when you see impeccable wedding details and design, it’s easy to underestimate the hard work that has gone into it. behind every floral arrangement, linen choice, and paperie design, there’s intention and so many decisions that have been made. and this is where an amazing wedding planner can come in and save the day! the more destination weddings and d.c. weddings that we photograph and film, the more we come to realize the merit of a great planner.
we are so thrilled to have diana from the incredible eventi weddings sharing a few tips on designing the perfect wedding with you today. diana is one of the absolute best around– she has the cutest brick and mortar, hosts adorable floral workshops, and designs one-of-a-kind events in baltimore and beyond. we’re truly blown away time and time again by her work! her work has been published on the likes of martha stewart weddings, brides, and style me pretty, anddd she and her associate, lynn aaron, are those salt-of-the-earth types of people you just want to sit down and grab ice cream with to talk for hours on end.
we were thrilled to have been asked to photograph all of the details of this stunning mt. washington mill dye house wedding event in baltimore. because the wedding took place in the historic cotton mill/dye house, diana pulled the idea of cotton through so many the elements of the design– from the florals to the invitations. and the hanging ivy installation was so stunning! it added such romance and intimacy to the event. combined with the floral-decked farm tables, the tapered candles, soft tones of the color palette, and glowing bistro lights, we couldn’t get enough of this design.
so without further ado, wedding design tips from eventi:
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hone in on your inspiration:
when it comes to designing your event, think about what inspires you as a couple. If you’re working with a designer, give them a handful of things to consider but do not feel pressured to give them too much. -
trust your designer:
keep it simple and trust the designer! a good designer should be able to take a few inspiration images and design an entire event. -
decide your focus:
if you are tackling the entire design on your own, think about what you want your guests to remember from your wedding and make that your focus. of course great food and music is a huge priority but visually what do you want the take away to be? -
vary your palette:
when we design events we focus quite a bit on layers and palettes. try not to get too hung up on the perfect color but work with an overall palette and color variations. That will help things feel natural and come together smoothly and seamlessly.
thank you for the gorgeous inspiration + tips today, diana! we love you.
XO,
anna + mateo
|| VENDOR LOVE ||
photography: anna and mateo
event design, planning, and florals: eventi weddings
venue: mt. washington mill dye house
rentals: something vintage
paperie: ruby the fox
catering: copper kitchen
we think there’s so much more that goes into being a d.c. wedding photographer than meets the eye. while a lot of people think that it’s all about showing up and snapping some nice images, a big part of our jobs that goes on behind the scenes is also one of our favorite parts of the job– interacting with clients and helping them plan the wedding of their dreams.
when we began planning srona and kevin’s engagement session, it quickly became clear that she wanted something ultra romantic. they expressed their love for the peace they find in nature, so we decided that we wanted to plan a maryland engagement shoot that centered on the idea of walden meets pride and prejudice. thus, we picked a location with a lot of natural greenery, but the planning didn’t stop there!
they mentioned that they loved the idea of a rowboat, and you could say we ran with it. we commissioned a floral installation from our talented friends over at eventi weddings, and they did an incredible job bringing our whole vision to life!
this centennial park engagement session in ellicott city is a summertime dream. it was quite the adventure maneuvering a rowboat with fifty-something flowers attached to the back while capturing romantic photos (and in a gown as well!), but kevin and srona handled the task with grace. they were absolute naturals in front of the camera!
i love how their chemistry and affection for one another is so apparent. we had a great afternoon exploring the park and laughing, which made for the most relaxed and natural engagement photographs. these two are also one of the most impressive pairs! they’re also fellow hopkins students/alumni (go bluejays!) and are taking the medical world by storm. we cannot wait for their salamander resort wedding (it’s going to be a jewish-indian fusion dream wedding!) next summer with the lovely nouvelle weddings.
|| VENDOR LOVE ||
florals: eventi
planning: nouvelle weddings
it’s been so fun to go through our archives and bust out some of our older weddings for our blog. while we have lots and lots of current work to share as well, it’d be a shame to not show off these gorgeous events, and it’s exciting to mix it up a bit! we finally got organized and made a list, and we have over fifty weddings, portrait sessions, editorials, and events that we want to post– and that doesn’t even include our most recent weddings and sessions!
but since fall is in full swing over here, we’re excited to share this classic garden raspberry plain manor wedding with you today. we loved this wedding, and others did too; it was featured on district weddings last year! abby + russell were so, so wonderful to work with! i still distinctly remember receiving abby’s initial inquiry. i was sitting in the cafeteria at hopkins hospital and was struck by how ecstatic she was to get married and how lovely her event sounded. after a few quick e-mail exchanges, she told me something along the lines of, “i just get a really good feeling about you!” and that was one of the coolest things i’ve heard as a d.c. wedding photographer.
their northern virginia wedding epitomized everything sweet and charming. they diverged from the typical fall palettes of bold and deep colors and instead chose to focus their design elements on pale pinks, gold, thistle blue, and navy. abby and russ honored both their preppy d.c. roots and the beautiful, natural surroundings of their venue. they stuck with classic design elements in their invitations and cake but brought in natural, organic, and romantic touches with their beautiful textured table linens, just-a-tad-rustic florals, and the gorgeous, intricate back of abby’s maggie sottero ballgown.
instead of focusing on the season, abby snuck in sweet little reminders of fall in smaller parts of her design by using small painted pumpkins as decor and as floral pieces. they treated their guests to hot apple cider before their afternoon garden ceremony on the property of the historic raspberry plain manor, then celebrated the night away with dinner, drinks, and dancing.
we loved the real, intimate feeling of the event; since abby’s family is from pennsylvania and russell’s is from virginia, their wedding was focused on a true fusion of two families. the joy in the room was nearly palpable; one of the best moments of the evening occurred when everyone in the room linked arms in a large circle on the dance floor and singing john denver’s “country road” and “with the help of my friends” by the beatles.
thanks for letting us share your journey, russ + abby!
xo,
anna + mateo
|| VENDOR LOVE ||
as seen on: district weddings
photography: anna and mateo
venue: raspberry plain manor
dress: maggie sotterro
florals: rick’s flowers
invitations: wedding paper divas
catering: purple onion catering
string quartet and dj: MSE productions
when we moved to maryland four and a half years ago and officially became maryland wedding photographers and filmmakers, we knew very little about the region and its wedding industry! we knew that people loved to tell us horror stories about living in baltimore. We knew that weddings would inevitably be different than they were in colorado. we knew that we’d be close to d.c., close to water, and that we didn’t really know much more than that!
fast forward a few years (and a move a bit south to the d.c. border), and we love life in maryland. having the chance to film and photograph weddings in maryland, d.c., and virginia has been so incredible. we have learned to love crab cakes, old bay, and being called “hon,” and we love the wedding style and venues we have had the chance to work at!
while there’s such amazing diversity in venues from the wineries of northern virginia to historic estates in d.c. to bayside bungalows on the eastern shore, today we’re focusing on sharing our favorite baltimore wedding venues with you!
this list is in no way all-inclusive, but it would be impossible to share all of the incredible wedding venues in baltimore with you, so we’ll start with these!
winslow room
this new wedding venue in baltimore is so unique. because it is a refurbished factory, it has amazing brick walls and industrial charm and is a blank slate for both modern and ethereal weddings. the space has lofty ceilings that are perfect for floral, drapery, or lighting installations, and its proximity to downtown and the harbor is ideal for classic charm city wedding photographs.
the four seasons hotel
we’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again! we love the four seasons baltimore weddings. this is one of our all-time favorite venues because the views are just unbeatable. and when combined with the neutral palette of the hotel, it makes for the most beautiful backdrop for wedding photographs. the large windows allow excellent natural lighting for bridal prep and detail photos, the lobby is the perfect combination of modern and luxurious, and the rooftop is top notch.
chase court
for those who prefer historic flair, chase court is a wonderful option for quaint weddings. it looks a like a cool, old church and has a lovely interior, with white walls and vaulted ceilings. we particularly love the ivy and greenery surrounding the building!
mt. washington mill dye house
we definitely couldn’t make a baltimore wedding venue list and not include the mt. washington mill dye house! it’s safe to say that mt. washington mill dye house weddings are unbelievable; this baltimore venue is quickly becoming iconic! the dye house is also a refurbished factory and has undeniable charm. it has the perfect mix of historical, industrial, and intimate vibes, and we love that it’s nestled in a more remote area of the city– away from the hubbub of downtown.
baltimore basilica
we can’t believe we were actually lucky enough to live one block away from this gem when we lived in baltimore! although it’s obviously not appropriate for couples from every background, this basilica has such significant historical meaning and is so beautiful. the cathedral’s details are exquisite, and we love the natural lighting that the cathedral gets!
frederick douglass maritime museum
it’s a fact: frederick douglass maritime museum weddings offer gorgeous views and nautical vibes. if you’re interested in getting married on a dock on the iconic baltimore harbor, this is the place to do it! the reception space is a great size for more intimate weddings.
the belvedere
speaking of iconic, the belvedere hotel is absolutely a baltimore icon. this baltimore wedding venue is an excellent choice for an upscale or luxe wedding, with city views and classic ballrooms. and if you don’t get a photo in front of the famous “belvedere” sign on the street, did it even happen?!
the hippodrome theatre
set in another iconic spot, the hippodrome theatre weddings are so versatile. from luxurious to quirky, this venue boasts baltimore history and uniqueness. we think it’s a perfect spot for any theater-loving couple or for anyone who wants something a bit off the beaten path.
sagamore pendry hotel
last, but certainly not least, on our list of baltimore wedding venues is the sagamore pendry hotel! this is a newer venue as well, but we are convinced that sagamore pendry weddings are not to disappoint! the venue offers gorgeous harbor views as well as an incredible ballroom for receptions. this venue is our pick for classic weddings because that beautiful molding in the ballroom cannot be beaten!
planning a baltimore wedding and don’t know where to begin? shoot us a line, and we’ll point you in the direction of some of our favorite maryland wedding planners and vendors. happy planning!!
XO,
anna + mateo
one of the absolute best parts of our job is getting to meet couples at such an exciting point in their lives and then watch their adventures together. as washington, d.c. wedding photographers, we love catching up with our clients on social media to see where they end up a year (or ten! can you believe i’ve been doing this for nearly ten years!?) down the road.
it’s only natural that our role shifts slightly, from photographing and filming those sweet, new moments as husband and wife to those sweet, new moments as a family of three. in-home newborn photographs in washington d.c. are some of our favorite sessions these days! especially after the birth of our own isabella rose, we’re really into perfect little babies.
lauren + clint are such an amazing couple! we were lucky enough to photograph their annapolis wedding a couple of years ago, and we were so excited to see that lauren was expecting the following year. we spent a quiet afternoon with them in their darling nursery a few weeks after olive was born, and it was so special. i loved watching them interact with their new baby. their adoration for her is so apparent!
i love lauren’s style; olive’s nursery is the perfect combination of neutrals and pops of color with sweet little, personal touches. it made for the perfect backdrop for the loveliest little family.
everyone is pretty smitten with this little girl, including their cute pup, jitters! i was definitely excited to see jitters again– since she was the guest of honor at their wedding. i have a sneaky feeling that olive is the new guest of honor in their household, and that’s the way it should be!
thanks for letting us continue to tell your story! we love you.
xo,
anna + mateo
Diana - AHH! Love these pictures!!