After the National Cathedral, we went to their alma mater George Washington University.  Good memories before this beautiful couple gets married in China and then moves out West to California.  Congrats Amy and Stanley!

Frederika (also known as Freddy) and Chris are one of the sweetest couples you’ll ever meet.  The moment you meet them you just know, and I think the story of how they met pretty much sums it up.  While serving in the Navy two years ago, one of Chris’ summer port calls was slated to be British Columbia.  While at the port in Victoria, he was out in the city celebrating a friends promotion at a bar.  That’s when he first spotted her.  He nervously approached Freddy, they hit it off and they ended up talking all night.  It went so well and Chris liked meeting Freddy so much that eight days later, he sent her flowers at work and included a note that read, “Frederika, Know that I’m thinking of you now and can’t stand to be apart from you. Meet me in Hawaii from July 3-6th — It’s all arranged. You’d make me the happiest, luckiest guy in the world.”  Freddy agreed and they met in Oahu and feel in love countless times over their vacation.  And then five short months later they were engaged!  You can read a more detailed account where they originally shared their story on the Hello to Hitched Blog and won a contest to work with Cindy at A. Dominick Events for their Park Hyatt Washington wedding.

The Fabulous Team for Freddy and Chris’ Park Hyatt Washington Wedding:

Wedding Coordinator – Cindy at A. Dominick Events
Ceremony Location – Holy Trinity DC
Reception Venue – Park Hyatt Washington
Florist – Yellow Door Floral
Bride’s Dress – J. Crew
Bride’s Shoes – Kate Spade
Bridesmaid’s Dresses – J. Crew
Hair – Okyo Salon
DJ– DJ Andres Perugachi
Cake – Fluffy Thoughts
Paper Goods – Designed by Bride and letterpressed at Twin Ravens Letterpress
Videographer – Chrome Glass Productions

I ADORE this moment on Freddy’s face as she gets into her wedding dress

Freddy and Chris, you are adorable!  I think this is one of the most emotional first looks I have ever witnessed.  And she later mentioned to me that it was her favorite moment of the day and didn’t expect to get so teary eyed about it.  It was the moment Freddy realized, “It’s really happening!”

And now on to the newly designed ballroom for Freddy and Chris’ Park Hyatt Washington wedding

A little about their venue search.  Finding the perfect venue to host their reception proved to be a little difficult. While DC has a wealth of beautiful locations, many of them were unable to accommodate their 200 guests. They both agreed they wanted a big, fat wedding and couldn’t imagine excluding anyone for the sake of a venue. Then they came across the Park Hyatt Washington, and they knew they had found their match.  In the words of Freddy, “It had a gorgeous, modern(!) ballroom that could fit all of our nearest and dearest, not to mention an absolutely scrumptious menu!  The space also lent itself perfectly to the clean decor we had envisioned for our day.”

Freddy and Chris thanks for letting me be a part of your Park Hyatt Washington Wedding!

 Being a part of Sara and Mark’s wedding at Long View Gallery was amazing!  And they definitely waited a long time for their day to come.  The two met in law school and started with a seven year friendship followed by several years of a bi-continental long distance relationship while Mark served in Naples, Italy.  So when it came time to see each other for the first time on their wedding day, it ended up being one of the most memorable moments.  You see Sara and Mark originally chose to do a first look due to timing.  What they found was that it gave them the chance to slow down, be together and enjoy walking around the city before the soiree started at Long View Gallery.  (Sara mentioned later this was one of her favorite parts of the day)

The Fabulous Team:

Wedding Coordinator – RSVP Event Planning and Management
Venue – Long View Gallery
Caterer – Occasions Catering
Florist – Sidra Forman
Bride’s Dress – Lela Rose from Hitched Salon
Bride’s Shoes – Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaid’s Dresses – Lela Rose from Hitched Maids
Make up –  Jan Scott
Hair – Hair by Jewels
DJ– DJ D-Mac
Cake – Fluffy Thoughts
Paper Goods – Paparee
Calligraphy – Meant To Be Calligraphy

When I saw Sara’s wedding dress from Hitched I was floored because it’s just so perfect for a wedding at Long View!  She described it best “it has that modern, simple and funky aesthetic style” that is purely Sara.

Sara’s beautiful Jimmy Choo’s completed her stunning look

And when it came to choose where their venue, Long View Gallery was the obvious choice.  The art gallery was a perfect way to show off their beloved neighborhood, Shaw, while achieving a modern and urban feel.

 Loved photographing at Long View Gallery.  It has a modern vibe that is different for DC.

The couple surprised their family with a slideshow that was shown on a wall at Long View Gallery.
It included nostalgic pictures of the two as they grew up and old wedding pictures from their families.

Sara and Mark, thanks for letting me be a part of your Long View Gallery wedding!
And to view more from their day, click here for their slideshow.

I think she’s happy about that hat, right?

To plan this adorable party, Amory’s Mom, the lovely Miss Julianne Smith (also known as the Garter Girl and editor of United With Love), worked with Stephanie of Couture Parties to craft this adorable cupcake party that included edible cupcakes and make your own paper cupcakes.

A garland of cupcake liners and goody bags featuring sparkly cupcake props from Say Cheese Paper Props and gift certificates from Georgetown Cupcakes completed the party.

The first time I met this amazing couple, Kat and Robert, was for their Dupont Circle engagement session.  Just like any first meeting, it starts off with the niceties.  And then shortly into it, we really hit it off.  Our meeting turned into a small world story, because Robert and I realized that we have mutual friends
(all the way back home in Arkansas).

I think this is just one of the reasons I really love engagement sessions.  It gives me such a great chance to really get to know the couple.  I love seeing how they interact (in this case how Robert adores his beautiful fiance, Kat, and wakes up early every day to drop her off at her residency at GWU at 5 am in the morning). And after having spent time with them, I am able to really understand their personalities and call them friends.  On the flip side, the couples can see my approach to photography.

For this session, Kat and Robert chose to do their engagement session in their Dupont Circle neighborhood.  They also wanted that “DC feel” to the pictures without going to the monuments.  Congrats to you two!
I cannot wait for your wedding at Decatur House later this year!

It was perfect for going to the iconic fountain for their Dupont Circle engagement session.

Thanks for letting me photograph your Dupont Circle engagement session.  I am so lucky to have met such a beautiful couple on the inside and out.  Can’t wait until August!

The Fabulous Team:

Design + Planning + Decor – Lauryn Prattes of Table 6 Productions Washington DC
Venue – Lincoln Restaurant
Florist – Edge Design
Bride’s Dress – Amsale from Hitched Salon
Bridesmaid’s Dresses – Alfred Angelo
Make up – Erwin Gomez
DJ– Washington Talent
Limo – Marc Parc
Classic Car – Regal Limousine
Horse and Carriage – Carriages of the Capital

Wanda is a former Redskins Cheerleader and used her dancing skills for their first dance.  The guests loved it!

Lauryn Prattes planned a romantic dinner for two for the couple.  Their hotel room was candlelit after they arrived home from their carriage ride around the city.  

The Fabulous Team:

Design + Planning + Decor – Ritzy Bee
Venue – Newseum
Florist – Sidra Forman Flowers
Bride’s Dress – Jenny Yoo
Bridesmaid’s Dresses – Carol Hannah from Bella Bridesmaid
DJ– Bryan of Chris Laich Entertainment
Catering – Wolfgang Puck Catering
Papergoods – SIMPLESONG Design
Lighting – Newseum

Beautiful flowers by Sidra Forman

Suann of SIMPLESONG Design created these adorable clipboard programs

Johanna and Dave, thanks for letting me be a part of your Newseum wedding!