Jenn & Jonathan Married!

On October 10, I had the distinct privilege of coordinating the wedding and reception of Jenn and Jonathan. As a talented wedding and portrait photographer herself, Jenn's wedding was of course creative and spectacular.

Jenn and Jonathan chose a unique site for their special day: Camp Happyland nestled deep within in Prince William Forest Park outside Dumfries, Virginia. Jenn and Jonathan rented the entire campsite, which included rustic cabins for all out of town guests, an open pavilion with a grand stone fireplace for the reception, and a Council Circle for the ceremony.

Despite some early morning showers, it was an absolutely perfect October day!





The color palate of Tiffany blue, white, and chocolate brown was accented by traditional fall jewel tones, reflecting the "rustic chic" theme perfectly. And Jenn and Jonathan's bright personalities shone through all aspects of the wedding. From the biodegradable wooden utensils wrapped with twine, to the white and crystal antique candy dishes on every table, to the photo booth for candid shots of guests, to my personal favorite: the "ring warming" ritual, which allowed each guest to hold and bless the wedding rings...a unique alternative to the more traditional unity candle lighting!







Jenn and Jonathan's family and friends went above and beyond the call of duty to make this day one to remember for the happy couple. They helped Jenn and Jonathan with the typical DIY projects; making signs, assembling programs, and hanging the muslin and white globe lights from the pavilion ceiling (Jonathan's training as an engineer helped ensure the perfect drape, every time!). Most adorable was the seating card display: a reclaimed shutter, twine, and miniature close pins. I caught many guests lingering after they found their seats to marvel at this adorable welcome to the reception.







I was so honored to work with such a wonderful team of vendors. The images you see here were captured by the amazing Rob and Lauren from Canada, who themselves just eloped two weeks ago while vacationing in Greece. Rob and Lauren's images are creative, youthful, and artistic, and they are super fun to work with! If only they lived closer so I could work with them more! Their image of Jenn's dress below is probably my favorite...





Maryellen Bowers of Cakes & Candies by Maryellen made the gorgeous cake shown below. Three different tiers, each more delicious than the next (yes I tasted all three. I'm not ashamed). The cross section of the tree on which the cake is displayed was actually cut down by Maryellen's husband from her yard. It was the talk of the reception!



Bill Siewert of BBQ Brothers and his staff were a joy to work with. BBQ Brothers is a full service catering firm specializing in high quality, award-winning, slow-cooked BBQ at reasonable prices. They provide a full service wait staff and bartenders to set up and clean up the event site. I'm so using them for my next Derby Party.

Congratulations Jenn and Jonathan. Thanks for choosing me to help make your vision a reality!

Photography: Rob & Lauren Photographers
Cake: Cakes and Candies by Maryellen
Catering: BBQ Brothers
Marriage Celebrant: Diane C. Stanley (authorized in Virgina)
Coordinator: Emily H Events

Bridal 911: Must Haves for Your Wedding Day

You're in the bridal suite, surrounded by your best friends and mom, sipping mimosas and putting the finishing touches on your look. A vision in white, you take a deep breath and head out to meet your groom at the altar when "RIIIIIIIP." The zipper on your dress splits. OMG. Now what!?!

A survival kit is an absolute must for the inevitable wedding day "what ifs." Your wedding planner, who like a Boy Scout is always prepared, will most certainly have everything you could ever need. If you don't have a planner, it is worth a trip to Target to pick up the essentials! I recommend the following when stocking your own kit:

-Double sided tape is ideal for pesky puckers, stubborn straps, and loose hems. I LOVE Hollywood Fashion Tape. I've even used this tape to hold table runners in place on windy days!

-Clear thread, needles in various sizes, safety pins, and mini scissors for reattaching buttons, securing loose beads, and sewing yourself into your dress (worst case scenario).

-White chalk will cover scuffs and marks on white leather and fabric.

-Pocket pharmacy for myriad maladies: pain reliever, antacid, tampons, and clear bandages in multiple sizes.

-Salon staples such as bobby pins, hairspray, travel hairbrush, lip moisturizer, breath freshener, mini elastics, emery boards, and a bottle of your nail polish color will keep you flawlessly fresh.

-Crazy glue, just in case you break a heel!

-Loafer socks, similar to "peds" you receive when trying on shoes, are perfect when you're ready to really cut a rug.

-Stain remover and static guard.

Need a shower gift? Survival kits are a great gift for the bride-to-be. DIY, or purchase the adorable kit shown above from Mr. & Mrs.

Kits also make great gifts for bridesmaids and mothers, because they can have emergencies too!



These and other kits for labor&delivery, work, your groom (with decorative ball & chain), and kit refills are available at Mr. & Mrs.

Emily on Emily: Reviving the Lost Art of Etiquette

Did you know that asparagus is actually a finger food? Or that chewing gum on the phone is a faux pas? In our hurried lifestyles, proper manners often fall by the wayside. It isn't until we begin planning a wedding that our Ps & Qs are put to the test. Particularly when trying to address those invitations!

There is no shortage of wedding manuals on the market today. But none is more essential or reliable than Emily Post's Etiquette. As the foremost authority on all things appropriate, Emily Post provides tried and true best practices for making the best impression at your wedding, at work, at school, anywhere and everywhere! With a chapter dedicated exclusively to weddings, Post provides instructions on everything from how and whether to form a receiving line, how to set a table (it's different depending on formality and type of dinner service you know), how to address your officiant and other VIPs, and how to handle those awkward disagreements with your mother-in-law.

Put simply, Emily Post's Etiquette is a must have for everyone and anyone. After all, good manners never go out of style!

Derby Party 2009

My infatuation with the Kentucky Derby dates back to my youth, when my love of all things horse bordered on compulsion. For years the first Saturday in May was spent sitting cross-legged three feet from the television. Clutching my favorite stuffed horses--Filene (yes, named after the department store) and Dynamite (whose legs resembled sticks of TNT)--I watched day-long coverage of the horses, the jockeys, the owners, and of course, the “Run for the Roses” itself and all post-race reports from the winner's circle.

As I grew, so too did my appreciation for the Derby and its culture. Hats and pageantry. Twin Spires. Mint Juleps. Bluegrass Music. "My Old Kentucky Home." So I couldn’t resist hosting my first Derby Party on May 2 in celebration of two birthdays--my dear friend Meredith's and my own! Photos from the "birthday obesrved" celebration appear below, courtesy of friend and photogapher Jessica Del Vecchio!

Birthday girl Meredith, the Derby hat contest winner! "Mine that Bird" on her hat brim. She made it herself!

Mere's dapper husband Keith, with mint julep in hand...

Dawn in her Derby best, with a flower tucked in her hair...

Special thanks to my best friend and culinary/mixology wizard Tara Novotny for her help in making this a day to remember (or not, depending on the number of Marker's Mark mint juleps consumed).

Starters included assorted crudites, parmesan and gruyere sticks, charcuterie and proscuitto wrapped bread sticks, and Bobby Flay's baked "brie delight," baked with Honeycup mustard and toasted sliced almonds.



Hearty afternoon snacks included Barefoot Contessa's oven-baked fried chicken wings, crab cakes with Martha Stewart's chili lime aioli (and cocktail sauce), and Mere's baked "ham sammies." Delicious!



For dessert, Joanna Hiatt baked raspberry filled chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache. Decadent!

Red roses in silver mint julep cups provided added additional Derby flare to the buffet table.

Christal & Mike Married!

On April 18, I had the pleasure of coordinating Christal & Mike's wedding. After a week of April showers, imagine our delight to bask in the warm sunshine. By all accounts, it was a perfect day!

Christal's vision for the celebration was "rustic Italian elegance" in honor of Mike's family heritage. The newly renovated Hendry House in Arlington, Virginia--with its rolling hills and flowering trees--provided the perfect backdrop. The ceremony was held on the Hendry House grounds under the Wisteria Arch, with the classical guitar selections performed by the incredibly talented Chris Dunn.
For the luncheon, long banquet tables draped with crisp white linens and patterned runners handmade by Christal, "wild" flowers in mason jars, and marinated olives, fresh parmesan, artisan breads, and imported olive oil for dipping. The luncheon buffet included Barefoot Contessa roast chicken (I have to find this recipe), salad of marinated cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, pasta salad of penne, parmesan, and black olives, and assorted grilled veggies: red and yellow peppers, eggplant, asparagus.


I moved the two cherry blossom arrangements (shown below) that flanked the Wisteria Arch during the ceremony to the buffet table for an added splash of color. Or course, reusing ceremony flowers to decorate your reception is a great way to save money...and flowers!

As a personal touch, we clustered family photographs throughout the Hendry House for the guests to view during the cocktail hour. A selection are shown here, on the fireplace mantle.

My thanks to all of the vendors for their help in making Christal and Mike's wedding a day to remember!

Venue: Hendry House
Caterer: Matters of Taste Catering
Music: Christopher Dunn (classical guitarist)
Flowers: J. Morris Flowers
Photography: Thomas Graves
Coordination: Emily H Events!

Epitome of Event Design: Corcoran Ball Preview

On April 17 I attended the Corcoran Ball Preview, thanks to my friend Megan Wilby from Occasions Caterers. Each year, Occasions, Perfect Settings, and Jack H. Lucky Floral Design partner to design a spectacular event for the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The event hosts 900 guests throughout 10 of the museum's galleries--each room with a unique theme more breathtaking and jaw dropping than the next. This year's event was designed to be green: menus and programs on recycled paper, organic, locally grown produce, seafood, and meats, recycled glasses.

The table designs represent the creme de la creme--premium linens with overlay, double chargers--and have an estimated cost of $1,000 per table. But don't fear budget conscious brides. Perfect Settings and Occasions Caterers will work with you to get the look for less.

Here the grand ballroom from above--glass bubbles for a bit of whimsy!

I can't decide which room was my favorite...probably the pink room (think Marie Antoinette) in the elaborate, gilded Dore Salon (below). It screams princess. I wish my camera did it justice!

The chairs are a girly girl's dream...

Here the designers used lace place mats as an alternative to table linens to showcase the antique tables that were brought in especially for the ball.

The orange glow of this room was warm and embracing. I especially like the designers' use of lighting to replicate the fern pattern in the table overlay.

This tropical inspired room was festive in orange, aqua, and lime green! I love the rustic bamboo chairs and poofy satin seat cushions! Of course, these and all floral arrangements by Jack H. Lucky Floral Designs were remarkable works of art!

Ferns and rattan chargers in the museum's atrium...