DC Wedding with Portraits at the National Arboretum: Congratulations Kate & Andrew!

Kate and Andrew had a beautiful autumn D.C. wedding.

The pin on Kate’s sash was her something borrowed, and it was lent by the groom’s mom. It belonged to her grandmother.

Kate says, “I love family heirlooms, and I am really grateful that she was willing to let me borrow the pin. I ended up wearing that pin, which was from Andrew’s great-grandmother, my wedding ring, which was given to my maternal grandmother by my grandfather for their 40th anniversary, and my necklace and earrings which were given to my paternal grandmother by her mother.”

Kate’s mom helped her with her dress, tied her sash and put on her veil.

After getting ready at the hotel, Kate and Andrew shared a first look and then we all went to the Capitol Columns at the National Arboretum for photos.

Kate and Andrew met in the clinic workroom at law school in 2009. After a week of sitting across the table from each other and gchatting, Kate conned Andrew into their first date.

Kate describes the wedding, “It was really important for us to have a wedding that was both us and showed what DC means to us. We loved being able to do the pictures at the arboretum with the Capitol Columns, our table markers at the reception were all DC neighborhoods, we had cherry blossoms on our programs, and I even used the special DC cherry blossom stamps for all of our invitations. We also knew that a lot of our guests were traveling for the wedding, and it was important that they had fun, and that they had a relaxing time.”

I loved shooting at Capitol Columns–what a stunning location!

The ceremony took place at the St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.

I loved this look for the mother of the bride. Her lace top really complemented Kate’s vintage styled dress.

After the ceremony, everyone made their way over to the reception at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Friendship Heights.

Kate shared, “One of the more unique elements was our cake topper, which was a bride and groom platypus. Early on in our relationship, one of us made a joke about God having a sense of humor, and we both responded “just look at the platypus” at the same time. I told our friends, and they thought it was grossly lovey-dovey. Everyone started calling us “platypus love.” It stuck, so I ordered custom cake toppers to look like a bride and groom platypus.”

The couple shared their first dance to When You Say Nothing At All by Alison Krause and Union Station.

Kate and Andrew had a photo booth at their reception. Check out the slideshow here!

Congratulations Kate and Andrew!

Special thanks to the team:
Photography by: Jessica Schmitt and Eric Swartz
Photo location: National Arboretum
Officiant: Rev. Milton C. Williams, Jr., Interim Rector at the Church of the Ascension in Chicago, IL
Church: St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church
Flowers: Flowers On14th
Dress: Alfred Angelo.com, Alterations: Kim’s Couture, Sacramento, CA
Bride’s Shoes: Style & Co., Macy’s
Make-Up/Hair: Michael Anthony Salon
Tux: Hugo Boss, Nordstrom
Rings: Kate’s engagement: Brilliant Earth; Kate’s wedding ring: heirloom; Andrew’s ring: Macy’s
Jewelry: Heirloom
Reception: Maggianos.com, Chevy Chase
Cake: Creative Cakes
Cake Topper: Precious Wedding by Kikuike Studio
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas.com
Shuttle Service: Metropolitan Shuttle