What Saying ‘I Do’ Means in Northern Virginia
 
With its wealth of natural beauty, historical import, unique blending of urban sophistication and down-home charm—it's no wonder thousands of couples decide to wed in NorthernVirginia each year.

By Brin Frazier

Those planning to tie the knot just south of the Potomac are in luck. Not only does Northern Virginia offer a variety of spectacular ceremony and reception venues, it's also home to some of the country's most sought-after vendors. This is critically important. Because unlike the Beatles' assertion that "love is all you need"—couples looking to make it official with an elegant affair also require a breathtaking space, fantastic food, inventive flower arrangements, music that grooves, and attire that wows. And these are just the basics.

So what's the first thing couples looking to put on a spectacular wedding should do? "Hire a wedding planner,"says newlywed Leslie Distler, who enlisted planner Joan Sacaroab to help with her January 2006 wedding. "Unless you can be in two places at once, it's necessary to have someone working behind the scenes."

Sacaroab works with couples and vendors to prepare wedding day agendas in 15-minute increments. "My job is to help couples be prepared," says Joan. "Many brides and grooms are planning the wedding themselves these days. It's no longer the mother of the bride's job, but it's still a big job. Having a planner makes it much easier to balance working full-time and planning a wedding."

As planner Tracy Dougherty's website www.novbridal.com points out, "Wedding consultants are no longer an expensive luxury. We are an affordable, indispensable necessity!" This is true for many local professionals. "Many of my clients are very successful in their jobs," says veteran planner Laura Weatherly, who started Engaging Affairs ten years ago. "They simply don't have the time to put together the type of celebration they want to throw."

Weatherly offers several different packages to accommodate her clients' different planning styles. "After meeting with the bride and learning about the couple's vision, I can generally tell what would work best for them, whether they need a wedding day only package, or someone to handle the whole shebang." After a decade in the planning business, Weatherly is able to save couples time and money with her creative ideas and expert recommendations. "I encourage couples to be creative and take risks. When couples incorporate personal touches, the results are fantastic."

Where should Northern Virginia couples begin when planning a memorable event? "With the venue," says Carole Marino, wedding consultant and owner of A Perfect Wedding. "The selection process can be tough, especially with everything from restaurants to museums and estates to ballrooms and parks to choose from. But the good news is that [Northern Virginia] offers something for every type of style."

"The best thing about Northern Virginia weddings is the beautiful, natural setting," says Laura Weatherly. "The scenery offers something special year-round." Her recommendations for best outdoor spots? George Washington's River Farm in Alexandria and Middleburg's Goodstone Inn.

Couples looking to wed indoors have a broad array of options. If you want to be sure the wedding day goes off without a hitch, consider the Ritz-Carlton hotels. "We wait at the door for our brides and grooms. From the minute they arrive, they are in our hands and completely taken care of until the moment they leave," says Marie Steffany, director of catering at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, which employs a full-time wedding concierge. "Here, couples get everything they want, whether it's a wedding that's completely traditional or very unusual. We can do it all."

Many local vendors devote similar attention to detail. Alison deWitt, owner of Distinctive Floral Designs, which only handles weddings, gets to know her clients before developing her creations. The result is inventive, unusual arrangements. She's been known to fill vases with anything from shells to coffee beans to feathers.

Northern Virginia's top caterers also work closely with couples to develop wedding menus. Design Cuisine can incorporate family recipes into their creations.

Windows Catering does everything well, including kosher and allergy-friendly dishes. Capitol Catering offers tremendous flexibility for couples looking for serve up unusual fare.

"They make all my favorite foods better," raves Erin Erlenborn, who hired Capitol Catering for her August wedding. "I just wish they had a restaurant," she adds. "I would eat there all the time!"

For most, looking good is as important as the logistics. Fortunately, Northern Virginia provides some of the region's best spots for fine wedding attire.

The bridal department at Saks Fifth Avenue in Tysons Corner is one of the best places to start the search for wedding day duds. "We have a great mix of designers," says Stephanie Halmi, manager of the department. "We can outfit you for everything from a Hawaiian beach wedding to an evening county club event."

Saks is also great for one-stop shopping, as it also sells tuxedos, bridesmaid dresses and bridal accessories such as lingerie, jewelry and shoes.

"Weddings in Northern Virginia are getting bigger and bigger," according to Carole Marino, "but they're also getting more and more personalized."

How can couples achieve a unique look and feel?

Some suggestions: Hire Patty Collette at Patty Cakes to bake for you. She can design a cake to match your flowers and reflect your personal style. Enlist Carole Marino to help you plan a reception themed around your honeymoon locale.

Instead of favors, let your guests know you'll be donating funds in their honor to a favorite local charity.

To help couples take advantage of all that Northern Virginia has to offer, we've compiled listings of the area's top spots and most-recommended industry gurus to help in planning the wedding of your dreams. There are so many ways to put on an elegant, memorable, magical wedding—and no better place than Northern Virginia!

Tips for the Frugal

Put the honeymoon on hold
Couples struggling to save for both the wedding and honeymoon can spread out their expenses (and stress) by delaying the honeymoon getaway for a few months. Biggest pro: you'll have another fabulous event to look forward to after the wedding ends. Plus, you won't have to add "packing" to that lengthy wedding to-do list. Alternative solution: consider adding some of the honeymoon expenses to your on-line registry (HoneyLuna.com and DistinctiveHoneymoons.com can help you get started).

Throw a Petal Party
Stop torturing yourself with cost-crunching and let your mind blossom! Instead of the traditional bridesmaid luncheon, why not hire your favorite local florist to teach a flower arranging class for you and your girlfriends? Not only will you learn something new, but after the class, you'll have plenty of reception-ready arrangements for a third of the cost.

Free O.J.! (and other breakfast items)
Select a hotel that offers a complimentary brunch for guests. Then ask the manager to deduct the number of overnight guests from the send-off brunch bill. Even if your desired hotel doesn't offer this up front, try to negotiate it.

Let Them Eat (sheet) Cake
There's no need to spend extra dough on dessert if you serve a scrumptious wedding cake. For those looking for skim even more: buy a small decorative cake for the formal cutting and purchase a sheet cake that can be sliced and served on plates.

Save Some Trees (and dollars)
Consider cutting out any superfluous paper. Do you really need save-the-dates? Programs? Menu cards? Email can accomplish a lot these days. Deliver engagement and wedding announcements electronically. Post directions and lodging info on your wedding website instead of printing and mailing.

Lighten Up
Select invitations with card sock that's not heavy and you'll save some coin on postage costs.

Stick Close to Home
If you're thinking of serving wine from Napa, think again. No need to pay shipping costs on out-of-state offerings when Northern Virginia boasts a fabulous selection of local vino.

Let the Sun Shine
Consider a daytime affair. Perhaps a brunch or elegant afternoon tea? French toast is far more budget-friendly than filet mignon. And pitchers of Mimosas and Bloody Mary's will run you much less than an open bar.

Make Friday the New Saturday
Think beyond the Saturday evening wedding. Not only is it economical, it's very European. (Across the pond, weddings are generally Monday through Friday affairs.) Friday equals greater availability of reception venues. Added bonus: you'll have an easier time reserving the vendors you really want (and you'll be in a position to negotiate better rates than nighttime brides.)

(September 2006)