We Have A Winner!

Congratulations to Kathryn for winning two free tickets to the Washingtonian Bride and Groom show this Sunday! Kathryn, send me an email (laura@engagingaffairs.com) with the names of the two people attending and we will get you hooked up. Thanks to everyone for entering!

Even if you didn't win the free tickets, you can get your tickets for the show at 25% off the regular price by entering special promo code WEDD at online checkout: www.washingtonian.com/unveiled

See you there!
Laura

5 Amazing Venues, 7 Fabulous Honeymoons, 1 Showstopping Wedding Show!

The Engaged Wedding Show on Friday, February 5th is shaping up to be the event of the season! And I don't say that only because we will be part of the show. Each of the five hotels (The Willard, The Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, The St. Regis and The Hay-Adams) will be hosting a team of vendors to create an amazing display at the property. Although the details of each team's plan are top secret, I can tell you that our team has some amazing ideas and couples will see some spectacular ideas for everything from flowers to wedding cakes to music. Plus, couples who come to The Willard Hotel on the night of the show will have the chance to win a honeymoon to Paris! How cool is that?

Couples will get to ride complimentary shuttle buses between the five hotels from 5-10pm so that they don't miss a thing (and get to enter all the honeymoon giveaways--7 in all!) You really shouldn't miss this event. There will be great giveaways, the top wedding vendors in the city, and amazing swag!

Engaged is limiting the number of tickets sold to be sure that everyone can get to all the properties without a wait so be sure to get your ticket before they're gone! We hope to see you at The Willard!
Laura

Christos Trunk Show at Hitched!

Announcing the newest addition to the fabulous collection of designers at Hitched – Christos! Designed by Amsale (you love her Amsale line already carried at Hitched), the Christos line evokes a feeling of romance, femininity, and old-world glam. Amsale’s Christos gowns showcase the finest silks, French laces, and silk organzas and we think you’ll love their dreamy, romantic quality!

To welcome this fantastic collection to Hitched, don't miss the first ever Christos Trunk Show, Friday and Saturday, January 29th and 30th.

What: Christos Trunk Show

When: Friday, January 29th and Saturday, January 30th
(by appointment only)

RSVP: 202-333-6162 or appointments@hitchedsalon.com

What Else:
~ 10% off all Christos bridal gowns purchased during the trunk show
~ The chance to get a sneak peek at the Christos 2010 bridal collection
~The opportunity to discuss customization options for your gown with a Christos representative

Check out the other amazing trunk shows coming to Hitched. Email appointments@hitchedsalon.com or 202-333-6162 to schedule an appointment.

Modern Trousseau Mother of the Occasion Trunk Show
Friday, February 5th

Modern Trousseau Bridal Trunk Show
Friday and Saturday, February 5th and 6th

Jorge Manuel Trunk Show
Friday and Saturday, February 19th & 20th

Anna Maier~Ulla-Maija Trunk Show
Friday and Saturday, February 26th & 27th

Judd Waddell Trunk Show
Friday and Saturday, March 5th & 6th

Anne Barge Trunk Show
Friday and Saturday, March 12th & 13th

Amsale Bridal Trunk Show
Friday and Saturday, March 19th & 20th

Amsale Bridesmaids Buying Party
Thursday, March 25th

Amsale Bridesmaids Trunk Show
Thursday-Saturday, March 25th-27th

Keep Them Coming! {Fabulous DC Venues, Part 4}

Oh, the fabulous options! We keep them coming here in Part 4 of our DC Venue Series. There are a ton of venues, all so unique, here in our nation's capital. Whether nestled downtown or boasting views of the Potomac, there is no question that DC absolutely offers a vast array of possibilities!

photo of Carnegie Institution by Jay Premack

Carnegie Institution for Science
Proudly standing on 16th Street NW, Carnegie offers a museum setting while still keeping in tact a very intimate gathering. I adore the atrium {pictured above} for dancing the night away! If the weather cooperates, you can even open the large doors in the atrium and have an outstanding view of the city during your ceremony, cocktail hour or dancing.

photo by Michael Kress

The Washington Club
This historic property right in the heart of DC is a fantastic location for anyone hosting a large amount of guests. The Ballroom has fantastic chandeliers and the Auditorium holds up to 180 guests with dancing - perfect mix for a large guest count to remain in the same space together without losing the historic home setting.

photo courtesy of The Washington Club

Newseum
Floor to ceiling windows over looking downtown DC are the trademark of the Newseum event space. And don't forget about the stunning view from the 7th & 8th floor terrace of the Capital! Wolfgang Puck is the in-house caterer and the staff is sure to take great care of any couple hosting their wedding at this fabulous DC venue.

photo by Love Life Images

Sequoia

Sequoia offers a modern twist with an outstanding view of the Potomac. The main dining room transforms from the everyday restaurant setting and takes on your unique style for dinner and dancing. The service staff takes wonderful care of your guests and you can't beat how willing the Executive Chef is to make your food and beverage experience truly what you want it to be!

photo by Fotobriceno

Mayflower Hotel
One of the most fabulous hotels in the city, The Mayflower has all the glitz and glamor a girl could ask for. The Promenade is a photographers dream and the ballroom is nothing short of absolutely stunning. We adore the ornate decor and the space begs for a big band and dancing into the night!

two above photos by Justine Ungaro

Happy planning!
xoxo,
Amy Lorraine

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.