When Whitney Ourisman and Keegan Ferguson first met, as undergraduates at Georgetown University, they were instantly drawn to each other. Whitney remembers enjoying Keegan’s sense of humor; he thought she was “cute.” The scenario would have been perfect for romance—if Whitney hadn’t had a boyfriend at the time. “Thankfully for me, they broke up a few weeks later, and I took my chance,” says Keegan, now a graduate student.
A first date at DC’s Los Cuates led to a three-and-a-half-year relationship, which was followed by an engagement at scenic Lake Placid in the Adirondacks in New York. “We were in a boat on the lake, enjoying the sunset and beautiful weather, when he proposed,” says Whitney, a teacher. An equally picturesque wedding followed 11 months later.
Details:
Photographer: Jennifer Domenick, Love Life Images
Ceremony Venue: Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church
Reception Venue/Caterer/Cake: Chevy Chase Club
Event Planner: Allison Jackson, Pineapple Productions
Bride’s Gown: Vera Wang, the Bridal Salon at Saks Jandel
Hair: Carmen Oliva, Tres Belle
Makeup: Amanda Lastinger, Tres Belle
Groom’s Tux: Ralph Lauren, Geoffrey Lewis
Wedding Cocktail: Citrus sangria and a white Riesling peach sangria
Florist: Sue Morris, English Garden Flowers
Flowers: “I carried a hand-tied bouquet of garden roses, stephanotis, freesia, and nerines. At our reception, we placed a variety of arrangements on our dinner tables. Some tables had tall glass trumpet vases filled with white hydrangeas and dendrobium orchids. On other tables we placed more colorful arrangements of hydrangeas, sweet peas, garden roses, phlox, stock, poppy pods, and greenery in assorted glass containers. Our wonderful florist picked some of the flowers and greenery straight from her garden,” says Whitney.
Cake Flavors: Chocolate cake with buttercream frosting, served with salted caramels
Music/Entertainment: Jump Street Band
First Dance Song: “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole
Invitations: Heather Noss, Digby & Rose
Itineraries, Amenity Packaging, and Menu Cards: Empress Stationery
Calligraphy: Arney Walker Calligraphy
Tablecloths, Chairs, and China: DC Rental
Lighting: Frost Lighting
Bride’s Favorite Wedding Detail: “The aesthetics—the flowers, the table settings, the lighting—made for a magical atmosphere.”
Groom’s Favorite Wedding Detail: “We had our first dance as soon as we were introduced in the ballroom, followed by two more songs. This encouraged everyone to get on the dance floor right away and set the tone for a fun evening.”
Biggest Surprise of the Wedding: “As we were exchanging rings at the altar, Keegan tried to put the wedding band on my right hand. When I tried to place the correct hand in his, he shook his head and gestured ‘no.’ The guests began to laugh, which is when he realized what he had done. Guess he hadn’t mastered the mirror yet.”
Wedding Favors: “As guests left the reception, they were able to fill a bag with candy from our candy bar. The candy was consistent with the color palette of our wedding, and the to-go bags read, ‘Love, Sweet Love.’”
Four Words That Describe the Wedding: Dancing, love, perfect, magical
Honeymoon Spot: Cancun, Mexico
Where They Currently Live: Chevy Chase, Maryland
