Stephanie + Hoang’s DIY Fall Virginia Wedding Ceremony

posted by Kelly

When you hear “DIY wedding” you may think of a certain style these days (perhaps vintage or rustic), but today’s wedding from Connor Studios just might change that assumption! Stephanie and Hoang’s wedding was relaxed, with an alternative ceremony and a fun mustache motif, yet sophisticated and glamorous, with feather details galore. Stephanie took it upon herself to craft many a detail, from the accessories to the table decor to make every element personal and showing DIY can transcend any wedding style! Don’t forget to stop by later to see the rest of this fun, handcrafted affair!

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From Stephanie: I’d describe our wedding style as relaxed sophistication with a bit of vintage. We wanted a wedding that was classy yet not stuffy; something our friends could feel relaxed enough to party at yet feel that they were still being pampered. We threw out our original color scheme of a golden yellow, burnt orange and rust red and went with a cool blue, black and silver/white scheme. Things just seemed to fall in place more easily with these new colors. They were more us.

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My bouquet was made by one of my bridesmaids. I also made the groom’s and groomsmen’s boutonnieres and the Bridesmaid hairpieces.

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For our ceremony, we both did not want to bring religion into the creremony and wanted to make it unique. I found something called a wine and chocolate ceremony online. We each ate a piece of dark chocolate to represent the bitter and hard times that come in life and how we will need each other to depend on during those times. The sweeter red wine was to represent the happy and joyfull times to come like our first child and other milestones. Our officiant did a great job working this into a well rounded ceremony.

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We wanted to do something that was more personal to us than a traditional unity candle or sand vase. Since we both love being outside and with nature we decided that a unity tree was perfect. We each watered the tree with a small pitcher of water each of our mothers had carried to the front of the ceremony. We can watch the tree grow as our marriage does and watch it turn a bright red around our anniversary.

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The following Washington, DC area wedding vendors contributed to Stephanie + Hoang’s wedding:

Venue: Sunset Crest Manor
Catering: Better Events Catering
Photographer: Connor Studios
Event Planner: Events In the City
Floral Designer: Affordable Arrangements
Officiant: Creative Ceremony
DJ: Davis Deejays
Videographer: Video Express Productions, Inc.
Cake: The Icing
Lighting: A2Z Music Factory
Furniture Rentals: AFR Event Furnishings
Makeup: Wendy Rae Makeup Artistry
Hair: TDR Artistry
Bride’s Hairpiece: Serephine
Wedding Dress Shop: Bella Rosa

Don’t forget to visit our vendor guide for more fabulous Washington, DC area wedding professionals or our real wedding gallery for more beautiful Washington, DC area weddings!

Photo Credits: Connor Studios

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

*Events In the City and is one of our fabulous sponsors.  For information on our editorial policies, please click here.

Happy Weekend!

posted by Kelly

If anyone wants to tell me how it is May already, I’d be happy to listen! Time is just flying by! I don’t know if it was the mild winter or what?! Today, I have a trip planned to the flower mart and then this weekend, I have nothing planned! Although, I might hit up Trucko de Mayo. Can’t wait! I hope you and yours have an amazing weekend! And, by the way, how awesome is this picture below??

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A few fun finds around the web…

And what you missed right here!

Photo Credit: The Observatory from Kate and Josh’s wedding.

Lindsay + Andrew’s Hometown Engagement Session in Leesburg

posted by Kelly

It was fitting for Lindsay and Andrew’s engagement session to have them strolling around Leesburg. It’s the town where they’ve made their home, the very home they got engaged in, in fact! They had just celebrated their three year anniversary at a local Italian eatery when Andrew asked Lindsay to close her eyes and wait for her gift. A little more than a gift, she opened her eyes to him down on one knee with a ring, sparkling with his grandmother’s diamond! This perfectly sweet and intimate engagement set the stage for an equally sweet and intimate engagement session with Amie Otto Photography.

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Congratulations Lindsay and Andrew!

Looking for more on engagements?  Check out other local engagement sessions, or find out what to wear and how to do your make-up for your engagement session!

Photo Credits: Amie Otto Photography

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Meet Our Amazing Sponsors

posted by julianne

I wish I could say that I do this blog all on my own, but I don’t! I could never! I have the support (and the talent) of many top wedding vendors in the Washington, DC area. Because lots of you lovely and loyal blog followers read United With Love in RSS, or otherwise don’t get to see some of the fabulous sponsors in the right side bar, I want to take just a second to introduce you to the wonderful, local companies that support United With Love. I’m forever grateful to our sponsors. Show them some love and say thank you too!

Planning, event design, florals, stationery, gorgeous dresses…Serendipity Bridal & Events does it all!

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For more from Serendipity, you can visit them in Maryland or browse their website right here.

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For a gorgeous tent and rentals for your DC area wedding, check out Sugarplum Tent Company:

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For more from Sugarplum Tent Company you can visit their website here.

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If you are looking to have a good time at your reception, check out the music styling of Chris Laich Music Services:

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For more from Chris Laich, you can visit his website right here.

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Wedding planing and event design by the lovely Tabitha, owner of Roberts & Co. Events:

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For more from Roberts & Co. Events, you can visit here website right here.

That’s it for now! Big hugs and huge thanks to all of our sponsors. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and joining us on this journey of sharing the best and the most amazing in Washington DC area weddings, please let us know!

Inspiration: First Looks

posted by Kelly

The first look, a relatively new wedding norm that has brides and grooms sharing special moments together before their ceremony. Having a first look allows for some beautiful photos, capturing laughter, tears and other great reactions. And after the revelation is made, you can get your couple photos out of the way so you can actually enjoy your cocktail hour too! That’s two bonuses. And if you still aren’t convinced that a first look is for you, these photos may just do the trick.

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Photo Credit: Rebekah J. Murray Photography

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Photo Credits: Michelle VanTine Photography (left), Laurie Bracewell Photography (right)

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Photo Credit: Readyluck Photographers

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Photo Credit: Love Life Images

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Photo Credit: Emily Chastain Photography

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Photo Credit: {a}strid photography

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Photo Credit: Kelly Prizel Photography

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Photo Credit: Jessie Mary Photography

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Photo Credit: Ampersand Photography

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Photo Credit: Maria Vicencio Photography

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Photo Credits: Kate Triano Photography (left), Deb Lindsey Photography (right)

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Photo Credit: Abby Jiu Photography

Looking for more inspiration and ideas?  Be sure to check out our galleries.

*{a}strid photography, Deb Lindsey PhotographyJessie Mary Photography, Love Life Images, Readyluck Photographers and is one of our fabulous sponsors.  For information on our editorial policies, please click here.

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