Weddings

Real Wedding: David and Michael

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg officiated the wedding of the “Washington Post” food writer and his partner.

Michael and David on their wedding day on September 22, 2013. All photographs by Deb Lindsey Photography.

It took Michael Widomski and David Hagedorn almost a decade to figure out they were meant for one another. The two first met in 1997 when Michael, the director of communications for the National Weather Service, attended a Christmas Eve dinner party that David, a food and dining columnist and cookbook author, was hosting. While there were no instantaneous sparks, per se, both felt a connection, which led to a meaningful, decade-long friendship. As their familiarity grew, the two friends realized they were poised for something bigger, and they began a romantic relationship in 2007.

It would be five more years before Michael spontaneously popped the question in the couple’s living room, inspired by the idea that legal same-sex marriage would soon be a viable option. “Michael got down on his knee while we were watching the evening news, on which it was announced that the Supreme Court would take up the DOMA [Defense of Marriage Act] and Prop 8 cases,” says David, who has been a vocal leader in local causes to support gay marriage. Nine months—and a Supreme Court ruling—later, the couple wed on the rooftop of the Penn Quarter restaurant Fiola, with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg officiating.

Details:

Photographer: Deb Lindsey Photography

Wedding Venue/Caterers: Fiola Restaurant

Event Coordinator: Maria Trabocchi, Fiola Restaurant

Grooms’ Suits: Suitsupply

Engagement Rings: Paloma Picasso for Tiffany

Wedding Bands: Satoru for I. Gorman Jewelers

Hair: Patrick McKee, Karma Beauty Lounge

Eyebrows: Erwin Gomez, Karma Beauty Lounge 

Cake: Kendra Grieco, Fiola Restaurant

Wedding Cake Flavors: Layers of devil’s food cake soaked with a cherry liquor simple syrup, Sicilian pistachio crémeux, and dark chocolate mousse, finished with Italian buttercream. Each piece was served with cherry gelato on the side.

Cake Pops: Eve Armstrong

Florist: Amaryllis Floral + Event Design

Wedding Flowers: Urns filled with local magnolias and hydrangeas, coffee break roses, Amsterdam coral roses, spray roses, and peach stock, designed by Christopher Vazquez

Videographer: Meshelle Armstrong

Music/Entertainment: Bryan George Music Services 

First Dance Song: “Where Is My Man?” by Eartha Kitt

Invitations: Designed by the grooms through Paper Source

Calligrapher: Tania Lee

Michael’s Favorite Wedding Detail: “Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg honored us by agreeing to officiate at our wedding and then doing so on the roof of Fiola with the Supreme Court and Capitol visible over her shoulder.”

David’s Favorite Wedding Detail: “Edible paper around the layers of the wedding cake matched the Florentine paper with which we lined our invitations and accented our place cards.”

Biggest Surprise of the Wedding: Chef Fabio Trabocchi serving Osetra caviar on Kumamoto oysters during the cocktail reception and then opening two Methuselahs [six-liter bottles] of Perrier-Jouët to toast us with after an amazing five-course meal.”

Custom Details: “Having 9.22.13 embroidered on the French cuffs of our shirts. Also the postage stamp on the invitations had our dog, Coco, on them.”

Decor Details: Place cards accented with Florentine paper and handwritten by David

Wedding Favors: Bags of party mix made by David before the wedding, a bottle of Fiola super Tuscan extra-virgin olive oil imprinted with the couple’s initials, and a hazelnut coffee cake for breakfast the next day.

Wedding Theme: “An early fall Washington wedding celebrating marriage equality for all.”

Four Words That Describe the Wedding: Sophisticated, moving, joyous, memorable

Honeymoon Spot: A mini-moon at Salamander Resort and Spa

Where They Currently Live: Lanier Heights, Washington, DC