Whether you are newly engaged or immersed in the planning process, our Bride on a Budget column offers exclusive reader deals to make your wedding and honeymoon planning experience that much sweeter. Thinking about a destination getaway? On the hunt for the perfect rehearsal dinner spot? Have to grab some last-minute guest favors? We’re happy to say we have a deal for you. Unless otherwise noted, these offers are available for purchase in the months of January and February—just mention Washingtonian Bride & Groom at the time of purchase or reservation.
Party Hearty, Texas Style
Couples are increasingly turning to events that reflect who they are as a couple, for receptions and rehearsals alike. Welcome family and friends to town or host a casual yet fun post-wedding bash in true Texas style at Hill Country Barbecue in Penn Quarter. Bride & Groom readers enjoy an upgrade to the full premium open bar option when they purchase the basic beer and wine package (a 60 percent savings). The offer must be reserved by the end of February, but can be redeemed anytime in 2013. To reserve, please contact Rachael Carney in the special events and catering office at 202-556-2044 or e-mail rcarney@hillcountrywdc.com and mention the magazine.
Making Married Life Easier
Maryland-based company Miss Now Mrs. has a unique twist on the wedding market. The online company works like TurboTax for new brides, helping them process all of their online and legal name changes in one fell swoop. The affordable service ($29.95) helps brides complete forms for new Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, and more. Readers can use code BUDGET13 to save $5 on the service, a 15 percent savings. This code is valid through June 30, 2013.
Destination Wedding Planning
A destination wedding may sound simple, but coordinating the details from afar can sometimes turn your dream escape into a nightmare. Not so with Kelly Fowler and Just Save The Date wedding consulting. She specializes in Florida Keys and Caribbean locations, and is offering 15 percent off any full-service planning or creative consulting package for a 2013 or 2014 wedding booked before March 1, 2013. To book, reference The Washingtonian in the Let’s Chat section of the website.
Rustic Glam, Just a Drive Away
Embrace the rustic-chic style so en vogue with brides today by booking your wedding and reception at “nature’s cathedral,” the Natural Bridge. A three-hour drive from Washington, DC, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this convenient and affordable venue is a super-scenic destination getaway that won’t break the bank. Brides and grooms who mention the magazine will receive $300 off the ceremony cost (normally $1,300 and up) plus a two-night complimentary stay at the Natural Bridge Hotel. Catered reception packages start at $31 per person, plus discounted hotel rooms for guests. To book, contact Kelli at kdobry@naturalbridgeva.com or call 540-458-3766.
Historic Elegance On Capitol Hill
Book the wedding and your honeymoon is free! Reserve your wedding or another memorable event in the historic Phoenix Park Hotel and receive a two-night complimentary stay in the hotel’s luxurious penthouse suite. For more information and to book, contact wedding consultant Tracy Zahn at 202-737-9552 or tzahn@phoenixparkhotel.com and mention Washingtonian Bride & Groom.
Real Wedding Inspiration
Recently launched wedding site Carats & Cake elevates planning to a new level. Similar to image-driven sites such as Pinterest, newlyweds create accounts and build Wedding Pages that showcase up to 20 images from their actual wedding with vendor details. Brides and brides-to-be can view and search images based on their preferred area, budget and vendor names—much like Houzz for weddings. The advantage? You can see real weddings, not “inspiration shoots,” to know how an event will actually look and feel, as well as chat with real brides sharing post-event advice. Membership is free, and Bride & Groom readers can skip the waiting list when they sign up in January or February. Be sure to click the link directly from our website—only referrals from Washingtonian.com will be granted immediate access!
A Destination Wedding That Doesn’t Require Passports
Skip the hassle of international travel—a Florida destination wedding at the newly-opened Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village is a great escape for brides and grooms with family spread across the states. This exclusive Bride & Groom offer include an upgrade for the bride and groom to the Mariners Suite with 20 or more room nights, and a complimentary two-night stay in a one-bedroom suite for your first anniversary with a total of 60 or more room nights, plus complimentary Champagne for all brides and grooms delivered on your wedding and anniversary. The waterfront resort offers a variety of venues, both indoor and outdoor, with the Gulf of Mexico as a scenic backdrop. Book by February 28, 2013, for weddings held by December 31, 2014. For more information, contact the sales department by e-mail at salescapecoral@westin.com, call 239-541-5040, or visit the website.
Perfectly Noted
Brides spend an average of 11 hours per week working on wedding details in the last three months leading up their wedding, according to the 2011 Real Weddings Survey. Save valuable time (and sanity) by hiring Perfectly Noted, an online custom wedding writing service, to take care of writing tasks from vows to thank-you notes and invitation and program text. Get 15 percent off all services booked before February 28, 2013, by using code WASHWINTER15 at checkout. Vows begin at $100 and toasts at just $50. For more information, e-mail info@perfectlynoted.com, call 617-459-9701, or visit their website.
Raise a Toast
Seeking custom products for your wedding? Etsy shop My Something Wedding offers a wide array of personalized wedding products, ranging from invitations to favors, ring bearer pillows, and more. Owner Amber Parrott Rodriguez works with couples to create the perfect product for your needs and wants. Now through March, place any order over $150 and receive a complimentary set of Bride and Groom bling toasting flutes, a $55 value, which can be customized to match your preferred color or include your name and date. Visit the website and mention the magazine when placing your order.
Updos for I Dos
Every bride wants to look her best on their wedding day. Serving all of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, Up-Dos for I Dos is a full-service wedding hair and makeup company for brides and their loved ones, ranging from ’maids to moms and more. Book a trial in the Vienna location in January or February month and receive 50 percent off the $50 price when you mention the magazine at booking. To book, call 443-300-UPDO. 226 Maple Ave. W., Suite 301, Vienna.
Photo Ready
Photographer Aaron Spicer is a Washingtonian Bride & Groom favorite—his work was recently featured in one of our Real Wedding posts. Readers now enjoy a special treat: a complimentary 8-by-10-inch coffee table book (a $500
value) with any wedding booking made in January or February, 2013. Packages begin at $2,850 for a seven-hour shoot, complete with a DVD of high-res images. For more details, visit Spicer’s website and mention the magazine at booking.
A Tropical Destination Getaway
Want to host your wedding in laid-back Jamaica? Bride & Groom readers enjoy an extra hour for their reception (a $250) value, when they book at Montego Bay’s Hummingbird Hall before March 31, 2013 for wedding dates between now and 2015. Simply mention the magazine when inquiring.
Central Park Weddings
Weddings in Central Park may have previously been the stuff of movies—but now the dream can be a reality, thanks to wedding planning company A Central Park Wedding. This planning company specializes in destination weddings that take place in the city’s most famous park, including three affordable ceremony packages that include everything from photography to floral arrangements, as well as custom events. Readers can take 10 percent off all planning services booked before February 28, 2013, when they mention the magazine at the time of reservation.
Paper Fancy
Invitations and other paper goods can make a big dent in your wedding budget, but it’s hard to give up the chance to make an elegant first impression. Thankfully, online invitation maker Paper Fancy is offering 20 percent off all orders placed before June 30, 2013, with code BudgetBride20, an exclusive for Bride & Groom readers. The site offers invitations, announcements, thank-you notes, new monogram stationery, and more.
Giveaway: Designer Accessories for a Steal
Don’t want to break your budget on an expensive bridal headpiece you’ll only use once? Happily Ever Borrowed rents bridal accessories to brides for their wedding day. All of the products are sourced directly from high-end designers and marked down to nearly 90 percent off the retail price. Enter for a chance to win $100 worth of rentable bridal accessories by mentioning The Washingtonian in the “Where did you hear about us” column. The winner will be notified on the drawing date, March 1.
A Unique DC Wedding Venue
St. Francis Hall is a hidden gem of a DC wedding venue. Adjacent to the beautiful Franciscan monastery in the quiet Brookland neighborhood, the hall was built in 1931 and features romantic renaissance architecture. The hall can accommodate 250 people and—bonus—features ample free parking. Readers who sign wedding contracts between now and March 31, 2013, will enjoy a complimentary upgrade to gold ballroom chairs (normally $6 each, for a total discount of up to $1,500) when they mention the magazine at booking. Visit the venue’s website for more information.
