It was seven years in the past when Michelle Mai, a public well being skilled dwelling in Alexandria’s Cameron Station neighborhood met Aaron, a marketing consultant for a tech start-up who lived within the Mount Pleasant neighborhood in Washington, D.C.
“We related on Bumble and met for our first date on a cold January night in 2018,” she mentioned. “The spark was immediate — we both knew right away that we wanted to see more of each other. Over the years, our relationship has grown through shared adventures, exploring new cuisines and a deep appreciation for family and community.”
Engagement in Italy
The two had been engaged “simply shy of two years. We received engaged on October 24, 2023 whereas vacationing in Sorrento, Italy,” Michelle mentioned. Aaron had plans to suggest to Michelle throughout their day journey to Positano however did not really feel that there was an intimate second for the 2 of them. Aaron had a motive for eager to suggest on this explicit day, because the date blends each of their birthdates: June 10 and June 24. After we received again to Sorrento and loved dinner, Aaron advised we go for a late night time stroll by the gardens of the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria.” Surrounded by lemon bushes, Aaron proposed to Michelle.
Planning the marriage
In early 2024, the 2 started outlining what they needed for his or her wedding ceremony, beginning with the situation. Michelle grew up in close by Springfield, with a big prolonged household in Northern Virginia, whereas Aaron is from New York’s Finger Lakes area, with family and friends scattered alongside the East Coast.
“We agreed that hosting the wedding in the DMV would be the easiest for everyone,” Michelle mentioned.
While exploring venues in DC and Virginia, Aaron got here throughout Hotel Heron simply because it was getting ready for its grand opening. “After touring the space, we were immediately drawn to its charm,” Michelle mentioned. “Old Town Alexandria, with its historic character, felt like the perfect setting. Michelle’s family could make the quick trip into town for the celebration, and Aaron’s family could stay in town to enjoy the quaint shops and restaurants throughout the wedding weekend – ultimately, most turned it into a short vacation.”
Here’s an peek at a number of the particulars of the marriage, from the marriage gown to the flowers and extra:
- Dress: Michelle selected an A-line gown by Jenny Yoo and Anthropologie, selecting the Jenny Yoo Brynn gown as a result of she needed one thing easy, clear, and timeless.
- Tuxedo: Hugo Boss
- Makeup artist: Michelle selected Jessica Tan of J. Tan Artistry in Alexandria as her make-up artist as a result of she’s acquainted with Asian options and her portfolio has impartial, pure aesthetic.
- Jewelry: Market Street Diamonds (D.C.) and Mervis (Tysons) Growing up within the space, Michelle had all the time heard the Mervis commercials on the radio, whereas a buddy advisable Market Street. “We liked their selection, quality and the helpful guidance they offered in finding pieces that matched our style,” she mentioned.
- Flowers: Kas Flowers LLC (Alexandria) “Having seen Kas’ floral arrangements, we knew we wanted to work with her for our wedding flowers for her creativity with the flowers and textures. She created the bouquet, bouttonneire, centerpieces and bud vases. They were exactly the look and feel we wanted for our wedding. My wedding bouquet had white roses, white ranunculus, and white campanulas. Aaron’s boutonniere had a white rose and a white ranunculus.”
- Music: NightLife Band (Maryland) – We had seen EveningLife Band at a buddy’s celebration and cherished their vitality! We needed that very same vibe at our wedding ceremony, and Shelli and the band delivered.
- Venue: Hotel Heron (Alexandria) “Old Town was the perfect setting and we loved Hotel Heron’s blend of modern and historic touches. The packages offered had everything we were looking for, while the venue provided both a place to celebrate and a base for our guests to stay and enjoy the area.”
- Ceremony: St. Louis Catholic Church (Alexandria) “Although we are not parishioners at St. Louis, the church and its pastor graciously welcomed us to celebrate our wedding there. We were drawn to its spacious interior, with beautiful stained glass and a timber framed ceiling that staged the perfect setting to exchange our vows.”
- Cake: Sweet Greene Cupcakery (Alexandria) “The cake vendor was already included as part of our wedding package, which was a wonderful bonus. The cake was delicious with a variety of flavor and frosting combinations to choose from, and beautifully designed to match our wedding aesthetic.Our cake flavors were vanilla, chocolate, and carrot cake.”
- Coordination: Ring on the Party (Alexandria) “We are both detail-oriented and wanted support to bring our vision to life. Sandra Johnson helped by creating a detailed day-of timeline, keeping everything running smoothly and on schedule, communicating with vendors, and ensuring that every little request we had was fulfilled.”
- Dance Lessons: Dance Factory (Alexandria) “We are not dancers and needed a little help with our first dance. After three lessons with Maria Bliznetsova, we were confident and ready to dance to ‘Kiss of Life’ by Sade.”
- Photographer: Rebecca Dotson Photography. “We absolutely loved Rebecca’s photography style from the moment we discovered her portfolio. She made us feel at ease, and captured every moment beautifully. We were grateful for her attention to detail and ability to direct us throughout the day.”
- Live Painting: Watch Maggie Paint – “Aaron’s sister surprised us with a live painter for our reception! Everyone loved watching Maggie’s artwork come to life throughout the evening.”
- Honeymoon: The couple plans to spend two weeks in Turkey and Vietnam later this fall.
- Catering: Hotel Heron/Kiln (Alexandria) “We went with the venue’s catering because we loved the menu options and knew our guests would enjoy the food.”
On the menu
During the cocktail hour, the couple selected a cruditès board and the next handed hors d’oeuvres:
- Lobster rolls
- Fried rooster sliders
- Bacon wrapped maitake mushrooms
- Crab desserts
- Corn jalapeno fritters
For dinner, they served Caesar salad and friends had an choice of the next plated meal:
- Roasted Chicken Breast: rooster jus, cauliflower purée, seasonal greens
- Braised Short Rib: beef jus, pomme purée, caramelized Cipollini
- Poached Salmon: lemon caper beurre blanc, roasted fingerling potatoes, seasonal greens
- Cauliflower Steak: turmeric tahini, recent herbs, pomegranate
Their recommendation for {couples}
- Michelle: “Stay by each other’s side throughout the day! The day is about you as a couple, and sharing the same moments ensures you’ll both have the same memories.”
- Aaron: “Talk with your partner ahead of time about your goals for the wedding so that you can get the most out of the day. On the day of, don’t worry about the things that are out of your control. You’ve already put enough effort into planning the event, so it’s best to roll with whatever surprises come your way.”