Katherine & Jake’s intimate DC wedding was so special because they still included a lot of the “traditional” wedding details & activities while still customizing their day so that it felt more personalized. They spent the morning adventuring through the Constitution Gardens and the National Gallery of Art before their sharing their traditional wedding vows at the Roses Luxury. Walk through their wedding day below to envision what your all-day elopement could look like in Washington DC.
Getting Ready for Katherine & Jake’s Intimate Wedding in Washington DC
Katherine’s & Jake’s intimate wedding started with a stunning view of the Capitol Building from Katherine’s hotel room as she got ready. Hair & Makeup began for Katherine and her wedding party while I started with their wedding details. Invitations, vow books, jewelry, rings, and her custom-made wedding shoes were all the details I made sure to capture. While some couple don’t want to include traditional elements to their intimate wedding, most of my elopement and small wedding couples still choose to have a few details as part of their wedding day.
While Jake got dressed in his room and hung out with groomsmen, Katherine and her bridesmaids were all in matching pajamas in their room popping a bottle of champagne for a few cute photos on the bed! Katherine then got dressed and was ready for the first look.
The First Look at the Rooftop of the Hotel
The rooftop of the hotel was the perfect place for Katherine & Jake’s first look! It is home to a restaurant & bar that opened for brunch just in time for their first look. There was a wonderful view of the DC skyline as a romantic backdrop. After that, we gathered our things and headed out in the city for an adventure & private vows.
Private Vows at the Constitution Gardens Pond
Our first stop was the Constitution Gardens along the National Mall, so Katherine & Jake could exchange their private vows. It was a beautiful, sunny day in DC and Constitution Gardens Pond made for a wonderful backdrop to their vows with the Washington Monument behind them. I always make sure to get a variety of photos during moments like this and to step back and allow my couples to truly be as private as possible – I honestly can’t even hear them most of the time!
Later at their wedding ceremony, they would share more traditional vows. If you’re also worried about saying intimate and private vows in front of everyone at the ceremony, schedule in time for private vows before the ceremony! It’s your wedding day, and you get to choose what would be comfortable and exciting for you!
Wedding Couple Photos with Their Dog
After their private vows, one of their friends brought their dog, Toby, along for a few photos. Toby hardly even recognized Katherine & Jake at first in their wedding attire! It was so funny! Toby was fixated on the ducks. He was a good boy because he wasn’t chasing them BUT he did not realize his mom and dad were standing in front of him until Jake started petting him! After a few photos, we said goodbye to Toby and got back into our Uber to go to the National Gallery of Art! If you want to include your pet on your wedding day, we will find a way to make to happen.
Exploring the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC
It was a Sunday, so the museum was busy as it typically is on the weekends. But the key is patience when it comes to doing photos in an art museum! I normally recommend doing photos in the museums on weekdays to avoid weekend crowds, but sometimes it can’t be avoided to have your wedding on the weekend, so we make do! We will take our time to wait for people to pass by in the background and get creative with angles.
One of the my favorite museum moments was the wedding couple sitting in the beautiful atrium in the art museum. There’s so many natural light, greenery, and tall marble columns, you can’t take a bad photo in there! We then went back to the hotel to take a break, cool off, and have snacks as well as do touch ups of hair & makeup before their wedding ceremony.
Side Note: If you did not know already, real flowers are not allowed in the National Gallery of Art, so if you want to visit during your wedding day, plan accordingly! I recommend either leaving your flowers behind or using fake flowers.
An Untraditional Intimate Wedding Idea
With an intimate wedding, you’re able to incorporate untraditional wedding ideas if you want to! Here’s an untraditional idea Katherine & Jake did: adventured and shared private vows WHILE their guests were getting ready. We then made our way back to the hotel to relax for a bit and do final hair & makeup touch ups before the ceremony. This was such a cool idea to allow the couple alone time during the day, get awesome photos out in the city, and maximize their photography coverage time.
The DC Wedding Ceremony at Rose’s Luxury
When it was time to leave for the wedding ceremony, we gathered everything together and headed over to Rose’s Luxury, a Michelin Star restaurant in DC. It specializes in Eclectic New American small plates menu crafted in a cozy, converted townhouse with an upstairs bar.
As everyone began to arrive, people were hanging out inside where the ceremony was held. It was such a sweet ceremony too! They were surrounded with their most favorite people in the world as they shared their traditional vows.
An Intimate DC Wedding Reception
Katherine & Jake shared their first dance as a married couple before dinner. The restaurant staff flipped the front room into the reception dinner space with beautifully decorated wooden tables. The florals were amazing for this cozy, intimate dinner.
Katherine’s dad said a few words welcoming everyone to the wedding and shared a few memories of Katherine growing up. Everyone took their seats and ordered drinks while they waited for the first course to be served. It was super cool to see the chefs plate the dishes! The atmosphere was filled with music, laughter, and good conversation.
The Maid of Honor and Best Man speeches, of course, made people laugh and cry. It’s always so special to see couples still do a few of those “traditional” wedding elements even during intimate weddings. There truly is no “right” or “wrong” way to plan your wedding – what matters most is doing what YOU want! Katherine & Jake enjoyed the rest of the evening spending time with their loved ones, and it made for such a wonderful way to end their wedding day.
Washington DC Elopement Photography
Do you see yourself getting married in Washington DC like Katherine & Jake? I would love to photograph your wedding and assist you in planning out the details. From location scouting to planning logistics, I’m here to make sure your elopement is seamless, stress-free, and unforgettable. You deserve to remember your wedding day exactly as it was! You can learn more about my photography services here. If you want to work together, fill out your inquiry form here, and I will be in touch with you soon!
Juliana Wall Photography | Washington DC Elopement & Intimate Wedding Photographer
View more of Katherine & Jake’s wedding day photos and save your favorites to Pinterest as you plan your Washington DC elopement!
Wedding Vendors from this DC Wedding
Washington DC Photographer: Juliana Wall Photographer
Rings: Pave Jewelers in Arlington, VA
Officiant: Jennifer I Do
Dress: Global Bridal Gallery in Old Town Alexandria
Suit: Indochino
Hotel: The AC Marriott Navy Yard
Florist: Romenta Plants
Hair & Makeup: Yisell Santos
Ceremony & Reception Venue & Caterer: Roses Luxury
Stationary: Papier
Shoes: Jade Bridal (handmade from Etsy)
Veil: Etsy
Jewelry: bracelet from paternal grandma, necklace from paternal grandma, earrings from Anthropologie
