Philip and Cheryl met in 2011 while he was finishing up his PhD at Georgia Tech and she was working as a consultant in DC. After a few dates at the Reston Town Center and dinners at Toki Underground and Zaytinya in DC, they realized they were really hitting it off. From their love of travel to their ability to make each other laugh until their sides hurt, they had a truly special connection. Because their relationship started off as long-distance, Philip and Cheryl spent a lot of time on the road, traveling every other weekend to Atlanta, DC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and even Taipei and Hong Kong.
Still, when it came to the wedding, they decided to have it in DC, in April when the cherry blossoms were in bloom—and they couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful Saturday to hold the celebration. Their vendors and the hotel staff worked very hard to transform the already amazing Crystal Room in the Willard InterContinental into something out of a fairy tale. Philip and Cheryl also made sure the celebration reflected their fun-loving personalities—including catwalking down the aisle to Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” and breaking out into the Harlem Shake in the middle of the first dance.
Details
Wedding Venue and Reception: The Willard InterContinental
Wedding Date: April 26, 2014
Photographer: Katelyn James
Bride’s First Impression: “Wow! What a tall, dark, and handsome man.”
Groom’s First Impression: “During our first date, I realized I was actually smiling and laughing from my heart, not just going through the motions. That was something I thought I had long forgotten how to do, but Cheryl was able to bring that out of me.”
Bride’s Gown: Galina Signature
Groom’s Tux: Jos. A. Bank
Hair and Makeup: Linda Lin, Beautiful Life Salon
Florist: Edge Flowers
Wedding Flowers: Cherry blossoms
Event Coordinator: Elizabeth Connor, the Willard InterContinental
Wedding Cocktail: Champagne
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Music/Entertainment: DJ Dan Huynh
Bride’s Favorite Detail: “The delicate cherry blossom floral arrangements.”
Groom’s Favorite Detail: “The dairy-free cake.”
Biggest Surprise: “The Harlem Shake dance in the middle of our first dance!”
First Dance Song: “I Wanna Know” by Joe
Wedding Theme: Cherry blossoms
Four Words That Describe the Wedding: Fun, fresh, festive, modern
Honeymoon Spot: Maui and Tokyo
Where They Currently Live: Rockville, MD
