The couple pose with Mozely the horse. All photographs by An Endless Pursuit Photography

McLean couple Darcy and Brian first met through mutual friends, and dated for three and a half years before Brian proposed at the bride’s parents’ home on Cape Cod.

“We had some wine, some very nice weather, and I proposed as the sun was setting,” recalls Brian.

The active lovebirds, who enjoy biking, kayaking, and playing miniature golf together, decided to have an engagement shoot in October 2011 at the Merry-Go-Round farm in Potomac, where Darcy, an avid horseback rider, keeps her horse, Mozely. An Endless Pursuit Photography snapped the images.

“It was the perfect time of year . . . all of the trees were orange and yellow,” says Darcy. “The farm is like a little oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city—it’s so close, but it seems so far away.”

Darcy and Brian dressed in colors that complemented the fall season, and enjoyed spending time with Mozely.

“It’s fun interacting with him,” says Brian, of the horse.

“My favorite part of the day was having Brian lead me around bareback on Mozely. I felt like a little kid getting a pony ride!” says Darcy.

The couple will marry on June 1, 2012, at ThorpeWood in Thurmont, Maryland.

If you’re a fan of Army pilots Katie and Travis’s straight-outta–Top Gun wedding, you’re in luck. We’ve got a double dose of Willard wedding goodness, with Katie and Travis’s wedding video by Zinnia Films. They’re such an adorable couple; we love how they show affection (and dance!) like no one’s watching—and they’ve got one of the cutest crews of flower girls we’ve ever seen.

Katie and Travis from Zinnia Films on Vimeo.

The newlyweds pose with a "Just Married" banner. All photographs by The Happy Couple Photography

Megan, who grew up in Spotsylvania, Virginia, and Trey, who’s from Delaware, first met while attending law school in Michigan.

“I sat next to Trey in our torts class, which probably had more than 100 people,” recalls Megan. “It must have been meant to be that we sat next to each other.”

Trey proposed on a Delaware beach, as their dog, Izzie, splashed in the water. They married on October 1, 2011, at Stevenson Ridge, a historical property near where the bride grew up.

“I love, love, love the vintage theme, so I wanted to incorporate that shabby-chic, rustic vibe for our big day, as well as an additional fun element,” says Megan, who used a color scheme of pale pink and gray, with gold and ivory accents.

Love those bridesmaid bouquets and J.Crew dresses. Photographs by Eli Turner Studios

Yesterday’s warm-ish weather had us thinking about spring—it’s not too far away, right? This outdoor celebration at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, shot by Eli Turner Studios has gorgeous, lush florals, and feels elegant but not at all stuffy.
—District Weddings

The newlyweds post-ceremony. All photographs by Meredith Montague Wedding Photography

Potomac couple Jenny and Pat wanted their May 14, 2011, wedding to be “classic and timeless with a fresh color scheme”—navy, light blue, and white, with green accents.

The pair married at Dahlgren Chapel at Georgetown University (Pat’s alma mater). The bride wore a Modern Trousseau gown, switching from a white sash to a navy one between the ceremony and the reception to create two unique looks. The groom paired his tuxedo with patent leather Chuck Taylors.

“Pat’s shoes were such a hit; people are still talking about them!” says the bride.

On The Cover: This Doctor Zhivago-inspired reception room was created by Jodi Moraru of Evoke, and photographed by Kip Dawkins

At Washingtonian Bride & Groom, we always look forward to the day a new issue hits the newsstand. After so many months of dreaming, brainstorming, and tweaking (sounds a little like wedding planning!), it’s such a treat to release our creative baby into the wild and watch it flourish.

First up on my love list is “Calendar Girl,” the fantastic bridal gown story we shot over two long days in November. Although summer seems to be the most popular season for weddings, we know brides need a beautiful, memorable gown for every season. It’s called having options, people, and it was so much fun to think of creative ways to saunter down the aisle.

I’m also loving the “From Paris with Love” feature in this current issue. A few months ago, I hatched a plan. I’d call several of our area’s best wedding vendors and give them a project: to design a wedding reception table around an international city. In other words, give our readers an idea of what Paris, Moscow, Havana, or Beijing would “feel” like if a just-married couple took that busy metropolis as the inspiration for their reception. Super-planners Andre Wells, Pam Barefoot, Maria Cooke, Jodi Moraru, and their respective teams more than rose to the occasion on that shoot. Stunning all around!

And as always, this issue has real weddings, our now-famous list of Washingtonian Bride & Groom–approved wedding vendors, and much more. Let us know what you like about our magazine, your big day, and your new life as a married couple!

Jill Hudson
Editor-in-Chief, Washingtonian Bride & Groom

Rockville couple Danielle, an anchor and editor at Clear Channel Radio’s Total Traffic Network, and Chad, a network administrator, first met at a bar in Bethesda; their first date was cooking dinner at his apartment. More than a year after a romantic proposal just a block away from the bar where they met, the couple married on September 30, 2011, at the Audubon Naturalist Society at Woodend Mansion.

“We didn’t really have a clear vision of exactly what type of wedding we wanted until we saw Woodend,” says Danielle. “From there, it evolved into a wedding with natural elements and a bird-and-branch theme.”