United with Love - Fresh Inspiration For DC-Area Weddings

The ladies of United With Love recently met up at our headquarters (better known as editor Juli’s house!) with the fabulous trio behind Blend Makeup Artistry for a truly unique makeup consultation. The D.C. area based makeup artists Kathy, Marquia and Ryan introduced us to Blend Couture, a personalized line of cosmetics. From concealers and [read more...]

Cake stands are often one of the last things on your wedding planning checklist, and that’s why today we are so excited to share with you Sarah’s Stands, a Baltimore-based company and your new go-to for darling cake stands. We were first introduced to Sarah’s creations after a trip to Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, [read more...]

If you are like me and always fretting about your hair, then today is your lucky day! We have all of your wedding day hair questions answered and then some! (BTW, If you need ideas, I’ve been creating this Pinterest board of great wedding hair styles!) Giselle, super fabulous DC area wedding hair stylist, is [read more...]

For a perfect addition to your invitation suite, custom hand illustrated maps are a charming and unique complement. Whether you plan on using these gorgeous crea­­tions as a save the date card or as part of your formal invitation, hand-drawn maps are sure to impress your guests. And, be a keepsake that you’ll cherish forever! [read more...]

For those of you on the hunt for the perfect wedding location in Charm City, relax because today’s post is for you! From Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to surrounding neighborhoods, we’ve gathered five (so hard narrowing down the list, too!) of a few venues for your consideration. Whether you’re hosting a sophisticated and elegant soiree, a [read more...]

The Internet is an endless source of wedding inspiration (or sometimes procrastination!) and has certainly proven to be pretty darn useful when it comes to planning your big day. We’ve talked about how inspiration boards instantly bring your ideas to life, but if you thought that creating one was left for the tech savvy Photoshop [read more...]

Vintage inspirations in wedding décor and design are everywhere you look! To incorporate the vintage atmosphere in your event, furniture pieces are essential. While some of you may be collectors or have easy access to vintage pieces from family and friends, for others, the hunt for these key elements may be difficult. Meet Angela Mangione, [read more...]

I think we all know that planning a wedding anywhere from Baltimore to Charlottesville is pricey. That’s pricey with a capital “P!” Let me let give you the inside scoop on a new money saving resource for DC area couples. Wedcoupon is about to launch as the hot spot for local deals and specials from [read more...]

Get out your dancing shoes! Between deciding on a location, choosing a DJ, and everything in between, there’s one thing about your wedding’s reception that shouldn’t go overlooked: your first dance. With all eyes on you and your significant other, the very idea might be enough to give you nightmares, but fear not! We’ve called [read more...]

Music and song selections help convey the right atmosphere for your wedding day. Whether it’s a song performed by a string quartet during the prelude, or sung by the maid of honor during your recession as a married couple, it’s important to carefully select music that best reflects you as a couple. As beautiful as [read more...]

After this morning’s marathon wedding planning glossary, I figured you might need a little help getting started on planning your wedding! So, let me tell you about a free, local wedding planning resource from The Washington Post. In addition to all of their daily news content, The Post also puts together (and mails to your [read more...]

Finding the right wedding planning service is a bit like finding the right car to buy, or realtor to sell your house. There are just so many choices and words that you’ve never heard before. For example, did you know that, in fact, a huge difference between a planner and an event designer? I called [read more...]

In the category of interesting and fun things that local people are doing, let me introduce you to Trip Me Not. If you are scared about tripping on your dress or stumbling down the aisle, then you are in luck. Sarah, the owner and inventor of Trip Me Not, had the same concerns as a [read more...]

I didn’t even know what an inspiration board was before I started working in the wedding world. But, my dear readers, let me tell you how important and help they are to planning a wedding. In an instant you can convey the visual and emotional feel of your wedding to the roughly 30 vendors (that’s [read more...]

Did you have a good holiday weekend?? We missed you while we were away! But, not to worry, we are getting a little fun up in here today! I always like days on the blog when we talk to the pros, especially the fun ones like the DJs. We have Bryan George, a wedding DJ [read more...]

Consigning – either buying our selling – is popular among brides today.  Brides can find gorgeous wedding gowns at great prices through consignment shops.  And, on the flip side, brides are opting to selling their wedding dress after their wedding rather than hold onto it for years and years.  If you think you might opt [read more...]

Yum, yum and yum!  In addition to feeding your guests, food can be a focal point of your wedding, a conversation starter and something that your guests will be talking about long after your wedding day.  One of our first posts on the blog was about food trucks and it got us thinking.  What are [read more...]

Calling on all budget conscious brides-to-be!  It’s Ally, here.  If you thought you had to dig through your pocketbooks to spend thousands on your dream wedding dress, then today’s post is for you!  You’re probably thinking: “Gorgeous designer wedding gowns at a bargain?  Tell me more, please!”  Well, two words: sample sale.  We are thrilled [read more...]

Who should sit next to who?!  If you are thinking about doing assigned seating at your wedding, then we have the goods for you today.  We have a few tips to get you started and an online tool that will make everything easier!  It can be confusing to know which guests to put where, especially [read more...]

If you haven’t had enough of the sweets over the holidays, then today’s post is for you!  New year’s resolutions, what?!  Gina and Mike were married at the Carnegie Institution for Science in September.  They decided bake up a little do it yourself project and treat their guests to cake pops for dessert.  I’ll let [read more...]

I know we are technically taking this week “off” to celebrate the holidays, BUT we have some important business coming up that we need to get your prepared for:  bridal shows!  The New Year is the time for bridal shows and other events to help you find vendors and plan your wedding. With lots of [read more...]

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to rehearsal dinner fashion – at least for brides.  Men are generally expected to wear suits or nice khakis depending on the venue and season, but brides can wear white or color, dresses or separates, even pants!  Pretty much anything goes, so I’ve rounded up [read more...]

Hello rehearsal dinner week loving friends!  Today we are talking style.  There are so many different things that you can do with your rehearsal dinner.  The options are endless.  To help you pick a style and narrow down your choices, we have Washington, DC wedding planner extraordinaire, Sara, owner of Bella Notte. Take it away [read more...]

Welcome back to our series on rehearsal dinners!  I thought we should jump right in into the nitty gritty.  The details.  The little things that you need to know in order to pull off a fun and festive party before your wedding.  Your rehearsal dinner is a chance to connect with friends and family, and [read more...]

Ladies and gents, if you are the one waiting for that ring, stop right here and forward this onto your partner.  (You can thanks us later!) Photo Credits: Brian Tropiano Photography from Aaron and Jill’s engagement The thought occurred to after compiling this morning’s post that while this is wedding season and couples are becoming [read more...]

You are engaged!  Congrats!  That’s so exciting!  But, what are you supposed to do now?  We went right to the professionals in the Washington, DC area for the answer to the question that many of you are asking yourself.  What is the first thing I’m supposed to do once I become engaged?  Read on to [read more...]

Be still my letterpress loving heart!  Today’s post is all about the information you’ll need on how to incorporate this old world printing technique with modern design into your wedding day.  There’s just something about holding a perfectly crafted piece in your hands, especially in this world of instant communication, that can truly enhance your [read more...]

We are talking manners today!  The Dandelion Patch hosted a wedding etiquette tea, an event for brides-to-be and their mothers and bridesmaids.  This contemporary high tea (sliders and English Breakfast Tea anyone?) was focused on making wedding etiquette fun and practical rather than stuffy and particular.  Anna Post, etiquette guru, and great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, [read more...]

If you decide to register for your wedding, let me introduce you to Alessi, a designer home goods shop in Georgetown.  Their high-quality items range from from the practical, the decorative, the unique to the iconic.  I promise you won’t be bored in this store!  I recently had a chance to go through the shop [read more...]

Listen up fashionistas!  Our next group of dresses is for the fashion-forward bride and is all about texture, color, and unusual materials.  From cotton toile fabric to feathers to black wedding dresses, if you’re looking for something amazing that your guests have never seen before – this is the post for you!  Designers also sent [read more...]

We are just short of a month away from our one year birthday at United With Love (Can you believe it!? ) and I’ve noticed that our real wedding features have great advice packed in between all that gorgeous photography.  As I was going back through the real weddings, many of the features had little [read more...]

We love a good engagement session here at United With Love.  We’ve featured many different styles so far, each one more unique than the next.  Today, we have Tara Parekh, a Washington, DC area photographer, with some great tips on engagement sessions from when to schedule them to what to bring.  If you are interested [read more...]

The bling!  Quite possibly one of the best parts of becoming engaged is the ring or rings.  Well, that and the fact that you get to spend the rest of your life with the one that you love!  We are talking engagement rings – that pretty little sparkler you get to wear everyday.  (I still [read more...]

If you are like most couples wanting to marry in DC, MD or VA then I’m sure you’ve had troubles with the venue.  Everything from not knowing where to start to being overwhelmed by the number of available locations.  There are many wedding venues in the DC region to fit every style, budget and size [read more...]

We are suckers for local DC-area wedding companies that follow their passion, especially when it results in fun photo booth props!  Let me introduce you to Say Cheese! Paper Props, the work of Maryland-based stationer Carla David.  Carla is a stationery designer and she just recently launched a new chic and totally stylish paper prop [read more...]

If you want to be yourself on your wedding, not a made up version of yourself, then today’s post is for you!  I, myself, am not a huge makeup person.  If I get a swipe of mascara on in the morning, it is a good day for me!  I remember being really scared for my [read more...]

The music at your wedding is one of those things that people will be talking about for years to come – good and bad!  Local wedding DJ, MyDeejay, just recently published an eBook with tips on how to hire a DJ for your wedding.  In a frank and honest way, this book outlines the pitfalls [read more...]

We are all about the food today and I’m actually getting hungry putting this post together!  The food and drink portion of your wedding budget could very well be the largest portion.  When you are spending such a large sum of money, you want it to be good food, and an even better experience for [read more...]

If you are looking for a wedding dress, this post is for you.  Today’s post is all of the information that you’ll need for finding your perfect dress.  DC bridal dress shop owner Carine from Carine’s Bridal Atelier in Georgeown gave us her list of the 10 most common questions (with answers!) about bridal dress [read more...]

Oh do we have not only fun ideas, but some really pretty pictures, for you today!  (Even the not-so-crafty ones are going to love this!)  I have been working on and thinking about this post for months, and I mean months.  I think it was snowing out when I first asked local calligrapher Michele from [read more...]

We didn’t want to stop with inspiration and accessories, so we’re wrapping up our mini series on short wedding hairstyles with advice from Amie of Amie Decker Beauty.  If you remember from last week, one of our readers wrote us with questions about how to style her short hair for her wedding.  We went straight [read more...]

Oh the camera.  It is dreaded.  I’m one of those people who jumps out of the way when the camera comes around.  But, your wedding is one day that you’ll want to be front and center.  You’ve got the hair and the make-up and the fancy duds.  Time to show if off!  We heard from [read more...]

We’re back with more for those of you pixie loving, brides-to-be out there with short hair!  (Check our part one’s reader request for short hair inspiration here.)  This time we went straight back to Virginia-based couture accessory designer Liv of Enchanted Atelier, who stopped by last week to show brides of all hair types how [read more...]

In the wedding world, there is such a thing as “day of” paper goods.  As in, the materials and items that you and your guests will be using on the wedding day.  These are the things that help your guests and point everyone in the right direction.  Day of paper goods include menus, programs, tags [read more...]

They are so chic and so pretty.  We are talking cage veils today.  You know, those cute little, retro inspired veiled numbers that are adorning the most stylish of brides.  (Don’t know what a cage veil is or confused about veils, in general, check out this veil primer from Brides.)  When it comes to wearing [read more...]

Should I or shouldn’t I?  When it comes to wedding planning, you are either all about it, or couldn’t care less.  Regardless of what camp you reside in, it can be stressful just knowing where to begin.  Enter:  the wedding planner.  We’ve seen the movies and heard the stereotypes.  Thankfully, Janice, owner of Bellwether Events, [read more...]

Ah, the dress.  Is it fun to dress like a princess for a day or more painful to go through the process of finding “the one.”  After all, you thought finding “the one” stopped when you found your partner to marry, right!?  We are lucky to have Carine, owner of Carine’s Bridal Atelier in Washington, [read more...]

We are back with more advice for photography week.  This time, we are talking about the little things that you can do to make sure that you get the most out of your wedding day photography.  Perhaps you’ve splurged on the dream photographer, or you just really want to make the most of your day [read more...]

You’ve heard it before:  photography is one area of your wedding that you want to splurge, because you’ll have those pictures forever.  But, the actual cost of photography can be a hard pill to swallow if you have never planned a wedding before.  You just want to marry your partner and have a fun party, [read more...]

This might be my favorite post for photography week.  This post is full of such good advice, even I can’t stand it!  (This is a mega post though, so stay with me because it is worth it, I promise!) Now that you know how many photographers you should interview, I bet you are wondering what [read more...]

We love pretty wedding pictures.  We love photos that tell a love story.  But, how do you get those for your wedding?  How do you go about finding a photographer for your wedding?  Welcome to photography week! There are so many wedding photographers in DC, MD and VA for you to choose from.  You can [read more...]

If you want to go glamorous and regal, without going over the top, for your wedding then you are in luck, because we have some inspiration for you today!  Stephanie, owner of Bradshaw Styling, designed a wow-able tablescape for a recent Baltimore Bride magazine event.  She teamed up with a few fabulous Baltimore-area wedding vendors [read more...]

We love the pretty pictures and the gorgeous wedding features, but we are also realistic.  Unexpected things will happen on your wedding day.  Things that, no matter how hard to try, you can’t plan for.  We have Laura from Blue Canary Events with us today to talk about some of her real-life examples of unexpected, [read more...]

Before we get started today, please take a minute for our reader survey! If you are planning a wedding, then you must read this advice post and the one to follow.  Paul from The DJ Connection sent along this two part series that he wrote using a true-life example of a wedding schedule gone all [read more...]

I’m having flashbacks of shopping for my wedding dress.  I must have tried on 200 dresses at every bridal shop in DC, MD and VA before I settled on an all lace number that I am still in love with to this day.  Going through the same drama looking for your wedding dress??  Fret not, [read more...]

While you may live in the Washington, DC region, many of your guests may not live here.  Traveling to this area for a wedding is a destination for many people, so save the dates are a popular choice for couples to help their guests plan their visit.  If you are thinking about sending out save [read more...]

We have had some do it yourself projects on the blog and no doubt we will have more.  After all, no better way to make a wedding your own then to make it yourself!  We’ve featured everything from to ideas to printable invitations to weddings with lots of DIY touches.  But, the pretty pictures don’t [read more...]

Washington, DC is a small, but mighty city.  It is only about 61 square miles, which isn’t really that big if you consider all that goes on in our nation’s capital.  But, what really helps to define Washington, DC is the area that surrounds the city.  Some call it the DC metro area, the DMV, [read more...]

Thinking of Washington, DC for your wedding?? In case you needed convincing for why the Nation’s capital is unlike any other place in the world, here are ten reasons to get married in Washington, DC… Photo credit:  Kurstin Roe Photography 1.  They give out marriage licenses regardless of political affiliation, so you can get a [read more...]

Before your wedding in the Washington, DC area is official, you’ll need to apply for and obtain a marriage license.  There are few things less exciting than red tape, but it will be worth it in the end to make your wedding in DC, Maryland and Virginia legal. Photo credit:  Katie Stoops Photography Before you [read more...]

Unsure of what to do for your DC area wedding engagement session?  We are excited to bring you make-up advice from a pro!  Maryland’s makeup expert, Amie Decker, owner of Amie Decker Beauty, gives you five tips for looking your best for your engagement session photos.  Take it away, Amie… Photo credit:  Leo Djiwatanpu Photography [read more...]