A Chance Reconnection

I always think about how lucky I am getting to work with multiple siblings in the same family.  It's just as special working with friends or wedding party members of previous brides and grooms.  But this past June, I watched Sarah and Ryan get married.  My role in their reconnection? I planned the wedding they both attended as guests two years ago.  Enjoy a look at this blue-hued wedding at Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

There is a special feel when the bride gets ready at her childhood home

Special thanks to all of the vendors who made this possible:

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Fotobricano

Edge Floral

Occasions Caterers

Digital Lightning
Washington Talent Agency- DJ Elon

Sara

Red, White and Blue Wedding Inspiration

While usually reserved for Fourth of July time posts, the tremendous performances in the olympics for US athletes have me patriotically inspired.  Enjoy these red, white and blue weddings and let's continue to support athletics even once this years' olympics end later this week.

Sara

ExPats in Paris Party {Pinterest Inspiration}

Each year, the Engaging Affairs team joins forces with the ladies from ATrendy Wedding and Simply Chic Events to throw an end-of-summer networking party for the DC wedding and event industry. We've been doing this for five years now and it's always a fun way to see our friends in the business (while we're not working) before the wedding season kicks into high gear again.

This year we're doing an "ExPats in Paris" theme as an homage to the great American writers of the 1920s who fled to Paris where they drank Sidecars and Champagne cocktails and wrote gorgeous prose.  To get inspired, I've been gathering images on a Pinterest board so please check it out and let me know what you think.

What do you think of when you think of Paris in the 1920s?

Havana Nights {J & G’s Bridal Shower}

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As a wedding planner, you don’t often get the chance to help with all of the fun surrounding build up activities of the big day!  I always love hearing about the engagement party, bridal shower, bachelor/bachelorette parties, etc but last month I got the chance to plan and experience a gorgeous co-ed bridal shower!

I have blogged about this family in the past but watching this party unfold and all of the thought and details that the family put into it really touched my heart!  Guests came from Miami, New Jersey, North Carolina and more to surprise the bride with this special moment!

We distracted the bride by sending her and her sister on a girls’ night to the wonderful Liaison hotel where they enjoyed the rooftop pool- one of the hotel’s many attractive amenities!  The next day the bride’s sister dressed her up and sent the bride and the groom off to film a portion of their Love Story with Suburban Video! I love this option that Suburban features where clients get interviewed about their story and while doing something they love!  The first part was filmed at The Botanical Gardens in DC.  The second part will feature the bride and groom taking a trip to a local farmers market and cooking in their new home together!  So special!

Meanwhile, at her parents gorgeous home in Fairfax Station, VA, Ridgewells catering was setting up for an amazing Cuban feast featuring a mojito bar, guacamole station, passed hors d’oeuvres such as red mole beef empanadas and croquetas de jambon.  Yum!!  Amaryllis was setting the stage with an amazing floral display.  Rick truly outdid himself- do I say this every time I get the chance to work with him? Yes! The head tables were farm tables set under a rustic trellis accented with a variety of vines and flowers in apricot, orange, and yellow hues!  Simply stunning!

Trio Caliente serenaded the guests as they arrived while the talented Juan Carlos of Fotobriceno caught the guests socializing and catching up!

The family had arranged for the bride to wear a traditional Cuban dress in white with the bridesmaids matching in light blue! 

Then the big moment came.  The groom arrived with the bride and entered through the house and out the back door onto the deck.  Their immediate family was waiting to yell “Surprise!” and give tons of hugs!  We pulled it off!  She was totally surprised! 

As she entered the tent and saw all of her friends and family, I honestly became over come with emotion!  The look on everyone’s face is what makes it so memorable!  The guests dined on paella and grilled rockfish finishing up with some delicious flan! 

We then played a version of the newlywed game- the bride and groom, her parents, and her cousin and husband rocked at it!  Everyone was laughing and as you can tell in these pictures recounting many memories!  

The beautiful mother of the bride had some cakes baked for the occasion- one ring was buried in the cake and all of the single ladies at the shower pulled a string to see who got it!  Interesting part-- the bride was the one who got the ring at a friend’s shower right before the groom proposed!  Guess it does work!  We wrapped up with presents, cigars, and lots of cocktails into the evening!

The next day all of the guests returned for a brunch catered by Ridgewells which was equally as delicious!  Needless to say- I think it was a success!  Thank you to my amazing team who kept quiet and made this surprise a spectacular memory for all!

Special thanks to my co-planner team: the dynamic duo-- Sister and Mother of the Bride!!

Catering and tent: Polly Ernst of Ridgewells

Floral and Décor: Rick Davis of Amaryllis

Photography: Juan Carlos Briceno of FotoBriceno

Music: Trio Caliente of Bialek’s Music

Rentals: Party Rental Ltd

Videography: Love Story by Suburban Video

Xoxo,

Amanda

The Wedding Salon!

Thomas Bowen Video {Vendor Love}

 I'm a big fan of video for weddings because I think it captures so much that the couple misses because their wedding day flies by.  So many of my clients tell me that they're so glad they had video at their wedding, especially when they lose a grandparent or loved one shortly after.  Good video can really bring back the emotions of the day. Bad video should be outlawed.

One of the best videographers in DC (and an Engaging Affairs fave) is Thomas Bowen Films. We've known Tom Bowen for well over a decade and he's filmed tons of our weddings over the years. What we love about Tom is his quiet, easy-going manner and his ability to be so unobtrusive that clients have been known to ask if their videographer showed up.  Now that's unobtrusive!

Not only is Tom charming, his videos are beautifully edited and tug at your heartstrings.  I got teary watching one of the highlight videos he did for a recent couple (and after all these years, I never cry at weddings) and it wasn't even my client! He's that good.

Thanks, Tom, for all the years of amazing videos and for being such a delight to work with!

Beautiful Mandarin Oriental Wedding {Video}

We've been busy uploading videos to our new Engaging Affairs' YouTube channel and having a great time reliving the moments of some of our favorite weddings. 

Here is a gorgeous one from The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in DC. Check out our new channel for more short video clips of past Engaging Affairs' weddings!