Flaunt Your Rock!

Did you recently get engaged and are beaming with pride over the shiny rock on your finger? Do you have the best engagement ring ever? Well, it’s time to flaunt it for a chance to win a FREE Engagement Session AND a FREE 20 page Gold Guest Signature Album from Ever After Visuals.

The Details:

• Engaged couples only.
• Ceremony must be held in the Northern VA, DC, MD area.
• Submit 1 photograph of your ring & 1 photograph of yourselves (amateur photo’s only) by March 17th by e-mail only to Mindy@EverAfterVisuals.com. After submissions are closed, they will put all images back up on the blog for voting.
• Encourage all of your friends and family to vote for you. The ring with the most votes wins! Voting will begin on March 18th!

Everyone will be invited to cast their vote by leaving your name, a comment and the image number of the couple you are voting for.

Entries:
Submit by: 03/17/2010
Voting begins: 03/18/2010
Voting ends: midnight on 03/25/2010
Announce winner: 03/31/2010.

The prize the winner will receive:

• A FREE Engagement Session
• A FREE 20 page Gold Guest Signature Album

For a TOTAL VALUE OF: $500.00

Also because they appreciate you taking the time to vote, Ever After Visuals will give away 2 family portrait sessions as prizes! JUST FOR THE VOTERS! So be sure to leave an email address when you vote where they can contact you!

Don't send your photos or try to vote here. Bop on over to Ever After Visuals for more info. Good luck!

Jet-Setting Weddings

credits:
box of collectibles (Green Wedding Shoes blog), plane shot (Blue Door
Photography), passport program (SMP), boarding pass escort cards (SMP), postcard
Save the Date (Besotted Brand LLC on leblahg), suitcases (SMP), mini globes
(Elizabeth Demos), toy airplane (Style Me Pretty), compass (SMP), luggage tag
escort cards (SMP), passports (SMP), suitcases (SMP), map (Elizabeth Demos)

Our quick little jaunt down to Bimini Bay (with our crazy dash through the airport followed by a ride on a teeny tiny private plane) inspired us to think of travel-inspired weddings. Since so many D.C. weddings have guests flying in from all over the world, we have done some fab luggage tag favors and place cards. I also love the idea of using a giant map for guest seating. Guests find their "escort card" flag according to where they are from. A fun conversation starter! Enjoy!

"On Love" in The Washington Post {Danielle and Nick}

Check out the fabulous Engaging Affairs wedding of Danielle and Nick featured in The Washington Post. More photos of the swanky 1940s style wedding to come!

A Night to Remember

Saturday was the first beautiful day we've had in DC in many months. So, it would be fitting that our girl Amy would be married amongst the sunshine and excitement. I was reminded once again, I still haven't given so many of you the look at my own wedding you have been asking for. So, before Amy returns from fabulous Fiji, I've decided to get my butt in gear and recognize all the amazing people who made my own wedding a night I will never forget. So, here we go!


The weekend kicked off Friday evening when my husband and I hosted friends and family at Le Bar, the chic bar in the Sofitel. The highlight of the evening, my surprise groom's cake made by the amazing Kendall of Kendall's Cakes. Her carrot cake is so full of stuff it could be considered a meal, and it's my favorite! So, back to the cake, I tasked Kendall to create a bust of Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. (Someone is a big RayRay fan) For her first bust, she hit a home run (or perhaps scored a touchdown is more fitting)! Thanks Kendall for creating this kick butt surprise!


Festivities the next day began at noon when two ladies I work with often came to beautify me and my wedding party. What a treat to be the one in the hair and make up seat! Susie Rucksthul did my hair, a very "me" messy bun in the back, finished with a fragrant gardenia, no veil, ala my mom who did the same thing on her wedding day. Pattie Martin, perfectionist that she is, worked her magic on my face. I felt so special!

By about 4pm, the wonderful Justine Ungaro and Jenni Green arrived to start photographing the excitement and Jenny Lehman arrived to start video coverage. I have worked with all of these ladies so many times in the past, but I have never been on the other side of the lens.

Putting on my dress was so exciting. If I had the choice, I would NEVER take it off! It was SO me. I'm actually thinking about dying it black. It would be perfectly appropriate to wear to a ball or gala in the future...if I went to any of those. The lovely ladies at Hitched Bridal Salon in Georgetown helped me find my stunning Oscar de la Renta gown.


Yes! I wore red shoes. My mother and I always say, red feet are happy feet :) Seeing my future husband for the first time, I can't even remember what I was thinking. My face sure shows some good emotion though!


After a traditional Jewish ceremony at the US Chamber of Commerce, guests danced the night away to the sounds of Billy Joel, Journey and Frankie Valli performed by New Monopoly, one of my favorite bands. As if I had any clue that someone could surprise me, my parents came through with flying colors. My husband and I met at the University of Maryland and remain huge Terps fans. (our football team of late has been unimpressive but our basketball team just beat Duke to tie them for #1 in the ACC!) So my parents arranged for the Maryland mascot, Testudo, to make a special appearance on our big day. Go Mom and Dad!


Two of my favorite things from the wedding were the gourmet popcorn bar complete with red and white striped popcorn boxes and the live painting of the event Irena Koren did. It's hanging in our dining room, and it's quite a conversation piece.




A huge thank you goes out to Jeffrey Fox and his crew at Capital Decor and Events for helping to carry out my vision for the ceremony and reception space. The classic green and white with a modern black punch was just what I was looking for. Digital Lightning polished off the event with uplighting in green chosen by Laura Weatherly. Thank you also to Ray Bialek of Bialek's Music and John Knudson for the ceremony and cocktail entertainment.


I hope you enjoyed!
Sara

Live Painting!

One of favorite new weddings trends is live panting at weddings. Well, I guess it isn't so new since we've been doing it for a year now but it is still fabulous! There are several talented painters in the D.C. area who will paint a scene from your wedding (usually the ceremony or first dance but it could be anything) during the wedding.

So, not only do your guests get to watch the painting unfold but you have a gorgeous and totally unique keepsake from your wedding. So it is part entertainment and part wedding memento. Our very own Sara even had a live painter at her wedding this past November. What better endorsement?

Best Wishes to Amy & Clark!

Photo courtesy of Juan Carlos Briceno of Fotobriceno

Best wishes to our very own Amy and Clark on their wedding tomorrow! We know it will be an amazing day!

It's Official!

We're excited to announce that yesterday it became official. DC courts started registering same sex couples to receive marriage licenses. Now, with just a short three business day waiting period, couples will legally be able to marry on Tuesday in the District. Congratulations!

Anne Barge at Hitched!

We’re thrilled to spread the word that renowned bridal designer Anne Barge is now at Hitched! You’ve seen her gowns in magazines, on celebrities, and now you can try them on for yourself! Anne Barge has been designing gowns for decades, and she’s a legend in the industry for her opulent embroidery, flattering silhouettes, and ability to make every bride feel elegant and romantic on her wedding day. Please visit Hitched for the first-ever Anne Barge Trunk Show on Friday and Saturday, March 12th and 13th.

What: Anne Barge Trunk Show

When: Friday, March 12th and Saturday, March 13th
(by appointment only)

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

What Else:
~10% off all Anne Barge bridal gowns purchased during the trunk show
~ The chance to get a sneak peek at Anne Barge’s newest bridal collection
~ Options for your gown with a representative from Anne Barge

More upcoming Hitched trunk shows:

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

Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase

Last Sunday (not yesterday), we were one of the exhibitors at the first ever Mid-Atlantic Green Showcase. What a fun time! Run expertly by Lori Hill and a huge team of volunteers, the event was so smooth and seamless.

All the vendors involved showcased their green initiatives or products. Caterers had yummy locally-sourced food for brides to sample, stationers showcased recycled papers and we talked to couples about the "100 mile" events we've done and the ways we reduce waste at weddings.

We were lucky enough to be across from Design Cuisine and their Baked Alaska Brownie Sticks (one of my all-time favorite desserts) so we stayed on a sugar high most of the day. We've done a few locally-sourced weddings with Design Cuisine where everything comes from farms or bodies of water within one hundred miles and we love how they have been pushing their events to be more green.

A big thanks to everyone who put on such a fun show and to all the brides who came out to support eco-friendly wedding vendors.

DC ISES GALA 2010

It's that time of year again. Well, the real time just passed. Since January I have been hard at work on this years' entry for the DC ISES Gala Awards. I've been lucky enough to have my past three wedding entries nominated and I'm hoping to go for nomination number 4!

The wedding I entered this year was an event of global proportions. Anbinh and Jeffrey met in Northern Virgina over 6 years ago, but came from very different places and thus, their wedding and guest list spanned the world.


The day consisted of 1 reception, 2 ceremonies and 3 wardrobe changes. Beginning early Sunday morning, Anbinh and Jeffrey held a Vietnamese Tea Ceremony at their home in Fairfax, VA. The couple celebrated the brides culture as both families participated in the ceremony.


We then moved everyone into DC to prep for the evening's Western ceremony and reception all to take place at the stunning Ronald Reagan Building in it's various event spaces.

The bride had very specific decor ideas and her inspiration of the male peacock's feathers provided a great color pallet while not being outrageous.

Thank to Suburban Video, here is a link to a video montage of their epic day.

Enjoy the photos provided by the fabulous Rodney Bailey and I will keep you posted on the results!

Sara