WASHINGTON LIFE'S WEDDING MARITAL BLISS

EVENT PLANNING

SOCO EVENTS
www.socoevents.com (301) 467-5585 Bringing a "trenditional" approach to event production and design
CALLA LILY EVENTS
www.callalilyevents.com (703) 544-0883 Innovative and unique events

Trend Watcher: Gena Chen As catering manager for the St. Regis Hotel, Washington, D.C. (now undergoing a 12-month renovation,) Gena Chen's job is to manage the miniscule so the big wigs and the brides don't have to. She knows the trends:
· The all-white gown is a thing of the past. Today's brides incorporate color from a colored satin bow or sash, pink and pastel embroidery or delicate fabrics such as lace and chiffon.
· Many brides are forgoing the traditional veil for a simpler headpiece.
· Brides and grooms want dinner to be an experience - fivecourse dinners with wine pairs are in demand. One couple had an "around the world" menu with an Asian-inspired appetizer followed by two-courses of Italian dishes, an all-American beef entrée, and a Viennese dessert buffet with an ice cream cart.
· Wedding cakes are traditional and simple. The most popular style is butter cream frosting with the couple's initials and simple piping. Toppers are more often a small flower arrangement that complements the bridal bouquet.
· Saturday and Sunday evenings are most popular for a wedding although Friday evenings are becoming more in vogue.
· Most brides book their wedding 12 to 18 months in advance - or rather, their mothers do. The St. Regis Hotel, Washington, D.C.; 923 16th and K Streets, N.W., 20006

TRAVEL

MACNAIRTRAVEL.COM
(703) 836-1100 Two certified in-house destination wedding planners
HALF MOON ROSE HALL
www.halfmoonweddings.com (876) 953-2211 Breathtaking ceremony and reception locations, as well as a spa and luxury resort amenities to make your special day truly magical

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

EASTCOAST ENTERTAINMENT
www.eastcoastentertainment.com Bands include Liquid Pleasure, Midnight Movers and Right on!
DJ SEYHAN DURU
(202) 255-5454 DJ and corporate event coordinator

CATERERS

DESIGN CUISINE
www.designcuisine.com (703) 979-9400 Fifty full-time chefs can prepare food for more than 15,000 guests daily
OCCASIONS
www.occasionscaterers.com (202) 546-7400 Unique events, great food, personal attention and creativity
SELECT EVENT RENTALS
www.weparty.com (800) 439-8729 Thirty five years of experience
RIDGEWELLS
www.ridgewells.com (301) 652-1515 Innovative award-winning cuisine
WINDOWS CATERING COMPANY
www.catering.com (703) 519-3500 Premier off-site caterers
RSVP CATERING
www.rsvpcatering.com (703) 573-8700 Fine dining, artfully presented

WEDDINGBANDS/RINGS

TIFFANY & CO
www.Tiffany.com (301) 657-8777 Fine jewelry, timepieces and silver in a signature blue box
CARTIER
www.cartier.com (301) 654-5858 Renowned French jeweler and watchmaker
LILJENQUIST & BECKSTEAD
www.LandBjewelry.com (703) 749-1200 Offers many prestigious jewelry lines
PAMPILLONIA
www.Pampillonia.com (202) 363-6305 Rare gems, diamond designs, and one-of-a-kind antique and period jewelry, as well as custom design
FINK'S JEWELERS
www.finks.com (571) 434-6540 Extensive diamond selection
MYSTIQUE JEWELERS
www.mystiquejewelers.com (703) 836-1401 Diamonds and designer jewelry. Living room atmosphere overlooking the Potomac and Middleburg
CONTINENTAL JEWELERS
www.continentaljewelersdc. com (202) 833-3366 Imported ruby, sapphire and diamond engagement rings. Designer mountings, custom designs or loose stones
BAILEY BANKS & BIDDLE
www.baileybanksandbiddle.com (800) 651-4222 Fine jewelry along with selections of designer pieces, branded Swiss watches and giftware
THE TINY JEWEL BOX
www.tinyjewelbox.com (202) 393-2747 One of our favorite retailers of fine jewelry, collectibles and fashionable items
QUEST FINE JEWELERS
www.questjewelers.com (703) 204-01 1 1 Watch your jewelry being created and be an integral part of the design process
JEWELRY TABANDEH AT MAZZA GALLERIE
(202) 244-0777 Exquisite bridal jewelry from the far corners of the world
ADELER JEWELERS
www.adelerjewelers.com (703) 759-4076 Exquisite custom-designed jewelry paired with brilliant service
VAN CLEEF
www.vancleef-arpels.com (301) 654-5449 Exquisite jewelry
BULGARI
www.bulgari.com (301) 986-8610 Premier Italian style jewelry and luxury fashion goods
MERVIS DIAMOND IMPORTERS
www.mervisdiamond.com (202) 857-5683 Some of the finest diamonds

VENUES

MANDARIN ORIENTAL
www.MandarinOriental.com (202) 554-8588 It's the Mandarin .... need we say more? Gorgeous ballrooms and superb banquet services
THE WILLARD INTERCONTINENTAL
www.washington.intercontinental.com (202) 628-9100 Heritage and luxury with contemporary comfort
FOUR SEASONS
www.fourseasons.com (202) 342-0444 Superb settings, award-winning cuisine and meticulous, personalized service
DUMBARTON PLACE
www.dumbartonhouse.org (202) 337-2288 Uniquely romantic, intimate setting for special events
HAY ADAMS
www.hayadams.com (202) 638-6600 Flawless service and outstanding cuisine
STEPHEN DECATUR HOUSE MUSEUM
www.decaturhouse.org (202) 842-0920 Distinguished address ensures a special wedding site
THE RITZ-CARLTON
www.ritzcarlton.com (800) 241-3333 Romantic elegance at its best
PARK HYATT WASHINGTON
www.parkhyatt.com (202) 419-6638 Simple elegance, contemporary luxury and over 12,000 square feet of versatile space
ST. REGIS HOTEL
www.stregis.com/washington (202) 638-2626 Celebrate in the opulent grandeur of the Crystal Ballroom and the glittering glamour of the Terrace
CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART
www.corcoran.org (202) 639-1781 Two-level atrium in a fine art environment

Trend Watcher: Carine Halabi As owner of Carine's Bridal Atelier, a bridal salon in the heart of Georgetown, Carine Halabi has intimate knowledge of looks from Angel Sanchez, Carolina Herrera, Platinum Collection and Melissa Sweet, among many others.
· Current bridal couture is softer, more feminine and more ethereal: Circular skirts, modified a-line and fit-toflair gowns are in vogue, as are stylishly appointed bows, roses, gathered bodices, ruffles and accordion pleating.
· Accessories are all the rage among Washington's sophisticated brides. This includes rafia boleros and meticulously embroidered shrugs and stoles, all gracefully set off in a vintage style.
· Hang heavier rich fabrics (such as Alencon lace) and tiaras in your mother's closet. Instead, look for Guipure lace, cotton silk Mikado and dotted organza.
· Today's veils are longer and simpler, with a pencil edge and some tiny pearls or crystals.
· Quick fix to sharpen your appearance for the wedding finale? Lose the studded earrings and replace them with sparkling chandeliers and slap on some higher, sexier stilettos.
· The golden rule of bridal fashion is as old as time: Dress to flatter your body type - no matter how stylish or how fabulous it looks in a magazine, if the dress is wearing you, it is better to keep looking! Carine's Bridal Atelier; 1726 Wisconsin Ave, Washington D.C., 20007; (202) 965-4696; www.carinesbridal.com

FLOWERS

VOLANNI
www.volanni.com (202) 547-1603 Elegance that can change an event, a room or a single moment
ULTRA VIOLET
www.ultravioletflowersdc.com (202) 333-3002 Commitment to detail that expresses your personality
THE ENCHANTED FLORIST
(703) 836-7775 Eclectic to elegant with a shabby chic touch
CAPITAL DECOR AND EVENTS
www.capitaldecorandevents.com (301) 595-9009 Eclectic to elegant with a shabby chic touch

CAKES

PÂTISSERIE POUPON
(202) 342-3248 Non-traditional wedding cakes and French pasteries
FANCY CAKES BY LESLIE
www.fancycakesbyleslie.com (301) 548-9390 Winners of the "Today Show: Hometown Wedding" contest
CAKELOVE
www.cakelove.com (202) 588-7100 Imaginative cakes and cupcake trees made from scratch

BRIDESMAID GIFTS

NEIMAN MARCUS
www.neimanmarcus.com (202) 966-9700 One stop bridesmaid gift shopping
TESTA BAGS
www.testabags.com (203) 918-0833 Funky, yet practical one of a kind personalized bags for bridesmaids gifts
CALLIOPE BOUTIQUE
www.calliopeboutique.com (703) 967-9575 Unusual gifts
CANDLEMAN
www.candlemandc.com (202) 462-9400 Exclusive candles and accessories

DRESSES

VERA WANG BRIDAL BOUTIQUE AT SAKS JANDEL
www.verawang.com (202) 337-4201 The authority on bridal elegance. Modern and sophisticated styles
NEW COUTURE
www.newcouture.com (202) 237-1126 Washington's premier custom bridal fashion designers
BETSY ROBINSON'S BRIDAL COLLECTION
www.robinsonsbridal.com (410) 484-4600 Full-service bridal salon featuring high-end dresses
PRISCILLA OF BOSTON
www.priscillaofboston.com (703) 821-0167 Handmade gowns
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE BRIDAL SALON
(703) 761-0700 Extensive selection of gowns in exquisite styles from the foremost American and European designers
CARINE'S BRIDAL ATELIER
www.carinesbridal.com (202) 965-4696 Fashion savvy and focused on you. Your aisle is their runway
HITCHED
www.hitchedsalon.com (202) 333-6162 Hand picked collection of classic and unique couture gowns with a focus on customer service

VALET/LIMO

MARC PARC VALET
www.Marcparc.com (202) 464-2900 Clean, safe, professionally operated off-street commercial parking
FLEET TRANSPORTATION
www.fleettransportation.com (703) 933-2600 Timely and professional personalized transportation

BEAUTY

DAVID'S BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
www.davidshairdesigner.com (301) 881-2540 Named top bridal salon in 2004 by Washingtonian magazine
TOKA SALON
www.tokasalon.com (202) 333-5133 One of the top-rated day spas in the area, with locations in Georgetown and Penn Quarter
CHRISTOPHE JOUENNE PROFESSIONAL HAIR DESIGN
www.christophej.com (202) 625-2220 Specializes in matching the right look to each client
GEORGE AT THE FOUR SEASONS
(202) 342-1942 The luxury of the Four Seasons brought to beauty

PHOTOGRAPHY

DAVID MICHELE
www.Davidmichele.com (240) 601-2115 Over 20 years of experience as a portrait and wedding photographer
LEN DE PAS
www.thephotographersgallery.com (202) 362-8111 Classic romanticism
CLAY BLACKMORE
www.clayblackmore.com (301) 672-3232 Personalizing the day and capturing the moment
RICHARD GREENHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.
(301) 530-0002 A combination of classic, photojournalistic and fashion photography

INVITATIONS

HAUTE PAPIER
www.hautepapier.com (202) 669-1490 Luxurious, uniquely handcrafted invitations
COPENHAVER
202-232-1200 Quality off-set, letterpress, & lithographic printing as well as embossing services for any occasion
WASHINGTON ENGRAVING CO, INC.
www.washingtonengraving.com 202-638-3100 Paper Engraving, Letterpress, Thermography, Foil Stamp, and Embossing for one of a kind invitations and cards

Park Hyatt	Ultra Violet

Mystique Jewelers	Cakelove

Haute Papier