Amazing Deals at Love Couture {Sample Sale}

A Sexy Park Hyatt Wedding {Sneak Peek}

 

Just a sneak peek of Carrie and Derek's gorgeous, sultry wedding at The Park Hyatt DC. The bride and groom looked so amazing (she in a Marisa gown and he in a custom-designed charcoal gray suit) and thoroughly happy. Thanks to Elaine Studley with Hay KcKenna for capturing the day in amazing images. More to come on this beautiful wedding!

Greg Gibson Photography {Top 10 Wedding Photographer!}

Greg Gibson, one of our very favorite photographers (and, come to think of it, just one of our all-around favorite people), was just named one of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers by American Photo Magazine!  This is a pretty cool honor and Greg is the only photographer in D.C. named to this year's list. 

You might know Greg from the amazing weddings he's shot for us that have appeared here on our blog but Greg was a White House photographer for years, winning two Pulitzer Prizes, before turning his considerable talent to documenting weddings.

I love what Greg says on his blog about his experience shooting weddings: 

One thing I have learned in the past eight years is that as a wedding photographer, I can have a tremendous impact on the lives of my clients. While we may not bring about mass social change, stop wars, or put an end to starvation in Africa, wedding photography can have the same kind of impact on a smaller scale within a family just as those types of images impact society.

As a documentary photographer, I am trying to provide my clients with more than just pretty pictures. I am trying to provide them with a legacy and heirloom that will outlast their lives here and can be passed down through their family for generations. 

Congratulations to Greg for this well-deserved honor. And for couples looking for an amazing photographer with an eye for moments and an easy-going, fun personality, look no further. Greg Gibson will blow you away!

Here are some of our  favorite images from weddings he's shot for us over the years. Enjoy!

All photos by Greg Gibson (or his assistant if he is in the photo)!

Spilled Milk Catering {Vendor Love}

I have got to remember not to write posts about food when I'm hungry. The photo of the key lime tart bar above is making my stomach growl! Maybe it's the memory of how delicious the real key lime tart bar was that's making me hungry.

I had the pleasure to attend a tasting put on for some DC wedding planners by Spilled Milk Catering yesterday and it was such a treat.  Hosted by Decatur House and arranged by our own Sara, the intimate lunch featured such delights as spicy tuna in wonton cones, lamb lollipops, samosas in a tamarind dipping sauce, crostini with fig marmalade and a trio of delectable desserts (including the key lime tart bar and a bananas foster bar) .  The food was amazing-- so creative and full of flavor!

Photo by www.staceyviera.com

We also had the pleasure of meeting the owners of Spilled Milk, Amit and Raj, who are two young guys who have a passion for food that really comes through. If you want a chuckle, check out the video they made about how they started the company. Really clever and it gives you a sense of their fun personalities.

It's always nice to find the new, hot thing in town and, after tasting their food, I think Spilled Milk Catering is it. Be sure to check them out for your engagement party, bridesmaids' lunch, or wedding reception (or anything in between). Now I have to go eat something before the photo of those cappuccino brownie bites sends me over the edge!

Pink is Always Pretty! {Inspiration Board}

Images from Martha Stewart Weddings

One of my newest brides loves pink so this is a little inspiration board I threw together to start the planning process off and get us excited. Pink is always such a romantic color and so perfect for Spring! I also included her ideas about her wedding dress and her favorite flowers. Inspiration boards are such a great way to kick off wedding planning and help crystallize design ideas.

Pronovias Trunk Show {Love Couture Bridal}

Exclusive Carolina Herrera Trunk Show {Carine’s Bridal Atelier}

 Luxury bridal boutique Carine’s Bridal Atelier will host an exclusive Carolina Herrera Trunk Show on May 19th^h through May 21st  in Georgetown.

The Carolina Herrera collection is a referent for luxury, exclusiveness, sophistication, and elegance with impeccable chic gowns. Whether it’s an embroidered bodice, a georgette ruffle or satin trim, Herrera adds thoughtful touches to clean basic designs for simply elegant gowns.

Brides-to-be who take advantage of the opportunity to view The Carolina Herrera collection on Thursday, May 19th and Friday May 20th, will receive 12% off of their gown purchase.  Carine will offer a 10% discount on gown purchases on Saturday May 21st.

Limited appointments are available by calling Carine’s Bridal Atelier at 202-965-4696 or by email at info@carinesbridal.com.

Gotham Hall Glamour {Nadya + Jordache}

 An unusually windy and intense rain shower was not going to stop Nadya and Jordache from making the most of their wedding day. After almost a year of planning and many missed connections over 22 years, Nadya and Jordache’s wedding day finally arrived. 

This couple has a really special love story.  Their parents went to dental school together and eventually shared an office and at about the age of 8, they ran into each other there. A few years later, they saw each other again at Nadya's Sweet 16 birthday party. It wasn't until the Summer of 2002, 5 years later, that they ran into each other again at (of all places) Best Buy in Rockville. At that meeting, he had to remind her who he was, because she nearly walked past him.  They eventually exchanged phone numbers and have been together ever since.

With the wedding taking place in New York City at Gotham Hall and the couple living there as well, a lot of the planning had to take place over the phone, over email and in short visits to the Big Apple.   Thanks goes to Cindy Altunis and Walter Figueroa at Gotham Hall.  Their team is a well-oiled machine that makes the wedding day (and the planning) a rather enjoyable experience!

The bride began her day at the Trump Hotel Central Park West, surrounded by her attentive bridesmaids and adorable flower girls.  Makeup artist, Stacey Richburg, and her assistant arrived bright and early to begin working on the girls.  After several hours of getting ready, the girls got dressed in their bright purple dresses with a pink flower added to the shoulder, a fun accessory added by the bride.   The colors of the wedding included iridescent purple, pink and blue.

Shira Weinberger, an extremely talented photographer, who is just as great to work with as she is talented, took the girls around NYC before the ceremony to get some really unique shots.  One of my favorites is the bride and bridesmaids in the middle of Grand Central Station.  Our videographers from Open Eye Media, worked alongside of Shira to capture the day’s events.  I can’t wait to share the video!

While the girls and guys were around NYC, there were many vendors hard at work at Gotham Hall.  Bill Enright of Edge Flowers along with Syzygy Events worked on building the larger than life ceremony structure.  Cherry blossom trees lined the aisle and over 400 votives lined the old teller walls.   The lighting for the ceremony, provided by Bentley Meeker, was a blue-ish purple. 

Cool Groove Music provided the ceremony music that included Josh Groban’s "You Raise Me Up" and "When I First Saw You" by Jamie Fox and Beyonce. 

 Following the emotional ceremony, the Harlem Gospel Choir surprised the guests by singing from the mezzanine for the recessional.   It was definitely quite a surprise to everyone! 

Guests made their way to the upstairs mezzanine for cocktails while the florist, lighting, audio visual and band worked to change the room from the ceremony to the reception.  Mirrored tables were mixed in with traditional rounds.  The cherry blossom trees that had lined the aisle were now 1 of the 2 different centerpieces.  Lighting changed from blue-ish purple to an iridescent pink to an iridescent purple as the night went on.  Photos of the couple’s grandparents were enlarged and placed in frames around the room. 

As guests made their way down from cocktails, they were greeted by a 7 foot tree where strand of crystals held each of their escort cards.  This escort tree later was changed into a candy buffet.  

Dinner tables were decorated with votives, boxes of rum cake decorated with the couple’s monogram and personally made by the bride’s aunt, round menu cards placed in the center of the chargers, table numbers that had corresponding pictures of the couple at the age of the table number, just to name a few details.  Stunning linens for the round tables, candy buffet and cake tables were brought in by DC Rental.

The cake was just as detailed as the rest of the wedding, thanks to Chef Benny at City Cakes NY.

Guests enjoyed delicious food provided by caterer Thomas Preti .  After the meal, guests danced the night away, on a seamless white dance floor, to the band The Rhythm Dogs.  DJ Oats, a friend of the couple, came in to turn the party up later in the night.  Those who weren’t dancing chose to get a caricature done by one of the two caricature artists we brought in.

Thank you to everyone who worked on making this event a truly memorable affair.  I could not have done this without all of you!

A special thanks to my assistants for the wedding, Alison and Elissa!  You guys rock!

And finally, congratulations Nadya and Jordache!  I hope you are having a great time in Thailand!

Christine

Pingg and Hello Lucky Giveaway!

From now until Thursday, May 26th, brides who send their Save-the-Date or Engagement Announcement with pingg.com will be entered to win one of 4 Wedding Invitation Packages from stationery designer Hello!Lucky! 

Prize packages will include 150 digitally printed wedding invitations and reply cards! Four lucky couples will be randomly selected to win and one winner will be announced every Friday during the month of May.

For more details on how to enter, visit pingg!

The Knot Bridal Blowout

Is my husband a closet wedding nut?  After this post, I'm sure he'll never send me anything again.  How could I out him?  But, he's always sending me little things about the wedding industry he sees and hears.  He's one of those last few who reads like 4 papers a day (on line of course) to get his news variety. Here's his latest find!

The Bargainist spotted that TheKnot.com is having a sale on their personalized wedding favors, up to 65% off!  So, if you're running last minute but want to make sure your guests have more than amazing memories to take home with them, check it out and take advantage.  Happy saving!

http://www.bargainist.com/deals/2011/04/the-knot-wedding-shop-personalized-favor-blowout-save-up-to-65-off-/

Sara