There’s nothing like a glittering winter wedding to get you in the holiday spirit! And Jennifer (Jenny) Askin and Kevin Kawecki’s festive celebration at The Crystal Room at The Willard InterContinental Hotel (not to mention their super sweet love story) is guaranteed to do just that. From the sparkly gold and evergreen accents to the “Buddy the Elf” signature cocktails, all the themed fun was captured by Natalie Franke Photography.
Like B&G on Facebook | Follow B&G on Instagram
As with all good love stories, this one starts with a friendship. But this friendship wasn’t between Jenny and Kevin. Rather, Kevin had bonded with Jenny’s dad over a shared love of coaching baseball and their mutual alma mater, George Mason University. Jenny’s father invited Kevin to family parties, and whenever Kevin couldn’t make it home to his own family in Connecticut for the holidays, he would spend it with the Askin family instead. One Thanksgiving, Jenny and Kevin spent the day cooking side-by-side, and when Jenny’s mom and grandmother insightfully commented, “If you didn’t know any better, we would have assumed you two had been together for years,” Jenny and Kevin both realized that there could be something more between them.
Four years of dating later, when Kevin and Jenny were packing for a trip to wine country in California, Jenny asked Kevin whether he thought she had everything she needed in her suitcase. “I think you need one more accessory,” he said. When she turned around, confused, she found him on one knee, holding a gorgeous oval diamond ring.
For their December 13, 2014 wedding, Jenny and Kevin planned “winter wedding sparkle” themed nuptials at The Willard InterContinental Hotel. Table place settings with mercury gold mirrored trays and gold mercury votive candles set the scene, along with floral arrangements of white and pink roses with accents of red berries and evergreen.
Guests sipped on custom “Buddy the Elf” vanilla vodka and peppermint schnapps cocktails and rocked out to the 80s cover band, The Reflex, before heading home with a gold sparkly snow flake ornament to add to their trees. The happy couple continued the festivities on a minimoon in New York City, where they stayed at the Waldorf Astoria amidst all of its seasonal decor.
VENDORS
Venue: The Crystal Room at The Willard InterContinental Hotel | Photographer: Natalie Franke Photography | Event Coordinator: Ashlee Gilligan, Ashlee Virginia Events | Bride’s Gown: Mari Lee, Global Bridal Gallery | Groom’s Tux: Calvin Klein, Men’s Wearhouse | Hair Dresser: Sung Salazar and Beatriz Mesones, CR for Hair Salon | Makeup Artist: Ky Washington, Richie Makeup | Caterers & Cake: The Willard InterContinental Hotel | Florist: Holly Heider Chapple | Music/Entertainment: Sage String Quartet, The Reflex | Invitation & Calligraphy: The Dandelion Patch | Save the Dates: Kristen Glanzmann, Munga Vision | Linens: La Tavola Fine Linens | Rentals: DC Rentals
Looking for a beautiful hotel to host your celebration? We’ve rounded up the area’s best hotels for weddings here.
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.
