From Russia with Love {Heather & Adam}!

The wedding of Heather and Adam, was truly a treat for all of their guests.  Getting to share the occasion with the couple alone and spend time with them was something many were excited about as the couple relocated to Russia for work shortly after we had begun working together.

The bride came back to town 3 weeks before the big day to help tie up loose ends and make final decisions while the groom breezed in just 3 days before.  How did we let that happen?  The result was a striking event at the Mayflower Hotel to be matched only by the beauty of the bride.  Heather's inspiration for the decor was rich and lush and not a detail was neglected.

I LOVE how you can see Heather through the veil in this picture, so classic!

As an exciting twist, guests were entertained by a belly dancer who escorted the couple to their seats and then put on a stunning show of multiple performances including use of a Shammadan.

Adam and heather then dazzled the audience with not one but two choreographed dances.

During dinner, another surprise performance as Heather and Adam  exposed their guests to some of their Russian experience with another dance group.  Their final dance, the bottle dance, got guests out of their chairs and onto the dance floor as they began the hora and lifted the bride and groom into the air.

Heather and Adam danced into the night surrounded by friends and family to the music of DJ Dan.  Egomedia did a fantastic job of capturing the feeling of the day thought emotion and love.  Petal's Edge worked tirelessly through e mail to make sure the bride's vision was achieved.

Thank you to the whole team the worked together to make Heather and Adam's day so special including Sage String Quartet and Blue Sky Films.

These escort card chairs were one of my favorite details

Thanks to EgoMedia Photography for the amazing images!

Sara

Starting the Wedding Season

I know, it's a crazy title to a blog considering it's mid June.  But, with the craziness of the season, I am left to start catching up on the beginning now.  I have never had a wedding washout, but this may be the closest I have come.  Back in 2008, Ali and Chris faced flooding in the district, but the rain stopped and the skies cleared before the bride left the hotel.

Lissette and Todd were slightly less lucky, as they, along with their wedding parties had to pile into the limo as I held not one, but two umbrellas overhead.  I think I started out that day with my hair up.

But the rain did not stand in the way of their love and by the time the bride stepped out of the limo and into the church, the rain had passed.

Following a ceremony presided over by the wonderful John Wimberly at the Church of the Holy City on 16th Street, the couple and their guests made their way to the Corcoran Gallery of Art for an event of dancing fun.

Design Cuisine catered a fabulous dinner while decor and flowers were provided by John Duffy of Yellow Door and Digital Lightning.  DJ Andres kept the dance floor packed and guests were entertained by the new wave of photo booth, some of you may recall my post immediately following the wedding, Boxi.

The couple ended their evening with a DC evening photo shoot with none other than Jenny Lehman.

Lissette and Todd, thank you for making me part of your special day!

Sara

Make-up Artist Extraordinaire Carl Ray {Vendor Love}

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be part of the Engaged Magazine wedding planner photo shoot. About a dozen or so DC wedding planners gathered at The St. Regis for a Vanity Fair style cover shoot complete with hair and makeup to make us look glamorous.  It was such a treat to be done up by the artists that I use for so many of my brides.

Carl Ray is the make-up genius behind Michelle Obama's flawless face as well as numerous other DC notables and visiting celebrities. He is based out of George's at The Four Seasons but will travel to brides for on-site make-up. He has been making my brides stunning for years, and it was so fun to be on the other side of the make-up chair for a change!  We were laughing because we rarely get to just talk and catch up because we're always seeing each other at weddings where we're both busy working.

Carl is so talented and his work is always so glamorous. Not only that, he is so much fun and has a great sense of humor. If you can manage to book him (call George's and ask for Rick Raines, who does all his bookings), do it (as long as you aren't stealing him away from one of my weddings, of course)! Stay tuned for photos from the Engaged wedding planner photo shoot!

Weddings as Sweet as Honey!

MSW

I recently became the proud owner of a beehive and about two thousand honey bees.  Our neighbor is an amateur beekeeper so we agreed to host a hive as he expands his bee territory. Since I heard about hive collapse several years ago, I've been very interested in bees (and concerned about disappearing colonies) so I was so excited to get a chance to have a hive of my very own.

With two small children who aren't crazy about flying insects, I'm happy to say the bees keep to themselves and the flowers. Even though there are a lot of them about, we really don't notice them. The main beehive two houses down recently harvested honey and shared some of their delicious bounty with us so I thought I'd share some bee-inspired ideas for weddings.

Lindsay Flanagan via Wedding Window

I love the idea of honey stirrers as escort cards and favors.  And, of course, tiny pots of honey are always sweet.

SmartBride

I love the idea of a honey tasting station at a wedding using bread sticks to sample different varieties. Or a pretty cheese and honey display.

PrettyTastyThings

Carrying the bee theme over into the desserts and even beverages (check out the honey lager) can add a whimsical touch.

PrettyTastyThings

Wishing you a sweet week!

Namaste for Your Wedding Day!

Let's face it, wedding planning is stressful. You're planning perhaps the biggest social event you've ever planned, orchestrating two sets of families who may or may not get along (not to mention the people within your own family who don't get along), coordinating thousands of details and learning that your fiance has a completely different style than you.  It's no wonder brides can get a little high-strung.

I am a big fan of yoga and have been practicing for a little over six years since I was first introduced to Ashtanga yoga. I still love Ashtanga but have also tried Bikram, Kundalini, Power yoga and Vinyasa.  I love the calm I get after yoga even if I only have time to squeeze in a few down dogs at home.

Yoga is a great practice for brides. It calms you down, slows the mind (so you can stop obsessing about the seating chart for two minutes) and can whip you into shape.  If you think yoga is gentle and easy, try sweating through a hot yoga class and then come talk to me.

Several studios have popped up focused on yoga for brides (although none in DC) and I think it's a great idea. I've arranged morning yoga classes for plenty of bridal parties and it is a fabulous way to start off the wedding day. Yoga for Weddings has teachers in nine states including New York and California who can do everything from teach a wedding day class to plan a yoga training plan leading up to the big day. Bliss Lab: Yoga for Brides is based in the Twin Cities and offers fun yoga bachelorette party packages. Check them out or check out a yoga studio in your town.  There are also private teachers who can develop a practice for you to focus on certain issues (toning up arms for those wearing strapless gowns, for instance).

Here's wishing all brides peace on their wedding day. Namaste!

Charlie Palmer DC {Wedding Venue Love}

Last week, we had the pleasure of revisiting a favorite wedding venue: Charlie Palmer at 101 Constitution. Our event industry friend Lisa DeMare is the venue's new social catering director, and she is doing a fabulous job showcasing the space for weddings. With the above view from the rooftop event space, how could a wedding go wrong?

 Recently awarded as one of the Best Wedding Vendors in 2009 by Washingtonian Bride and Groom and frequently cited as Capitol Hill's best private event space, Charlie Palmer Steak's private dining rooms can accommodate events ranging from 10 to 70 guests for a seated dinner or 20 to 160 guests for a cocktail reception.   We love having rehearsal dinners in the sleek private rooms!

PLUS, Charlie Palmer Steak has access to a grand rooftop terrace on the top of the building that, combined with Charlie Palmer's cuisine and service, makes for an unforgettable affair.  This space can accommodate up to 500 guests for a cocktail reception and up to 230 guests for a seated dinner. The space is tented and can be heated or air conditioned, if needed.  We have done several weddings on the rooftop and it always Wows guests. Here are some images of a favorite wedding we did on the 101 rooftop with Charlie Palmer catering.

Just try and beat that view! For an amazing wedding venue or unforgettable rehearsal dinner, contact Lisa DeMare at ldemare@charliepalmer.com.  Thanks to Justine Ungaro for the fab photos!

Wedding Planning Zen

As we are in the thick of the Spring/Summer wedding season, I have to take a moment from the favor frenzy and color palette craziness to touch on something I've learned over many, many years planning weddings. Weddings are about happiness and joy and joining your life with another person. The rest is just window dressing.

Now it may be very pretty, very fun window dressing but how much you spend on flowers and whether or not your menus are printed on the exact paper as your place cards really won't matter if you aren't happy. The wedding industry has gotten so intense and the pressure on brides to have perfect, magazine-worthy days is so all-encompassing that most people are losing the joy. I've heard lately that brides are actually planning every detail about their weddings for the purpose of getting it into a top wedding blog or in the pages of a wedding magazine. They are actually making decisions based solely on whether it will increase their chances of getting featured! I think this is nuts.

A wedding is more than just a project for Type-A folks to strategize down to the nanosecond (and this comes from someone who makes really detailed wedding day timelines).  If you are losing the joy in the midst of all the planning pressure, step back and take a deep breath and remember that this whole thing is really about that guy or girl you're madly in love with. And you will still be madly in love with them if the ribbon on your programs isn't the perfect shade of melon or the cake flowers are in a cascade instead of grouped in clusters.  Once you've found someone who absolutely loves you (even when you obsess for months over the color of the flower girl sashes), the rest really is just icing on the cake.

The Sweetest Affair {Vendor Love}

Want something absolutely unique for your wedding favors or a really breathtaking candy display for your bridal shower? If you are in the DC area, you must check out The Sweetest Affair! Yesterday we had the pleasure of meeting the creative inspiration behind The Sweetest Affair and seeing their gorgeous work. Talk about sweet surprises! I never thought lollipops could be so fabulous and luxe!

What I love most about the sweet creations is the detail. The paper used to make the flowers is custom-printed with the client's name or the company name (in the case of corporate events). For place cards, the paper can have each guest's name on it!

They also design and create sweets tables. I love the chic styling of this black, white and red candy display!

Or how about a pink cherry blossom theme (in this case it was for Macy's)?

There are so many ways to use these artistic confections and you are guaranteed to wow your guests! Enjoy!

Oscar Comes to Saks Jandel!

Anna Maier/Ulla-Maija at Hitched {Trunk Show}

What: Anna Maier/Ulla~Maija Bridal Gown Trunk Show

When: Friday, June 3rd & Saturday, June 4th 

RSVP: 202.333.6162 or appointments@hitchedsalon.com
(Please remember, gown trials are by appointment only!)

The Little Details: At the trunk show, you'll have the chance to see the latest gowns from the Anna Maier/Ulla~Maija collection (many of which are straight off the runway!), as well as the chance to meet with the designer himself to help decide which gown is perfect for you. 

A special Treat: This couture design house will be offering complimentary muslin fittings to brides who purchase during the trunk show!