Eliza & Ryan
From the moment I first chatted with Eliza, I knew that she and Ryan were my people. If you know them, nothing I say here will be a surprise … but they are truly two of the warmest and kindest people I’ve ever had the joy of working with. After dealing with much COVID uncertainty throughout their engagement and navigating significant losses in both their immediate families, these two finally got the fairytale wedding day they deserved!
Throughout the planning process we braced ourselves for what January would bring. Would we have to deal with a foot of snow, or perhaps it’d be 35 degrees and raining in typical DMV fashion? By some miracle, NEITHER of those things happened and instead, we were treated to a beautiful day with temperatures in the upper 50s! Eliza had purchased white fur stoles for each of her bridesmaids, but it was so warm, we hardly needed them!
Speaking of style, Eliza’s preppy elegant aesthetic speaks to my soul. She chose a color palette of wintery steel blue, brightened with pops of pink florals and refined neutrals. I literally squealed when I saw her gown for the first time – you’ll see what I mean in a sec!
As beautiful as the day was, what I’ll never forget was the emotion that came with it. Tragically, Eliza’s youngest brother, Spencer, and Ryan’s dad, Kris, have both passed away. This couple and their families have walked through enormous loss, and the presence of Spencer and Kris was felt every moment of the day. Ryan wore cufflinks engraved with his late father’s initials, gifted to him by Eliza’s brother John. Eliza kept a photo of Spencer with her throughout the day, a physical reminder of his spiritual presence there.
Due to gathering restrictions, the celebration was pared down to just their immediate families and closest friends. In fact, the location of their reception changed the week before the wedding! Nonetheless, this just made their wedding even sweeter and more intimate. Everyone made me feel so welcome, like I was just another member of the family. Eliza and Ryan even requested a photo with me at the end of the night – props to my sister-in-law, Emily, for taking that one!
Eliza and Ryan, thank you SO much for welcoming me into this beautiful day. Let’s be friends forever, please? Congratulations, and enjoy Key West!
Ceremony Venue: Cathedral of St. Thomas More
Reception Venue: Blackwall Hitch of Alexandria
Florals: Petal’s Edge Floral Design
Bridal Hair & Makeup: Megan Monahan
Bridesmaids’ Hair & Makeup: Makeup by AnaB
Dress: Maggie Sottero
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Bridal Boutique: Elegance by Roya Tysons
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie
Cake & Cookies: Suhweets Custom Cakes
