Ashley & Ryan

We are still catching up on blog posts from our 2016 weddings but super excited to finally show you the amazing images from Ashley and Ryan’s wedding at Bluemont Vineyard that were taken by Bekah Kay Photography.  Now let me tell you, these are two of the kindest, coolest people you will ever meet. They have a large group of loyal and fun friends which made the entire day a complete joy and fun to be around.  Getting married in November means you never quite know what to expect from the weather but this day in November was gorgeous, the sky was so clear you could see for miles and provided a beautiful backdrop.  For the outdoor ceremony, we setup a chuppah and attached her father’s tallit, it was such a personal touch and really created a dramatic focal point in front of the blue sky.   Ashley carried a stunning cascading bouquet that we absolutely loved making.  Her bouquet had a variety of all purple flowers and greenery that included cool water roses, mokara orchids, freesia, calla lilies and variety of eucalyptus.  The centerpieces were two different designs, one floral arrangement with a variety of textures and fall tones that included dahlias, mums, marigolds, scented geranium and greenery and the other a distressed ivory lantern with greenery and flower blooms surrounding it.  The shades of purple with orange and ivory accents, went perfect for a fall wedding.  Congrats Ashley & Ryan, we absolutely loved doing the flowers for your wedding.  We wish you the best!!

Wedding Flowers & Decor:
Diamond Events

Photographer:
Bekah Kay Photography

Venue:
Bluemont Vineyard

Katie & Austin’s Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Katie & Austin found the perfect place to host their rustic, elegant wedding within the rolling hills of Leesburg at Stone Tower Winery. In addition to tours and tastings, the local, Loudoun County winery offered the perfect venue for the couple’s outdoor wedding.

Katie and her ladies-in-pink were able to get ready at the venue, with the winery’s beverages on hand. They offered the bride a toast before she walked down the aisle.

Following their vineyard-side ceremony, the couple were able to give their guests a unique, al fresco dining experience. Katie, Austin and their guests sipped signature limoncellos at long tables, under twinkling light strings.

After an evening of dancing, laughter, and celebration, guests sent the lovebirds off to married life through a myriad of sparklers.

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Groom kissing bride on head

Al fresco wedding reception

Love Birds cake topper

Sparkler Exit at Stone Tower Winery

Venue:
Stone Tower Winery

Photographer:
Matt Mendelsohn

Wedding Coordination, Flowers & Decor:
Diamond Events

Mackenzie & Jason’s Braeloch Wedding

While rain can seem like an uninvited guest on your big day, wedding lore says that a sprinkling is, actually, quite lucky. Traditionally, a wedding-day rain symbolizes renewal, unity, beginnings and fertility for Mackenzie and Jason’s wedding in Vinton, Virginia (right outside of Roanoke), rain symbolized the couple’s ability to move forward and have fun. With rain threatening to come down just as the ceremony was to begin, the couple simply delayed their wedding until the clouds passed–the chairs were wiped dry and the event continued on. The couple were married under a beautiful, garlanded arch with ferns and flower petals decorating the ceremony site. The rest of wedding was as carefree as the couple, with the Harwell Grice Band entertaining guests with bluegrass tunes and light hearted donut favors from Krispy Cream (The pun-tactic signage reminded guests,” Do-not leave without a treat!”). The gold-gilded reception featured a long king table with elegant, candlelit lanterns, hearty garlands and sumptuous spray roses.

Venue:
Braeloch
Wedding Coordination, Flowers & Decor:
Diamond Events

Under the Sea 1st Birthday

What a fun celebration for a sweet little girl! The dessert table included a 2 tier lavender and aqua “Under the Sea” themed round cake with fondant circles to represent “scales”, seashells and even seaweed. On top of the cake was a mermaid cake topper.  A few of our favorite elements from this beautiful ocean party are:

The amazing cake
The aqua, lavender and purple color scheme
The tassel garlands
The “sand” under the cupcakes that was actually brown sugar
The seashell themed desserts
The tall white seahorses
And the cutie pie turning 1!

Styling by Diamond Events

Cake & Cupcakes by Sweet Blossom Cake

Lauren & Sam’s Oatlands Wedding

Lauren and Sam came to us right after they booked their venue, Oatlands in Leesburg, Virginia (one of our favorite times to start working with a new couple). We helped them every step of the way, booking their caterer, guiding them with their wedding invitation wording, creating the beautiful cascading bouquet that Lauren carried down the aisle and overseeing that their entire day ran smoothly. The ceremony took place in the lower gardens at Oatlands, the peonies were blooming and the gardens were already lush and green (a real treat for early May). After the ceremony the guests made their way up the stairs to the upper gardens for cocktail hour. Guests loved mingling through the gardens and touring the property while Lauren & Sam took pictures. After cocktail hour guests made their way to the tent setup in the front lawn of the mansion. Tall centerpieces with bells of Ireland and candles suspended on the branches decorated each table. Congrats Lauren & Sam, it was a pleasure getting to know you and your family, we wish you the best in your new life together!

Photography Credits:
Candice Adelle Photography

Venue:
Oatlands Historic House & Gardens
20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane Leesburg, VA 20175

Wedding Planning, Coordination, Flowers & Decor:
Diamond Events

Wheatgrass Centerpieces

Growing wheatgrass for centerpieces or an escort card display, is a great way to incorporate an outdoor feel and touch of nature.  It takes approximately 10 to 14 days after planting the seeds before they are ready for display.  I recommend starting the process 15 to 20 days before the event (once the grass is 3 weeks old, the blades get so long they start to droop).  There are endless possibilities as to the type of container to grow the grass in or flowers to display in the center.  I hope to get the chance to make these again, I have lots more ideas that I want to try!

Supply List

• Potting soil
• Spray Bottle
• Tray / Container
• Strainer
• Large bowl for soaking
• Wheatgrass seeds
• Glass Cylinders
• Mokara Orchids
• Floating Candles – 3″

Step One: Cover the bottom of your tray with a layer of dry wheatgrass seeds.  Afterwards, pour the seeds into a measuring cup so you know exactly how many seeds are needed per container.

Step Two: Rinse the seeds in clean water, drain and then soak the seeds in a bowl of cool water (make sure there is plenty of water).  Let the seeds soak for about 8-10 hours.  Next, drain the water, then soak them again for another 8 hours.  Repeat this step a third time.  You should start to see little sprouts by this time.

Step Three:  If the bottom of your tray has holes, line the bottom of the tray with unbleached
paper towels so that the roots do not protrude.  Otherwise, spread a layer of soil that has been premoistened at least a half inch deep.

Step Four: Spread out the germinated seeds evenly and densely on top of the damp soil and then gently press the seeds into the soil.

Step Five: Place the tray under indirect sunlight.  I grew the wheatgrass outside under a covered porch, you could also grow them inside near a window.  Wheatgrass does not like hot direct sunlight.  The young shoots need to be watered at least twice a day. If the soil gets dry, the young shoots may die off before they root.

Step Six: Once the shoots are taller than one inch, probably about day 5, you can water them once a day (morning is best).  You must make sure that there is enough to keep the soil damp all the way to the roots but not overlay saturated.

Step Seven: On the day of the wedding cut mokara orchids to fit inside each cylinder, fill with water and place a floating candle on top.  Voilla, your centerpiece is complete!

xxoo,

Stephanie

Kristyn and Evan

We are SO excited to share today’s wedding with you!!! This fall has been FULL of amazing couples and as we begin to receive their pictures over the next few months, we will have a lot of pretty to share:)

Kristyn and Evan were such a joy to work with!! They planned their wedding to a “t” and knew exactly what they wanted but as a smart DIYer, they knew they were going to have to step back, relax and entrust an extra pair of hands the day-of their wedding to make their dream a reality.

We LOVE working at Whitehall Manor in Bluemont, Virginia; not only does it have historic charm and gorgeous views of the Loudoun country side, the owner and venue coordinator, Douglas, is a top notch professional and master of weddings!! Whitehall Manor is one of the most well run venues in the entire Washington DC area and their staff always does an incredible job and I can’t forget to mention how delicious their food is. I highly recommend their catering services!!!:)

To make the most of their budget we repurposed the bridesmaid bouquets as centerpieces during the reception.   The arrangements that hung along the aisle on shepherds hooks were also reused as centerpieces.   One advantage that our clients receive, is that when we are onsite throughout the entire wedding, we can repurpose the flowers and decor as the event transitions from one space to another.

I’m SO grateful Kristyn & Evan trusted me to help bring their wedding day to life!!  Enjoy!!

 

Wasn’t her bouquet gorgeous!! It was designed with garden roses, dahlias, lisianthus, ranunculus, white astilbe and seeded eucalyptus.

VENDOR CREDITS
Cake Baker:
Edibles Incredible

Caterer:
Celebrations Catering

Dessert:
Hot Apple Pie
Aldie, Virginia

Photographer:
STUDIO C Photography
Susan Centineo

Venue:
Historic Whitehall Manor
Bluemont, Virginia

Wedding Coordination & Flowers:
Diamond Events

Northern Virginia Wedding Planner – Vanessa & Amir

Vanessa & Amir had a beautiful wedding that blended two cultures, Hispanic and Persian. We were thrilled to have been entrusted with the task of setting up the Sofreh Aghd. The Sofreh is an elaborate floor spread set up for the Persian Ceremony (Aghd) that includes different kinds of food and decorations. During the ceremony, the bride and groom sit on a bench and face the Sofreh. Single women or female relatives of the couple hold a fine cloth, over the couple’s head. The women alternate grinding sugar cones over the bride and groom’s head, which is symbolism for adding more sweetness to their life together.

Items that are included in the Sofreh:

• Mirror and candlesticks: A mirror reflects what is before it, so symbolically it brings the couple abundance and brightness in their future. The candles bring passion and energy. As the story goes, the first thing the groom should see is the face of his beautiful bride reflected in the mirror, lit by the light of the candlesticks.
• Sweets and candies: for sweetness in life, and offered to guests after the ceremony.
• Decorated eggs and nuts in their shells: for fertility
• Gold and silver: for prosperity
• Fresh flowers: to bring beauty in the couple’s life together
• Fresh Fruit: for a joyous future
• Rosewater: to perfume the air and bring beauty
• Holy book: from whichever religion the couple follows

While guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers, the couple went around Meadowlark Gardens with their photographer, (one of my favorite backdrops for wedding pictures). After cocktail hour the wedding party made their grand entrance, which set the tone for the reception, it was obvious that it was going to be a fun night!

Immediately after the couple is married, the bride and groom each dip one pinky finger in the cup of honey and feed it to one another.

The Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens set for a wedding reception

The First Dance

Venue: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Atrium

Photographer: Nuvoria Studios

Wedding Planner: Diamond Events

Welcome to the world Miss. Madelyn!

So you might have noticed that I haven’t blogged much this spring and summer and it’s not because we haven’t been busy (we had a wedding 3 weeks after I delivered) but the arrival of a precious baby girl, Madelyn, has limited my time for blogging. My cup runneth over with the love that this little girl gives me. Motherhood has brought a joy that you cannot explain (despite the deliriousness that comes from sleepless nights). Being a mother has given life a greater purpose and even more of reason to constantly challenge myself to show her the woman that I aspire to be, not only as a business owner, wife and now mother.

Image courtesy of Ingrid Hunsicker Photography

xxoo

Stephanie

Yana & Matt

Yana & Matt exchanged vows on a gorgeous fall day at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington with their reception following at St. Francis Hall, a perfect setting for an iconic Washington D.C. wedding! They filled their wedding with a lot of unique touches that incorporated Yana’s Ukrainian heritage and the couples attention to detail.  A few highlights from the night included a surprise performance from Ukranian dancers, hand made jelly favors with a variety of flavors, postcards for guests to sign and leave in a gold mailbox with wishes for the bride and groom, a traditional Ukranian cake made of  bread, called Korovai and a beautiful 3 tiered wedding cake with whipped icing that was displayed on the stage (that even tasted amazing too).  The reception was full of energy and dancing as DJ Mark Maskell kept everyone on their feet.  Congratulations Yana & Matt, what a fun wedding!

Flowers, Decor & Coordination by: Diamond Events
Ceremony: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Reception: St. Francis Hall