Monday, January 4, 2010

A Love Story at The Willard {Kendall + Nick}


Kendall and Nick had a fairytale wedding that was perfect for their storybook romance. This couple actually met when they were in fourth grade and have been together (off and on a wee bit) since then! When Kendall and I first met, she knew exactly the style of wedding she wanted. Romantic, fun and pulling in all the elements she loved about Fall. We're talking autumn leaves and candied apples and rich, warm colors!

The morning of the wedding was gorgeous and (after a week of rain) not a drop in the sky. Kendall got ready at The Willard with fabulous makeup artist Carl Ray and hair stylist Remona while the guys got ready at the groom's family home in Virginia.



The bride's gorgeous dress was by Kenneth Pool (before Project Runway's Austin Scarlett left) and her bridesmaids wore chocolate brown gowns. Even the flower girl had a brown sash to coordinate.


Here is a rare photo of me helping the bride into her gown. I'm pretty good at ducking out of the photos so it's funny for me to see myself at work!




Doesn't she look stunning (and so happy)?!



The guys pose for a shot at the groom's family home before hopping in a limo and heading for the church.

Love the shoes!



All of the floral decor was done by the super talented Capital Decor. Jeff, Kevin, Patrick, and Iris were on deck for this wedding and they did an amazing job! I adore the fiddle head fern popping out of the top of the bride's bouquet!


The adorable flower girl ran the entire way down the aisle at St. John Neumann Catholic Church!


Nick and Kendall enjoy a quite moment after the ceremony before running out and hopping in a stretch Hummer (courtesy of Linder and Associates) while guests blew bubbles!



Meanwhile, we were busy at The Willard getting the ballroom ready with the help of our wonderful catering manager, Christina Canalez-Presock. Capital Decor created amazing tablescapes with runners made of fall leaves, trees covered in orange and brown leaves and even a tree with escort cards hanging from branches. We brought in burgandy linens, gold chivari chairs, gold napkins and amber water goblets from DC Rental to complete the look.


Each table had custom table numbers designed by Saima Says Design, who designed all the paper elements of the wedding from the Save-the-Dates (a leaf tied onto an actual twig) to the invitations to the programs to the menus to the favor stickers.


Each guest also received at their place a bottle of maple syrup in the shape of a leaf. So cute!


Since the bride and groom had such a long history, we decided to create something completely unique for their wedding: the love story of Kendall and Nick in an acordian-style booklet. It told of their courtship in a fairytale format.

Lara Stuckey of Fluffy Thoughts designed the wedding cake covered with fall flowers and leaves made entirely of sugar and the groom's cake made to look like the groom's camera (compete with a photo of Kendall and Nick in the viewscreen on back!).





Guests loved the photo booth from Posh Booth. Even the bride and groom got into the action!

This was one bride who had fun at her wedding. Jeff Hulbert from Bialek's kept the floor packed all night!


Guests left with bags of freshly made donuts compete with monogram stickers (designed by Saima Says Design) and to-go cups of warm cider.


A HUGE thanks to everyone who worked with me on this amazing event and to the wonderful couple and their families. This wedding was a joy to work on from beginning to end!

Thanks to Juan Carlos Briceno and the team from Fotobriceno for the gorgeous photos. You captured all the beautiful details and moments of the day!

Laura