2018 Weddings - Year In Review
2018 was such an incredible year in more ways that I can put into words. 15 couples wed, designs everywhere from vibrant, colorful ballroom weddings, to modern-classic tented weddings, to working with many of DC’s best wedding vendors - it’s been a dream ride! I brought on two amazing team members in 2018, Shelby and Michelle, who were instrumental in our events going off without a hitch. With the help of the lovely Emily Baird, I updated our company logo to a new design that better represents the modern romantic, sophisticated aesthetic of our brand and the couples we serve. Before we go full speed ahead into 2019, I’m excited to share some of my favorite highlights and images from the past year.
Weddings at The LINE Hotel DC
The LINE Hotel opened it’s doors in Adams Morgan just at the brink of 2018, and I was so lucky to have planned two weddings here in it’s first year. It’s really a stand out wedding venue in the District! It’s sophisticated event spaces, rooftop with panoramic views of DC, modern hip decor and local culinary collaborations make it such a welcome addition to the DC wedding scene. If you’re planning an upcoming wedding at The LINE and in need of planning or design assistance, let’s chat!
Madi + Gabe’s Wedding @ The LINE Hotel DC. Photography by Abby Jiu.
Loved this vibrant, colorful head table design we dreamt up with Amaryllis, Inc. in The LINE’s Banneker Ballroom. Photography by Abby Jiu.
Private Residence Tented Wedding in Maryland
I’m someone who thrives with projects that are new and challenging, which is probably why I have a special love for at-home tented weddings! There is nothing like building a venue from the ground up and designing in a completely blank canvas, which is exactly what we did for Melissa and Dave’s wedding in October. With just about 7 months(!) to plan this wedding and our couple living on the west coast it was a whirlwind to stay the least, but it could not have come together more perfectly. This is precisely why to hire a professional wedding planner - we know how to work smarter, match you with the right vendors and set you up for success!
What you don’t see is that private residence weddings have so many moving parts and back-end logistics - power, portable restrooms, lighting the property, just to name a few. Producing this event and having it go off without a hitch has been a major career highlight thus far. Just sharing a couple sneak peeks for now, but more to come of this epic wedding day soon!
Melissa + Dave’s Private Residence Tented Wedding in Bethesda, MD. Photography by Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu.
Loved this custom chevron bar from Something Vintage! Neon signs were a big trend in 2018. Photography by Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu.
First Look With a Fur Baby!
If you know me IRL or follow me on Instagram, it’s no secret that I am all about the puppy parent life. So, when Patricia told me that she and Rahul were going to include their adorable pup Zoey in their first look, I knew it was going to be a moment for the books. As you can see, she was a natural in front of the camera and it made for the sweetest family photo ops! Even though Zoey went home after the first look, she made an appearance throughout the day on custom cocktail napkins and invitation stamps, as well.
Patricia and Rahul’s Wedding at Strong Mansion Maryland. Photography by Clarence Chan.
Custom cocktail napkins and stamps featuring their beloved pup was such a fun detail! Photography by Clarence Chan.
Head Table Designs
2018 was definitely the year of head tables and couples opting to be seated with their wedding parties for the reception. By the looks of it, we are continuing to see this trend for 2019 and loving it! From a design perspective, it gave us a fun way to create a focal point with statement floral installations or special base plates and table top rentals. A couple of my favorite head table designs from the year are below!
Liesl + Daniel’s Wedding at Evergreen Museum & Library. Photography by Katie Merkle.
Patricia + Rahul’s Wedding at Strong Mansion. Photography by Clarence Chan.
Behind the scenes at Lauren + Spencer’s Wedding at the Grand Lodge of Maryland. Photography by Dyanna LaMora.
Thoughts for 2019
While 2018 is going to be a tough year to top, I am so excited for what what’s to come in 2019. During this off-season, I’m really taking time to hone in on business practices and think about how we can take our client experience up a notch. My goal is not to take as many weddings as we can possibly book, but a limited number of weddings that are an amazing fit so we can truly be invested and attentive to the clients we serve at a personal level. I’ve been blown away by the results and feedback from designing this year and I would love to take on more design-involved projects in the years ahead.
Another goal is keeping up with regular blogging! I fell out of the routine during busy season last year, and I’m going to do my best to blog every three weeks in 2019. Hopefully putting that out into the universe gives me more motivation to stick to it! Finally, I’m looking forward to seeing some of our beautiful weddings published this year so I can finally share ALL of the good stuff!
If you are loving the work you see here, feel free to drop a line! We have spots open for 2019 and are now booking 2020 weddings. The earlier you book your wedding planner, the more you’ll benefit from our guidance to set you on the right track from the start and avoid costly mistakes. Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2019!