Elena Taube, a political analyst in DC, first spotted Paul Bailey at a work conference. The surroundings may have been less than romantic, but she knew immediately he was the one she’d waited her whole life to meet. “It was if I had met him before in a dream, and I always felt we’d find each other,” she says. “It was so exciting to realize that time had come.” Paul, attracted from the start to Elena’s beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair, quickly fell in love with the amazing personality behind her lovely exterior.
The pair only needed a year to confirm their assumptions that they’d found their soul mate. At Christmastime, Paul asked Elena out to dinner. Following their meal, they walked to see the National Christmas Tree and Menorah. Bringing Elena between the two holiday monuments—symbols that resonated with Elena’s Jewish-Christian faith—Paul got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. As soon as she said yes, a horse and carriage pulled up and swept the happy couple away on a moonlight ride through the city.
The pair wed a year and a half later at the National Cathedral, holding their ceremony and a cocktail party on August 23, 2014, with a formal reception the following day. They wed under a chuppah held by their closest friends, dined on a cake covered in decadent blossoms and intricate lace, and celebrated with family who had crossed international waters to be with them on the happiest day of their lives.
Ceremony: Washington National Cathedral
Cocktail Party Venue: National Cathedral School
Reception Venue: The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel
Photographer: Susie & Becky Photography
Bride’s Gown: Custom designed
Groom’s Tux: Calvin Klein
Hair: Get Gorgeous Hair & Makeup By Zia
Makeup: Pakito Internacional
Event Coordinator: Washington National Cathedral, Schelle Be Done, The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes
Florist: Washington National Cathedral, Blanca Zelaya, and Bergeron’s Florist
Caterers: Flik International and The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel
Transportation: ABC Limo Service
Videographer: Michael Brazda Films
Music/Entertainment: Washington National Cathedral organist, Violin Dreams, and Night & Day
Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
