This moody, romantic wedding showed why “must-haves” are a must-do

staircase wedding

After touring the Hotel DuPont on a whim, this bride and groom knew that it would be the perfect venue for them. They had gone into the planning process knowing that they wanted a venue that felt special and one-of-a-kind, but also that simplified as many logistics as possible so they could focus on their must-haves. The Hotel DuPont was the perfect combination of glamour and comfort. Most guests were able to stay on site, and the couple was about to turn their attention away from many of the nitty-gritty logistics and spend more time on the fun decisions with Proud to Plan, all captured on camera by Susan Stripling Photography.

formal wedding invitations

The planning process: ID the "hills to die on"

The couple had a few "hills to die on" as they called them, but otherwise trusted their team of professionals. For the bride and groom, they knew their "top three" were: the live band, the ceremony design, and photography.

low v-back romantic wedding dress

gold boho wedding jewelry illusion neckline boho wedding dress

delicate rhinestone bridal headband

Two friends, two officiants

During the ceremony, the bride and groom were married by two of their closest friends. The bride and groom provided a few "dos and don'ts" before the friends worked together the write the ceremony. When the day came, it was the best surprise for the bride and groom! Having two friends with two perspectives perform the ceremony also made the event also feel personal and dynamic.

sage green seating cards simple seating card table

Seating cards: Simple and elegant

The bride and groom opted for simple, yet elegant seating cards arranged on a table complete with a crystal lamp centerpiece. Understated silver card holders allowed the design to take center stage.

moody romantic ballroom reception

gold candelabra centerpiece

tall candleholder centerpiece

grand ballroom reception entrance

Romantic and moody floral design

The couple knew they wanted the staircase to be a highlight of the event design, but other than that, they gave very light direction for their florals, and Greg at Carl Alan Floral absolutely knocked it out of the park with romantic and moody floral design featuring tall gold candelabras.

moody staircase floral design

A vendor team with venue experience

Choosing a vendor team that was familiar with the space was a game-changer. Planner Proud to Plan and photographer Susan Stripling had worked with Hotel DuPont many, many times, so when the couple wasn't sure about what to do, they knew they could trust the vendors' recommendations 100%.

after the tone audio guestbook

Reception details: An audio guestbook

Some of the couple's favorite reception details were their candelabra statement centerpieces and the phone guest book from After the Tone.

Bridgerton-inspired wedding cake

Ornate, monochromatic cake with a surprise

The couple opted for a gorgeous all-white wedding cake with ornate piping design and antique roses on top. One additional special detail was the small figurine of their corgi next to the wedding cake - the miniature is still on their mantle today!

romantic first dance

A great wedding band brings the fun

As music lovers, the couple loves spending nights scoping out live music, so it was natural that having a live wedding band was important. Big Ric Rising was an absolute highlight of the night! Everyone was constantly dancing at the reception. For their dance together, the groom and his mother surprised everyone by starting with a slow song and then pulling out a pair of sunglasses to dance to "This Is How We Do It." Later in the evening, Big Ric turned all the men into The Temptations and had the groom serenade the bride with "My Girl."

reception after party band

Traditions: Which to keep and which to nix

While the couple had toasts given by the bride's parents, the best man, and matron of honor, they opted to skip the garter and bouquet toss, which kept the energy going through the night once the party started.

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