Action Food Stations

The bride wanted a cocktail style party with lots of food and she wanted the party to be different. So we had food stations including sushi, raw bar, salad, carving, pasta and chocolate fountain.


It was all about the presentation with the sushi made in front of the guests, spring rolls served in tiny take out boxes, shrimp and oysters in a ice bowl, salad served in rocks glasses and pretzels and rice krispe treats served in mini treat bags ready for some chocolate.

The guests couldn't stop raving about the experience. They got to eat what and when they wanted and then got to dance till Midnight.

Thanks to the Westin Grand for letting us be creative and different - Awesome Food and Amazing Service!

Out of towners gift bags

Since I get lots of questions about what to put in the out of towners gift bags I thought I would list my ideas.

You want to make the goodie bag personal yet usable. You definitely want to have water bottles(personalized labels are optional), something sweet and something salty and of course a welcome note.

I always tell my couples to try to include items from their home towns or from the city where the wedding will take place. For example: a couple that met at UVA put 'Go Cavaliers' pens in each bag. Other ideas include personalized M&M's, VA peanuts, Tastycakes or Pepperidge Farm cookies, etc. If you are getting married in Virginia - 'VA is for Lovers' bumper stickers are a great idea. Don't forget metro maps, PLASH train guides and/or tour guide info.

Go to Costco or BJ's and get pretzels and Hershey kisses, breath mints and Tylenol. Think of getting personalized sewing kits and/or matches. And most importantly put a welcome letter, weekend schedule and directions to the wedding.

Put it all in a nice bag and top it off with a bow in your wedding colors of course!

Some Exciting News

I am moving to Philadelphia!! Elegant Engagements is expanding - I will now be doing weddings in the Metro DC AND Philadelphia areas beginning May 1.

My hubby got a job in Center City and this is a great opportunity personally and professionally for both of us. I am from the Philly suburbs and my family and friends still live close. Its a big adjustment right now but I am excited. My 2007 DC clients should not worry - I will be traveling back and forth and your planning will go on as normal.

Felicite and Ed

Another successful wedding and even the weather decided to cooperate.



Saturday was absolutely gorgeous and the newlyweds just glowed. The ceremony took place at St. Joseph's Catholic church in DC and reception at the Clarendon Ballroom in Arlington. This wedding was very special to me for 2 reasons-I really grew close to this couple and enjoyed every part of coordinating their wedding AND it was at the Ballroom - the same place I had my wedding 7 months ago.

Felicite loved daisies and wanted lots of spring flowers using blues and yellows. We worked with John Duffy from Yellow Door and got amazing flowers. The guests were welcomed with a tall cherry blossom arrangement with tiny daisies stuck all over the vase. The centerpieces had tulips, hydrangea, daisies and daffodils - very colorful. We used daisy cookie cutters as napkin rings with a cookie recipe and even served hot cookies for dessert.

The couple really wanted a way to get the guests dancing with them so I came up with a fun way to use Dance Cards. We created small cards with a song on it for each table. When the John Winn Jazz Band played a certain song the guests at that table got to 'redeem' it for a spin around the dance floor with either the bride or groom. This was a hit and all the guests got to dance with the couple.

Now Felicite and Ed are off to Greece for a honeymoon.

First Wedding of the Year

Julie and Chris had a beautiful spring wedding, despite the rain and an incompetent hotel staff. We brought in gorgeous sheer eggplant linens and had fun with different table designs. There was so much food I wanted to send guests away with to go containers. There was a great sushi station, make your own risotto station, carving and of course the chocolate fountain.

It was so fun to work with this couple, they are so sweet and sooo in love. The groom was very involved and really helped make this wedding all about them.

Military is moving them to Germany after they take a Mini Moon.

Cherry Blossoms are in Bloom

DC is just absolutely gorgeous at this time of year - Its cherry blossom season!! If you have never been down to the tidal basin during spring you must do it this year!!

This is a great time to get engagement pictures taken. It was exactly a year ago that my husband and I got ours taken by Holland Photo Arts. We climbed trees, sat on a bench, walked near the tibal basin and even got interviewed by ABC local news. Its nice to reminese.

This week is going to be gorgeous so take your lunch break and head into DC to see the cherry blossoms. Walk by the Jefferson Memorial or rent a paddle boat. If daytime won't work there are bike or lanturn tours throughout the day.

www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org