Photographer Jennifer Lust shares a beautiful holiday wedding which took place at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac, Maryland, with the reception held at the Congressional Country Club.  Jen describes the wedding as truly 'romantic' and pure joy to photograph.  With stunning florals from Edge Florals and uplighting by Atmosphere Lighting, the Congressional ballroom was simply... (more)

An engagement shoot is an excellent way to establish a rapport with one's wedding photographer before the actual wedding.Bryan Blanken was in NYC recently and had the pleasure of photographing Lauren and Jared during an engagement shoot.  He had a great time with this fun-loving couple, who he says do not take themselves too seriously.  "It's always fun to go somewhere new for... (more)

Gorgeous, elegant, chic, and fun - words to describe Engaged! at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore on Saturday, March 9.  THIS was the place for engaged couples to be (along with mothers and fathers, of course!) and the bar was raised for a luxury wedding showcase in Baltimore.  There was much to ooh and aah about and lots of inspiration for anyone planning a wedding.  Showcasing all... (more)

This year's Engaged! in Washington was held at 3 historic and gorgeous venues:  The Willard Hotel, the St. Regis Hotel, and the Decatur House on Lafayette Square.  There was a huge turnout and - as usual! - the bar was raised even higher.  There were amazing sights to behold with stunning decor and flowers, delicious foods and drinks everywhere, and the best of the best wedding... (more)

The Chinese New Year celebration took place last night at the Mandarin Oriental Washington DC, ushering in the Year of the Snake.  As in Chinese culture, when families gather together to to enjoy a meal full of foods considered lucky, lucky guests were invited to join in the celebration and enjoy authentic Chinese foods, entertainment - including a Dragon dance! - and enjoy great company.In... (more)

An invite to the annual Hay-Adams Love Brunch for wedding planners is a highly anticipated invitation.  This year, when gorgeous Bella Figura invitations arrived in the mail box, beautifully calligraphied by Angela Welch, owner of Pen and Pauper, the buzz began.  Will you be in town?  Are you going? Alison Okobi, Director of Catering at the Hay, launched the Love Brunch four... (more)

The definition of calligraphy: a type of visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a broad tip instrument or brush in one stroke.  A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner."  To me, calligraphy is truly an art form and, when an envelope... (more)

A note from the photographer, Bryan Blanken, Freed Photography: Monica & Ben's wedding at the The Fairmont Hotel Washington DC truly reflected their relationship:  fun, colorful, and romantic. Monica really wanted to incorporate her Indian Heritage wearing a traditional wedding dress for the ceremony, an Indian dress for the reception and finally a third party dress.... (more)