Preppy and perfect, Kelly Decker and Patrick Shire’s wedding is everything we love about downtown DC weddings, especially since they managed to grab some amazing portraits in front of The White House. Check out their classic Washington wedding in the photos below by Kate Headley.
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Though Kelly was apprehensive about being set up with Patrick, when her friend, finally fed up with her putting it off, picked Patrick up and brought him to the bar where they were enjoying happy hour, she had no choice but to talk to him. Having just come from her work as a labor and delivery nurse, Kelly was still in her scrubs. Patrick didn’t mind. “I thought she had a beautiful smile and looked beautiful, even her scrubs,” he says. A first date over carrot hummus and pizza at Rustico in Ballston followed.
They’d dated a year and a half when Patrick was back at Kelly’s house following a gala. Though he’d planned on taking to Dumbarton Oaks to propose, he couldn’t wait that long, and instead got down on one knee in the house. The proposal came as a shock to Kelly, who Patrick had put off from any suspicions by pretending he wanted a couple of years to save money before they wed.
Nine months later, Kelly walked down the aisle towards Patrick. Having foregone a first look, the moment was all the more laden with emotion. “That moment of seeing him for the first time as I was walking down the aisle was just incomparable to anything else I’ve ever felt,” she says. “I was so nervous before—I am not a fan of standing up in front of a ton of people—but seeing Patrick completely calmed me.” During the recessional, a gospel choir belted “Oh Happy Day,” and afterwards, the newly married couple strolled through LaFayette Park to their reception at The Metropolitan Club.
Their shared Irish heritage was present through the green color scheme and the Celtic love knot present on the wedding paper goods. The greenery continued in the garland draping the bride and groom’s chairs at the reception, where a bourbon bar kept the good spirits flowing. At the end of the night, Kelly and Patrick departed for their Turks and Caicos honeymoon under a shower of sparklers.
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Ceremony Venue: St. Aloysius Church | Reception Venue: The Metropolitan Club of the City of Washington | Photographer: Kate Headley | Bride’s Gown: Amsale, Hitched Bridal Salon | Groom’s Attire: Brooks Brothers | Hair & Makeup Artists: Alison Harper & Company | Event Coordinator: Elizabeth Duncan Events | Florist: Alison de Wit | Caterers & Cake: The Metropolitan Club of the City of Washington | Transportation:International Limousine Service, Inc. | Videographer: In Depth Photo & Video | Music/Entertainment: Sage String Quartet and DJ Evan Reitmeyer | Invitations: Bella Figura, The Dandelion Patch | Calligraphy: Sarah Bohl Calligraphy & Hand-Lettering | Custom Wedding Map: Madeleine Frances
End the night on a sweet note from one of the area’s best bakeries.
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.
