A Glamorous Mandarin DC Wedding {Robin + Brian}

I loved working with Robin and Brian on their wedding, and I wasn't the only person who felt that way about this fun couple! 

The bride and her girls began their day getting ready in the amazing Presidential Suite at the Mandarin Oriental surrounded by hairstylists and makeup artists from Progressions Salon.   Once they were done getting dolled up, they began photos.  The bride and groom chose to see each other before the ceremony so they could enjoy every moment of their cocktail hour after the wedding. 

 After the Ketubah signing and as we were about to begin seating guests outside in the garden, storm clouds rolled in and brought rain and winds.  Thanks to the help of Bret and the Mandarin team, we were able to secure the chuppah to keep it from blowing away until the storm passed just a few moments later.  Armed with towels in hand, we were able to get all of the chairs dry so that we could continue with the outside ceremony, as planned. This "can do" spirit is one of the many reasons we love working at The Mandarin!!

 

Cocktails took place in the Ballroom foyer and once the doors to the Ballroom opened, thanks to Free Spirit, each and every guest jumped on the dancefloor and with the exception of dinner, they stayed on the dancefloor the entire night.

 Thanks to the fabulous team of vendors who helped make the amazing day happen:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Bret Freedman, MandarinOriental

Flowers and Décor:  Capitol Decor

Photographer: Bryan Blanken & Pablo Sartor:  FreedPhotography

Videographer: Two-Layer CinemaCake

Band: Free Spirit, Entertainment Exchange

Makeup: Progressions Salon

Congratulations Robin + Brian!

xoxo

Christine

Oscar Comes to Saks Jandel!

Sareh Nouri at Love Couture {Trunk Shows}

Honeymoon Attire {Sheriden French}

Check out this fun new collection of honeymoon perfect clothes from Sheriden French! With bright and bold exotic motifs inspired from world travels, this collection of stunning tunics, shifts, maxi skirts, shorts and more make a fun statement for any newly-wed bride! Below are a few favorites from the collection. 

Happy shopping!!

DC Area Wedding Venues {Fabulous Resorts}

Today we're highlighting a few of our favorite properties that are not right in the heart of DC, resort properties that are still close enough to the city to make it an easy trip but far enough away to feel like another world.


Keswick Hall

We've done quite a few fabulous weddings at Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, Virginia and we can't get enough of the stunning property and relaxed Southern hospitality. UVA grads love this property and often pair it with a ceremony at the UVA Chapel. The hotel is also perfect for a couple looking for a charming spot for a destination wedding as the area offers lots for guests to do from wine tastings to golf to tours of Monticello. An Engaging Affairs favorite!

The Inn at Perry Cabin

Our couples love the Eastern Shore of Maryland because it's an easy getaway from the city but is charming and quaint. The Inn at Perry Cabin sits on the water in St. Michaels and provides a gracious backdrop for waterfront ceremonies. We love tenting the lawn for a truly gracious reception.

The Omni at Bedford Springs

The Omni at Bedford Springs is only a couple of hours away from DC but it feels like you've stepped into another world. The classic resort evokes the Old South with rocking chairs and long porches extending the entire length of the hotel. Perfect for intimate weddings, we love the outside ceremony options as well as the charming reception rooms.

The Inn at Little Washington

The world-renowned restaurant has always been a go-to spot for true foodies wanting an intimate affair but now the property is expanding to host larger weddings by tenting the property. If you love fine cuisine and attention to detail, this is the venue for you!

DC Wedding Venues {Small Hotels}

above image of The St. Regis ballroom by Steve Canning Photography

We love some of DC's intimate hotels. If you're planning a wedding for around 150 guests, be sure to check out these lovely options. They are unique, often historic and have tons of character. No basic ballrooms here!


The St. Regis

This stunning hotel features an elegant ballroom as well as a tented patio right in the heart of the city. Step right out of the hotel's garden gates and take your photos in front of The White House!

above photos by Fotobriceno

The Hay-Adams

The enclosed rooftop of this charming jewel of a hotel has perhaps the best view in the city-- overlooking The White House and the Washington Monument! The hotel also features a classic ballroom with rich wood details and the light-filled Lafayette Room.

photos by Connor Studios

The Hotel Monaco

We love the chic style of this hotel-- such a fun blend of modern detailing in a historic DC building. Dramatic staircases, wide hallways and a fabulously cool ballroom with built-in bookshelves!

 above images by Love Life Images

The Tabard Inn

You can't get more intimate than this sweet and classic downtown inn. With a charming courtyard and rooms with fireplaces, pianos and original art, this venue is perfect for a couple who wants something truly unique!

above photos by Sweet Tea Photography

DC Wedding Venues {Unique Large Hotels}

photo by Fotobriceno

Welcome back to our DC Wedding Venue Review!  Last week we highlighted some favorite modern venues, grand spaces and historic homes. Now we're showing you the best of DC's fabulous hotels!

Often, we have couples come to us saying they don't want a hotel wedding. If they've only seen sterile hotel meeting rooms or boring ballrooms, we don't blame them.  But DC is home to some really gorgeous and unique hotels. Hotels that are historic sites in and of themselves.  A wedding in one of these beauties is anything but boring!

Because we're lucky enough to have lots of fabulous hotel options, we're dividing our review into larger hotels, small hotels and resort properties. Up today-- our favorite of the city's unique larger hotels.


The Mandarin Oriental

We love working at The Mandarin and have had some of our favorite weddings there since the hotel opened. We love the garden for a ceremony or cocktails and the small garden rooms that open onto the outdoor space. The ballrooms are stunning and can handle larger groups so we've had more than a few Indian weddings here but they are also ideal for a couple that likes an elegant and sophisticated ballroom. And the hotel's suites are amazing (especially the Presidential) and its spa is to-die-for!

photo by Robert Isacson

The Fairmont

This beautiful hotel has the advantages of a larger hotel with the intimate feel of a small one. You can choose to have your wedding in the glass-walled Colonnade for a smaller group or in the recently renovated ballroom for a larger group. We love both spaces and you can't beat the stunning courtyard for photos or cocktails!

The Colonnade

The Ballroom

The Willard

We love the Willard's history, its amazing location and the unique character of each of its event spaces.  You can have your ceremony or reception in the Crystal room with soaring marble columns, in the Willard Room with rich wood detail or in the mural-topped ballroom. And did we mention the stunning suites with views that will take your breath away?

The Willard Room

The Crystal Room

Grand Ballroom photo by Justine Ungaro

The Omni Shoreham

We love the outside gazebo and the number of ballroom options available. This hotel is truly flexible with ballrooms ranging from intimate to spacious and each completely unique, from built-in stages to columns to wall murals. And the gorgeous lobby space and hotel restaurant make the perfect gathering spot for guests!

DC Wedding Venues {Historic Homes}

photo by Greg Gibson

We're rounding off the week with a few of our favorite historical wedding venues. Lots of people love DC for its history and for the buildings that have played a part in it. And if you love the Federal style, you're in luck! Most of these spaces are perfect for weddings of 150 guests or fewer.

Meridian House

We adore this beautiful home nestled in the city with its European architecture, stone fountain tucked among the Linden trees and lovely gardens. Couples can use the inside of the historic home as well as the outside, lending it true flexibility (and great rain plans).

 photo by Fotobriceno

Decatur House

Location, location, location! Decatur House is located right next to The White House and carries with it plenty of history. We love the fact that you can tent the pretty courtyard and use the newly renovated Carriage House to give your event an easy flow.

 photo by Greg Gibson

Dumbarton House

We love the gardens of this pretty Georgetown house. It also has a lower ballroom and terrace for tenting but the charming gardens are what guests will remember!

photo by Holland Photo Arts

Anderson House

For a truly intimate wedding of around 100 or fewer guests, this exclusive venue is worth exploring. We love the pretty back garden and the airy atrium space that looks into the formal ballroom.

photos by Greg Gibson

We'll continue next week by showcasing some of our favorite hotels in the city and some off-the-beaten-path venues. Have a great weekend!