Groom will be hosting "Bride and Groom Unveiled" at The Mandarin Hotel on January 24th from 11:30-3:00 pm. You'll be able to see dresses, sip champagne and nibble on wedding cake.

Tickets are $55 each but readers of Bridal Bubbly are in for a treat. Washingtonian Bride and Groom Magazine has given us two tickets to give away to one lucky reader. So if you'd like to attend the show for free, send us a message. We will pick a winner at random next Friday. Good luck!

New Year's Eve Wedding at The Monaco

Just a teaser from my New Year's Eve wedding at The Monaco. I was so thrilled the confetti poppers worked. You can't see me in the photo but I'm on the side shooting up huge flutterfetti wands one after another over the bride and groom's heads to make sure we had plenty of confetti. Can you ever have enough confetti? I mean, really? Thanks to Jennifer Domenick at Love Life Images for the gorgeous photo. More fabulous images and info to come!
Laura

Final Decisions {Amy & Clark}

After showing you a few of our initial invitation options, here are the final versions that we ended up sending out! There were so many decisions to be made {just like every other aspect of the planning process!} but it was a BLAST working on the designs with Clark and my dearest mum.

When designing your own invitations, make sure to convey the final look you are hoping for. Whether modern, sleek, traditional or fun, your invitations should be the first glimpse for your as to what the vibe of the wedding will be. Work with a designer like Jason to get the final product that you are happy with!

Not to mention, the many possibilities for papers, envelope colors, calligraphy, etc etc etc! Make sure to build in extra time for invitations when designing your own as there will be many conversations back and forth with the artist. You don't want to get off track and end up sending them out too late on account of having that personal touch.


Happy Planning!
xoxo,
Amy Lorraine

Same-Sex Wedding Etiquette

Here at Engaging Affairs, we are thrilled that gay weddings have been approved for Washington, D.C. and will soon be legal! As an open and affirming event planning company, we look forward to creating amazing same-sex weddings for couples. We loved this post on etiquette from Luxurious Weddings:

"Anna Post is the beautiful great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post plus an author on Etiquette and a spokesperson for The Emily Post Institute.

On the subject of how to translate time honored traditions into a same sex wedding union, Anna Post comments that;

"At The Emily Post Institute, as we examined our books to be sure we covered the emerging question of same-sex unions. I was pleased to find there weren't too many differences then, and there aren't now, either.

When I'm asked questions about how heterosexual marriage traditions translate to same-sex unions and marriages, I find I almost always give the same answer: You have pretty much all the same options as anyone else. It's a very equal-opportunity process no matter the gender pairing in question; you can look to tradition as a model, but just as many heterosexual couples have reason to adapt or abandon certain traditions, so do same-sex couples.

Would you like to cut the wedding cake and feed each other pieces? Have a first dance? It's all about what makes sense and is meaningful to you and your guests. I attended a same-sex wedding ceremony in December, and the grooms chose to walk down the aisle together, hand-in-hand. This was a beautiful adaptation of the classic bride's tradition, and the guests all clapped when they saw the couple together. The crowd usually cheers when the couple embraces for the first time as a married couple at the end of the ceremony--but this time we saw them together from the very beginning, creating a very different energy for the ceremony. No etiquette was broken; in fact, it was perfect for this couple, and therefore the best choice.

Choice is a key word. Brides marrying brides and grooms marrying grooms are not heterosexual couples, and it should never be assumed that one person will play the "part" of bride or groom. Incorporate gender traditions only when they are meaningful to you. When Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi married, Ellen wore a simple white pant suit (as is her normal style) and Portia a full-on wedding dress. The ladies looked lovely, but they could just as easily have both worn pants or both worn bridal gowns. It all comes down to being true to yourselves and respectful of your guests, whether you're gay or straight. Satisfy that, and the rest is just details."

Good advice, Ms. Post!

Engaged Bridal Show!

Get ready for the bridal show of the season, ladies: Engaged in Washington! And mark your calendars for February 5th from 5-10 pm for a fabulous jaunt around town to some of the city's most luxurious hotels and fabulous vendors. Be sure to come visit the Engaging Affairs team at The Willard Hotel!

New Insider Blog: Dimitra Designs

Check out a new blog that has lots of fun info on everything from how to find a mother of the bride dress to how to select bridesmaids' gowns. Dimitra Designs knows their stuff because they actually have a retail bridal shop in South Carolina. So, if you're in Greenville, pop on by. If you're nowhere near Greenville, check out their blog for insider tips.

The Winners! {Photo Contest by Garrett Hubbard}

Oh, what FUN! The final contest winners were selected last night and you can check out the picture here on Garrett's blog!

Gotta love a contest involving cute couples in LOVE!

xoxo,
Amy Lorraine

More and More Fabulous D.C. Wedding Venues!

Photo by in Meridian House courtyard by Kurston Roe

Here are some of my favorites, an eclectic group that ranges from European mansion to modern studio to elegant hotel.

The Meridian House

This venue is a hidden gem in DC, located on a side street between Adams Morgan and 16^th Street. The side garden is perfect for intimate weddings. The back garden is my favorite part of the house. Lined with linden trees, I have had brides line the trees with everything from string lights to paper lanterns, creating a unique magical feel…great for pics. The inside of the house has a historic feel that is great for dinner, dancing and I have even seen some brides use it for their ceremony.

Photo by Kurston Roe

The Fairmont Hotel

When I think of the Fairmont, I think of the total package. From their garden themed Colonnade room to their outside courtyard to the grand ballroom, The Fairmont has something everyone is looking for. I cannot say enough about the staff who go out of their way to make sure everything runs perfectly. It is located just a few steps away from Georgetown which boasts amazing shopping, restaurants and nightlife that your guests will be sure to enjoy if visiting from out of town.

The Halcyon House

Located in historic Georgetown, the Halcyon House is great for brides who want something a little different but still want to showcase Washington, DC. The back of house has an amazing view of the Potomac River and Key Bridge. This is a perfect setting for a ceremony or cocktail reception. You can also use the upstairs of the house for cocktail receptions or smaller ceremonies. The downstairs area is what really stands out for me. The dramatic staircase, flanked with the owner’s/artist’s own designs, leads to the white cement studio that is awesome for smaller receptions. The space is a blank canvas so if you want to stick with a minimalist look or create your own masterpiece, this venue allows for either option. Valet parking is recommended since Georgetown parking can be a little difficult especially on a Saturday or Sunday.

Photo by Greg Gibson

Photo by Greg Gibson

Hope this gives you some inspiration!

Christine

Photography Contest! {Featuring: Garrett Hubbard}

Garrett Hubbard is a wonderful photographer located here in the DC area. He is a TON of fun to work with and all of our clients that we have had together just adore his personality {which is critical to a fantastic wedding day experience!}.

Garrett is hosting an "Engagement Photo Contest" on his blog at this very moment. They are in the final round and voting is closing on Sunday! We just love engagement photos as it's really a first glimpse into the couple's chemistry and how well the wedding day is going to unfold. Not to mention, for the couples it's a great time to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day!

Here are the details...

The pictures have been shared, agonized over, the votes have been cast and the finalists have been selected. Now it's time to choose the grand prize winner. The contest has been very popular thus far. Garrett would like to thank everyone who has been voting all week and his awesome clients. Without further ado, here are the four finalists you voted on over the past four days.

Vote for your favorite photograph by clicking on the "Comment" text below the photographs on Garrett's blog

or comment on his note on his Facebook page. Cast your vote by Sunday evening at midnight eastern and the couple with the winning photograph will get a $50 Pictage gift certificate they can use toward archival prints, books, albums, or whatever their heart desires. Good luck!

And More Wedding Venues We LOVE!

From large modern spaces to the most elegant of hotels and to the destination wedding in your own backyard, here are a few more of our favorite venues.

The Ronald Reagan Building
The Ronald Reagan Building crawled onto the event scene in the early years of this past decade. It's two highly modern, very unique spaces offer a great canvas to the contemporary couple. Whether you have a group of 170 or 500 celebrating with you, the Pavilion Room or the Atrium respectively are sure to please.
The Fairfax Hotel

This hotel has a rich history in DC from the famed Jockey Club to the antique piano in their lounge. With one of the most elegant and newly refurbished ballrooms in DC, the show stealer is the big reveal from cocktails to reception that no other hotel can boast. My personal favorite, their stunning crystal chandeliers.


Photo by Studio Diana

The Oaks A Country Inn

I do happen to be the company's Eastern Shore specialist. This venue is one I am at yearly. An intimate retreat away from the hustle and bustle of DC is less than two hours drive. Situated with it's ballroom facing the water, the space is intimate enough for 75 and can comfortably host 200. The hook, the prive bridal cottage. No one can say no!



Photo by LaCour

Keswick Hall

A few miles from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville is one of the most pristine resort style venues I have ever had the pleasure of working with. The grounds are breathtaking. The view of the mountains in the distance with the golf course below is sensational and the amenities, deluxe! Take your guests just three hours outside of DC and give them a wedding experience they will not soon forget!





Photo by Greg Gibson

Sara