Capitol Romance: A Washington, DC Proposal by the Capitol

I looooooooooove when couples have a photographer crash the proposal. Because then we get to see and share in one of the most blissful and amazing moments in a couples’ lives.

This afternoon we are sharing a beautiful proposal by the Capitol Building in DC, courtesy of Maria Linz Photography, submitted via Two Bright Lights.

Caroline & Mike’s Surprise Washington, DC Proposal at the Capitol Building

How they met:

Mike and I met in March 2011 at the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. I work at the Smith School…and Mike was a graduate student at the Smith School :) My boss still claims he told our admin “we better watch out for those two” after the first time Mike and I met. As I was staff and Mike was a student, we were in a grey area.

Mike returned from his summer internship to start his final year of the program in September. Mike pulled the trigger and asked me to get drinks one evening in mid-November. Even though there were no specific rules about staff dating students I was a little hesitant, however my heart won over as there was zero chance I was saying no! We had an effortless “first date” as we already knew all the basics about each other, and spent hours talking over a few drinks.

We were inseparable after that and knew it was love!

Click inside for the details on the surprise proposal!!

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Capitol Advice: Why Planning a Wedding is Like Producing Theater – Part 1

Today we are kicking off with a guest post from one of my FAVORITE area wedding vendors, The Plannery. I think I initially met Katie through Twitter (god, I love Twitter) and I’ve loved being able to get to know her more since then. I love the fact that she is from Brooklyn, and our vision on weddings, wedding planning, and the wedding industry, are pretty much carbon copies. I mean, her tagline is the coolest, “where ideas become events and shit gets done”. Yup – my thoughts exactly! And every blog post she writes, I feel myself shaking my head in absolute agreement. So when she asked me if she could write an advice piece about weddings and her background in theatre, I immediately said yes!

So this marks the first of a series of three guest posts that The Plannery wrote on weddings being like a stage production, and how her background in theater made her the wedding planner she is today!

Why Planning a Wedding is Like Producing Theatre – Part 1

by The Plannery

I came to event planning through theatrical production. I produced several musicals and plays on my own, and also assisted a Broadway producer for 4 years. After planning my own wedding I realized that producing a show and producing an event required very similar skills – so I’m here to give you some theatre tips to help you tackle wedding planning.

One caveat: In general I do not believe a wedding is a show. That frame of mind often creates some looney behavior which I try not to support. The bride and groom are not the “stars,” and razzle/dazzle and illusions aren’t necessary (in fact, some down-to-earth genuine feelings are really what matter, no?).

The first step is to know your project. When producing a show, you read the script cover to cover and completely immerse yourself in the work. For a wedding, you need to delve into the nitty gritty with your loved one to decide what you want it to be and who you are at your core. Is it a big-budget musical (aka a 250-person wedding in a lavish venue) or a one-man show (an intimate gathering of your 40 closest friends and family at your home)? Both – and everything in between – are amazing and will win the Tony Award of weddings if they’re the right fit for you. Yes, you probably could try and produce 42nd Street as a low-budget, 4-person play in a black box theatre, but that wouldn’t do the work justice (and it would make the tap-dancer in me cry. Just saying). Know who you are and what you want out of your wedding so you can honor and celebrate your relationship in the most fitting manner.

Click inside for the rest of Part 1!

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Capitol Wedding: Elizabeth & Henry’s Personalized, Small Budget Mormon Wedding in Maryland

 ”You should date my brother so we can be sisters”

And that’s how Elizabeth & Henry’s relationship got started. Elizabeth’s friend Calisa wanted to set her up with her brother Henry, but Elizabeth thought Henry was “too young” for her. Fast forward through a few awkward interactions, eventually some charm & a first date on Elizabeth’s birthday! After only two months of dating (yowza!) this couple knew they wanted to spent the rest of their lives together. I think Elizabeth says it best, “I married the man of my dreams. Now I have an amazing husband and a great sister. Calisa got her wish.”

Elizabeth & Henry include a handful of personalized touches in their wedding day, and in order to keep within their small budget, they actually had the wedding on a Thursday! I think my favorite detail from their big day was the pastel ribbon backdrop to their ceremony. Beautiful (and perfect for spring wedding inspiration!).

A special thanks to Balance Photography for sharing their beautiful images for this Maryland wedding feature.

Henry & Elizabeth’s Personalized, Small-Budget Mormon Wedding in Maryland

Vendors:

Ceremony: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Washington D.C. Temple |Reception/Ring Ceremony Venue: Newton White Mansion | Photographer: Balance Photography | Caterer/Cake/Linens: Graul’s Market | Flowers & Decor: Intrigue Designs | Boutonnieres: 2 Hand Studios | Dress: Casablanca Bridal from Bridal’s by Elena | Shoes: Enzo Angiolini | Necklace & Bracelet: Mother’s pearls | Earrings: Chevy Chase Bridal| Rings: Helzberg Diamonds | Bridesmaids: New York & Company (tops), Macy‘s (skirts) | Hair & Makeup: Up-Do’s For I Do’s | Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse | Ties: Cyberoptix | Invitations: Paper Trousseau | Music: Absolute Entertainment | Photobooth: Party Booths

Something that meant the world to me on the Big Day was the representation of my two grandmothers in my attire. My garter was worn by my maternal grandmother for her wedding. While putting on the garter, I was able to recreate a photo taken of her when she married my grandfather.

My bouquet included brooches and pins that had belonged to my paternal grandmother who passed in 2005. I was thrilled that sentimental items from their lives could be included in the most special day of mine.

Do you love these vintage key boutonnieres as much as I do!? LOVE!

The ceremony location was an easy choice. Being Latter-day Saints (Mormon) we could have been married in the temple of our choice, but the Washington, DC temple has always been a special place for both Henry and I. The night we were engaged, we had visited the temple before Henry popped the question.

Click inside for the rest of Henry  & Elizabeth’s small budget Maryland wedding at Newton White Mansion in Maryland. From Balance Photography.

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Capitol Romance: Trish & Ned’s Quirky & Fun Washington, DC Engagement Session

Welcome back this afternoon to a super fun & quirky Washington, DC engagement session from Cassidy Duhon Photography, styled by Blue Canary Events. Trish & Ned have a fun love story and I was just smitten with Trish’s awesome grey & blue heart sweater. The couple met online, but found that they both lived in DC and both worked in Alexandria (the first two coincidences of many in their love story).

The couple took to the streets of Georgetown for their engagement shoot with some awesome pictures and of course, a ton of love!

Trish & Ned’s Quirky & Fun Washington, DC Engagement Session in Georgetown

How they met:

Ned and I met as many modern couples do these days… online! After exchanging a few quick emails, we happened to discover that we both lived in Washington, DC and worked in Alexandria, VA. I thought, while sitting at my desk, in the heart of Old Town, what an amazing coincidence – he’s writing me emails a block away from me right now. (And also, it might be awkward if I accidentally ran into him on my way home.)

On our first date, later that week, we met in Mt. Pleasant at a neighborhood bar and had drinks. We had a great time, good conversation, and stayed out talking later than we both had originally planned. When it came time to walk home, we kept waiting for each other to veer off onto another street but when we got to Ned’s house it became apparent.. we lived right across the street from each other! We used to joke that we were so close to each to each other, we could string two tin cans together from our bedrooms to chat. Hence, the idea for our save the date cards.

We quickly learned that not only do we live across the street from each other, work a block away from each other. Our birthdays were one day apart, our dad’s have the same name (Gerald). And we have the incredibly particular request of having our water with “no ice, please!” Must’ve been meant to be.

Click inside for the rest of Trish & Ned’s Washington, DC engagement session from Cassidy Duhon Photography & to read the proposal story!

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