Dana and Hal were married in February, if you can believe it. For one glorious weekend, this oppressive winter we've been having lifted and granted them the most ridiculously beautiful day one could possibly hope for a DC winter wedding. The
Josephine Butler Parks Center was a classy, bright yellow backdrop to their laughter-filled ceremony and rollicking reception. Meigh with
Lula Mae did a great job putting it all together.
We started the day at
Meridian Manor Bed and Breakfast, an incredibly charming old house just a couple blocks down from the JBPC. Dana's tiny friends devoured the strawberries provided by
Alison Harper & Co. (It's so cute that they do that!)
I have to tell you, this mirror was making me so happy.
All prettied up, we got Dana over to the Josephine Butler Parks Center for a "first look" with Hal on the mansion's balcony.
And we had plenty of time to pop across the street for some extra portraits in Meridian Hill Park.
Now I will post like 8 thousand photos that happened within 10 seconds of each other. I just love each one of them.
Especially Hal already marveling at his ring.
Christine assured me Dana would like this photo.
Dana's mom rocked the Polaroid guest book.
The "cool people" table, hard at work.
To wrap the night, and apparently to wrap every wedding from the clan, Dana's enormous family gathered around and offered a sing-along and then purely a capella rendition of The Doors' "Touch Me". It was pretty awesome.
Congratulations, you guys!
Dana & Hal's rockin' vendor team:
Planning:
Lula Mae
Ceremony and reception site:
Josephine Butler Parks Center
Bride getting-ready venue:
Meridian Manor Bed and Breakfast
Groom getting-ready venue:
Washington Marriott Wardman Park
Caterer:
Main Event Caterers
Cakes/Cupcakes:
Sweet Moon Cakes
DJ:
DJ PeeGee
Cocktail Hour String Musicians:
String Poets
Hair & Makeup:
Alison Harper & Co.
Dana's beautiful dress: Amy Kuschel “Clover” from
Che Bella Boutique in St. Paul, Minnesota
Big shout-out to Katie from The Plannery, who helped make Emily and Zach's day totally beautiful and flawless. She is such a great planner, guys - hire her.
Thanks, as always, to the wonderful Julia for all the great extra angles and chilling-with-the-boys time.
The "bridal suite" at Woodend is really pretty and it has this ginormous mirror for excellent composition and also checking-yourself-out-ness.
A few hugs before Emily rushed off to first look.
Zach is an avid birder, so though I always love taking pictures with these awesome stuffed birds, it actually made sense from the perspective of who this couple is. I may not get that chance again! He could name some of these birds.
Unfortunately, with the heavy rain, we had to stay inside the house. Fortunately, Woodend is completely beautiful, so we had some nice spaces to work it out.
Go time.
Love this one. Babies are funny.
Zach's dad gathered all the bearded men.
We snuck outside during open dancing for a few rain photos. Many double thanks to Julia for being the only one without an umbrella. I torture that poor girl.
Congratulations guys!
Emily and Zach's kickin' vendor team:
Planning, execution and everything in-between: Katie from The Plannery
Ceremony and reception venue: Woodend Nature Sanctuary
Catering: Main Event
DJ: Evan Reitmeyer with MyDeeJay
Florist: B Floral and Event Design
Officiant: Maureen Burke
Hair & Makeup: Modern Bridal Studio
Emily's beautiful dress: Kleinfeld (Romona Kavesa)
Zach's dashing suit: Brooks Brothers
Transportation: Reston Limousine
Snow!
