Washington DC Weddings, Maryand Weddings, Virginia Weddings :: United With Love™ :: Fresh Inspiration, Ideas and Vendors

Happy Weekend!

julianne — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:19 +0000

So, what did you think? Are you going to register for your wedding or have you decided against it? If there is anything we missed in our wedding registry series that we wrapped up this week, let me know! You know, we’ll dig to the bottom and find you an answer! If you are looking for something wedding related to do this weekend, there are a few great trunk shows happening in the area. In the meantime, I hope you and yours have a great weekend! I know I’m looking forward to a little relaxing, myself. See you back here Monday!

A few links for you…

Want to learn how to bake like Duff Goldman?
Don’t miss this discount on paper props!
Wedding cake trends for spring.
Enjoy a discount on this wedding invite collection!
The difference between roses.
Local taste maker talks elegant farm weddings!

… and what you missed right here!

Colorful Old Town Alexandria engagement.
Wedding thank you cards inspiration.
First installment our our splurge vs. save series.
Multicultural french country wedding and reception.
Local wedding registries in the DC-area.
A vineyard inspired wedding ceremony and reception.

Photo Credits: An Endless Pursuit

Old Town Alexandria Engagement: Sara + Matt

Ally — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:32 +0000

There’s nothing sweeter than love in the springtime—add in a pop of yellow and a seriously well-dressed couple, and you’ve got a picture perfect equation for fun engagement shots. Sara and Matt (and their infectious smiles) wanted lots of color incorporated in their Virginia engagement session and headed to Big Wheel Bikes for their infamous bright yellow brick wall for some photo fun with Birds of a Feather Photography. And can we give these two lovebirds a round of applause for their great sense of style!?

Congratulations Sara and Matt!

Looking for more on engagements? Check out other local DC-area engagement photography sessions, or find out what to wear for your engagement and how to do your make-up for your engagement session!

Photo Credits: Birds of a Feather Photography

Inspiration: Wedding Thank You Cards

Kelly — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:47 +0000

No wedding gift is complete without a proper thank you! So, to round out our wedding registry series, we wanted to give you a little inspiration for thanking all your guests for those lovely gifts! A handwritten thank you note still goes a long way, especially when it looks as beautiful as these that we’ve rounded up. A little gold foil, a perfect pattern, express your gratitude with one of these pretties!

Card by Smock

Card by Fig. 2 Design

Cards by Haute Papier

Cards by Rifle Paper Co. (Left, Right)

Card by Striped Cat Studio

Card by Fig. 2 Design

Card by Elli

Card by Smock

Card by Fine Day Press

Cards by Tabibi Design

Cards by Haute Papier

And, you’ll need something to make all of those return addresses, so what about a hand-lettered wooden stamp?

Calligraphy stamp by Meant to Be Calligraphy

Splurge vs. Save: Part 1

julianne — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:40 +0000

Time to get real about wedding budgets and priorities in the DC area again! We went to real married couples who planned their wedding in the Washington, DC area and asked them what they splurged on and what they saved on. If you’ve never planned a wedding before, it can be tough to even know where to start with developing priorities. And, remember you must set priorities! Margo, owner of Bright Occasions, a wedding planning and coordination company in Washington, DC, checked in with some of her couples to find out their priorities and how they wrestled with the finances. This is a three part series, as we’ll be profiling three different couples who were married in the DC area. Take it away, Margo…

Photo Credit: Stephen Voss Photography

When planning a wedding in the DC area there are a lot of factors to consider, and almost every couple will have to determine a budget. This can often be a stressful experience due to all of the areas you’ll have to think about, such as how much you can afford to put towards a wedding, area pricing, how many guests you will invite and when and where to host this special day. There are many online tools out there to “create a budget,” but these tools do not typically account for your location or guest list.

It can be very beneficial to work with a wedding planner (See: Full list of DC area wedding planners.) to create a customized budget based on your situation. I like for couples to think about what is important to them as I am creating an itemized budget for their wedding. I start by having couples pick their “three must haves,” so I know what must be weighted higher than other areas. No matter how much money is available, I believe that having an itemized budget is important to keep you organized. And, it just makes planning a lot smoother.

Keeping this idea, to pick what is important to you while creating a budget, I thought it would be helpful for couples in the area to see where others have “Splurged” or “Saved” for their wedding. This is from a real couple of mine who were married at Dahlgren Chapel with a reception at the Metropolitan Club:

Where did you splurge on your wedding, what was the area/expense?

What I can say for sure is that the biggest expense was the venue, which also served as the caterer and bar. It was approximately 75% of our total budget. (See: Full list of DC area venues and caterers in the DC area.)

Where did you save on your wedding, what was the area/expense?

We saved in two main areas. My dad saved on alcohol by restricting the bartender to beer and wine only for the last hour. Alcohol is very expensive for most caterers, but we didn’t want to only go with beer and wine. This allowed us to have a full bar for a good portion of the night, but still save on costs. We decided to go with a DJ instead of a band; that was one way we saved. A band would have cost at least $4,000 MORE than the $2,000 we spent on our DJ. (See: Full list of DC area wedding music vendors.)

How did you decide where you would splurge? Save?

The splurge was decided early on. The Met Club was the obvious choice–and the easiest choice because they were also the caterer. The reason we chose it is because my family has a personal connection to it and my husband Andrew liked the place too. My dad is a member and I had been going there since I was a teenager. (See: Full list of DC area venues)

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Thank you so much, Margo and to your clients for sharing their wedding planning splurge/save stories with us! If you are looking for a wedding planner in the DC area, be sure to check out Bright Occasions. Be sure to come back next week for another one of Margo’s couples to find out how they splurged and saved.

From fashion and beauty to planning and budget, we’ve got it all covered, so take a look around the blog and read more tips and advice from local wedding pros in the DC area! And, you can find all of the best Washington DC wedding vendors in our guide!

French Country Chic DC Wedding Reception at Omni Shoreham: Kalsoom + Jay

Kelly — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:08 +0000

The French country chic look really shines in Kalsoom and Jay’s wedding reception from An Endless Pursuit! After their outdoor wedding ceremony, guests enjoyed a perfectly presented beer station, lounged on luxurious furniture and then stepped into a reception complete with striking wood tables, sweet purple flowers and romantic candles abound. Of course what French-inspired reception would be complete without macaron favors!? And that rustic-chic cake didn’t hurt either!

From Kalsoom: Everything, from our ceremony music to the Belgian beer station (Jay grew up in Brussels) to his mother’s handmade quilt as our guestbook (she is an incredible artist) were purposeful and authentic to us and our family.

Our seating chart was written on a mirrored window panel, and we mixed wooden trunks & farm tables with more opulent mirrors, furniture, fairy lights and candles. It looked pretty magical.

Kalsoom’s advice to other DC-area couples:

Don’t stress about every minute detail – I can assure you, no one notices if your favor bows were tied just right, or if your flower color was just so. Be happy and relaxed and don’t sweat the small stuff!

The following Washington, DC area wedding vendors contributed to Kalsoom and Jay’s wedding:

Venue: Omni Shoreham
Photographer: An Endless Pursuit
Wedding Planner: Simply Chic Events
Calligraphy: Pretty Mail Calligraphy
Floral Designer: Greenworks
Rentals: DC Rental
Cake: Kendall’s Cakes
Hair: Bridal Hair by Remona
Makeup: Faces by Liz
Bridal Attire: Rina Latif
Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren
Officiant: Dave Huffman

Don’t forget to visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals or our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings!

Photo Credits: An Endless Pursuit

Chic Multicultural DC Wedding Ceremony at the Omni Shoreham: Kalsoom + Jay

Kelly — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:45 +0000

I love that Kalsoom and Jay chose a “French country chic” aesthetic for their luxurious fall Washington DC wedding at the Omni Shoreham, captured by An Endless Pursuit! It perfectly fits their stunning all-white outdoor ceremony decor (and the reception that follows!). Kalsoom incorporated her mother’s Bangladeshi heritage into the day, and the couple had a Pakistani celebration a few days before. Each detail is most certainly more beautiful, and more unique, than the next!

From Kalsoom: Our wedding took place on October 27, 2012 at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C. The ceremony & cocktail hour took place outside, while the reception was indoors. The broader aesthetic for the day was “French country chic” using lavender, ivory & green for our color palette.

From the beginning, Jay and I wanted to intertwine our cultures, families, and personalities into every part of the day. I’m Pakistani, but because my mother is Bangladeshi, I decided to wear a custom designed white sari down the aisle (I wore a Pakistani outfit a few days before at our Pakistani event).

Jay and I wrote the ceremony script ourselves, which told the story of how we met & got engaged.

My younger brother Mesh, a singer/songwriter, performed a beautiful song he wrote which had everyone (especially myself) in tears, while my cousin Sumanah, who is an incredible poet, read a poem she wrote for the occasion. Our friend Samar also read one of my favorite poems, making the ceremony feel incredibly authentic and intimate for everyone there.

I think what I will remember most is how much love I felt around us that day. Thanks to our international upbringing, we had friends and family come from all over the world to be there for our day. I also will never forget my brother’s song he performed during the ceremony – we are incredibly close, so it was really emotional for me! There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience.

The following Washington, DC area wedding vendors contributed to Kalsoom and Jay’s wedding:

Don’t forget to visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals or our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings!

Photo Credits: An Endless Pursuit

Places to Register in the DC Area

Ally — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:40 +0000

We are riding wedding registry week right onto this week too with just a few more posts for you! We did this post with a few DC area places to register for your wedding, now we want to follow it up with even more local options. Don’t get me wrong, I love Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma and I practically live in Target, but if you’re looking for something different outside the traditional registry stores in the Washington DC area, here are a few great, local places to consider!

Photo Credit: The House That Lars Built via Brooklyn Bride

Crème de la Crème
Specialty pottery, table linens and home accessories
This specialty gift and home accessories boutique located in Charlottesville (with locations in Leesburg and Middleburg, too!) specializes in French and Italian pottery, linens, and feature unique pieces from Europe, Asia, and the United States. To learn more about setting up a gift registry, contact the store at (434) 296-7018 or cdlccharlotte@aol.com.

Sapore
Artisanal oils, vinegars, and sea salts
Talk about a creative registry! Sapore has a collection of artisanal oils, vinegars and sea salts that are a must-have for your married home pantry. Additionally, they offer serving dishes and a wide collection of specialty foods as well. You’ll also want to take a look at their cusom bottle labels if you’re looking for fun guest favors or for some goodies for wedding welcome bags. For more information on Sapore’s wedding registry, contact Renee at (202) 544-4133 or renee@saporeoilandvinegar.com.

The Happy Cook
Cookware, cutlery, glass and more
You can stock up on all your cooking and baking ware needs with The Happy Cook, a one-stop-shop for kitchen gadgets in Charlottesville, Virginia. Guests are able to purchase gifts online or in store, and can also take advantage of free (yes, free!) gift wrapping and storage service for late pick-up. As a “thank you” for registering, The Happy Cook offers you a gift certificate of 10% of the value of the gifts purchased from your registry so you can treat yourself later! For more info about setting up a gift registry, contact the store at (434) 977-2665 or customerservice@thehappycook.com.

Simpatico
Italian ceramics, pottery and dinnerware
A charming piece of Italy right in the heart of St. Michaels, Maryland, where do I sign up? Simpatico offers customers a wide range of personally selected, and not to mention gorgeous artisan products directly imported from Italy, many of which are exclusively sold through Simpatico. Also to consider: the ceramic hand-painted ceramic wine toppers that make for sunning wedding favors. To find out more or set up a registry appointment, contact Mary Louise at (410) 745-0345.

Reunions
Home furnishings and antiques
This unique specialty shop in Alexandria features home furnishings, as well as gifts and accessories for the home such as silver, china and other antique items. Reunions tracks what is bought off your registry list and also provides wrapping and shipping services. For more on the wedding gift registry process, contact Barbara at (703-931-8161) or info@reunionsva.com.

Urban Country
Contemporary home furnishings
Urban Country Designs is a luxury home furnishings and interior design store located in Bethesda, It addition to furniture, Urban Country also offers gifts, accessories, lighting, bedding, jewelry, fashion accessories, baby gifts, and bath products. Contact the store for more information of gift registry at (301) 654-0500 or registry@urbancountrydesigns.com, or set up a registry online here.

A Mano
Handmade, imported French and Italian ceramics
A Mano, a boutique shop in Georgetown, has assembled a collection of the most unique, handmade items available. Store founder Adam Mahr frequently travels through Europe and returns with the unique handmade, imported French and Italian ceramics, lines and other decorative accessories. A sales associate will help make gift selection easy and simple, keeping in mind things like future availability of patterns, your current style, and past shopping preferences. To learn more about the wedding gift registry process, give them a call at (202) 298-7200 or send an email at amanoinc@aol.com to get started!

What are your favorite local go-to’s for wedding gifts? Better yet, where are you going to register for your wedding? Don’t forget to check out this other list of local places to register in the Washington DC area. In the meantime, check out our past posts on wedding registry. And, check out our list of the best wedding vendors in the Washington, DC area.

Vineyard-Inspired Maryland Wedding Reception: Kellye + Sean

Kelly — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:00:30 +0000

You’d never know you weren’t on a vineyard by the looks of Kellye and Sean’s reception! After their Catholic wedding ceremony, captured beautifully by Timmester Photography, guests were greeted with wine cork place cards, a delicious meal and mini wine bottle favors! Kellye and her mom got their DIY on for the reception to both personalize it, and make it budget friendly! That’s what we call a win-win situation!

From Kellye: My mom and I made the menu cards, programs, favors, and place cards. I do event planning as my profession, so details are very important to me and doing these elements on our own was a way to cut costs so that we could splurge on other things.

Our Table numbers were on wine bottles that we had shared together, place cards were in wine corks that we collected with family and friends, and favors were bottles of wine with personalized labels.

We splurged with the band and solo pianist for the grand piano during cocktails. We also splurged on a lighting package, it was worth every penny. It definitely transformed the space.

Kellye’s advice to other DC-area couples:

Don’t sweat the small stuff, seriously. There is so much planning that goes into a wedding and SO many little details. Something is bound to not go exactly as planned and chances are, none of the guests will notice. Don’t get wrapped up in all the details and forget what the day is about. Take it all in and enjoy every second of it, it only happens once!

The following Washington, DC area wedding vendors contributed to Kelly and Sean’s wedding:

Ceremony Venue: Holy Cross Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Columbia Country Club
Photographer: Timmester Photography
Floral Designer: The Delighted Eye
Rentals + Linens: Perfect Settings
Lighting: Atmosphere Lighting
Reception Music: Retrospect Band
Cake: Custom Cake Design
Stationery: Allison Barnhill Designs
Hair: Hey Red!
Makeup: Le Mariee
Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade
Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor

Don’t forget to visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals or our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings!

Photo Credits: Timmester Photography

Traditional Catholic Maryland Wedding Ceremony: Kellye + Sean

Kelly — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:05 +0000

When you’re headed to Napa for your honeymoon, why not get the trip started early and have it serve as your wedding inspiration!? That’s what Kellye and Sean did for their Maryland wedding ceremony, captured by Timmester Photography. They held a traditional Catholic ceremony in Maryland before moving to their country club reception, filled with vino-inspired details! But, you’ll have to come back later this morning for that!

From Kellye: Our wedding was traditional with a romantic feel. We both love wine and planned to honeymoon in Napa, so we used that as inspiration for our color palette. The colors were vino (deep purple), sage green, and ivory.

We also cut lace from the sleeve of my moms wedding dress for the florist to wrap the stems of my bouquet. That was probably the most special detail.

I was in 6 weddings in 2012 (the year of our wedding) and attended a total of 12 weddings. It was an expensive year for my friends and I, so I really wanted to keep costs down for the bridesmaids. One way that I ensured that was with the bridesmaid dresses. I ended up finding them at Ann Taylor online and was able to find a 40% off coupon code and free shipping for the girls to use. The dresses were true to size and were super cute all while being affordable.

My favorite memory is having all of the people that we love and care about all in one place. It was truly an amazing feeling. We felt so loved. One person that could not be there was my grandmother who is not well. The day before the wedding my Aunt gave me my grandmother’s wedding ring as my something old. I got to wear it on my wedding day with my rings and have not taken it off since.

The following Washington, DC area wedding vendors contributed to Kelly and Sean’s wedding:

Don’t forget to visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals or our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings!

Photo Credits: Timmester Photography

Happy Weekend!

julianne — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:00:25 +0000

Are you learning lots during our wedding registry series?? I know that we brought a whole lotta info your way this week (and a bit more will come next week!), but it is all good info that will hopefully help you in your wedding registry process! I hope that you, yours and your mommas have a great weekend! We’ll see you back here for more DC area wedding awesomeness on Monday!

Photo Credits: Leo Druker

A few links for you…

The latest bridal fashions to hit the runway!
Loads of bridal bouquet ideas.
Fun bridal shower ideas!
Free DIY Mother’s Day printable.

… and what you missed right here!

Cozy winter Virginia wedding engagement session.
Unique wedding registry ideas.
Wedding gift registry pros and cons!
Fresh and laid back wedding ceremony and reception.
The do’s and don’ts of a wedding gift registry.
Wedding registry basics!
Sleek and modern multi-faith wedding ceremony and reception.