When you think of the National Arboretum as an engagement shoot spot, you typically think of the trees, blossoms, and general natural beauty of the setting. But we also love the arboretum’s National Capitol Columns as a shoot location—it gives the photos a mysterious, almost gothic feel that’s so edgy and cool. Props to Carmen Wang Photography for these photos.
—Capitol Romance

Our Unveiled wedding showcase on January 22 was a huge hit with both brides and vendors. In case you missed it (there’s always next year!), we wanted to share a video, produced by Bill Bowen from Suburban Media Group, with camera and senior editor Ian Sitek,of this inspiring event. Take a look at the Reem Acra fashion show, the booths, and feedback from vendors, attendees, and the Washingtonian team. And if you did attend our event, see if you can spot yourself! Click the jump to view the video.

The team from Amaryllis created a booth that resembled a rustic flower market. Photograph by Holland Photo Arts

The vendors at our Unveiled 2012 wedding showcase let their imaginations run wild—the jaw-dropping creativity on display was truly inspiring. From lush flower arrangements (and live bouquet arranging!) to ribbon lanterns to a dress made of Pantone squares to an actual flower girl, each booth had its own incredible details and features.

Our Unveiled wedding showcase was a one-stop-shop for wedding planning. Here, a couple chats with a vendor. Photograph by Holland Photo Arts

Hundreds of brides, grooms, vendors, and guests attended Washingtonian Bride & Groom’s fourth annual Unveiled wedding showcase on Sunday, January 22, at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC. The event, coordinated by Washingtonian’s marketing team of Rebecca Schwartz, Eleni Savopoulos, and Katharine Ragsdale, went off without a hitch.

From the moment brides entered the Mandarin, escorted by strolling musicians from Bialek’s Music, the event was inspiring, informative, and, like every wedding should be, fun. The Reem Acra fashion show, emceed by WJLA’s Pamela Brown, elicited oohs and aahs over the amazing wedding gowns, the “Everything You Need to Know About Your Wedding, But Didn’t Think to Ask” panel discussions with expert vendors answered many brides’ (and moms’) toughest questions, and several guests won amazing door prizes.

Other highlights included the Champagne-flute chandelier manned by servers on stilts, the delicious food from the Mandarin Oriental (the lobster orzo station was a big hit), the photobooth from Booth-o-Rama, and an onstage Q&A with Leslie Milk, Washingtonian lifestyle editor and author of It’s Her Wedding but I’ll Cry if I Want To.

Sad you missed out? Sign up for our Bridal Party newsletter for updates on next year’s event.

Guests mingle at Lincoln Restaurant. Photograph by Erik Uecke

 Slideshow: Unveiled Rehearsal Dinner

On Wednesday, January 18, Washingtonian Bride & Groom hosted ten winning engaged couples (chosen from the first 75 Unveiled ticket buyers) for an intimate rehearsal dinner at Lincoln Restaurant in downtown DC (a great wedding rehearsal dinner spot in its own right!). The lucky few were able to dine while chatting one-on-one with some of the most talented vendors in the area—event planner Jamie Sears from Simply Chic Events, event planner Terri Eaves from Bash, florist Steve Ornstein of Edge Floral Event Designers, DJ Chris Laich of Chris Laich Music Services, Annie Kettler of the Bridal Salon at Saks Jandel, Bill Bowen of Suburban Video, music pro Ray Bialek of Bialek’s Music, and Bret Freedman of the Mandarin Oriental.

Thank you to everyone who came to our Unveiled wedding showcase Sunday at the Mandarin Oriental. It truly was a celebration of the best DC wedding vendors have to offer, plus the Reem Acra fashion show and appearance was a huge hit (oh, and don’t forget the amazing door prizes, informative panel discussions, the delicious food, the Champagne chandelier with servers on stilts...). And fortunately, so many of you tweeted up a storm throughout the event!

We’ll have more photo and video recaps later in the week, but for now, we wanted to share some of our favorite tweets to help you relive the gorgeousness of Unveiled (after the jump). Enjoy!

Talk about a grand entrance. All photographs by Studio Nine Photography

Indian weddings never fail to blow us away: the rich colors, the lively dancing, the gorgeous ensembles, and, of course, the strong possibility that there will be a horse or an elephant present. This DC wedding, photographed by Studio Nine Photography and planned by Sonal J. Shah, looked absoultely amazing—and yes, the groom rode in on a majestic elephant.
—Maharani Weddings