By Stephanie Early Green
Friday, June 1, through Sunday, June 3
Gowns from the TWO by Rosa Clara collection, a more affordable line from the world-renowned dress designer, will be featured at a trunk show at Chevy Chase Bridal. Receive 10 percent off all trunk show purchases. Call 202-363-9301 for more information.
Friday June 1, and Saturday, June 2
Hitched Salon in Georgetown will host a trunk show featuring gowns from Judd Waddell. The designer will be in attendance to debut his newest collection and answer questions. Receive a 10 percent discount on any Judd Waddell gowns purchased at the trunk show. Call 202-333-6162 to make an appointment.
Sunday, June 3
Attend the Greater Virginia Bridal Show at the Science Museum of Virginia, in Richmond, from 1 to 5 PM, to experience displays from a wide number of vendors and local wedding professionals, a runway show by Alfred Angelo, door prizes, and food samples. Admission is $7.
Sunday, June 3
Attend the Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo 2012, hosted by Pink Dot Concepts, at the Hotel Palomar in DC, from 1 to 4 PM. Registration is $7 for individuals and $10 for couples. Find more information here.
Sunday, June 3
Head to Bowie, Maryland, for Good Eats & Treats at the Cardinal Room at Boswell Hall from 2 to 5 PM. For $5, you'll gain access to an open house, tasting, and wedding vendor showcase. Buy tickets online.
Sunday, June 3, and Tuesday, June 5
Crate & Barrel is hosting Wedding Party gift registry events in Virginia (Arlington, McLean, and Richmond) and DC. These events feature food, drinks, and a chance to discuss registry options with Crate & Barrel consultants. RSVP here.
Thursday, June 7, through Saturday, June 9
Carine's Bridal Atelier in Georgetown will be hosting a Rivini trunk show, featuring luxurious gowns from the designer's spring 2013 collection. Call 202-965-4696 to schedule an appointment.
Do we have to give out favors at the wedding? Our budget is really tight.
Favors are not required, and you may be doing your guests a favor by skipping them. Many of us have a drawer at home filled with little goodies we got at weddings that we feel guilty throwing out but that serve no identifiable purpose. It is enough to send guests home with fond memories of your wonderful day.
Obviously she has never heard the old adage that the job of the mother of the groom is to "show up, shut up, and wear beige." But you don't want to go to war with your future mother-in-law. Find out if she would be willing to wear a complementary shade--if she hates purple, she might prefer a soft rose, for example. If she remains obstinate, the dress isn't the issue. She can wear any color she wants. The focus will still be on the bride and groom.
Do you have a wedding etiquette question for Leslie? E-mail kbennett@washingtonian.com and we'll get you the answer!By Laura Wainman
Erin and Ali Fardshisheh share a quick laugh on their wedding day. All photographs by Jennifer Domenick, Love Life Images.
A lot of firsts for Erin Fardshisheh occurred in room F108 at the University of Miami. She sat through her first law school class (property law). She met her first law school friend (a cute boy). And she got her first marriage proposal (in front of a janitor, no less). It just so happened those three firsts dovetailed; the cute law school classmate was the one who popped the question.
"I took great pride in planning the perfect engagement, and I knew it would be difficult to surprise a woman I had been dating for almost four years," says Erin's now-husband, Ali Fardshisheh. "I talked about how we had come full circle, back to the place we first met, and how I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. When Erin said yes, we memorialized the moment by taking a picture with the janitor."
Ian Alberg and Mary Morrison share a post-ceremony kiss in front of Sixth & I Historic Synagogue.
When Ian Alberg proposed to Mary Morrison, he really outdid himself. "He did it twice," says Mary, a bubbly, blonde international consultant and former White House staffer. "The first was in New York City at my apartment, which was a total surprise. Then he did it again the following weekend in Washington at the Lincoln Memorial, one of our favorite places." In case you're wondering, yes, she did get two rings. The first reflected Mary's half-Brazilian roots: A diamond eternity band is the traditional symbol of engagement. The second was a more classic American engagement ring, with a round center stone surrounded by a ring of smaller diamonds. The observance of backgrounds and the merging of cultures was a common theme as Mary and Ian planned their November 5 nuptials--both knew they wanted their celebration to reflect elegance, fun, and memorable details.
A Jonathan Adler-designed living room. Photographs courtesy Jonathan Adler.
Later this summer decorator, author and bon vivant Jonathan Adler will open one of his divinely delightful shops here in Washington--finally! Located in the former Gap Kids store on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, Adler's new digs will carry furniture, home accessories, bedding, and the kind of kitschy-chic products for which he's become known the world over. His spin on mod classics should be in every household, which is why we think registering at Jonathan Adler is a fabulous option; who wouldn't want an orange lacquer side table or Mr. & Mrs. salt and pepper shakers? We had a chance to chat with Adler, who is in the midst of putting the finishing touches on plans for his store, about Washington, surviving as a new couple, and how he missed the wedding gift boat.
First of all, we're thrilled you're coming to DC. Welcome! Can you tell us what made you want to open here?
Washington is groovy. I've always loved Georgetown--the architecture, the vibe, all the glamorous politicos, students, and creative types. I've been looking for the perfect spot in Georgetown for years, and I finally found it.
With a rumored late summer/early fall wedding on the horizon, Jessica Biel slipped away to Paris over Easter weekend, reportedly in search of a high-profile designer to craft her custom gown. Biel, who tabloids say got engaged to long-time beau, Justin Timberlake, over the Christmas holidays but who has yet to officially confirm or deny the rumors, was spotted at Elie Saab's upscale Parisian showroom.
Emily Flynn and John Pappas celebrate their wedding at The Metropolitan Club. Photographs by Alexandra Friendly Photography.
By all accounts, Emily and John met in a very Washington way: at the office. "As the story goes, John fought not to hire me," says Emily Flynn, recalling the process that led to her working side by side with John Pappas at a public affairs firm. "He says it's because I wasn't qualified. I say it's because he thought I was too cute."
By Kate Bennett
Liancarlo's "5805" gown, one of many marked down at the Carine's sample sale.
If you've been on the emotional roller coaster that is wedding gown shopping, we understand where you're coming from. While there are plenty of happy, fun, and straight-up "I feel like a princess" moments in the process, there can also be a good deal of sticker shock. A gorgeous designer gown will likely be one of the most (if not the most) expensive clothing purchases of your life, which is why striking a deal on a dress is so important. Georgetown's Carine's Bridal Atelier is holding its annual sample sale on Thursday, and to help you maximize your success, we asked owner Carine Krawiec for tips.
For the uninitiated, what is a sample sale?
A sample sale allows brides to buy the actual gown samples that were on display in the store. A bride can purchase the dress off the rack and take it home, as opposed to placing a custom order. Sample sales are great for the brides who want a couture gown but not the price tag that usually comes with it.
The couple share a smile and a quick kiss. All photographs by Abby Jiu Photography.
Right off the bat, Beth Westlund and Robert Dahl agreed they wanted to get married in the springtime. "Having gotten engaged during the blizzard of 2009, we knew we didn't want to chance a winter wedding," says Beth, a director at an international nonprofit. "Plus spring and cherry blossom time was very important to us; we really wanted our families and guests to experience it." In a happy alliance of environmental kismet and careful planning, the April 4, 2011, wedding, at the Athenaeum in Alexandria, took place during the cherry blossoms' peak bloom.
SoundConnection; photograph courtesy of Andy Kushner Entertainment.
Congrats! You’ve made some big decisions: the date, the venue, the caterer. You’ve even decided where you stand on the band/deejay question. But when it comes to booking the actual act, how do you know which is the right one for you?
“The entertainment is in a power position—they set the tone for the entire party,” says Andy Kushner, a local entertainment designer. As a result, Kushner says, there’s a lot to consider before signing the dotted line. “Regardless of how they sound, you want to be sure they have a nice, clean appearance and present themselves well,” he says. “Also it’s important to know that they have the ability to really engage your crowd.”
Here are some tips—courtesy of Kushner and local deejay Chris Laich—on how to ensure your dance floor is packed with shimmying guests all night long.
