Isia and Arthur met in the United States, working in Washington, D.C. Islia is Polish, and Arthur is French. Most of their guests were from all over the world, the furthest being from Hong Kong. Due to travel restrictions, many of their guests couldn’t attend the wedding. To ensure that their friends and family were included, we implemented a sizeable two-way video feed so everyone could be a part of their special day. This was no small undertaking, and I am so thankful for our tech team on site that day. They navigated time zones, two-way internet feeds, international IP addresses, and so much more.
Washington D.C. Wedding Venue – District Winery
When choosing their wedding venue, they knew they wanted an open-air, with a city-centric venue. They decided to get married at District Winery, located near the Navy Yard in Washington, DC. The winery’s event space is on the upper level, and many of the walls retract, creating an open-air space. With all-inclusive packages available, wines made on-site, and chef-driven cuisine that emphasizes seasonal ingredients, this wedding venue was the perfect fit for them.
The Attire
Both Isia and Arthur wanted their attire to represent their personalities, and they wanted to wear something fun. Isia custom-designed her wedding gown and surprised guests with a shorter, more party-friendly second dress for the reception. As a huge Taylor Swift fan, she also had to incorporate red heels representing the album “red”! Arthur wore an orange and navy suit for his wedding attire to represent Clemson, where he went to university. Both of them looked amazing in their thoughtful and very personalized attire.
The Ceremony
Both Isia and Arthur are lawyers and wanted their prospective judges to officiate for them at the ceremony, which was such an honor. One Judge could be there in person, and at one conference, Arthur is Jewish, and they married under a chuppah, which was especially special to his family. The Chuppah was adorned in beautiful florals in the background.
The Reception
The reception was filled with friends, florals, and lots of laughter. During the reception, they did the Hora, a traditional dance in the Jewish faith where the couple is raised on chairs, and all of their guests dance in circles around them. While dancing the Hora, the newlyweds hold one end of a napkin or a handkerchief that signifies their union. In lieu of a wedding cake, the couple had a traditional Croquembouche. A towering cone structure covered with caramel-covered cream puffs surrounded by golden threads of spun sugar. The French chef made a custom cookie sign for them to accompany their croquembouche. It was truly a work of art, and the guests loved the cultural reference.
As always, I’d love to chat!
Vendors:
Venue: District Winery
Florist: Love Blooms DC
Photo: The Happy Couple
Video: Bowen Films
DJ: The Dapper DJs