I’m so excited to share a post about one very special wedding! I had the honor of partially planning and coordinating Jemia and Julian’s wedding in Washington, DC.
It. Was. Epic.
There are at least 1 million reasons why Jemia and Julian were great to work with during the 10-month planning process. Not only did they have a specific, unique vision for their big day, but they also wanted their guests to have a blast! It was wonderful to connect with a couple that completely tossed out the wedding norms to do everything their way!
It all started with the perfect venue and an out-of-the-ordinary wedding day schedule!
The Venue
When you choose a venue, you set the tone for your event. Jemia secured Toolbox for the wedding and I was thrilled! This beautiful pilates/art studio offered two floors, great staff, amazing decor, and endless possibilities.
The Schedule
The couple wanted to include everyone in their big day. They accomplished this by having a very intimate ceremony and brunch followed by a major celebration.
The ceremony and brunch were attended by a small group of guests which included immediate family and close friends. The champagne and cake celebration was attended by additional family, friends, and colleagues.
Genius idea, right?
Securing a beautiful venue and having a brilliant, unconventional schedule is great. However, the guest experience is just as important.
Jemia and Julian prioritized their guests in a way that I hadn’t witnessed before. During every part of the day, the couple wanted each guest to know how much they appreciated them.
The Experience
As guests arrived for the ceremony they were personally greeted by the groom. Before the ceremony began, guests could grab coffee or a cocktail while checking out the beautiful art in the studio as light music played in the background.
After the ceremony concluded, guests were treated to champagne while the couple took a few quick photos before the cocktail hour began. Guests also had time to check out the upstairs decor which included beautiful family photos provided by the couple.
As the guests were guided to the cocktail hour space, the party started. I’ve never seen a cocktail hour “turn up” like this one!
It. Was. Legendary.
Everyone was dancing, singing, eating hors d'oeuvres, enjoying cocktails, and celebrating the couple! I honestly felt bad for stopping all the fun to signal everyone for brunch!
Once the brunch was underway for the initial set of guests, the couple made their way downstairs to personally greet newcomers as we prepared for the champagne and cake celebration! As the new guests arrived, they were also greeted with champagne, hors d'oeuvres, and music as they took time to check out the art studio.
After brunch, guests made their way downstairs to join everyone for the celebration where they witnessed Jemia and Julian’s first dance and cake cutting! Immediately after, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was on the dance floor! This continued throughout the rest of the event!
At the end of the champagne and cake reception, the couple thanked guests again as they exited the venue for more fun at the MGM!
As you can see the couple put a lot of thought into the guest experience. They set aside time to personally connect with guests and they thoughtfully included details throughout the day to ensure attendees had a great time! As a guest, I’m sure this is an event they will never forget.
It. Was. Extraordinary.
Honestly, I could truly write a book about the amazing time I had working with these two! I could also write a book about how badly I wanted to clone myself so that I could continue being the planner while also turning up with the guests! I’m sure you can find me somewhere in the wedding video singing/rapping to songs while making sure everything went smoothly!
Jemia and Julian, thank you so much for the opportunity! I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to be a part of your wedding. It was a magical day and I will forever use your wedding as an example for other couples!