District Weddings » Elegance & Simplicity

Dumbarton House Wedding

Danielle Freedman — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:00:29 +0000

Hello and happy Monday! This morning, savor a fresh cup of coffee and welcome the week with the beautiful wedding of Kate and Aaron…Thank you to Jennifer Domenick of Love Life Images for sharing the lovely pics!

Kate, today’s beautiful bride, shares…

I always wanted a wedding with a DC theme. I love my hometown and I thought our wedding would be a great opportunity for our out of town guests to get to know DC since they were probably last here on their 8th grade trip :) I knew I wanted to get married in September at Holy Trinity church since that is our parish, so the date of September 18 kind of fell into place. We met with Katie Martin and Tara Davis at Elegance and Simplicity and they led us to the Dumbarton. It was so close to Holy Trinity and it was perfect for the kind of wedding I wanted – elegant, classic, DC-themed, and an amazing party. Of course I wanted it to be really pretty, but the thing that was the most important to me was the fun factor – I wanted an amazing band, great drinks, games, all the elements to a great party – I was so lucky that turned it to be even better than I imagined.

As far as the details, Michelle from Main Event and Tara from E & S were so great. I really wanted long tables in the Dumbarton’s tent but apparently it had never been done there before. Everyone was doubtful that it was possible given the space available, but since they knew I wanted it, they made it work and it was beautiful. I wanted everything to be really clean and simple so we did white everything with tons of greens/white flowers running down the center of the long table in vintage vases with hundreds of votives. We also had white lanterns and candles everywhere – on the steps, along the ledges – everything was glowy and warm.

Since Aaron and I are a doctor/teacher pair, Tara had the great idea to incorporate apples into all the decor since it’s associated with both jobs :) We had apple escort cards under a gorgeous tree of manzanita branches, and two signature drinks – “Just What the Doctor Ordered” and “Meet me After Class” – that Michelle’s maitre’d invented for us at our tasting. They were beautiful and both incorporated apple/teacher/doctor themes. Meet me After Class was an apple-tini with a graham cracker rim that was like a school snack, and Just What the Doctor Ordered had tonic. We also had vases with apples and floating candles everywhere, and votives going up and down the stairs into the the tent.

We had lawn games at the cocktail hour and lots of pictures hanging from the trees. One of the other great elements was the Snapshot studio from LoveLife Images. It was so much better than a photobooth – our guests were literally in there all night – we have over 275 images from in there! I wanted the atmosphere of the cocktail hour and reception to feel elegant, but not stuffy, and the little touches really made it seem relaxed which I loved.

Like any bride, there wasn’t one moment I wasn’t loving or having fun – it was just so incredible to have everyone I ever loved all in one room having fun! However, if I had to pick a few, one of my favorite moments was probably during the ceremony when Aaron and I exchanged rings. We were so happy, and I felt like my nervousness of messing up during the ceremony was over and I was just really looking forward to the party. I had this gorgeous long veil and when I was walking down the aisle at the end of the ceremony, my sister went to straighten it and it accidentally pulled out of my hair! She was so upset but the guests loved it. Everyone was laughing and clapping and I think we played it off well – I mean, the pictures are hilarious!

My other favorite moment is at the reception when our amazing band, ‘Round Midnight, noticed that our crowd was ridiculously into dancing – it was literally a packed floor for four hours – no one sat down. In the middle of “Shout,” the lead singer came out and went up to me and Aaron and got us to sing! He started teasing Aaron about that part in the song that goes ”now that I got my woman…” etc. and got him to sing it! The guests and I were literally dying - it was so random and hysterical. Good thing that Aaron is such a fearless person – he sang like he was Marvin Gaye or something – like literally he sounded like a lounge singer. It was so crazy. Then the lead girl singer of course came out and the crowd was going crazy to pressure me to sing… it was so funny. Everyone kept coming up to us being like, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell us you were doing that!” But seriously we had no idea! it was too funny. Jennifer took such amazing pictures of the whole thing – they’re our favorite shots of the day.

The fabulous vendor team:

Photography: Jennifer Domenick of Love Life Images

Ceremony: Holy Trinity Church

Reception: Dumbarton House

Coordinator: Elegance & Simplicity

Bridal Shop: Kleinfelds

Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier

Hair: Carola Myers

Makeup: Carola Myers

Suit/Tux: Ralph Lauren

Florist: Elegance & Simplicity

Caterer: Main Event Caterers

Cake: Kendall’s Cakes

Transportation: Chariots for HIre

Officiant: Father Donald MacMillan, S.J.

Reception music: ’Round Midnight (band)

Invitations: Vera Wang

Decatur House Earth Day Wedding

Danielle Freedman — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:00:20 +0000

This past spring, the DC Green Wedding Consortium gave away a dream, eco-friendly wedding to one lucky couple, Kevin and Virdina on Earth Day.

I absolutely adore the classic black and white decor, the polished attire, and the beautiful courtyard ceremony at the Decatur House.

Thanks to The Observatory and Documentary Associates and Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc. for sharing the images!

The cake by Cakes by Design and the delicious food by one of my Favorites, Occasion Catering looks to die for — and you just cannot beat the festive colors of Izze and Jones Soda. Love!

Congrats Virdina, Kevin and the entire vendor team!

The fabulous vendor team:

Planner, Flowers, Photo Wall, and Guest Book Wall: Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc.

Catering: Occasion Catering

Décor, Furniture, and Lighting: Ampa Events

Linens: Table Manners

DJ: Disc Jockeys on Call

Officiant: Jim Burch

Photography: The Observatory and Documentary Associates

Venue: Decatur House

Color Analysis, Bride, Groom, and Bridesmaid Styling: Polished Image and Style

Videography: Jessica Pi

Hair: Elegant Hair by Giselle

Make-up: Carola Myers

Live Streaming Video Marry Me Live

Wedding Cake: Cakes by Design

Ronald Reagan Building Wedding by Elegance & Simplicity

Danielle Freedman — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000

Hello and happy 2010! At District Weddings, the new year will bring more fabulous inspiration and advice each day for your D.C. wedding. I am also so excited for a few updates to the site which we will share with you soon!

Today, despite the frigid weather (burr!), we have Ameena and Jamie’s wedding designed by Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc. that will warm you right up! The beautiful pictures are by Documentary Associates and it takes place in last week’s venue feature, The Ronald Reagan Building.

The ceremony details are so beautiful from the hand-crafted wall covered in silk dupioni to the candlelight along the aisle and at the alter. Isn’t the event design incredible?!

Guests enjoyed a lovely reception at the Atrium at The Ronald Reagan Building. Wow, right?!

Next, first-dance, father-daughter dance, and wedding details. I especially love the traditional Lebanese dancers!

Candy bars are always a hit – especially one that is this fun! Congrats to Ameena and Jamie!

The fabulous vendor team:

Event Planning and Design: Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc.

Photography: Documentary Associates

Venue and Catering: Ronald Reagan Building

Lighting: Ampa Events

Linen: Table Manners

Ceremony Music: Classical Stringed Quartet (Elan Artists)

Cocktail Hour Music: Nova Bossa (Elan Artists)

Band: Truth Groove (Elan Artists)

Audio Visual: MSE Productions

Videography: Blue Sky Films

Hair: Celadon

Make up: Carola Myers

Cake: Cakes by Design

Real Wedding by Elegance & Simplicity

Devon Pearce — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:59:35 +0000

When it comes to D.C. wedding experts, Katie Martin takes the cake. Owner of Elegance & Simplicity, a wonderfully successful wedding planning firm, Katie Martin is a multi-talented party planner.

In addition to running Elegance & Simplicity, Katie also manages the US Green Wedding Consortium (remember this wedding?), the US Couture Wedding Consortium, and Green Love Events (her green events firm). Whew! She’s a busy lady!

You can imagine how excited I was to hear from her. Not only did she feature District Weddings on her blog (I was so flattered!), she also sent me these gorgeous photos of a recent wedding she planned. Oh, and what do you know, the photos were captured by one of our District Faves — Love Life Images, Inc!

Susanna and Ariel were married at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. They probably worked with my friend William! Katie used hints of red and gold, as they are auspicious in the Chinese culture….

Did you notice those beautiful carnation pomander balls? What a fabulous way to line an aisle, or even mark your “reserved seating” rows!

Such a fun wedding! I love the Chinese dragon dancers. Thanks for sharing, Katie!!

Next up today, I’ll be giving my own Bride Blogger update. I’ve been anxious to tell you about my hair and make-up trials…

Real Wedding by the DC Green Wedding Consortium

Devon Pearce — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:05:43 +0000

On January 31, 2009 the Washington DC Green Wedding Consortium announced the winner of a $50,000 green wedding giveaway. The DC Green Wedding Consortium is comprised of local vendors who make the extra effort to be as eco-friendly as possible.

Dana and David, the VERY lucky winners of this fabulous giveaway, were married on Earth Day, April 22, at the Stephen Decatur House Museum. Here are a few of the photos from their special day, generously donated by the members of the DC Green Wedding Consortium…

The wedding was captured by a duo of fabulous photographers — Jennifer Domenick of Love Life Images, and Tom Van Veen of Documentary Associates.

How cute is that pedi-cab? I love it! During the inauguration madness, I took a pedi-cab from downtown to Georgetown. Despite the slight chill in the air (the “driver” gave me a sleeping bag to stay warm), I had a very fun time. I wish we had more pedi-cabs in D.C… They make for picture-perfect transportation for the bride & groom!

Oh, and I am totally swooning over this wedding cake by Debbie Delardi of Cakes by Design.

Congratulations, Dana & David!

Here’s the rest of the Green Wedding vendor dream team:

Wedding Planning & Flowers: Katie Martin, Elegance & Simplicity

Catering: Avalon Caterers

Videography: Jessica Piscitelli

Bridal Gown: Promise…for the Savvy Brid e

DJ: MyDeejay

Make-up: Carola Myers

Hair: Elegant Hair by Giselle

Reception Venue: Decatur House

Cake: Debbie Delardi, Cakes By Design

Planning a Green Wedding

Devon Pearce — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:00:46 +0000

Today it seems most brides are considering incorporating at least one eco-friendly aspect into their big day. Whether it’s in the menu selection, the favors, the floral supplier, or the linen material, there are tons of ways to be environmentally conscious when planning your wedding day. Luckily for all of us, “green” doesn’t equal “ghastly” anymore. There are so many beautiful ways to be green and, well, gorgeous.

On January 31st, the Washington DC Couture Wedding Consortium gave away a green wedding planning package valued at over $50,000. The lucky winners? Meet Dana & David…

Photo: Elegance & Simplicity

Dana and David will be getting married on April 22, 2009 (Earth Day!) at the Decatur House Museum. Throughout the coming months, we’ll be checking in with them to see how their green wedding planning is coming along. Planner Katie Martin, of Elegance & Simplicity, will be guiding them through the process of selecting eco-friendly elements for their big day. Katie is loaded with information on planning a green wedding — I can’t wait to see how this journey unfolds!

More to come later today…green favor ideas and where to find them in D.C.!

Photos: Martha Stewart Weddings