Lisa and Wren's Riverside on the Potomac, Leesburg VA Wedding

Photo by Eric Einstein Photography

Lisa and Wren got married on a beautiful June day this past year, at the magical Riverside on the Potomac in Leesburg, VA. One of our favorite venues, the weather definitely worked for them and resulted in a stunning day!

The couple had a ton of performing artists friends (as Lisa herself is also in the performing arts), which resulted in personal, musical touches throughout the day including friends playing for the ceremony (and leading a recessional parade of sorts that felt New Orleans-esque), and as you’ll see - an EPIC first dance!

Personal touches continued with the florals being DIY’d, a relative conducting the ceremony, and many other close family and friends having been assigned very specific roles to include people near and dear to them as much as possible. 

Last, but certainly not least, Lisa’s brother was photographer! We adore the photos that follow - be sure to check them out and start getting excited for summer with these images by Eric Einstein Photography. Although he’s based in Denver, he travels all the time - so definitely check out his amazing work.

Coordinator: Tarra with The Plannery

Venue: Riverside on the Potomac

Catering/Rentals: Brittany Flohr, Simply Fresh

DJ/Uplighting: Mark Maskell, Restless Promotions

Photography: Eric Einstein Photography and Video

Hair/Makeup: Ana B, MAB Artistry

Julia and Tim's Fairfax Marriott VA wedding

Photo by Jess Latos Photography

Like many of our Covid rescheduled couples, Julia and Tim were already legally married when their wedding day FINALLY came along. However, that didn't stop them from having a gorgeous ceremony and reception with lots of personal touches throughout.

Although the Fairfax Marriott has a great event space, the couple definitely wanted to add their own touches to it, so we brought in some beautiful chairs and linens from DC Rental, as well as my favorite napkins, which we also used at A&J's wedding! The deep blues and purples were perfect for the fall day, and the weather was so gorgeous that photographer Jessica Latos was able to do all of the formal photos outside (can you even tell that you're in the perimeter of Fair Oaks mall here??? NO! AMAZING!)

Jennifer Henel from Atelier Floral Design decorated the couple's round ceremony arch, as well as providing gorgeous personal flowers and centerpieces for the reception.After the ceremony, the guests went out to cocktail hour, where they were greeted not only with appetizers from the hotel, but with a traditional Chinese Suckling Pig! I had never experienced this before, but after having it at both of his sister's weddings, Tim INSISTED that we have it here, and I'm SO glad he did -- IT. WAS. DELICIOUS!!! After the dinner, the couple changed into traditional Chinese wedding outfits to hold a tea ceremony for their elders. This was a beautiful nod to Tim's heritage. Guests danced the night away with music provided by Lucy Black Entertainment, one of our go to music providers! And they hit the dance floor while eating delicious cupcakes from Fluffy Thoughts. Julia chose the beautiful colors and wrappers for the cupcakes -- yet another way she really showed her style for the wedding that they waited so long for!

Julia and Tim’s Vendors:

Jessica Latos, photographer

Venue: Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks

Florist, Jennifer Henel, Atelier Floral Design

Rentals: DC Rental 

DJ: Lucy Black Entertainment

Hair and Makeup: Gabby and Martha

Cupcakes: Fluffy Thoughts

Chaska and Josh’s Stone Tower Winery Wedding

Photo by Margaret Wroblewski

We at The Plannery always love Stone Tower Winery weddings! It was a pleasure to be back there, and with such an awesome couple. Chaska was a super on-it bride! She planned everything down to the last private dance with her new husband before leaving the venue, which is such a super sweet (and sexy!) way to end the evening - I highly recommend ;) Chaska also was a designer extraordinaire and put together an incredible design notebook prior to the wedding to help all vendors achieve her vision - and everything went exactly how she imagined. One of the sweetest touches was a memorial table for Chaska's mom. It is always a sensitive thing to not have a close loved one there on your special day, but they commemorated her mother so beautifully.

Enjoy these stunning photos by Margaret Wroblewski (another one of our all time faves!) and reminisce about summer :)

Chaska and Josh’s Vendors:

Coordinator: Tarra Morgan, The Plannery

Venue: Stone Tower Winery

Catering: Purple Onion Catering

DJ: DJ Sal Flip

Florals: Springvale Floral

Photography: Margaret Wroblewski

Hair/Makeup: Caitlyn Meyer Pro

Dodi and David's Shenandoah Woods Wedding

Photo by Josef Sullivan Photography

David and Dodi were wed in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain on a dreamy summer day in August. On that very morning, in the very same spot they exchanged vows, I saw the cutest brown bear roaming around just hours before guests arrived.  The only reason I didn’t freak out and am able to call it cute is because there was ample distance between myself and the furry guy as I worked to set up David and Dodi’s event. The Pavilion at Shenandoah Woods is such a gorgeous venue, offering magnificent views and sightings! 

The vibe of the event reflected both David and Dodi’s lively, beautiful, kindred personalities equally. It was rewarding as a planner/coordinator to watch their ideas and visions unfold and come to life. In working with David and Dodi, it was clear that their plans were driven by passion, which in turn led to the most magical, meaningful, memorable day. The major highlights would have to be the following: 1) Dodi’s show stopping lace romper worn at the reception and 2) The Silent Disco!!! 

As they celebrate their one year anniversary (boy does time fly!), I can only hope that they are still basking in newly wed bliss and that their passion is just as fierce as the day I met them! Congrats again, Dodi and David!

All photos by Josef Sullivan Photography

Dodi and David’s Vendors:

Coordinator: Tarra Morgan, The Plannery

Venue: Shenandoah Woods

Catering: Valley Pig Pickin

Photographer: Josef Sullivan Photography

Silent Disco: Headphone Disco

Bartenders: Garnished Events

Florist: Vivian’s Flowers

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Claire and Mike's Mount Vernon Inn, VA Wedding

Photo by Casey Crowe Taylor

Claire and Mike’s wedding took place on a breezy, cool day in early November. So many elements of their special day were truly timeless. Casey Crowe Taylor absolutely outdid herself with documenting every moment for them. So blown away! I acknowledge that my blogs are getting redundant regarding praising the photography.  Very grateful to have worked with some of the best photographers in the game this past year. 

Following their early afternoon ceremony at Catholic University in DC, we all crossed the Potomac River later that evening to their reception at Mount Vernon Inn. Claire and Mike’s ride being the most fashionable of all in a blue 1962 Cadillac provided by Camelot Classic Car.  

Mount Vernon is a place near and dear to Claire and Mike’s hearts. The place where they had the very first date. As a coordinator, a lot of times we can be spoiled with an easy laid out, straightforward venue. Other times, venues are not as easy or straightforward and require a little more forethought.  We had a great final planning meeting and came up with a great flow for how to best work in a compartmentalized space.  And well if I am being honest, in this case I was still spoiled because the staff at Mount Vernon are total rock stars!  Great food, great company, great band, it is my hope Claire and Mike are beyond happy with how everything turned out on the day they committed to each other in marriage. Congrats to them!

Claire and Mike’s Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Catholic University

Reception Venue and Catering: Mount Vernon Inn

Coordinator: Tarra Morgan, The Plannery

Photographer: Casey Crowe Taylor

Band: Lucky Pocket (formerly Empty Pocket) from Sam Hill Entertainment

Cake: Swiss Bakery

Hair/Make-up: Modern Bridal Studio

Florist: Thurman & Fig

Guest Transportation: Fleet Transportation

Car for Couple: Camelot Classic Cars

Invitations and Programs: Artisan Matchmaker

Jenevieve and Janine's Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA Wedding

Photo by Shawnee Custalow

Hopefully you all saw and heard about this wedding on my social media accounts ages ago, when it was featured on Bustle (and if not, check it out now). Jenevieve and Janine had a truly special love story, and I was honored to be a part of it. After postponing their wedding so that Jenevieve could transition, I was so thrilled to finally see their marriage happen, almost a year after it was originally supposed to occur. 

Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate so instead of having an outdoor ceremony at the Alexandria Waterfront park, we moved it and were still able to have it outdoors, but underneath the tented patio at Torpedo Factory. With the beautiful arbor by Barbara at Growing Wild, no one noticed :)

After a personal and beautiful ceremony, there were cocktails under the tent, followed by a wonderful dinner and dancing inside Torpedo Factory, one of my favorite unique venues in the area. 

Huge props to the super rad Shawnee Custalow for the gorgeous photos. Enjoy these shots and drink in this beautiful wedding! Congrats again Jenevieve and Janine!

**Also check back next week to see another post about J&J’s design. They used The Plannery’s design services and I’ll be showing you their initial mood board and the final product!

Janine and Jenevieve’s Vendors:

Venue: Torpedo Factory

Planner: Katie Wannen, The Plannery

Photographer: Shawnee Custalow

Caterer: Catering by Seasons

Band: Take Cover

Lighting: John Farr

Flowers: Growing Wild

Cake: Baked and Wired

Claire and Sam's Stone Tower Winery Vineyard Wedding

Photo by Anne Lord Photography

Claire and Sam were partial planning clients of mine. They were my last wedding pre-baby (!) and it was so wonderful to end my wedding season on such a high note. A fabulous, friendly couple to be around, their wedding day was equally awesome. Stone Tower Winery is such a gem (just check out these stunning photos by Anne Lord Photography as evidence) - and the rest of the vendor team, A La Carte Catering, Love Blooms, and DJ Andrew Logan, were a dream to work with as well. Enjoy these lovely pics and dream of warmer days while you do!

Congrats again, Claire and Sam!

Claire and Sam's vendors:

Planning: Katie Wannen, The Plannery

Venue: Stone Tower Winery

Caterer: A La Carte Caterers

Photographer: Anne Lord

DJ: DJ Andrew Logan

Flowers: Love Blooms

Ceremony and Cocktail Music: Loudon Quartet

Hair/Make-up: Alison Harper & Co

Transportation: Point to Point Limo