DCCWC Green Wedding featured on WJLA!

Back in February, Promise participated in the DCCWC Wedding Show at the Decatur House, where Katie of Elegance and Simplicity announced the winner of a $50,000 Free Green Wedding - a total dream green wedding package including the Decatur House as the venue, the planning services of Elegance & Simplicity, catering from Avalon Caterers, music from Mydeejay.com, a free Eco Couture dress from Promise and Adele Wechsler , styling from Polished Image and Style, makeup from Carola Meyers, photography by and more!

The wedding was yesterday (on Earth Day) and Dana, the winner, wore her fabulous Adele Wechsler gown from Promise. WJLA came by and included the wedding in a feature on Earth Day!

Check out the video - the DCCWC Green Wedding is at the very end.

P.S. - the man talking about bees is Kori's husband, Nathan!

Sphere: Related Content

Promise with Bridal Gown Shopping Tips at District Weddings!

I was so flattered to be asked by Devon, Editor at District Weddings, to guest blog with tips on shopping for wedding gowns!

District Weddings is a great DC-based blog that focuses exclusively on local weddings, vendors, and planning advice. It is a great resource for area brides-to-be, and I am so excited to be asked for my advice!

To see the post, click here!

Sphere: Related Content

A Little Inspiration - Hot Pink & Navy!

Spring! At last!

With the arrival of spring comes some pretty stunning color combination inspiration. On Wedding Chicks (a lovely, sassy blog), they feature a real wedding with the most vibrant pairing of navy and pink ever. I love it, and don't think I am biased since I had some hot pink going on at my wedding either! All the photos are by Seattle-based Jamie Hammond, and the wedding planner was Amorology Weddings out of San Diego.

I have posted a few images from the post Wedding Chicks did, but to see the wedding in all its marvelous-ness, visit the Wedding Chicks!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Wedding Venue on the Potomac - Indigo Landing

Exciting news!

There's a new (new to me, anyways! It opened in 2006) event venue in Alexandria, VA called Indigo Landing. Located on the Potomac in Alexandria, it is something to consider for brides-to-be pining away for a scenic event! It looks pretty fabulous, and Katherine Turner, the Private Dining Manager, tells me that Indigo Landing can accommodate small events (50 or fewer) and large events (500 or more) in private areas. There will be an open house there soon - so I will do some reconnaissance for sure!

For now, though, you can give Katherine a call to find out more at 703-548-9227.

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Cafe Deluxe

This weekend, I went to a wonderful bridal shower for my friend Etaine at Cafe Deluxe in Cleveland Park. This location has a new private party room that can be rented out, and they (and the hostess of the party) did an excellent job! The room was perfect for a shower - charming with an overhead skylight and the vintage cafe decor of the restaurant was carried into the room. The food was great and the service was excellent! I am sure it would be great for an intimate rehearsal dinner or any other event.

Since it is a new space, and since we all had such a great time, I had to pass it on!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Giorgio Armani Makeup Event at Saks Chevy Chase!

Get schooled or just get ideas for everyday (or wedding) sheer and super classic makeup!

On Wednesday, March 11 and Thursday, March 12, celebrity makeup artist Tim Quinn will be at the Saks Fifth Avenue in Friendship Heights (Chevy Chase) to design a new makeup look with Giorgio Armani's new Spring makeup line.

Tim and his team of experts will also share runway secrets and premiere a limited edition collection of wearable sheer (and perfect for your wedding) lipsticks.

Call 240-497-5206 to schedule your consultation!

- Jessica

P.S. - Don't forget to enter our first ever giveaway - a garter from the modern and chic Julianne Smith!

Sphere: Related Content

A little Inspiration...

It is no secret that Promise loves peacocks. Their feathers adorn our website and shop, and their colors inspired the color palette of my wedding. I even had peacock feathers in my flowers (we have some images of them by the fabulous Rodney Bailey at Promise, so check them out when you come by)!

As I was perusing one of our favorite blogs (Southern Weddings), I came across a lovely post called "Peacock Passion" that was a homage to....peacocks! So many wonderful ideas and images to be had! I have posted a couple of the images, but for more, visit the post - you won't be disappointed!

Also, don't forget to enter our first ever giveaway - a garter from the modern and chic Julianne Smith!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Photo Shoot at National Museum of Women in the Arts

I was so excited to be asked to participate in the photo shoot we did a few weeks ago at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (for Katie's of Elegance & Simplicity upcoming book). After the behind-the-scenes post from awhile back, I thought I would show off some of the images. The bouquets were by Elegance and Simplicity and the photography was by Documentary Associates. The gowns, of course, were from Promise!

-Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Bethesda's Newest (and most delicious) Cupcakery!

We have a lot of wonderful and interesting brides-to-be visiting Promise in their search for their dream wedding gown!

A little over a week ago, Michelle came to visit, and in the process of trying on the contenders for her wedding day ensemble, we learned she was planning to open a cupcake shop (or cupcakery, as she cleverly calls it) right here in Bethesda.

Needless to say, we wanted to hear ALL about it. She is planning to open her new shop, Frosting, right around the corner. Kori and I about fainted with excitement. Cupcakes! Around the corner!

While Michelle is planning the opening of her shop, she is baking cupcakes at home for her customers...which totally struck a chord with me! Back when we opened Promise, the build-out of our space took way, way, longer than expected, which is SO typical when opening a business. There are delays, delays, and more delays. I sold gowns out of my mom's basement for two months before we opened!

After getting her to leave some of her cards for Frosting, we wished her luck - and begged her to let us know when she opened! We would be there in a flash.

Not long after, another bride-to-be came for her fitting and asked us for a local cupcake bakery. So, of course, we told her about Frosting! It was not long after that we heard from Michelle that she had a new customer who wanted cupcakes for her wedding!

To thank us, Michelle dropped off some of her cupcakes. I meant to take a picture before we ate them...but we couldn't contain ourselves. We untied the delicious looking package and promptly had one each. So I took a couple pictures after we tore into them!

Oh. So. Good.

I realize this is the second post about cupcakes this week! However, I must say that if the "Whoopie Pie" cupcake I had from Frosting is any indication, Frosting is going to be a huge success! Moist chocolate cake, topped with yummy chocolate frosting, and filled with creamy goodness. Topped with chocolate sprinkles and a cute red heart. I am a huge, huge fan!

Frosting will be open this Spring, but for now, you can order cupcakes from Frosting for your wedding, shower, or just 'cause you're jonesing for some goodness by e-mailing Michelle at orders@frostingacupcakery.com

Enjoy!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Blog Love - District Weddings

We love Devon and her savvy, wonderful everything-wedding blog, District Weddings! A Washington, DC wedding planner herself, Devon wanted to create a place that "focuses exclusively on the loveliness of Washington, DC weddings," not to mention an incredible source of inspiration and a resource for any soon-to-be-wed!

Promise is totally thrilled that District Weddings is spotlighting this weekend's Lea-Ann Belter trunk show today in their "Everyone's Talking About" section. Visit District Weddings to see more!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

The Name Game

When my sweetie and I got married over four years ago, we came back from our dreamy marathon honeymoon in Italy refreshed and ready to tackle our new married life together. While I am not one who believes that a girl has to change her name to her honey's, I was super glad to ditch my end-of-alphabet maiden name, Weidig, and score a Fox! As an interesting side note, people STILL ask me how to spell it. But it is refreshing to say "Fox...like the animal?" So easy.

Being the superstar delegating (read bossy-burger) girl I am, I roped Andrew into taking care of all the name changing for me. He did it all downtown over the course of a day or two during his lunch break(s). What a trooper!

So, when I recently came across a company (via the Wedding Chicks blog) that makes it super easy to manage the whole name change process, I thought that I HAD to pass it on, and not just because of the cute name!

Name Birdie. You can even buy a gift card to Name Birdie and give it as a shower gift. Your friends (and fiance) will thank you!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Promise and Bridal Fashion in the Washington Post!

This week is the Washington Post's Wedding Week 2009, and it is chock full of planning tips, bridal etiquette advice, and, of course, the icing on the cake - wedding fashion! Promise (along with our wonderful designers Lea-Ann Belter, Adele Wechsler, and Claire Pettibone) were featured in an article! Click here to check it out!

-Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Trousseau? That is so old school...

As I was reading the February issue of Vanity Fair (next to The New Yorker, my favorite magazine!), at the way bottom corner of one page I saw "Wedding Belles". Well, of course I had to stop flipping to the article I was honing in on!

The classic, super luxurious French linen line, D. Porthault, (there is absolutely NOTHING as wonderful as really, really nice sheets. Really. Well, maybe a cupcake...) is teaming up with Italian luggage producer (and all around high quality leather-goods manufacturer) Schedoni to create a modern trousseau!

The idea of a trousseau has always appealed to me. My mom sometimes breaks out with the drool-worthy stories of shopping in Philadelphia and NYC with my grandmother for her trousseau, which included any item of clothing for any imaginable occasion.

The trousseau created by D. Prothault and Schedoni is a sturdy and elegant trunk filled to the brim with every linen a newlywed might need - or want! For more information, call 212-688-1660.

I am sure the price is staggering...but a girl can dream!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Valentine's Day Weddings a la "An Affair to Remember" and "Sleepless in Seattle"

Every year, Brides.com and the Empire State Building pair up for a sweepstakes that allows a dream wedding atop the empire State Building... and for the 14 lucky couples who won, it is streamed live today!

Check out the fun post from savvy blogger It's a Jaime Thing for more about the romantic nuptials!

Sphere: Related Content

Promise Goes to a Photo Shoot at National Museum of Women in the Arts

Katie, owner of Elegance and Simplicity (wedding planning, flowers, and more) in Bethesda is writing a book!

If I told you what it is about, I would have to make threats so you wouldn't tell! It's kind of a secret. So, instead, I will just say it is going to be a great book on a subject near and dear to Promise's (and my) heart!

Katie asked Promise to provide gowns specific to her topic for the photo shoot for her book. How exciting is that!? So on Sunday, Tom and Ashlee from Documentary Associates (photographers and excellent photojournalism for your wedding), Katie (who not only wrote the book but also did all the flowers), and myself all headed down to The National Museum of Women in the Arts for the day. ALL day.
But it was fun! I won't have any of the wonderful images Tom and Ashlee took for a little while, so for now you will have our "behind the scenes" pics. That's me in the goofy blue panda t-shirt. So glamorous the life of a bridal shop owner!

Note the crazy orange clips in the back of every gown - perfect for brides-to-be who try on gowns at Promise and for photo shoots! Orange clips make everything look great...from the front!

Stay tuned for more about Katie's book, and for more images from Documentary Associates!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Scrumptious cupcakes...and cakes, too, at the DCCWC 2009 Wedding Show!!

At the 2009 DCCWC Couture Wedding show, I had quite possibly one of my top 5 cupcakes ever. Seriously.

While in LA, Andrew and I sampled as much as we could - from my beloved Susie Cakes to all the way to Eagle Rock for Auntie Em's intensely good coconut cupcake. Here in DC, we have been to many fabulous cupcake places! Up until recently, Georgetown's Baked and Wired, with their perfectly moist cake and beyond fantastic icing, was my only hands down favorite in DC!

Well, now I have another! While helping our lovely models get ready for their aisle-way saunter, my friend Michelle (we share a mutual obsession with cupcakes) brought me a cupcake from DCCWC member Cakes by Design. I could rhapsodize about the perfect icing-to-cake ratio, or about how the icing was not too sweet or too "buttercreamy" (you know what I mean) - just light and dense enough to be perfectly satisfying! But the center of that pound-cake-as-cupcake? Oooh! A delectable surprise! If I could have, I would have taken all of them home. And eaten them all. By myself. You can almost taste them looking at the picture (taken by Documentary Associates Photography)!

Debbie Delardi at Cakes by Design also makes some stunning (and yummy) wedding cakes. There is nothing better than an excellent looking and delicious tasting wedding cake!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Reuse, recycle....all your wedding stuff?

That's right!

Have you heard of Freecycle - the site that brings back bartering? Your old sofa for free or, your old sofa in return for a set of skis? It takes Craigslist one step further and makes it easier to throw something away that someone else could use!

Well, it was just a matter of time before a wedding classifieds was created! Brought to you by Vintage Glam Weddings (an awesome wedding blog), it's Flea Market! A free, local wedding classifieds where newlyweds can find a home for all their votive holders, extra card stock, candles, bridal magazines, ribbon. Where brides-to-be can find great deals on things they need for their weddings, or even a helping hand for the wedding day! Its craigslist for weddings!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Date Night at Songbird!

When my husband and I were engaged, things got so busy with wedding planing and our daily lives, it felt like there was very little we did or talked about that didn't involve our wedding. We promised each other we would go out at least once a week and spend the evening together - not talking about wedding planning!

Since then, we have held on to Date Night (after the wedding, real life comes back to the fore and it is wonderful to have quality time with my sweetie), and recently we went to one of our favorite places...so much so I had to share!

If you have not had Korean BBQ, make it #1 on your list of food to try. Korean BBQ is a lot of fun if you want to invite other people to Date Night - it is pretty much ideal for a group - but if your friends aren't game, don't let that stop you! Andrew and I can put away all the banchan (little yummy bowls of appetizer goodness that generally come with your meal...my favorite is the radish one) without the help of friends. Our favorite local place is Songbird, in Vienna, VA. A hop, skip, and a jump from Tysons Corner, you might miss it. Tucked behind a Lebanese place (you have to drive in back of the restaurant to find it), Songbird is a haven for some seriously good K-BBQ! We usually order bulgogi and galbi (make sure you use the red bean paste and wrap it all up with some rice in a lettuce leaf for some serious deliciousness), and then chow down.

So next time you and your honey play the "I don't know, what do you want to do?" game, you can end that timeless debate of where to eat.

We love to eat out (and I am sure we are not alone), so let us know if there is somewhere we should go (jessica@promisedc.com)!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

Check Shoes off your Wedding To-Do List!

Recently, I was spending an inordinate amount of time scouring the internet for a cute pair of t-strap pumps. Having no luck (I have some pretty nit-picky criteria) I checked out wedding shoes!

Too often, our Promise brides tell us they can't find shoes - so I thought I would have a look around.

Well, I found a pair at Nordstom that have something blue! They are kind of fairy tale with a big blue bow and a classic white pump...

Then I stumbled across some stellar Louboutin's at Net a Porter...although, for most of us, that is a little over budget!

Or how about some sassy fuchsia Chinese Laundry shoes from Jildor shoes? The shorter heel makes them super dance-able, and the color...well, it speaks for itself!




If colorful shoes are not what you are searching for, there are some really great options at Bellissima Bridal Shoes.

Just remember to have them for your first fitting!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content

What about my hair??

It's almost as difficult a decision as what to wear on your wedding day!
How should I wear my hair? Up? Down? Half up, half down? Accessorize?

Enter Franz Sebastian Salon. Conveniently located right next to Promise, you can have your fitting and your hair trial back to back! It is a lovely salon - full of light. It has a stellar, open feeling - and the energy there is wonderful. Perfect for a stressed bride-to-be to have her hair trial or to have her hair done on her wedding day!

Whitney, our favorite stylist, is there! Whitney's sister, Samantha, chose her Claire Pettibone gown from Promise (stay tuned for her pictures) and Whitney did her hair! Almost every time Samantha came in for her fitting, she had a new potential 'do, and each one was lovely. Whitney will do your hair where you are getting ready - or you can visit the salon the day you get ready. The prices at Franz Sebastian are super reasonable - formal styling ranges from $75 - $175.

Call 301-907-8080 to schedule your consultation!

- Jessica

Sphere: Related Content