The reception site (left), and the newlyweds (right). All photographs by Abby Jiu Photography

Katie and Travis first met while working in the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Travis proposed while they were having a picnic near his hometown of San Diego.

“I was looking around enjoying the view, and when I looked back at Travis, he was on his knee with a beautiful ring, proposing to me,” recalls Katie. “It was very special.”

The couple married at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on October 8, 2011, with a reception at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in DC.

“We loved the history involved with the Willard, and we think it’s one of the most beautiful hotels in DC,” says Katie.

At the 3 PM ceremony, the bride carried a bouquet of purple-throated Picasso and eggplant-colored mini calla lilies; the groom wore his mess dress uniform.

Afterward, the couple’s 150 guests enjoyed a cocktail hour at the Willard. Hors d’oeuvres included Maryland crab cakes with tomato remoulade, California rolls with wasabi and soy dipping sauce, deviled eggs with caviar, and grilled chicken satay.

“We tried to incorporate tastes from both the East and West coasts, since that’s where our families are from,” says Katie, who grew up in Massachusetts.

The reception featured centerpieces of calla lilies, orchids, roses, dahlias, and chocolate cosmos. Guests dined on filet mignon and mushroom ravioli, and danced to tunes performed by the band Onyx. The couple’s first dance was to “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison.

And the biggest surprise of the evening? “All of our military friends and men in the wedding gathered around me on the dance floor and sang ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’,” says Katie. “ Top Gun is our favorite movie, and I loved it!”

Another memorable moment: the bride’s father’s toast.

“He got really emotional, but I thought it was so special,” says Katie. “He is a tough guy who never cries, and I knew at that moment how truly happy my father was for me and for our marriage.”

In lieu of favors, the couple made a donation to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.