We love seeing how couples incorporate all that Washington has to offer into their wedding, but Lindsay Rhodes and Sean Garcia may just take the cake for “the most Washington wedding.” With invitations that mimicked voting ballots; a patriotic red, white, and blue color scheme; a rehearsal dinner that took place at the Nationals’ Silver Slugger Suite; and a reception overlooking the monuments from The Hay-Adams’ balcony, Lindsay and Sean gave all their guests an event to remember. See how they incorporated their theme in these stunning photos by Eli Turner.
Lindsay and Sean were both working for the same company, but they had never really spoken until Lindsay planned a group outing to a Nationals game. Though she is a Midwestern republican, and he is a West Coast democrat, they found plenty of common ground as they chatted the night away. They agreed to meet for a first date a few days later, at Pacifico Cantina, where they would later return to celebrate with friends the week of their wedding.
Just over a year later, Sean invited Lindsay to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Oregon. As she planned for their trip out west, Lindsay was completely unaware that Sean had invited Lindsay’s family to fly out as well. When they arrived, Sean took Lindsay to do some sightseeing before making a stop at the Columbia River Gorge Hotel, where Sean pulled out an engagement ring. Already in shock, Lindsay was even more amazed when both their families filed out of the hotel, ready to celebrate their good news.
Lindsay and Sean chose The Hay-Adams as their venue specifically for the view, so they decided to make the most of it by setting up a photo booth on the balcony for guests to snap shots with the White House and Washington Monument in the background. They sent the photos after the wedding to their guests as keepsakes, along with the welcome bags filled with cherry blossom candles, custom Georgetown cupcakes, and a Washington, DC puzzle. In place of a guest book, attendees signed a map of the bride and groom’s hometowns and Washington.
The bride and groom practiced their first dance to “It Had to Be You” by Harry Connick Jr. for months leading up to the wedding. After their performance, the bridal party pulled out score cards as a surprise to the couple, and they all held up perfect tens. At the end of the night, Lindsay and Sean left the reception under a flurry of red and blue confetti and a shower of good wishes from their friends and family.
VENDORS
Venue: The Hay-Adams | Photographer: Eli Turner | Bride’s Gown: Pronovias gown, Watters bolero, Love Couture Bridal | Groom’s Tux: Vera Wang, Men’s Wearhouse | Makeup Artist: Lauren Miller | Event Coordinator: Whitney Vaillancourt, The Hay-Adams | Cake: Kendall’s Cakes | Florist: Edge Floral Event Designers | Caterer: The Hay-Adams | Transportation: Atlas Limousine & Black Car | Videographer: Monachetti Weddings | Music/Entertainment: BroadSound | Invitations/Programs: Two Tone Press
Hunting for your own Washington wedding-worthy event space? Here’s our list of the best reception venues in the DMV!
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.
