Weddings

Real Wedding: Bethany and Eric

This couple combined their love for New Orleans and ties to France for a vintage-inspired wedding.

Bethany and Eric on their wedding day. All photographs by Kurstin Roe.

Eric Leconte knew he liked Bethany Stangl before he ever met her. After hearing about her from a mutual friend before a birthday party at Dave & Buster’s, he thought she sounded like a catch, and at the party the two hit it off during a game of skeeball. “By the end of the night we were holding hands, and I knew I never wanted to let go,” says Bethany, a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Four years later—the day before Bethany’s 30th birthday—Eric, an assistant property manager at Cassidy Turley, took Bethany along the beach during a trip to Bermuda, where a cliff overlooked the sea. As they were sharing a bottle of wine and watching the waves, Eric proposed.

Two and a half years later, they got married at DC’s Meridian House, in a vintage-inspired celebration that drew from Eric’s French background and the couple’s favorite vacation spot, New Orleans.

Details:

Photographer: Kurstin Roe

Videographer: Bowen Films

Venue: Meridian House

Event Coordinator: Vicky Choy, Event Accomplished

Bride’s Gown: Monique Lhuillier, the Collection Bridal

Hair: Carola Myers

Makeup: Carola Myers

Groom’s Tux: Hugo Boss, Nordstrom

Caterer: Occasions Caterers

Cake: Maggie Austin

Cake Flavors: White velvet cake with raspberry and vanilla-lime buttercream, and chocolate cake with bittersweet espresso buttercream

Cocktail: Sgroppino, Patience of a Saint, and mint julep

Florist: Petals Edge Floral Design

Flowers: The bride’s bouquet included white roses, mini calla lilies, cymbidium orchids, and gardenias accented with peach Juliet garden roses, Cafe au Lait dahlias, and Queen Anne’s lace

Music/Entertainment: Veronneau (jazz ensemble) for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner, and DJ Stereo Faith from DJ D-MAC & Associates.

First Dance Song: “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison

Invitations: Minted

Bride’s Favorite Detail: “A live painter to capture our first dance.”

Groom’s Favorite Detail: The poker-themed groom’s cake

Biggest Surprise: “Bethany’s grandmother, Baba, who was originally too sick to travel, made a surprise trip down for the wedding. Her whole family was in on the secret. When Bethany and Eric arrived for their rehearsal dinner, she was there waiting for them.”

Decor Details: The paper products featured a black scroll design inspired by the iron railings of New Orleans, and the dinner tables were marked with names of New Orleans landmarks.

Theme: Romantic vintage inspired by New Orleans and France

Four Words That Describe the Wedding: Romantic, whimsical, intimate, elegant

Honeymoon Spot: Greece and Spain

Where They Currently Live: Washington, DC