The weekend started with a casino-themed welcome party at the family’s estate. The estate quickly transformed into a swanky pink and white casino and guests enjoyed pink bills for guests to spend on every casino game imaginable. Their signature cocktails had floral sphere ice and casino-themed imprints. The following night was the couple’s dream rehearsal dinner. Elle Ellinghaus Design and Designs By Oochay transformed the civil war era barn by draping soft silk, floral, and greenery throughout the barn’s pillars. John Hall from Washington Talent played soft music on the piano in the background to a perfectly plated dinner by Occassions Catering. The next day, an aisle of rose petals led a path down the hill to the lake and to the biggest arch of roses to say “I do.” The break in the middle of the arch was for the mountains in the background to be visible. Cocktail hour surrounded a fountain lined with floral, original ice house-turned-bar and a piano overflowing with floral with a backdrop of the Virginia mountains and the picturesque lake. Dinner was on the further side of the property where custom-made posts to match the barn held bistro lights overtop of chic seating. The linens, chairs, and floral were romantic and elegant while guests dined al fresco under the twinkling lights and clear sky.

The barns had been completely restored to the time period and were used for rehearsal dinner, dancing, and desert creating lounge & conversation spaces. Tree trunks still intact that were used on the ceiling from hundreds of years ago were filled with greenery and accented with drape, the music peaked out a barn window to be hidden from the guests, and the cake had a floral-covered wooden swing that hung from the tin roof. The restored silo was turned into a swanky bourbon bar and the main barn was transformed into a patisserie. The couple mentioned to Elle over and over again that a wall of donuts was a necessity. Complete with a custom-made “Donut Stop the Party” archway over glass display cases, striped awning, and cake-shaped floral, it also served lattes and had a grilling station for the donuts and ice cream toppings. It was the anti-barn wedding at this historic property and it worked so well.”

Please head to Style Me Pretty to see the full estate wedding front page feature!

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Best of all, perhaps, is their ballroom. The Warne Ballroom at the Cosmos Club is where Kendra and Ben held their reception after their garden ceremony. It’s truly a piece of history — as per their website: “It took 6,000 linear feet of gold, $2 million, eight and a half months of work, and six years of planning to restore the Warne Ballroom to its former glory as one of Washington’s finest Gilded Age salons.” From experience, I can truly agree that it is one of the finest in all of Washington, DC — and I’ve seen a lot throughout the past decade of photographing weddings!

It was such a joy to relieve a bit of Kendra and Ben’s wedding day with their feature on Carats and Cake. They opted for a subtle citrus palette and it was refreshing to have such a fun splash of color in the middle of the summer. Don’t get me wrong, I love all things neutral but there is just something about the way color photographs when it is done right!

Click to view the full Cosmos Club wedding feature and be sure to take a peek at all the fabulous vendors who made this day a reality!

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From the post: “Tayler and Kunal were married in the iconic Linden Grove during their Meridian House summer wedding in Washington, D. C. Tayler looked absolutely flawless in her Oscar De La Renta wedding gown and Cinderella Jimmy Choos that were — literally — fit for a princess straight out of a Disney fairytale. And Kunal was nothing short of dapper himself, selecting a white dinner jacket to pair with his sharp tuxedo. Pair that with the talented ladies of The Hitched Company, and show-stopping floral designs by Erica at Sophie Felts Floral Design and there was simply no way this day could be anything less than amazing. Alicia Lacey Photography photographed this beauty of a day to perfection, capturing all the moments that made this day so special. But all of the “pretty stuff” aside, at the core of this wedding day was a couple who couldn’t wait to spend the rest of their lives together”

Please head over to Style Me Pretty to see the full Meridian House wedding feature!

And, I cannot forget all the amazing vendors that contributed to this wedding day!
Ceremony & Reception Venue | Meridian House
Coordinator | Lauren with Hitched By Heather
Invitation Calligraphy | Wild Hearts
Signage Calligraphy | Calligraphette & Co.
Hair | Roche Salon
Florist | Sophie Felts
Cake | Catherine George Cakes
Catering | Main Event Caterers
Dress Designer | Oscar de la Renta
Bridesmaid Attire | Needle & Thread

The post Meridian House Wedding Feature appeared first on Washington DC Wedding Photographer | Alicia Lacey.

From Style Me Pretty:
“Justine and Brennan first booked their wedding venue in late 2019 and then sought to hire their wedding planner, SRS Events, right before COVID struck. From living in DC, Justine and Brennan knew they wanted to host their wedding in the city and show their friends and family why love they to call DC home. Meridian House is historical in and of itself, from being built in 1919 and was designed by the renowned architect, John Russell Pope, who designed the Jefferson Memorial, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Archives. It is also unique to downtown DC in that it has several beautiful outdoor spaces suitable for a wedding ceremony and cocktail, including a Linden Tree grove with the original trees imported from Europe when the home was built.

Justine fell in love with her wedding dress online, from seeing it on a distant friend on her Facebook! She found out the designer, Sarah Seven, and set about purchasing the dress and having it altered to fit to her to perfection. Justine selected Wtoo bridesmaid dresses in French Blue and allowed them to select their favorite style. Although finding the perfect bridesmaid dress was one of the hardest parts of planning, then end result was absolute perfection, and paired perfectly with their organic sweet pea bouquets!

The couple and their wedding planner created a natural, romantic yet timeless and elegant wedding day, incorporating pastel blues, whites, creams and greenery tones. Letterpress save the dates and invitations with delicate soft blue florals gave guests a hint of the wedding design to come.“

Please head over to Style Me Pretty to see all of this Meridian House wedding feature!

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From the article by Becca Foley: “The pair married Aug. 28 — about a year after their postponed date in 2020 — at Washington National Cathedral surrounded by around 100 family members and friends. The ceremony was an interfaith ceremony, with both Rev. Canon Dana Colley Corsello and Rabbi Kenneth Block leading the ceremony, and Rabbi Block signing the marriage license. Immediately after the wedding, the couple left for an Italian honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast and in Tuscany. They plan to get a dog and name it after the bar where they went on their first date, Bar Charley. “I have felt like we’ve been married for a while now,” Mr. Garfinkel said. “We’ve known each other for so long and I’ve always known I was going to marry Valeria.” After Mr. Garfinkel finishes school, the pair hope to settle into a house and eventually have children. “John is the only person I could spend the rest of my life with,” Ms. Dueñas said. “I just feel so lucky to have met Valeria,” Mr. Garfinkel added. “To have been in the Brass Monkey at the same time, that her cousin happened to throw her birthday party there, that we were there. Even though we’re not Irish, the luck of the Irish struck that day.””

Head over the NYT site to see the article in full HERE!

Or find a backdated copy of the paper from Sunday, September 19th, 2021.

A huge thank you to the NYT for sharing more about Valeria and John’s love story as well as images from their Washington National Cathedral wedding this summer.

The post Hay Adams Wedding Feature in New York Times appeared first on Washington DC Wedding Photographer | Alicia Lacey.

From Style Me Pretty:
“Flower lovers rejoice! You’ll have to look no further for inspiration than this whimsical garden meets classic elegance wedding lovingly designed by Nouvelle Weddings. From an abundance of organic florals seeming to grow from stone stairs to a cake surrounded by a bevy of blooms, Stacy Bowen Floral Design creates moments that take our breath away. The timeless touches and overall charm were artfully captured in the imagery by Alicia Lacey Photography. 

Whimsical garden meets classic elegance was the inspiration for this shoot that was so artfully captured by Alicia Lacey Photography. The mansion of Great Marsh Estate provided a dramatic and elegant backdrop for the classic, yet playful design. For the ceremony, the couple was surrounded by organic, garden-style florals that enhanced the natural beauty of the surrounding field. Garden roses, ranunculus, sweet pea, and a variety of greenery lined the stairs and framed the entrance to the porch. Two tablescapes were designed. The first with a luxurious style which had a large floral table runner, velvet napkins, and gold accents. The second tablescape provided a more whimsical look with gauze napkins, wicker placemats, and floral-etched glassware. To finish off the whimsical garden vibe, a classic white cake was decorated with fresh flowers, playfully dancing in a variety of heights and surrounded by a sea of florals.”

 I’ll be sharing more of this on my blog in a few weeks, but for now, please head over to Style Me Pretty to see the full Great Marsh Estate wedding feature!

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One of the most touching details, however, was the plethora of sign language interpreters available to ensure Jennifer’s family never missed a moment of this beautiful event. Jennifer grew up in a deaf household, so she’s been signing her whole life. Even though it was a small elopement, she knew there would be so many angles and wanted to have someone signing at every turn so her family could enjoy the day. She even included adorable cookies in the “I love you” symbol in her guest boxes as one more sweet nod to this part of her story.

I was elated to find out that The Knot magazine wanted to feature their DC War Memorial wedding in their spring/summer issue to tell their readers all about the process of planning a deaf-inclusive wedding. In the full-page spread, they talk to Jennifer about tips and processes to ensure the day goes off without a hitch!Head to your local newsstand to pick up a copy of the latest issue of The Knot magazine to read the full feature!

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One of my favorite things about Chesapeake Bay Beach Club weddings would have to be the gorgeous beach for sunset photos! The venue often plays host to multiple weddings, which can sometimes make things complicated from a photography perspective, but at sunset, each couple has their own section of beach to enjoy! And each section has its own unique features, so you can feel like you’re in a totally different spot depending on what venue you select. One thing remains the same throughout all of them and that is, of course, the stunning sunset over the Bay!

From My Eastern Shore Wedding: “We’re finally feeling the effects of spring, and we are ready to celebrate. What better way than with a storybook Eastern Shore wedding like this one! We love the beautiful blue hues of the bridal party and the way the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club perfectly frames Monica and Chris’ romantic wedding day. Cheers to spring’s arrival and to the beautiful blues of the Bay!” Please head over to their blog to see the full feature here! And a huge thank you to the team at MESW for the lovely post!

The post Spring Chesapeake Bay Beach Club Wedding Feature appeared first on Washington DC Wedding Photographer | Alicia Lacey.

Luckily, I did get to shoot one wedding before everything changed for Emily and Mike! These two were married on Leap Day at St. Matthews Cathedral, followed by a celebration with their friends and family at the National Museum of Women in the Arts — in case you missed it, you can view their full DC NMWA wedding on the blog! It was an absolutely stunning affair led by the wonderful team at Cherry Blossom Events. They worked endlessly to pull of a perfect day and I think the results spoke for themselves. So much so, that we were blessed to have this wedding featured on the popular blog, Wedding Chicks!

From the feature: “Extremely elegant! Totally crushing on all the details of this special day. A wedding that feels like it was meant for royalty. Tall centerpieces and a bridal party dressed to the nines – we can’t help but gush over every bit of this wedding day. This classic wedding day is the perfect inspiration for a couple wanting to go all out and wow their guests with a spectacular ballroom setting filled with candles and love.”

Please be sure to head over to Wedding Chicks to see the full NMWA wedding feature! Don’t forget to scroll all the way to the bottom to check out all the awesome vendors that may this day a reality!

The post Washington, DC NMWA Wedding Feature appeared first on Washington DC Wedding Photographer | Alicia Lacey.

It was also clear in their wedding details — they included so much color that you couldn’t help but feel joyful at their celebration! It was as if their love took form in everything around them, including their vibrant, yet elegant wedding colors and decor. Their talented team at Roberts & Co. pulled it off flawlessly with the help of Emily from Love Blooms DC.

I was thrilled to find out that their wedding would be featured on the popular blog, Carats & Cake. I knew their unique details would bring inspiration to other couples looking to add color to their day in a timeless fashion. To recap a few: Melissa donned a fabulous pair of Jimmy Choo heels that were complete with the most perfect pearl and floral details imaginable. And their invitation suite, created by Momental Designs, featured a custom watercolor painting of their stunning waterfront venue, District Winery in Washington, DC. Finally, I, of course, cannot forget their 12-foot floral chandelier that was hanging over the head table at their reception — guests literally stopped in awe of the beautiful centerpiece!

Sounds amazing I promise, it’s even better! Click to see my recap of their District Winery wedding! Or head over to Carats & Cake to see the full wedding feature!

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Years ago, I actually had my own wedding featured in Virginia Bride magazine and have loved continuing working with their team from the photography side of the house ever since. They put out a lovely bi-annual publication that provides inspiration and ideas for brides all across the state and I knew it would be a perfect fit for Megan and Anthony’s Pippin Hill wedding. Here’s a snippet from the issue:

“The big emphasis for the day was decor and florals that would highlight and complement the already beautiful setting of the wedding. Garlands of greenery, candles, and soft, flowing fabric accents with metallic vases perfected the theme. While we never really put a name to our design vision, the words organic, elegant, and minimal were often used.”

To read the rest of the feature, head over to VA Bride’s website to purchase a copy or pick one up at your local bookstore if you’re from the area! A big thank you to Virginia Bride for the publication, the amazing vendor team who made this day a reality, and, of course, the sweetest bride and groom — Megan and Anthony! It was such a joy to celebrate with you and glad we get to relive this day over and over!

The post Pippin Hill Wedding VA Bride Magazine Feature appeared first on Washington DC Wedding Photographer | Alicia Lacey.

From Wedding Chicks: “Allie and Pete were set for a destination wedding in Palm Springs. However, due to Covid, of course their travel and wedding plans become derailed. Determined not to let Covid stop them from marrying, they along with their wedding planner, created a Palm Springs-esque elopement on their wedding date in their hometown within Virginia.

The bright, vibrant colors Allie loves so much made an appearance, along with using some elements from their originally planned day, like the table linen and stationery and menus. Enlisting a local florist to create florals in their bright and cheery color scheme, she incorporated roses, peonies, dahlias, dried palmetto, bunny tails, and pampas grass, along with Allie’s favorite flowers, butterfly and peach ranunculus and free spirit roses. With Allie’s best friend and maid of honor serving as officiant, they were thrilled to wed and celebrate their love!

SRS Events planned every detail, Eight Tree Street Floral Design created all of the amazing florals and Leah Letters and Wild Hearts Design Co created the stationery for this cheery day at Little Oatlands. You can see all the images in the full gallery and read on to hear more of this wedding and love story.”

You should head over to their page to see the full Palm Springs Elopement feature!

The post Palm Springs-Esque Elopement at Oatlands Plantation in VA appeared first on Washington DC Wedding Photographer | Alicia Lacey.