One of the best parts of photographing weddings in DC is having a handful of favorite wedding venues to photograph at. For me, one of those locations is Daughters of the American Revolution Headquarters, or DAR. DAR is one of those wedding spaces that has so many different options for photographs, you don’t really need to dress it up too much! Most of DAR consists of indoor and outdoor spaces with gorgeous white color and an abundance of natural light. DAR also has multiple levels with different rooms: a balcony, a library, a portico, staircases, and covered areas that work exceptionally well as a rain backup plan. It’s truly a gem in terms of wedding photography in DC!
Susie and John’s wedding was no exception when it came to beautiful wedding photos at DAR. Their wedding day was stunningly gorgeous outside, which set the tone for a truly magical outdoor/indoor wedding. Their wedding day began at Hotel Dupont, before we made our way over to DAR for the first look on the third story balcony. Susie absolutely wowed in her Sarah Seven gown and it totally showed on John’s face when he saw her for the first time! I always get a little choked up during first looks and I definitely did with Susie and John.
Their ceremony took place on the outdoor portico of DAR, which has a gorgeous view of the Washington Monument. The ceremony altar was delicately decorated with hanging ivy on the portico by florist, She Loves Me, to keep things very simple and minimal. Simple gold chairs were used for Susie and John’s guests to watch this special occasion, and it couldn’t have gone better!
One of the highlights of the ceremony for me was getting to photograph Susie and John’s dog, Larry, walking down the aisle! Larry wore a little tux and walked with Susie and John’s junior bridesmaid. He couldn’t have been happier to participate alongside his owners for their happy occasion. He was a true joy to photograph in portraits too!
After the ceremony, cocktail hour was located indoors in the library while Brielle Davis of Brielle Davis Events and her team wrapped up the finishing touches of the reception space, located on the other side of the portico and in the O’Byrne Gallery. The decor was minimal, simple and timeless, with touches of green, gold and black. Most of Susie and John’s reception area was draped in gorgeous green ivy, and white and green flowers to match in the gold or black centerpieces. Brielle Davis Events did an amazing job pulling everything together for a magical reception!
Susie and John spent the rest of their evening dining in the O’Byrne Gallery or dancing the night away with friends and family under the rotunda, located just outside the gallery. I always love photographing the excitement of dancing after the formalities of the day are over! The happiness is intoxicating and I soak it up as much as I can. Before leaving for the night, Susie and John indulged me in one final photo in the library among all of the books. It was a great way for me to get creative at the end of the night, but also provided a nice break for Susie and John as well.
Being a wedding photographer in dc is so much fun no matter where my couples choose to host their wedding. But, it’s always nice to work at a favorite spot or two, and DAR is definitely one of those locations for Lisa Boggs Photography! Many thanks to Susie, John and their family and friends for choosing me to photograph their special day. If you’re interested in having your wedding at DAR, make sure to reach out to the Events and Meetings Coordinator at events@dar.org. And, if you’d like to inquire with me about photographing your wedding at DAR (or even a different wedding venue), please email lisa@lisaboggsphotography.com.
DC Wedding Vendors Team
Photography: Lisa Boggs Photography
Design/Planning: Brielle Davis Events
Venue: DAR
Caterer: Well Dunn
Florist: She Loves Me
Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Ana B & Erwin Gomez
Bridal Gown: Sarah Seven
Bridesmaid Gowns: BHLDN
Cake: Baked & Wired
Ceremony Musicians: Bolero Soul
DJ: Bela Sono Music
Videography: Paperboys
Rentals: Select Event Group & Table Manners
Stationery: Artisan Matchmaker & Minted
Tenting: Capital Party Rentals
Photo Booth: Extraordinary Entertainment
Alcohol: Ace Beverage
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.