Nicole and Dan look so joyous!  Picture perfect.

The wedding party dines…

This beautiful cake was done by Creative Cakes. I love the elegant textured design.

This fabulous wedding was coordinated by Sara Muchnick of Engaging Affairs. Simply said – I LOVE it!

Kaja wore blue Vera Wang gown. She was stunning.  They walked to the ceremony through the streets of Georgetown – how fun!

How fabulously “DC” is this photograph?  The ceremony and reception took place in the District’s Zone 2 in Georgetown.  This spot is close to where Dan proposed to Kaja not too long ago.

The reception was at the fabulous House of Sweden. How about these beautiful sunset views over the Potomac?

Before the wedding party was announced, the bridal party had fun doodling on this white board.

The House of Sweden has absolutely incredible event space.  The design is so sleek and so clean – I just love it.

Here, Kaja and Dan enter from a glass elevator. How cool is this ceiling?!

The party was jumping with tunes from DJ Steve Hoffman from Good Note DJs.

I love the cake by Fluffy Thoughts!

Thank you to Stephen Bobb of Love Life Images and a huge CONGRATS to Kaja and Dan!!

The vendor team behind this lovely wedding…

Coordinator: Leslie Weekes, Leslie Manning Events
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts
Caterer: Main Event Caterers
Florist: Bergerons Flowers
DJ: Steve Hoffman, Good Note DJs
Lighting: Dan Martin Productions

I spent the weekend by Ashley’s side as a bridesmaid, watching as she married her college sweetheart in an incredible, over-the-top, gorgeous celebration that will undoubtedly be featured in a future issue of a bridal magazine.  And boy-oh-boy, was their wedding fun.  Ashley and Tom are so in love, so perfect for each other.   They are why I love weddings so much.

In the spirit of gushing about love, I’ve been dying to share with you these amazing engagement photos sent over by Stephen Bobb at Love Life Images, Inc.

Kaja, the stunning bride-to-be, lives in D.C. and Dan, the oh-so-cute groom-to-be, lives in New York.  They often travel back and forth on the train to see each other.

After pulling a few strings at Amtrak, they were able to have exclusive use of one of the platforms at Union Station, and my, what a fabulous backdrop.  These pictures will show you exactly why photographer Stephen Bobb is one of our favorites…

Kaja and Dan will be married soon at the House of Sweden.  Congratulations!  And THANK YOU, Stephen, for treating us so well and always sending us your amazing work!

I thought I’d share these with you in the order in which they were taken (approximately)…  The first group of photos is called the “Getting Ready Shots” — for obvious reasons…  The photographer comes into your dressing room with you, but you hardly notice him/her.  Most photographers are very tactful, and these are some of the most memorable moments of the day.

Next we have the “Bridal Portraits.”  Most of the time, this is also when the photographer will capture shots of you with your bridesmaids, and your husband-to-be with his groomsmen.  Then, it’s off to the ceremony site!

Of course, now we have the “Ceremony Shots“…  This bride is so lovely.  I love the look on her face as her father escorts her down the aisle.

If a couple doesn’t see each other before the ceremony, all of the “Posed Family Portraits” are taken after the ceremony during cocktail hour.  Also during this time, the photographer will capture shots of the reception room before guests enter.  These are often called “Room Shots” or “Detail Shots.”   

On to the reception… After cocktail hour, usually the bride and groom (along with the entire wedding party, occasionally) will be announced as they enter the reception space.  Often, the happy couple will walk right to the dance floor for their first dance.  The first dance is following by the first toast of the evening, given by the Father of the Bride.  Then, it’s time for the first course of dinner (if it is a plated meal).  Next comes the father/daughter dance, another course, more toasts, and finally, more dancing.  Lots of “Reception Shots” to capture!

Dancing is only interrupted for one important wedding tradition — the “Cake Cutting“!  Then it’s back to the dance floor (and sometimes the stage)…

And finally, the tossing of the bouquet and/or garter, the distribution of the favors (on a table by the door if they weren’t placed at each setting on the dinner tables), and the departure of the couple.  All in all, thousands of photos are taken throughout the course of a wedding day.  

If you’re lucky, you’ll have Stephen Bobb as your photographer and the hardest part will be selecting the hundred or so you like the most!

The complete vendor team behind this lovely wedding…

Coordinator: Sara Muchnick, Engaging Affairs

Dress: Jim Hjelm

Caterer: Ronald Reagan Building

Cake: Fancy Cakes by Leslie

Florist: Yellow Door Floral Design

Band: Mixed Company

Can you believe this wedding was only three weeks ago?  I’m pretty sure the Meridian House is (by far) one of my favorite venues in D.C….

LOVE that getaway car!  Congratulations, Carrie & Christopher!  And a BIG thanks to Jennifer Domenick, Stephen Bobb, and the team at Love Life Images for keeping us up-to-date on all of the fabulous work you are doing!

My favorite?  Those adorable cupcakes, baked by Courtney Weeks.  The catering was provided by Fruit of the Vine Catering Company.

And the flowers?  (Oh, the flowers – love ‘em.) Gathered Stems out of McLean, Virginia.  A HUGE thanks to Stephen Bobb for opening his wedding portfolio and sharing these great pictures with us! Congratulations, Kelly & Brennan!

That wraps up our Real Weddings Week!  Don’t worry, we have tons of other Real Weddings to show you throughout the coming months.  

Next week the excitement continues — every day I’ll be interviewing one of D.C.’s top wedding experts.  From band leaders to make-up artists, hotel catering directors, to party planners, everyone “in the know” will be stopping by to tell us their two cents.  Don’t miss it!  Have a great weekend!

I still have lots more.  Beautiful photos for a beautiful April day…

Kelley and Brennan were married on November 1, 2008 at Bluemont Vineyard in Bluemont, Virginia.  The fabulous Stephen Bobb, one of the most talented photographers in D.C., sent me a few of the images that he captured of Kelley and Brennan’s big day.  Stephen is one of the great photographers of the Love Life Images trio, and his work is second to none.

Take a look…

Kelly and Brennan did so many things right when they planned this wedding.   First, they hired Stephen.  Second, they kept it simple.  Look at how the clean white chairs look so breathtakingly beautiful against the vineyard.  Third, they chose a color palette that radiates autumn, while perfectly complementing the outdoor natural scenery.  Fourth, well, I could go on and on…

More to come in just a bit!  I can’t wait to show you this next round of photos!