Showing posts with label DC Vendor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DC Vendor. Show all posts

Real Weddings: Susan & Dan

A few weeks ago Veronica and I had the pleasure of coordinating Susan and Dan's Italian themed wedding at the Hotel Monaco in Old Town, Alexandria. We were very excited for Susan and Dan's wedding, as it was the first wedding of the season for EE and the wedding took place at one of our favorite venues. Susan and Dan's wedding day was flawless! The bride and groom was blessed with great weather, a great team of vendors and a super fun crowd.

Making it their own: Susan and Dan's officiant was a close family friend. The ceremony was officiated with love and fond memories of the couple. Our bride and groom also chose to engage in a wine box ceremony as opposed to the traditional unity candle or sand ceremonies.

Our All-Star Line Up:Ceremony & Reception Venue: Hotel Monaco Alexandria
Catering: Jackson 20 (Hotel Monaco)
Photographer: Anna Muhhin Photography
Florist: Petal's Edge Floral Design
Cake Baker: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes
Ceremony Musicians: Sage String Quartet-(Cello/Violin duo)
Reception Band: 14K Music Band: The Moonlighters
Hair: Elegant Artisan- KC Felton
Makeup: Tica Beauty- Marti Wright

Below are a few professional photos from the very talented Anna Muhhina Photography and a few from yours truly.
Our beautiful bride peeking at the ceremony set-up.

Our bride and groom chose to see each other prior to the ceremony. I love this shot of the groom taking a first look of his future wife!
Anna Muhhina Photography
The delicious red velvet and lemon cake was provided by Fluffy Thoughts.
 There were three centerpieces designed by Petal's Edge that varied in size and color. Susan and Dan chose a simple and very chic color palette of ivories, white and hints of lavender.
 The guests took home homemade limoncello as wedding favors.
Congratulations Susan & Dan. We wish you a lifetime of happiness!
Anna Muhhina Photography

 

Blog Love: Tiana Simpson Photography

A few months back Veronica, Cristina and I had the pleasure of coordinating Lindsay and Ryan's elegant and chic wedding DC wedding. Lindsay and Ryan held their event at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, which is now one of our favorite venues. The space was very unique and fit the theme of the wedding, not to mention the staff was amazing! Head over to Tiana Simpson's blog to check out a few photos and let us know your thoughts. Special thank you to Tiana for the wonderful compliments :) Be on the look out for a question and answer session with Tiana coming soon!

Our dear Veronica has to make sure each card is perfectly aligned!

Check out the setup work of Team Exceeding Expectations

*All photos property and courtesy of Tiana Simpson Photography




2010 Pick Knot Best of Weddings

We are overjoyed and honored to be selected as a 2010 pick for The Knot Best of Weddings. Every year on theknot.com brides vote for their favorite local wedding professionals, and this year, we were voted a Best of Wedding winner!! The Exceeding Expectations strives to provide extraordinary service by going above and beyond. We are truly humbled to be recognized by the creme de la creme! Thank you to all of our past clients for their kudos! We are looking forward to working with our 2010 brides, and exceeding their expectations!

Real Wedding: Cindy & Tony

This past weekend our team had the pleasure of coordinating Cindy & Tony’s special day. Their ceremony was held at Fort Belvoir Chapel, with a reception following at Fort Belvoir Officer’s Club.Our Bride & Groom were able to enjoy their family and friends while our team handled all of the logistics.Congratulations Cindy & Tony! We wish you all the best. Vendors: Reception Venue: Fort Belvoir Officer's Club Photographer: Jessica Smith Photography Cake: Bees Wedding Cakes Florist: Royal Floral Design DJ: Crown Entertainment (DJ CJ) Transportation: Fleet Transportation We loved the accent lighting in the ballroom The Belvoir Room offered stunning views of the Potomac. Cindy & Tony's guests departed with peanut butter fudge wrapped in a monogrammed favor box.
Guests were invited to sign a plate that will be hung in the couples new home.
Their beautiful wedding cake

Real Weddings: Benita & Jeff

We had the pleasure of assisting Benita and Jeff with planning their blue and white themed wedding on Saturday, August 8th. Benita & Jeff’s ceremony took place in a church in Washington, DC Saturday afternoon. They provided a shuttle for their guests to and from the ceremony and reception (which is always a nice touch). The 100 person reception took place at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Crystal City. I can not say enough great things about the first class service that Marriott provided. My team and I were blown away by their attention to detail and attentiveness to our Bride & Groom as well as the vendors. Details of Benita & Jeff’s big day are below:
Benita & Jeff's Gorgeous (and delicious) wedding cake.
Blue and white centerpieces alternated amongst the guest tables.
The tables were dressed in crushed metallic linen.
At the end of the night, the wonderful staff at the Marriott surprised our Bride & Groom with a special treat!
All-star line up:
Reception Venue: Crystal Gateway Marriott: A very special thank you to Megan Grosso and her fabulous team)
Videography: 5 Star Entertainment: It is always a treat to work with Jim and his very professional team of videographers.
Photography: Arthur Bunda Photography: Job well done for Arthur and Oscar!
Hair & Makeup: Richie Makeup: My bride’s always look amazing when they have their hair and makeup done by Ky.
Photobooth: Posh Booth: Neal and his partner worked very hard to make sure all guests had their picture taken and put together a wonderful guest book for Benita & Jeff to take home at the end of the night.
Cake: Creative Cakes: Very good cake and a pleasure working with Ann.
Florist: Convention Floral: Nubia’s work is amazing, and her wonderful spirit makes working with her a treat.
Transportation: Reston Limo: Great job Reston Limo!

Happy Anniversary to us!

We are excited to celebrate our 3 year anniversary! Three years ago today Exceeding Expectations opened its doors with the mission to provide affordable, professional, and reliable wedding and event coordination to all brides, regardless of their budget. We have been very blessed to have worked with amazing clients, vendors, and all-star staff. Here is to an amazing fourth year of business. Keep up the good work team!

Vendor Spotlight: MyEasyPhoto

One of my favorite photographers is Don Cherry (JMD) of MyEasyPhoto. His unique personality, talent and affordable prices are what brides love most about him. We have worked with Don on various occasions over the past few years. He was the official photographer for my wedding weekend and took my engagement photos. If you are need of a photographer for your wedding, birthday party, or special event, be sure to check out MyEasyPhoto, and tell them Exceeding Expectations sent you! Get to know Don of MyEasyPhoto:

1. What makes MyEasyPhoto unique is the ability to offer customers and clients professional high quality prints within minutes ofcapture. We’ve been in the “onsite printing” business since 1999 and have seen the industry grow from prints in hours and minutes to very high quality prints in seconds. We are extremely proud of being able to produce a stunning print within seconds of capture.

2. How do you exceed your client’s expectations? We first sit down with out client and determine what our client’s needs and expectations are. We then produce the goods by working hard to exceed those expectations in every way possible. The first rule we throw out is a limit on the number of images captured during a client’s wedding or event.

3. What is your favorite time of year to shoot? The Spring! I’d have to say that the “Spring” is my favorite time of year to shoot. I say this because the natural outdoor colors add so much more “pop” to photos. Nothing irks me more than to see a photo of a couple with a cluttered background when nature offers us the best background one could ask for.

4. At what local venues or landmarks do you most enjoy working? In this area, the District is so unique. There is no other location in the world better than DC. The landmarks and monuments really add to images captured there. An honorable mention is the Quantico Base Chapel because from a photographer’s point of view, the windows allow a lot of light to come through.

5. What’s one of your favorite photography trends? My favorite (and most exciting) photography trends are the following: 1) The ability to capture wireless and images instantly appear on the computer screen or wherever desired. I once did a wedding and had guests images appear on the church’s video system. As I captured candid images of them signing the guestbook and waiting for the wedding to start images would suddenly appear on the church’s large video screen. Seeing this occur, many people wondered how we made this happen and many thought this was a nice “touch” to the wedding: 2) For another client (…Geomyra and Philip’s wedding), we were hired to provide on-site prints of guests arriving and standing on the red carpet! The guests loved it! I even presented the B&G with a few choice prints that were captured during their reception. It was an honor and a blast to have been a part of their wedding. 3) Digital Capture Technology. This is very important part of the equation. Now, this is not to say that one could not capture an equal or better image with any other camera,,..but the release of the Nikon D3 has had the greatest impact (IMHO) on shooting weddings than any other camera in history. When it comes to weddings, the Nikon D3 is the only camera in my bag.

6. Is there something you wish all bride’s knew about your job or the wedding photography industry? I wish they knew how much I really care and enjoy capturing some of the most special moments of their lives. I also feel so specially honored to have been selected as their wedding photographer. I tell you this, if I were financially well off, I’d shoot weddings for free.

7. Do you have wedding saving tips and advice for our bride's on a budget? I sure do! If on a budget I recommend that the B&G skip on those things that will matter less as time goes by. For instance, the limo ride,...or even the videographer. Why? Well, think of it this way, video captures moments,…photography captures a single moment that can never be repeated! Lastly, the B&G should choose a venue that works for their lifestyle and character versus trying to go way overboard and be in debt from day one of their wedding.

When I’m behind the camera, I feel like a rock star,…like a celebrity, like an Olympic athlete poised to break a record. I enjoy photography so much I wish I could have a camera in my hands 24 hours a day,…everyday! I feel so honored to be the photographer that captures so many special moment of a person’s life. We all have but a few moments to live on mother earth and given the chance to capture a single moment of a person’s life is of such great honor for me that I’m in sheer awe. Of the thousands of images I captured, I still find it hard to delete an image. I say this because once deleted, the moment captured becomes lost in the space of time spent. Lastly, my greatest reward is when I get the chance to visit a client or friend’s home and see my work all throughout their homes. You know, there is no better feeling for me as a photographer than seeing my work on display in the daily lives of friends, customers and clients.

http://www.myeasyphoto.com/

Don Cherry (JMD) Ph: (703) 850-6367

myeasyphoto@comcast.net

Real Weddings: Daisy & Travis

One of our favorite couples Daisy & Travis was married on Friday at the Stone House in Sterling, VA. Daisy hired us to assist her in planning her big day from the beginning. We assisted her with finding top notch vendors within her budget and that fit her style. Daisy and Travis’ red and white themed wedding was intimate, fun, spiritual, and a breath of fresh air. Check out the event details and photos below:
Ceremony chairs set and ready for the guests
Bridesmaid bouquets
Daisy's red rose bouquet accented with rhinestones was absolutely gorgeous.
The strawberry and cream filled cake was one of the best that I have tasted. It was very popular among the guests. The detail in the cake design was a perfect matched to Daisy's dress.
The new Mr. & Mrs.
A special thank you to the all-star line up of vendors who did an amazing job:
Florist-Memorable Bouquet & Favors Photography-My Easy Photo Music-Total Dynasty Entertainment (DJ JButtah) Tables & Chairs-Potomac Party Rental Linen-Gala Cloths Cake-Taylor Made Cakes Catering-Wilson’s Catering

Wedding Registry: Kitchen Appliances

An exciting element to planning your wedding is registering for gifts for your new home and life with your spouse. This is the only time in your life that your family and friends will likely splurge and actually buy you something you like. A few of my favorite must have kitchen appliances that I registered for, and use on a regular basis: Rival® 6-Quart Stainless Steel Crock-Pot® $50 As a newlywed and business owner, my day is packed with phone calls, emails, meetings, etc. The slow cooker has become my dear friend providing easy but delicious meals for me and my hubby. I am a huge fan of the Rival Crock-Pot 3 in 1 cookbook and recently discovered the crock-pot blog. Keurig® Platinum Single Serve Brewer/Coffee Maker $175 I am not a coffee drinker, however we sometimes have guests over that ask for coffee or tea. The Keruig Single Serve Brewer is ideal for brewing single cups of your favorite coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Black and Decker® 6-Slice Toaster Oven $80 I love how big this toaster oven is. We use it to make toast, garlic bread and pizza in no time. Hamilton Beach® Smooth Touch Can Opener $35 I really like the design of this can opener. I am also a fan of the smooth edges that the can opener leaves. George Foreman Next Generation Grill with Removable Plates $75 No kitchen is complete without a George Foreman Grill. I am a fan of their stainless steel design and removable plates. The Foreman Grill makes grilling hamburgers and hotdogs quick and easy. Most items are available at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Crate & Barrel Leave us a comment and let us know what some of your favorite registry items are!

Vendor Spotlight: Fusions Cuisine



Looking for a caterer for your upcoming wedding that stands out among the rest? Fusion's Cuisine is a favorite among Exceeding Expectations and our brides. We are always excited to work with their talented team of professionals. When our clients book Fusions, they are guaranteed five star service. We asked Fusions President Blaise Thompson and Executive Chef James Thompson to give us insight on why they are a Bride's Choice Award Recipient:

What makes Fusions Cuisine unique? We have a fine dining Executive Chef who is personally involved in preparing the food during production - not just line cooks and sous chefs. This makes a distinct difference in the quality of food that is produced. An Executive Chef has a different level of experience and expertise than everyone else.

How do you exceed your client’s expectations? We customize menus for our brides to reflect WHO they are and WHERE they are from. This allows the food to be an extension of their who they are and bring a very personal level of detail to the menu development. We procure the best products possible and are very particular about our staff on site. They interact quite a bit with guests and should be able to explain the food and help create a fine dining experience for the attendees.

What is your favorite item on your company’s menu? We have many food favorites - during the summer our sweet potato hash and our melon salad with sambal are two big favorite side dishes. Our Root Vegetable Gratin main entree is something vegetarians love for seated meals. The unique hors d'oeuvres our Chef develops for every event are always fun and intriguing. They are always a big "WOW!"

What’s one of your favorite trends? Favorite cooking trend: Mixing old and new cooking techniques. Dabbling in molecular gastronomy and using it where it makes sense.

Is there something you wish all bride’s knew about your job or the catering industry? The one thing I wish people would understand is good service really matters and good service is not cheap. You can't run a wedding (or any event) successfully without enough staff to set up, work the reception and handle cleaning in a timely fashion. They interact with guests from beginning to end. Having a reception properly staffed will make or break the success of the overall experience. Trust your caterer. They know what they are talking about.

Do you have wedding saving tips and advice for our bride's on a budget? Cost saving tips - while a champagne toast is nice, it's not always appreciated by all guests. Very few people actually drink champagne. Instead, offer champagne at the bar and let guests toast with a drink they already have in their hand. This easily saves a couple hundred dollars in glassware and champagne.

To learn more about Fusions Cusine, be sure to check out their website and five star reviews on WeddingWire.