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



 

Honeymoon Hot Spots: Tensing Pen Resort in Negril, Jamaica

Looking for a romantic and secluded honeymoon destination? One of my favorite vacation spots hands down would have to be Jamaica. My husband and I spent four days and three nights in paradise last June. After doing tons of research via Tripadvisor, Kayak and various other sources, we settled on Negril, Jamaica. A few friends of ours raved about the beaches, locals, and affordability of Negril, so we took a chance.  As Tensing Pen only has a handful of cottages and villas, you are able to enjoy peace and quiet among the ocean. The service was great, other guests were friendly and the food, oh boy the food… IT WAS AMAZING! One of the best meals I have ever eaten was at Ivan’s Bar a few yards away from Tensing Pen.  Great food, great service and great prices make Tensing Pen the perfect location for your honeymoon! Below are a few photos from our vacation and Tensing’s website. Leave us a comment and let us know where you are planning to take your honeymoon!

Loved the view from the pool.

Pillar Suite

Welcoming gates of Tensing Pen

Breath taking sunsets

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

Wedding Day Accessories: Wedding Shoes

So you have your wedding date set, venue is booked, and you even have your dream dress. However, your ensemble is not complete until you have that perfect pair of shoes! Just as there are numerous wedding dress designers, the same goes for bridal shoes. Selecting the perfect style, heel height, designer and even color can be challenging. Consider these helpful tips when shopping for the perfect pair:

• Start by researching wedding shoes for a designer that you are familiar with. For example, if you are comfortable wearing Nine West shoes, take a look at their bridal section to see if there is something that you like.
•  It is important to be comfortable in the shoes that you select. You will be wearing your dress and shoes for hours on end. Spend some time breaking in your shoes prior to your big day to get accustom to walking in them.
• Looking for a unique way to incorporate your theme, color scheme, or that something blue? Be bold and add a pop of color to your ensemble by wearing a pair of colored pumps.

Below are a few options to consider; A high (luxury), medium (slight splurge) and reasonable (affordable)pair.

1. Luxury: After purchasing my first pair of Louboutin’s I would have to say I am in love with this luxury brand. The $875 satin Greissimo 140mm pump offered by Christian Louboutin is a classic pair sure to turn heads.



Photo courtesty of Christian Loubotin

2. Slight Splurge: Badgley Mischka not only makes wedding dresses but also wedding shoes. The four inch Lissa pump features a rhinestone brooch. The Lissa is also dyeable making it a breeze to match your color scheme.



Photo courtesy of myglassslipper.com



Photo courtesy of myglassslipper.com

3. Affordable: Lastly, but certainly not least is the four and a half inch Elizana sling-back pump offered by Nina. At around $89, this pair of shoes is sure to fit any budget!

Photo courtesy of Zappos.com

Send us your wedding shoes and we will feature them on the blog in an upcoming post!

Five Things I Loved About the Royal Wedding Ceremony

History was made today when Prince William, Duke of Cambridge married Miss Kate Middleton who became the Duchess of Cambridge around 11:00am this morning. Below are my top five favorite items about their ceremony:

5. The Ceremony Music:  The Westminster Abbey Choir and Chapel Royal Choir along with the London Chamber Orchestra, and a fanfare team of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force provided the music for the ceremony that was selected by the Bride & Groom. The musical selections were a perfect fit for the mood of the much anticiapted Royal Wedding.

4. The Guests’ Attire: Although all eyes were on the Bride and Groom, it was hard not to notice the ornate outfits of some of their guests. The most noticeable accessories would be the customary gravity-defying hats typically worn for Royal Weddings. Princess Beatrice, 22, and 21-year-old Princess Eugenie, daughters of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York, made a fashion statement with their choice of unique hats. Below are a few of my favorites worn by the Princess' & Victoria Beckham.

3. The Bouquet: Kate chose to carry a modest bouquet made of lily-of-the-valley. According to the royal press release, "The bouquet is a shield-shaped wired bouquet of myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William and hyacinth. The bouquet was designed by Shane Connolly and draws on the traditions of flowers of significance for the Royal Family, the Middleton family and on the Language of Flowers." Simple, but classic.

2. Bridal Party: Although I love big grand family affairs, I am a fan of smaller more intimate bridal parties. Princess Catherine & Prince William opted to have their siblings (Prince Harry & Pippa Middelton) as their Best Man and Maid of Honor. Having a smaller bridal party cuts down on confusion and costs. If you are struggling with the decision on who to include on your wedding day, my advice is to keep it simple. You will thank me after your wedding!

1. The Dress: It's Sarah Burton! After months of speculation and rumors, it was revealed that Sarah Burton, The Alexander McQueen designer is the woman behind Kate Middleton's wedding dress. I love, love, love the timeless, elegant, and crisp gown that Kate chose. In this day and age, you don’t see long sleeved laced gowns; however the new Duchess of Cambridge undoubtedly made a fashion statement.

Tell us, did you watch the royal wedding? What were your thoughts?

Congratulations Prince William & Princess Catherine!

 

*Photos courtesy of the Associated Press

Monique Lhuillier Trunk Show

Mark your calendars for the Monique Lhuiller Trunk Show hosted by Carine’s Bridal Atlier, April 28th & April 30th. Monique Lhuiller, one of my favorite designers is the go to designer for celebrity wedding gowns. She has designed gowns for Ashley Simpson, Carrie Underwood, and most recently, Reese Witherspoon. Be sure to give Carine’s a call (202.965.4696) and schedule your appointment today! Carine's Bridal is located at: 1726 Wisconsin Ave. NW 2nd Floor Washington DC 20007

Venue Spotlight: Collingwood Library & Musem

Veronica and I had the pleasure of working at Collingwood Library & Museum last November for Jess & Walter’s fall themed wedding. Collingwood is a historical, but renovated venue located right off of the Potomac River in Alexandria, VA. (My hometown!) After our walk through of the venue and meeting with the Events Manager Kristen Golden, we were instantly in love with the site. The space offers endless possibilities for hosting a river view ceremony, cocktail hour on the patio, followed by dinner and dancing in their American Legacy Center. The reception space holds about 200 guests comfortably. The Collingwood staff (Kristen & Jay) took great care of our bride, groom, guests and the EE Team. If you are looking for an affordable venue in the DC area with a great view, great location and a great staff, be sure to contact Kristen at Collingwood Library & Museum!

Front Entrance

Wrap around porch. Great location for cocktail hour. (Photo from Collingwood's website)

American Legacy Center. (Photo from Collingwood's website)

Patio with view of the river.

Inside of the reception space.