The beautiful bride has shared a little bit about her day with us…first up, her inspiration and favorite wedding detail…

I always knew that I wanted a traditional, classic black tie wedding but I also wanted it to be a reflection of both Branden and I. We instantly feel in love with the St. Regis in Washington DC, it is known for its timeless elegance and that is how we wanted out wedding to feel. The ballroom is not overwhelmingly big which allowed us to capture that feeling of being at an intimate dinner party with the people we love the most in the world. The beautiful terrace outside allowed us to be a little whimsical and unexpected with tables covered in a beautiful black and white flower toile which created the illusion of being at a romantic garden party. We didn’t want our wedding to feel stuffy so we took inspiration from one of my favorite designers, Kate Spade. We wanted to use color in an unexpected way which she does often, so I chose rich Kelly Green Bridesmaid Dresses by LulaKate to bring in a pop of color and bright and light pink flowers for my bridesmaids flowers and centerpieces which added a sweet preppy feel.

My dress, Christos by Amsale, really captured the feeling we wanted for our wedding which was timeless and classic. The lace lent itself to the traditional black tie affair, but by adding a black sash that tied into a large double black bow in the back not only subtly reinforced the theme of our wedding but was a true reflection of me, for anyone that knows me, knows how much I love bows and that I can almost always be found in black.

For our wedding stationary we incorporated the pop of color with the front of the card in Kelly Green with the phrase “Debby and Branden are getting Married…” in gold and then on the back of the card in black and white we had fun including our wedding date which is my favorite detail of our wedding 09.10.11. Our invitations were simple and classic in black and white but we incorporated small details such as a black and white striped liner for both our save the dates and our wedding invitations which we carried over into black and white striped linen for our bars.  The phrase “The Best is Yet to Come” which was printed in gold on the shoulder of our invitations and on our napkins is from the lyrics from our wedding song “Someone like you” I loved that these little details were unexpected and added an element of surprise.

Since the St. Regis in only about 2 blocks away from The White House you can’t not feel like you are a part of history as Presidents both past and present have walked the hallways of the St. Regis, this lead to us using Presidents names for our table numbers which is one of my favorite details from our wedding day as this was Branden’s idea.

It is hard to pick a favorite moment of your wedding day…but Debby did have a few that stood out to her!

1. Riding in a vintage 1964 Bentley that I surprised my father with. I remember just feeling so calm as we drove to the church together, I will always cherish those few minutes we had alone just laughing and talking and taking it all in. The best part of our drive together was how calm and relaxed I felt as we road through Georgetown.

2. There was a moment during the night that Branden and I took a moment to ourselves and stepped outside on to the terrace, we looked around and there were people outside drinking and laughing and then we looked inside at the ballroom and the dance floor was packed, it was a great moment to be surrounded by the people we love the most in our lives and see that they were having just as much fun as we were.

3. But, my absolute favorite memory is when the doors of the church opened and I saw Branden for the first time, as I walked down the aisle he was the only person I could see and when I got close enough he said “You Look Beautiful”, it was as if time stopped and it was just the two of us standing there.

And, as for any DIY projects…

I didn’t have too many DIY elements other than often creating Powerpoint presentations for my vendors so that they could really see my vision. My favorite presentation that I created was for our wedding website. I couldn’t find a template that I liked and that I felt that went with our theme and since this was an out of town wedding for everyone, Branden’s family is form Cincinnati, my family is from Connecticut and we live in New York it was important that our website be a tool that our guests could refer to and use to make their travel plans as easy as possible. I hired graphic designer Damian Barchowsky to make our wedding website and it still is one of my favorite elements of our wedding, especially the map that Daley Ann made. Our wedding website is http://debbyandbranden.com/

The fabulous vendor team:

Venue: St. Regis

Ceremony: St John’s Episcopal Church Georgetown Parish

Cocktail Music: Celebrated Strings

Planning: A. Dominick Events

Photography: Rob Garland Photographers

Stationery: Cheree Berry Paper

Cake: St. Regis with flowers by K. Rose Cakes

Floral and Design: Multiflor

Band: Class Act Band

Lighting: Frost Lighting

Dance Floor: Perkins Productions

Candy Bar: Georgetown Candy

Rentals: Party Rental, DC Rental, La Tavola

Transportation: Atlantic

Vintage Car: Regal Limousine

Hair: George Salon

Make Up: Lindsay Steffens Montgomery

As some of you may remember, Devon was married this past September.  And, her wedding most certainly showcased her incredible taste, organization and attention to detail – not to mention that Devon was one of the most poised and gorgeous brides I have ever seen!  Here is a peak at the incredible photos by Patricia Lyons of Devon’s Friday night Rehearsal Dinner…

So you ask, what now?  Well, leave it to Devon to find the next perfect step in life.  Moving to Chicago, Devon has merged her passion for weddings and her love affair with beautiful paper design to embark on her new chapter in life, representing Cheree Berry Paper in the Windy City.

So, get excited, because Devon will be back in the District for the rescheduled Engaged! in Washington event on Sunday, March 28th from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the Ritz-Carlton, representing Cheree Berry Paper.

We wish her the best of luck and look forward to her updates as she continues to take our fabulous wedding industry by storm!  In the meantime, here is more eye candy for your enjoyment!  oxox.

Breathtaking, right?!

The fabulous vendor team behind Devon’s Friday night celebration:

Venue: King Family Vineyard

Catering: A Pimento Catering

Floral and Decor: Beehive Events

Cake: Kendall’s Cakes

Paper: Cheree Berry Paper

Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones

Photography: Patricia Lyons Photography

Lighting and A/V: Blue Ridge Lightforms

Videography: Blue Sky Films

Make Up: Lindsay Steffens Montgomery

Hair: Bridal Hair by Remona

First up…I am so excited to welcome make-up artist Lindsay Steffens Montgomery!  Lindsay is one of the most sought-after make-up artists in the D.C. area.  In addition to make-up, Lindsay also does brow shaping and lash extensions — everything you need to look your best on your big day.  

Lindsay is so friendly, so lovely.  On your wedding day, she’ll make you feel relaxed, comfortable, and beautiful — not to mention she’ll come to your home, your hotel, or wherever you are getting ready, and she’ll bring everything she needs with her!

Okay, let’s get to it…

What is the best way to find a good make-up artist?  How far in advance should a bride book a make-up artist?

Without a doubt, the best way to find a good make-up artist is through a referral. A personal recommendation from someone you trust is ideal. So if you loved your friend’s make-up at her wedding, ask her who she used. Find out what her experience was like. It may be just what you are looking for.

If you are working with an event planner, take advantage of his/her connections. Planners usually have a list of preferred vendors in the area, and this can be a great resource.

As far as booking, most timelines recommend you select an artist 2-3 months in advance.  However, if you have your heart set on using someone in particular, I would book them as soon as possible.  Odds are you aren’t the only one who would like to use them, so contact them early to secure a spot on their calendar. Once you have selected your make-up artist, a deposit not only reserves the date it also ensures a peaceful state of mind as you continue your wedding planning journey.  

How far in advance should a bride schedule her make-up trial?  Do you recommend only 1 trial?

It really depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your trial. If you are using the trial as an “interview” of sorts, you will obviously want to do the trial as soon as possible. If, on the other hand, you are already certain you want to use a particular artist, then the trial can take place closer to the wedding date. Personally, I prefer to meet with brides for their trial 1-2 months ahead of time.  This way most of the major wedding decisions will have been made, so we can discuss the colors, setting and style of the wedding.

Make-up by Lindsay Montgomery; Photos by Mark Staff Photography (left); Patricia Lyons Photography (right)

What should a bride bring with her when she goes for her trial?

I recommend a bride bring any magazine or online pictures of makeup styles that appeal to her. That way, the bride has a visual aid to help demonstrate the look she wants to achieve. It is also helpful to see a picture of the wedding dress and any swatches or pictures of the bridesmaids’ dresses. All these items help to ensure the bride will look the way she has always envisioned on her special day.

Do you travel on-site for weddings?  Do you usually do an entire bridal party?  If so, does the bride usually pay for this?  How can she offer this service for her bridesmaids without paying for it herself?

Yes, almost all of my wedding work is done on-site, so my make up arsenal is fully mobile. Even the director’s chair that I bring for the women to sit in has wheels!

I love when the entire wedding party has their make-up done. The continuity just looks so great in photos, and any bride will tell you these photos help preserve the memories forever.

 However, every bride’s situation is a little different. Some brides choose to pay for make-up as a thank you to her attendants, while others may not.  Even if a bride is not paying, I recommend she offer the service to everyone, include the price, and let the individuals make their own decisions. 

Make-up by Lindsay Montgomery; Photos by Brett Butterstein Photography

How long have you been doing make-up for weddings?  What kind of trends are you seeing right now?

I have been doing make-up for weddings for over 10 years. Many people comment on what a fun job it must be, and I could not agree more. Every wedding is so unique, and I truly love playing such an integral role on these joyful occasions. 

As for trends in wedding make-up, the esthetician side of me says “flawless skin.” It is always important to make skin look even, healthy, and radiant. The make-up can do a lot of the work, but it is a good idea to get into the habit of good skincare, especially around an event as important as your wedding day.

Other than that, I personally try not to follow too many trends in wedding make-up. I think trendy make-up may date your photos when you look back at them 10-15 years from now. I opt for classic, natural make-up that enhances the individual’s natural beauty.

Throughout the planning, we create a look that suits her personal style. Ultimately, I want the bride to feel beautiful! Having recently been a bride myself, I find it incredibly heartwarming to be a part of her journey on this magical wedding day.

A special thanks to Lindsay for stopping in to share her insight.  If you would like to speak with Lindsay about your wedding make-up, shoot me an email and I’ll send you her contact info!