The Case for a REAL Bow Tie

I would have to say the number of times a year anyone in one of my wedding parties wears a real bow tie is probably between 1 and 5%.  Not so much.  This past weekend, I had advance notice that the gentlemen would, in fact, be wearing real bow ties and may need assistance in tying them.  No problem, I'm a pro!

Only the week before the wedding did I completely understand why this was the much desired choice of the mother of the bride.  I received the picture below in an e mail explaining that if you are not wearing the real thing, this look is simply not possible.

Needless to say, my mouth dropped.  How RIGHT she is!  The attractive look was spotted by more than one groomsman by the end of the night.  I am officially inspired!

Sara

Mason Jars? Say It Isn't So!

Most people who know me, also know that the improper use of Mason jars at weddings can send me over the edge. Like wanting to use Mason jars in a formal museum setting or if the couple has never actually used a Mason jar in real life (for something other than a drinking a cocktail at someone else's rustic-chic wedding).

So it's shocking that I actually endorse these adorable and practical Mason jars with lids pre-cut for straws.  It grieves me that I think they are "pinch me cute" and am thinking of ordering some for myself. Oh, the shame.  But, seriously, aren't they clever?

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Honeymoon Planner!

Top 10 Reasons to use a Honeymoon Planner

10. You are on your own to fix your own problems if you’ve booked your own trip.
With a travel agent experienced in honeymoon travel you get 24 hour 7 days a week customer service department so you are never alone. You don’t need to waste your time and money on your holiday fixing problems. When you book your travels with a travel agent you are never alone.

9. In today’s Internet-savvy world, many people choose to take control of their travel plans, and we’ve all heard the horror stories – undisclosed travel times, the luxury hotel suite that was anything but luxury or the lackluster tour guide. Some travelers like the risk and “adventure” of do-it-yourself traveling. But, the more discerning traveler knows to let a travel specialist do what they do best. If you are looking for a fun adventure, see more about Costa Rica & Belize Adventures.

8. Their buying power is greater than yours. Experienced travel agents come with a lot of clout because they move a lot of people and have contacts at many hotels and destinations that can work to your advantage that you would not have if you booked your trip on your own. They have gained first-hand knowledge of all global destinations offered, allowing them to plan the ultimate vacation. Because of the personal relationships they’ve established with global hoteliers, clients often are treated to complimentary breakfast, food & beverage credits or priority upgrades. Read more about Elite Services

7. You were certain that the resort you’d booked for your honeymoon was on the water because you could see it plain and clear in the photo on their web site. Turns out there was a highway between your room and the ocean. A honeymoon travel specialist will help you find the right room and view to meet your needs and your budget…they have the knowledge to help you determine the difference between oceanfront and ocean view. Check out Jade Mountain in St. Lucia (above) where all the rooms have infinity pools and views of the Caribbean Sea.

6. Your room was the most affordable in the resort which gave you the best “value” like the web site promised, but that meant it was nearest to the street and in front of the disco that was open all night, so you never got to sleep and still can’t get that ABBA tune out of your head. Let the professional’s help you plan your honeymoon…that’s what a honeymoon planner is for.

5. All of your friends who booked through a luxury travel advisor had special passes for a private tour of the Vatican, except for you, so you stood in line for three hours in the hot sun, just to see the main rooms. While you were waiting your friends met the Pope and then went off to sip Prosecco cocktails in the garden of the Hotel du Russie. Want a European honeymoon?

4. You didn’t realize until you got to the airport that your passport needed to have at least six months on your passport before it expired. Now you know! So, you’ll go next year. Let the travel professionals help you with the details of planning your vacation. See a Youtube video on the MALDIVES.

3. A honeymoon specialist is your advocate; someone who is accountable for the time and money you are investing. Travel specialists works for you, not for hotels, cruise lines or airlines. Learn about how to customize your Tailor-Made Journey.

2. Honeymoon specialists travel the planet in search of the most romantic destinations and the search still goes on.  Some even offer a Honeymoon Gift Registry.

1. With the million and one things you have to do before your wedding day, a honeymoon specialist will take a huge item off your "to-do" list (or keep you from nagging your fiance to do it). Enough said.


Thanks to Teresa from Honeymoon Islands for her tips. Honeymoon Islands has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Great Escapes as offering the most unique romantic honeymoon ideas and locations. They also currently serve on the travel advisory board for Islands Magazine, Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Magazine, Spa Magazine, Caribbean Travel + Life Magazine. See the travel specials and recommendations posted on their Facebook page.

Grids Waffles {Food Trucks for Weddings}

One of the fun DC wedding trends is having food trucks. Enter Grids Waffles!  This fun company makes gourmet, fabulously flavored waffles stuffed with deluxe sweet and savory fillings. Check out some of the offerings:

I Know What You Grid Last Summer                                                               

Chocolate Chips, Strawberries, Whip Cream

Nitty Griddy                                                                                                      

Nutella, Bananas, Whip Cream

Grids S’mores Waffle                                                                                       

Chocolate Chips, Marshmallows, Graham Cracker Crumbs, Whip Cream

Gridlicious                                                                                                      

Bacon and Syrup

Griddy Up & Go                                                                                                

Bacon, Cream Cheese, Fresh Green Onions

Great Grids of Fire

Nacho Waffle w/Jalapenos, Melted Cheese, Sour Cream, Salsa

Forgridden Love                                                                                             

Red Velvet Waffle, Cream Cheese Frosting, Whip Cream

P-Griddy

Pizza Waffle w/Mozerella Cheese, Pizza Sauce, Fresh Basil, Garlic Salt

They will even create custom flavors for your wedding. Talk about a fun treat at the end of the night (or as guests wait for their cars at the valet stand). Yum!

Wish Upon a Star Winner! {Jorge Manuel & Hitched}

You may remember a couple of months back we helped announce the Wish Upon A Star contest sponsored by Hitched and wedding designer Jorge Manuel. With 6 amazing finalists and over 3000 public votes, it was an exciting race to the finish. The lovely Farisa Dastvar won the gorgeous Eternal Flame gown by Jorge Manuel. She assembled an exuberant crew of friends and family to help her celebrate the exciting news! 

Hitched was especially thankful to their amazing partners for helping to create a great event. The guests were treated to delicious fare by Design Cuisine, beautiful Flowers By Sidra, and fun party favors (personalized note cards) by Meant to be Calligraphy. 

In addition to a custom gown by Jorge Manuel, Farisa got to spend the night at the luxurious Fairmont Hotel (oh what a treat!).

All photos are courtesy of Chris Anderson at Route 1 MutltiMeida.

Congratulations Farisa!!

Sugarplum Tents {Vendor Love}

We have been working with Davis Richardson and his team at Sugarplum Tents for over 15 years and they are one of our "dream team" vendors. Davis knows so much about tenting and always goes the extra mile to make sure events run perfectly. I've had Davis personally stay on-site for an entire wedding just to make sure that everything is flawless. Not many company owners do that!

Sugarplum has set up tents for us on horse farms, in back yards, on super yachts (on of our most memorable events, especially when it monsooned!) and everywhere in between.  He knows what type of tent works in what space and how to get the job done with the least damage to landscaping.

I love his clear span tents (check out the one at the Gaylord National Riverview Terrace in the two photos above) and also the new sailcloth tents he has.  Sugarplum can also add fabric liners, twinkle lights, dance floors and staging.

Thanks Davis and Sugarplum for always making out tented events look spectacular!

Vintage Opulence {Lia and Hudson} Part Two

Lia and Hudson's spectacular wedding continued after the gorgeous ceremony with cocktails outside on the upstairs terrace overlooking the Washington Monument and featured their signature cocktail "La Vie En Rose."

Guests enjoyed a raw bar and cocktails before returning inside for the dinner.

While guests were enjoying cocktails, the design and catering teams transformed the space into a stunning setting for dinner and dancing. I loved featuring the showpiece cake under the sheer ceremony canopy.  The boxwoods were moved to create a wall in front of the dining tables and the enormous urns flanked the guests' entrance into dinner. Talk about a wow factor!

Amaryllis designed the long rectangular tables with silver candleabra and running arrangements of garden roses and greenery. Thanks you Rick!!!  You are so talented and fun to work with!

The table were set with gold chargers, porcelain pheasant plates and gold-rimmed stemware. Gold-edged menu cards were tucked inside linen hemstiched napkins for the final touch.  We sourced rentals from DC Rental, Perfect Settings and Party Rental to come up with the perfect combination.

After guests were invited into the main room, the groom toasted his bride and introduced the a capella group from his alma mater, the University of Maryland.  "The Generics" were a fabulous way to kick off the evening's entertainment and were so much fun!

Loved these guys!!

Lia and Hudson took to the dance floor for their first romantic spin around the floor. Talk about a couple madly in love!

Then guests were treated to a six course dinner (featuring everything from a salad and pasta course to a sorbet palette cleanser and lobster tails to the almond brickle ice cream) from the amazing Jeff Judy and his team at Federal City. Jeff was an absolute dream to work with and the food was out of this world!

The bride and groom cut the Sylvia Weinstock cake after dinner and I felt like crying because it was almost too beautiful to cut!  Sylvia had created a towering old-world style confection using edible gold foil and fresh flowers that was drop-dead gorgeous.

In keeping with the wedding's vintage style, the bride displayed Victorian wedding memorabilia and had guests write notes to them and gathered these on an antique tray.

Even the ladies' room had decadent toiletries displayed on antique trays. 

After dinner, everyone rocked out to the Gerard Carelli Orchestra!

Departing guests were given crystal Tiffany bowls wrapped in the groom's tartan ribbon and tied with Jordan almonds.  Each favor included a personal note to the guest. Such a lovely touch!

Gentleman were offered cigars as they left!

In perfect style, Lia and Hudson left their reception in a vintage car from Regal Limousines for a moonlight tour of the monuments.

This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime wedding and I feel lucky to have been a part of it. Lia and Hudson and their families and friends were all so wonderful that it didn't even feel like work.  Congratulations Lia and Hudson!!

Special thanks to Greg Gibson, as always, for capturing the joy and beauty of the day.  Thanks to Linda Lindamood from Linder and Associates for the flawless transportation during a busy IMF weekend. Thanks to the wonderful team at The Mellon (Heather, Sarah, Jenna and Nicole) for making the day run so smoothly, thanks to Liz and Joe from DC Rental for all their hard work and to all three rental companies who contributed to the table settings (and to my associate Amanda for sorting it all out), thanks to Matt at Nomad for sound production, thanks to Perkins for the white dance floor, and thanks to Christina at the Willard for hosting the rooms, welcome reception and rehearsal dinner.  Most of all, thank you to my amazing assistants Amanda and Krista.  This team was such a dream team!

Vintage Opulance {Lia and Hudson} Part One

Lia and Hudson's wedding was truly incredible. And considering the number of amazing weddings I've had the privilege to plan, that's really saying something.  I started working with Lia over two years before her wedding date and got to really know and love her, her mother and the groom.  One of the things I love about Lia is her enthusiasm. She has such incredible joy and energy that she brings to everything she does. Her wedding was no exception!

Lia also has a very distinct style and a laser-like attention to detail. She and her mother designed the wedding to incorporate their love of vintage pieces (especially Victorian), intricate detailing and a gracious opulence that has been lost in modern life. 

The wedding day started with Lia getting ready at The Willard Hotel with the talented Giselle doing hair and Kim Giammarria doing makeup (and Engaging Affairs' favorite Greg Gibson shooting images and goofing with the bride above).  I loved that Lia and her mom wore matching silk pajamas as they got ready. I'm not kidding when I say that every detail was thought out.

Lia's gown took my breath away. I loved the Empire waist, illusion sleeves and embellished bodice. This gown had such old world elegance and was so different from so many of the wedding gowns I see.  Thank you Lia and Kate Middleton for reminding us that sleeves are beautiful! To accent her gown, Lia carried a small clutch of lily-of-the-valley in an antique silver tussy-mussy holder.

Meanwhile, the handsome groom got dressed in another part of the hotel.

I love the "first look" that the couple have of each other on the wedding day. It's so special when they have a few moments to really enjoy it like Lia and Hudson did.

Our phenomenal photographer Greg Gibson took the couple outside for some classic DC shots before the ceremony.

Then it was off to The Andrew Mellon Auditorium for the ceremony. While Lia and Hudson and their party had been getting ready at the hotel, a massive crew of catering staff, designers, drape specialists, lighting techs and musicians had been setting up The Mellon for the wedding.

Rick Davis from Amaryllis and his fabulous staff used boxwood, greenery and garden roses to create a dramatic and romantic setting for the ceremony. Garlands were draped over doorways and across the balcony and candles lined the aisle.

Sheer white panels from AVista Designs hung between the towering columns and across the room to create the backdrop for the ceremony.

A sheer white canopy tied back with swags of greenery sat over a long white table lined with silver candleabra and candle sticks as the focal point for the ceremony. The effect was ethereal and magical.

Digital Lightning uplit the drapes and columns to add to the romantic setting. Stunning!

I loved the pretty pewter bridesmaids' gowns and the antique pink rose bouquets they carried!

The bride made her dramatic entrance solo then joined her parents at the canopy.

The ceremony was designed by the couple and included readings from family and personalized vows.

The bride is bursting with joy!  This is what it's all about.

A quick kiss on the steps of The Mellon before the reception begins. Stay tuned tomorrow for the unbelievable reception! 

Thanks to Greg Gibson for his images that, as always, capture the day perfectly.