Ballroom weddings are always impressive feats, as any one ballroom can be transformed in a million different ways. For their March 21 wedding, Lauren Dillon and Manuel (Manny) Geraldo kept to a simple and elegant palette of ivory and blush florals with flashes of gold–a timeless backdrop for the celebration of their love for one another. Their beautiful wedding was captured by Deb Lindsey Photography in the photos below.
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Both Maryland natives, Lauren and Manny were home for the holidays when they were invited to the same Christmas party hosted by Lauren’s godparents. They were seated across the table from one another, and they spent the night immersed in conversation, quickly bondeding over their shared love of Maryland, sports, and their mutual friends. Though at the time they lived on opposing coasts, when they both ended up on the East Coast nine months after their initial meeting, Manny was quick to invite Lauren on a first date at a local batting cage.
They’d dated for four years–long distance between DC and New York–and throughout, Manny marked each monthly anniversary with a card. To celebrate four years, Manny hand-delivered his customary card rather than mailing it. This card simply read “Will you marry me?”
For their spring wedding at Bethesda Country Club, Manny and Lauren were surprised by the beautiful weather, especially given the snow that had fallen the day before. Their church wedding precluded their elegant ballroom reception, where arrangements of blush and ivory roses and gold accents worked with pink lighting to transform the space.
At the reception, the bride and groom danced to “There is No Love” by Jimi Morris and guests dined on an entree of Old Bay-spiced chicken. After a night of celebrating with loved ones who had come from near and far, the happy couple departed into the night with plans for a Dominican Republic honeymoon.
VENDORS
Ceremony Venue: Resurrection Baptist Church | Reception Venue: Bethesda Country Club | Photography: Deb Lindsey Photography | Event Coordinator: Kawania Wooten of Howerton & Wooten Events | Bride’s Gown: Monique Lhuillier Bliss, Kleinfeld | Groom’s Tux: Jos. A. Banks | Hair Dresser: Shirley Gordon, Strands Hair Studio | Makeup Artist: Nikki Fraser, Beauty ‘n the Bride | Cake: Cakes Plus | Florist, Linens, and Lighting: DaVinci Florist, Party Rental LTD | Caterers: Bethesda Country Club | Transportation: MarcParc, On the Town Limousines | Videographer: Adora | Music/Entertainment: Out of Town Blues Band | Invitations: A&P Designs | Photo Booth: Fun Shotz | Reception Decorator: HJ Planners | Paper Goods: Creative Parties
Need a lighting expert to transform your reception space? Find the area’s best lighting companies in our vendor guide.
Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
