Jessica and Andrew are definitely one of my favorite couples of all time. When I first spoke to them, I remember Jessica asking if they could do multiple engagement sessions in different seasons. She claimed it was because she and Andrew were “extra,” but I honestly think it’s a brilliant idea more couples should do! So, Jessica, Andrew and I did a fall engagement session at Great Falls Park in Maryland with their super cute pups, Bandit and Mochi. We did a winter engagement session at The Sculpture Garden Ice Rink at the National Gallery of Art and also ducked into the East Building of NGA to take some photographs with Multiverse, a super cool moving walkway tunnel. Lastly, we did a quintessential sunrise spring cherry blossom session at the MLK Memorial and FDR Memorial at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. Below are a few of my favorite photographs from each engagement session! As you can see, Jessica and Andrew make engagement photography in DC really easy for a wedding photographer like me!
But, I’m not here to gush just about Jessica and Andrew’s engagement photos in DC, I’m here to talk about their gorgeous wedding at the historic Meridian House in Washington, DC! Wedding photography in DC really doesn’t get much better than this. Jessica and Andrew’s wedding day began at the LINE DC, a Washington, DC hotel I absolutely love because its style is a blend of funky, modern decor. It also has great natural light to work with and some of my favorite photos taken there were of Jessica with her stunning bouquet made by Lisa Sommer at Petals and Promises. Jessica also had this incredible vintage-inspired hairdo created by Susan Lim that I absolutely adored. Doesn’t she look incredible?!
My favorite part of the day though, was once we arrived at the Meridian House from LINE DC so Jessica and Andrew could share their first look. As you’ve already seen, Jessica and Andrew are so photogenic it’s bananas. But what I love most about them is when they’re interacting with each other, and everything is just so candid and all smiles and laughter. That’s exactly how their first look was! There was over-the-top excitement followed by lots of giggling and smiles, and those are easily some of my favorite photographs from the entire wedding day.
After the first look and some additional portraits, we were well on our way to the ceremony which took place outside under a beautiful old tree in the yard of the Meridian House. One of Jessica and Andrew’s close friends performed the ceremony and everyone was smiling and laughing the entire time. My favorite moment in the ceremony was when Jessica and Andrew were recessing after they kissed and they stopped and had a moment where they put their heads together and got so giddy that they were finally married. It was the absolute best!
Once we finished a few additional portraits in the front of the Meridian House it was time to join the cocktail hour and then party! It was no surprise that Jessica and Andrew’s wedding guests channeled as much enthusiasm and excitement as they did, which was very noticeable on the dance floor! The Bachelor Boys Band did an exceptional job with the live music and kept most of the guests on the dance floor the entire night. I’m pretty sure the only thing that stopped the party was us having to vacate the venue. Oh, and the fact that we had to do the special sendoff with Jessica in her new sparkly exit dress and some actual sparklers! They really had the most magical day and sendoff and I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect wedding for this amazing couple.
Many thanks to Jessica, Andrew and their family and friends for having us photograph their wedding day! You guys made photographing weddings in DC an absolute dream for me. I also have to give a huge shout out and thank you to Tiffany Rivera of Simply Breathe Events for tying together a stunning wedding for Jessica and Andrew. I was truly floored at what a great job she did at keeping everything on track for the big day! Not to mention, the design of the event was truly spectacular. I loved the classic color palette of black and white mixed with pops of dusty blue, tangerine and deep red. Believe it or not, this matched the look of the Meridian House perfectly! I don’t think I could have picked a better venue for this couple's dream wedding and Tiffany knocked it out of the park.
Please continue below for the list of incredible vendors connected with Jessica and Andrew’s wedding day! And also please scroll down to read the feature that Washingtonian Weddings did on Jessica and Andrew. We are so thrilled they were able to share some details about their wedding day with Washingtonian Weddings’ readers!
DC Wedding Vendor Team
Photography: Lisa Boggs Photography
Venue: Meridian House
Event Planning & Design: Simply Breathe Events
Florist: Petals and Promises
Invitations: Minted
Catering: Main Event Caterers
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes
Hair & Makeup: Susan Lim
Bride’s Attire: Alexandra’s Boutique
Groom’s Attire: Enzo Custom
Groomsmen’s Attire: The Black Tux
Music: Bachelor Boys Band; Sage String Quartet & Jazz
Transportation: Lasting Impressions (Bentley); DC Limo and Car Services (shuttles)
Videographer: Well Spun Weddings
Lighting: Dan Goldman Events
Alcohol: Ace Beverage
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This October Wedding Featured a Dreamy Fall Color Palette and Asian Influences
Dusty blue and tangerine updated a more traditional autumn color combo at Meridian House.
Jessica and Andrew met at law school and wed in a fall-themed affair at Meridian House. The celebration featured an updated fall color scheme, Asian influences from the welcome table to the menu, and fashion and floral inspiration for days. Check out the details from their October wedding below.
How They Met
Jessica and Andrew met sitting next to each other on the second day of their first year at Georgetown Law School. Sparks flew, and on their first date, Andrew took Jessica on a fall picnic to Gravelly Point Park to watch the sunset with the planes from Reagan National Airport flying overhead. Things went so well—with their blanket, a pillow, candles, “Andrew’s cheesy music taste on a speaker,” and hot chocolate, that they ended up staying until the park closed around 10:30 pm. Andrew says it was the best and last first date ever. “A five-star experience!”
The Proposal and Wedding Plans
Three years after that first date, on a trip to Andrew’s hometown for Labor Day weekend, Andrew proposed on an early morning walk around a neighborhood lake. One year after that, on October 12, 2019, they said “I do” at Meridian House in front of 100 guests.
The October Wedding
The wedding theme was a “classic autumn fairytale with an Asian influence,” which featured a color palette of dusty blue, ivory, blush, burgundy, tangerine, and mauve, and a menu that included a sushi bar and a dumpling station, plus spicy Asian noodle salad with vegetables in Chinese takeout boxes, as well as bourbon chicken and pumpkin-and-sage-ravioli, and other items. For dessert: a cake of funfetti, cherry almond, and red velvet.
Memorable Moments
Special treats for guests included fortune cookies that opened to reveal each guests’ table number assignments, and Sugarfina Champagne-flavored gummy bears as favors. Her favorite part? “Watching my typically reserved mother jump up-and-down on the dance floor to our band playing “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers,” says Jessica. And his? “Watching my relatives from Shanghai bond with Jessica’s relatives from Kentucky.” Following the celebration, the couple honeymooned at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
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About Lisa Boggs
Lisa Boggs of Lisa Boggs Photography has been photographing weddings in the greater Washington, DC area for over 16 years. Her photos have been described as classic, romantic, candid and artistic. She has won several accolades over the years, including Editor's Pick by Washingtonian Weddings, WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards and several Fearless Photographers Awards. She has over 130 five-star reviews on WeddingWire (with more five-star reviews on The Knot, Facebook and Google) and is incredibly thankful to all of her clients for their continuing love and support. When Lisa isn't photographing, you can find her networking with other photographers as the leader of Capital Area Photographers, a DC wedding and portrait photographers group that promotes continuing education for local photographers. Lisa is also a huge fan of her family, friends, wine, coffee, chocolate, popcorn and Netflix. To learn more about Lisa Boggs and her work, please contact lisa@lisaboggsphotography.com or call 571-432-8469.