Woodend Wedding: the extras

I hope you don't think I am beating this wedding to death. It was so fun and the photographs are so beautiful. Sidra Forman did a great job with the florals (and pumpkins!). The two trees off the portico are perfect for escort cards (bonus = you save on renting a table & linen). And I adore the portrait in front of the cases of birds. People have very strong opinions about those birds!

Photos made by Stephen Voss. Do not use without permission.

The Metro (Washington DC)

If you have a chance, take some photos in a Metro station.

Photos courtesy of Stephen Voss. Do not use without permission.

Janice in action

Big thanks to Stephen Voss Photography - I don't think I've been in this many photos from one wedding. It's kind of fun!

70,000 Bouncey Balls

Down a street in San Francisco

Wheat Thins Sponsortunity

I was crying-laughing last night

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Wheat Thins Sponsortunity
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

Woodend Mansion: The Hemlock Grove

Woodend Mansion, part of the Audubon Society, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, is a popular place to get married. One reason is the beautiful Hemlock Grove, that offers an ideal spot for an outdoor ceremony.

Photos courtesy of Stephen Voss Photography. Do not use without permission.

Strathmore: The Mansion

Strathmore Mansion is a totally different look than Strathmore Music Center, but beautiful and awesome events can be held at either location! This particular Maryland wedding was an intimate gathering for 55 guests, but I have also done a wedding of 200 at Strathmore Mansion - of course the ceremony was at a church and there were a number of tents involved!

Photos courtesy of Joy Lyn Photography. Do not use without permission.

Strathmore Music Center

This winter wedding was at the Strathmore Music Center in Maryland. They held their ceremony in an atypical spot - a balcony over the lobby. The reception with all the lighting looks amazing! You have to do lighting at Strathmore!

All photos courtesy of Mary Kate McKenna. Do not use without permission.

Nationals Park Wedding - The extras

This couple was pretty laid back, but still fun and quite eclectic. Here are some of the fun extra details of their wedding.

A stacked "cake" of cheese.


They have their own personal muppets who attended the wedding in appropriate attire.


Please note the fireworks on the Jumbotron as the ceremony ended.


Petal's Edge Floral Design created these pomanders for the escort card table.


Did I forget to mention the guests of honor, the Racing Presidents?!!


All photos courtesy of Ralph Alswang Photography. Please do not use without permission.

Nationals Park Wedding - Pennant Flags

I actually made these pennant flags! I think they are totally awesome and perfect for a wedding at a baseball stadium! I created them as a surprise to the bride & groom - and they loved them! I paired the flags with yellow pom poms for the guests to use before and after the ceremony. Overall I think the paraphernalia was a big hit and looked good too.

All photos courtesy of Ralph Alswang Photography. Do not use without permission.

Nationals Park Wedding - Batting Practice

Batting Practice anyone? I must admit, I was surprised at how much the guests were into taking BP at this Nationals Park wedding. We did it during cocktail hour and the pitcher never got a break! Batter up!

Photos courtesy of Ralph Alswang Photography. Do not use without permission.

The Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC

Looks good, right? Lighting is so important. Please get as much of it as you can afford.

Photos courtesy of Deb Lindsey Photography. Do not use without permission.

An Adorable Flower Girl Fiasco

I was warned. Four flower girls under the age of four. The bride & groom had good spirits about it - if the girls made it down the aisle, great, if not - it won't be the end of the world.

Well, in typical flower girl form, the baskets were dumped over at the top of the aisle. And then the petals had to be picked up and put back in the basket. The guests laughed. I got involved. Everything was fine. The couple didn't mind when two of the flower girls started playing with the petals again in the middle of the ceremony.

If you want to have kids in your wedding party, this is the right attitude to have.

All photos courtesy of Deb Lindsey Photography. Do not use without permission.

Can't beat a water view

This is an oldie but a goodie. I just adore this photo by Matt Mendelsohn. This wedding ceremony and reception was at Woodlawn Manor in Ridge, Maryland.

Happy Valentine's Day

Grab the tissues...

DAR - O'Byrne Gallery reception

This is such a beautiful space for a wedding reception. I really love the Daughters of the American Revolution's O'Byrne Gallery. As you can see, we are maxing it out at 14 dinner tables (which equals about 140 guests).

Photo courtesy of Mary Kate McKenna Photography. Do not use without permission.

DAR Portico - Wedding Ceremony

It wasn't a full "rain out" but it was chilly, windy, sprinkling and all around untrustworthy weather on Lisa and Ben's wedding day. They really wanted to brave it and hold the ceremony outside. Working with the caterer, Design Cuisine, we were able to fit around 90 chairs on the Portico of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) building in Washington DC. Guests were happy - they all had a seat. And the couple was happy - they got married outside. My here is done.

Photo courtesy of Mary Kate McKenna. Please do not use without permission.

The Line sings "American Girl" by Tom Petty on The Voice

Watch out, I am going to be posting a lot from The Voice this year. I can't believe how they have raised the bar in terms of the talent level from last year. I loved the artists last year. This year is looking to be no different.

And I just can't get this dang song out of my head!

You have to have a rain plan

Mukta and James' ceremony was all set up for the Hotel Monaco's courtyard. And then we had a surprise thunderstorm. Thankfully the hotel staff was top notch and got Plan B into place with lightning speed. We were also able to move the gold chivari chairs quickly, as they were also to be used for dinner. Mukta and James handled the change in good spirits in part because they completed all of their portrait sessions before the rain started.

All photos courtesy of Amie Otto. Do not use without permission.

Smooth Criminal - Cellos!

You can hate the show, I am OK with that. But you can't deny how amazing these cellos are!

Be Prepared

This awesome client had something like 24 boxes of alcohol at the start of their reception. We did not run out. I think I sent them home with about half of it. But they were happy to be prepared!

Photo courtesy of Deb Lindesy Photography. Do not use without permission.

It's Halftime, America

Here is another breath-taking and brilliant ad from Chrylser (what, you have already forgotten about the goosebump-giving Eminem ad from last year?). Whoever is their ad agency, I want them to be my agency.

Budweiser for the win!

I can't wait for all the new commercials we will see tomorrow night. As I did last year, I will post all of my favorites with commentary.

But when Scott Stratten turned me onto this one a few days early, I had to share it right away. Scott is right - "Budweiser wins the Super Bowl and wins the internet." Every time I watch it, I tear up. It's so great. Talk about a flash mob.