Planning a Washington Wedding

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming for many couples – especially if you’re trying to plan a wedding in a new city or on a budget. We asked local wedding planner Cara Collins for her favorite wedding planning tips and suggestions to help couples planning their big day.

How long in advance do you advise brides to begin scouting their wedding and reception venues?

I suggest brides begin researching wedding venues at least a year before their ideal wedding date. Most venues book up 9-12 months ahead of time, and once you’ve chosen your venue and finalized the date, you can begin booking your other wedding vendors. Photographers also book up well in advance so book your venue and photographer first thing!

What are some trends you’re seeing in weddings this year?

Vintage-themed weddings have been all the rage for the past year, and I don’t see that trend ending any time soon. Vintage weddings just seem to have a more intimate feel, and some of the antiques can be borrowed from your guests, making everything more personal and inexpensive!

Another new trend that’s catching on is a monochromatic color scheme in white, ivory, or neutrals. Brides are even choosing these colors for the bridesmaids’ dresses, which is very modern, and a look I adore. An all-white wedding looks so fresh, ethereal, and elegant.

What’s your best tip for staying in budget?

Choose your top three most important pieces of your wedding. Try not to skimp on those, and find ways to budget with everything else! There are so many wonderful DIY projects out there which not only save you money and add personality to your wedding, but these projects can also be a fun thing to do with your husband-to-be or bridesmaids!

Also, choosing a venue (like a hotel) that has their own tableware, linens, chairs, etc. will save you a lot of money compared to choosing a tent or an empty hall. While tenting on a property can be very beautiful, you need to rent EVERYTHING so it is not exactly budget friendly. Another trend that saves money is opting out of a traditional formal sit-down dinner and choosing to have an informal cocktail party or a backyard BBQ style dinner. Everyone loves a mac and cheese or mashed potato bar, and food like this can save you a bundle!

If you could tell brides one thing, what would it be?

Enjoy your wedding day and don’t stress about the little things. This is one of the most exciting days of your life, and a day to spend with your most cherished family, friends, and of course – your new husband. Hire a planner to take care of the details so you can relax, get married, and dance!

Ready to start planning?

The Hamilton Crowne Plaza is a great wedding venue – for a wedding ceremony, a destination wedding reception, a place to host your wedding guests or for your wedding night stay. Contact us to start making your plans.

Washington Weddings

Washington DC is a great place to get married – whether you’re from here or planning destination wedding. It’s a great family trip that’s easily accessible by an easy road or train trip for the East coast, plus we have 3 major airports that offer a host of discounted airfares.

Washington also offers a variety of unique locations for a ceremony that you can’t get anywhere else. For example, did you know that you can get married at the Jefferson Memorial? (You’ll need a special permit from the National Park Service.) You may have a busload of tourists join you, but it’s an experience you can’t have anywhere else. There are also so many beautiful places in Washington to have pictures done – Lafayatte Park across from the White House, The World War I memorial, the Georgetown Waterfront, that will make your memories even more special.

Trends

Some of the wedding trends we’re seeing at the Hamilon Crownde Plaza include gourmet food stations and smaller tables that encourage guests to move around and mingle rather than large tables and seated dinners.

Many couples are also opting for a trio of cakes with a common theme rather than a traditional wedding cake. Others are hopping on the cupcake trend and selecting a cupcake tree with a variety of flavors. And each cupcake is so beautiful – it looks like it’s own like present.

We’re seeing bolder colors everywhere – from bridesmaid dresses to table linens to wedding bouquets. Don’t be afraid to make a personal statement with color.

Budget Friendly

If you’re looking to make the most of your budget, be flexible with the day of the week you want to hold your ceremony or reception. Thursday and Friday evenings are becoming more popular for weddings; but many of the florists, photographers, and other vendors may have more flexibility than on a summer Saturday afternoon or evening.

Consider an all-in-one venue like a hotel that will allow you to maximize your budget and not spend all too much of your budget renting chairs and tables since they’ll have all that on-site. Many hotels have wedding coordinators on staff and can also make recommendations for DJs, bands, hair salons, photographers and everything else to make your day go smoothly.

Learn more about wedding possibilities at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza in downtown Washington, DC.