Sections
  • Home & Style
  • Editors’ Picks
  • Events Calendar
  • Food
  • Health
  • News & Politics
  • Longreads
  • Our Events
  • Parenting
  • Real Estate
  • Shopping
  • Things to Do
  • Travel
  • Weddings
Reader Favorites
  • 100 Best Restaurants
  • Takeout Guide
  • Cutest Dog Contest
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
Washington’s Best
  • Apartment Rentals
  • DC Travel Guide
  • Dentists
  • Doctors
  • Financial Advisers
  • Health Experts
  • Home Improvement Experts
  • Industry Leaders
  • Lawyers
  • Mortgage Professionals
  • Pet Care
  • Private Schools
  • Real Estate Agents
  • Restaurants
  • Retirement Communities
  • Wedding Vendors
More
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
© 2021 Washingtonian Media Inc.
Privacy Policy
All Rights Reserved
 Rss
Skip to content
Washingtonian.com
  • Search
  • Subscribe
  • Menu
  • News & Politics
  • Things to Do
  • Food
  • Health
  • Shopping
  • Home & Style
  • Real Estate
  • Weddings
  • Travel

  • 100 Best Restaurants
  • Takeout Guide
  • Cutest Dog Contest
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
  • Trending Now in Weddings
  • Trend Alert
  • hashtag
  • dc weddings
  • micro wedding
  • Wedding Advice
Weddings

The Groom at This Louisiana-Jazz-Themed Wedding Proposed With a 25-Cent Plastic Dolphin

Written by Caroline Cunningham
| Published on May 31, 2016
Tweet Share

We here at Washingtonian Bride & Groom love weddings, and when we see stunning images (like the ones below captured by James Berglie of Be Photography) combined with a story as sweet as Julia Griffin and Thomas (Tom) Parisi’s, we can’t help but fall in love with weddings a little more.

Like B&G on Facebook | Follow B&G on Instagram

5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-1 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-25-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-45-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-5

Though Tom and Julia’s time at Duke overlapped, he was two years ahead of her in school, so they never came into contact. Tom was good friends with Julia’s sorority sister Cristina—who, like Julia, is from Louisiana—and after college, Tom, Cristina, and Julia all ended up living in DC. Cristina set up some strategic happy hours and dinners, and it wasn’t long before Tom started falling for the pretty redhead who wanted a pet octopus one day and Julia was returning the feelings for the attractive guy with a great sense of humor.

5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-7 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-8 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-9 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-10 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-new 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-12 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-13 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-14

5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-155-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-16 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-17

When it came time for the proposal four years later, the process of creating a custom engagement ring took longer than Tom had planned, so instead of asking for Julia’s hand with a diamond-and-platinum ring, he asked with a dolphin plastic bauble he’d bought on Amazon for 25 cents. When Tom first got down on one knee on the beach near Julia’s grandmother’s house, she thought he was joking. But when Tom explained the reason he didn’t have a real ring, Julia understood: Tom had wanted to propose on that particular beach trip so that they could celebrate afterwards with Julia’s grandmother, who they weren’t sure would be able to make it to the wedding.

“It was a very kind and special gesture on his part,” says Julia. “In fact, that visit was the last time I saw my grandmother before she passed, so I will always treasure that memory.”

5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-18 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-19 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-205-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-21

For their wedding at Leesburg’s historic Rust Manor House, Julia and Tom embraced Julia’s Louisiana background with an art deco and Louisiana-jazz-themed wedding. Following the outdoor ceremony, on the way from the cocktail hour into the reception, all the guests participated in a “second line” parade, following the “main line” parade of the bride and groom and a brass band, which played everything from “The Saints Come Marching In” to Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love.”

5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-22 5-27-16-new-orleans-themed-leesburg-virginia-wedding-23

As an after-dinner treat, See’s Candies were served before a Baked & Wired cake was cut into later in the evening. After a night of dancing with loved ones, the new Mr. and Mrs. departed, with plans to honeymoon in Italy and Iceland.

VENDORS

Venue: Rust Manor House | Photographer: James Berglie of Be Photography | Event Coordinator: Kim Newton Weddings | Bride’s Gown: Pronovias, Love Couture Bridal | Groom’s Tux: Calvin Klein, Macy’s | Hair & Makeup Artist: Shary Wemple | Cake:Baked & Wired | Florist: J. Morris Flowers | Caterers: Great Blue Heron Catering | Music/Entertainment: Second Line Brass Band and deejay via Washington Celebrations | Paper Goods: Design by LeeAnna Iseral, printed by Type Case Industries | Calligraphy: Ginny Page | Lighting: Washington Celebrations

Looking for a top team of creatives to bring your wedding ideas to live? Check out our list of the area’s best wedding designers and planners. 

Are You Engaged? (Congratulations!) Get Our Wedding Inspo Newsletter

Advice, inspiration, and ideas for your Washington wedding.

Or, see all of our newsletters. By signing up, you agree to our terms.
More: Be PhotographyBlue WeddingElegant WeddingGold WeddingKim Newton WeddingsLeesburg WeddingNavy WeddingOutdoor WeddingRust Manor HouseSummer WeddingVirginiaVirginia Wedding
Join the conversation!
Share Tweet
Caroline Cunningham
Associate Editor

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.

Most Popular in Weddings

1
clever-wedding-ideas

50 Clever Wedding Ideas to Make Your Big Day Stand Out

2

UPDATED: Here Are the Gathering Restrictions for Weddings Right Now in DC, Maryland, and Virginia

3
Wedding Hashtag Generator

Wedding Hashtag Generator: Having Trouble With Your Wedding Hashtag? There’s a Tool for That!

4

Maryland Raises Gathering Limits for Wedding Venues to 50 Percent Capacity

5
weddings-post-pandemic

People Expected a Wedding Boom in 2021. The Local Wedding Industry Isn’t So Sure.

Washingtonian Magazine

March 2021: The Influencers

March 2021: The Influencers

View Issue
Subscribe

Get Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Get Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Related

Virginia Will Begin Vaccinating the General Public Starting April 18

Virginians Bought a Lot More Tequila in the Second Half of 2020

This Couple’s Fall Wedding Featured a Colorful Floral Arch and a Relaxed, Retro Vibe

Soon More People Can Gather Outside and Attend Outdoor Events in Virginia

More from Weddings

You Have to See the Before-and-After Reel of This VRBO-Home-Turned-Wedding-Venue

What’s the Etiquette? Here’s How to Host a Grand Celebration After Your Micro-Wedding.

UPDATED: Here Are the Gathering Restrictions for Weddings Right Now in DC, Maryland, and Virginia

This Blush, Ivory, and Gold Indian-American Fusion Wedding Included a Sparkler-Filled First Dance

This Biden Campaigner’s Black Tie Wedding Showcases Classic DC Style

This Styled Photoshoot in Shenandoah National Park Is Meant to Inspire Mountaintop Elopements

We Have Major Heart Eyes for This Monique Lhuillier Gown With an Over-the-Top Bow

This Fashion-Forward Couple Nailed Their Brunch Wedding-Day Ensemble

© 2021 Washingtonian Media Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Washingtonian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Privacy Policy and Opt-Out
 Rss
Get the best news, delivered weekly.
By signing up, you agree to our terms.
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs