A History Inspired Wedding: Congratulations Allison & Dave

Allison and Dave were married on a beautiful day at the Arts Club of Washington. Their history inspired wedding included vintage rings, antique details and presidential centerpieces.

Allison wore some gorgeous shoes! She adorned her Calvin Klein’s with sho clips to create her own stylish pair.

Peonies filled the gorgeous bouquets and tiny buds bloomed out from the top of the boutonnieres.

Allison and Dave shared a first look.

They were so happy to see each other!

The ceremony processional began with the song In My Life by the Beatles, played by the groom’s sister-in-law on the piano.

The bride entered with her father to Real Love by John Lennon.

Allison’s maid of honor read A letter from Ronald Reagan to his wife Nancy on their anniversary, March 4, 1963:

My Darling, This is really just an in-between day. It is a day on which I love you three hundred and sixty-five days more than I did a year ago and three hundred and sixty-five days less than I will a year from now. But I wonder how I lived at all for the three hundred sixty-fives before I met you. 

The wedding bands were passed around to all the guests inside of a book for a special ring blessing, wonderful vows were exchanged and then the couple exited to Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.

The reception table centerpieces each honored a past president. The head table showcased an illustration of James Monroe, who lived in the Arts Club during his term as our fifth president.

I asked the couple what her favorite moment was from the day. They responded, “Getting to see family and friends, exchanging the vows during a personal and intimate ceremony that we helped to write/create, and rocking out on the packed dance floor.”

Allison also included, “For me personally, it was so rewarding to see all of the little details I have been working on over the past 15 months come together into a beautiful representation of who we are and what we love. The wedding was a labor of love and everything in my head truly came to fruition.”

The first dance was to the beautiful song, Happy by Bruce Springsteen:

“Some need gold and some need diamond rings

Or a drug to take away the pain that living brings

A promise of a better world to come

When whatever here is done I don’t need that sky of blue

All I know’s since I found you, I’m happy when I’m in your arms

Happy, darling, come the dark

Happy when I taste your kiss

I’m happy in a love like this

There’s a house upon a distant hill

Where you can hear the laughter of children ring

Guardian angels, they watch from above

Watching over the love that they bring

But at night I feel the darkness near, I awake and I find you near

I’m happy with you in my arms

I’m happy with you in my heart

Happy when I taste your kiss I’m happy in love like this

In a world of doubt and fear

I wake at night and reach to find you near

Lost in a dream, you caught me as I fell

I want more than just a dream to tell

We’re born in this world, darling, with few days and trouble never far behind

Man and woman circle each other in a cage

A cage that’s been handed down the line

Lost and running ‘neath a million dead stars

Tonight let’s shed our skins and slip these bars

Happy in each other’s arms

Happy baby, come the dark

Happy in each other’s kiss

I’m happy in a love like this”

Congratulations Allison and Dave!

Special thanks to all the vendors:
Location: Arts Club of Washington
Officiant: A.C. Warden, Capital Ceremonies
DJ: Ed Witles, The Elegant DJ
Florist: Greenworks Florist
Cake: Artistic Cake Creations / Cake Topper: Etsy, BlimpCat
Hair: CourtneyStyles / Make-up: Karen Goss, bride’s aunt
Dress: Justin Alexander, In White Bridal in Lancaster, PA
Shoes: Calvin Klein / Shoe clips: absolutelyaudrey.com

Suits: Jos A. Bank
Invitations: Allison printed and assembled each herself, template from DownloadandPrint.com

Arts Club Artwork, Monroe Gallery: Varieties of Abstraction, Acrylics by Susanne Eisinger 

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  1. […] But we were also guests, so we had a blast, too! We danced and imbibed and ate delicious food. I was sore on Sunday from all the dancing. It was a truly beautiful wedding. The venue was James Monroe’s house, a big townhome in DC, that is now used as an art gallery. There was a classy and subtle Presidential theme – the tables were named after presidents, and letters between John and Abigail Adams were read during the ceremony. It tied in perfectly with the venue and the couple’s love of history and politics. The ceremony and dancing took place inside and dinner was in a huge courtyard out back, with perfect weather. Read more about their lovely event here. […]

  2. kaitlyn says:

    LOVE the presidential portraits. where did you get them?

@PHOTOSBYJS

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