Ashley and Travis got engaged and moved to London a month later. They decided to give themselves two years to plan their dream wedding from across the Atlantic. The result was an elegant evening at the Anderson House in Washington, D.C., the bride’s hometown. The wedding was filled with personal touches, late-night disco, and the perfect shoes.
Here are Ashley’s highlights from the day:
“We were just about to move to London when we got engaged, but we knew we wanted to get married in D.C. — it’s home to me, and I’d lived there for almost 25 years. Travis and I were sold on the Anderson House the second we toured it, both for different reasons — I fell in love with the romantic garden, and Travis with the ballroom. We made use of both spaces on the day with a lovely outdoor ceremony and reception, followed by a ballroom dance party.”
The ceremony: The ceremony was held in the Anderson House’s beautiful garden, just past the pool. Ashley and Travis exchanged vows in front of their closest friends and family. The ceremony was surrounded in stunning flowers, with two giant vases exploding with blooms by Wild Pollen.
“Looking back, so many special details come to mind, but our florals, designed by Ali Chakola of Wild Pollen, are at the top of the list. Ali has an amazing creative brain, and with little to no guidance she realized a vision we never knew we’d had! The arrangements she created for our sweetheart table, where Travis and I sat during the reception, were especially beautiful, and it was lovely to be there with him, to soak it all in, and watch our family and friends enjoying the evening.” –Ashley
Cocktail hour and reception: The reception dinner was held in Anderson House’s garden, under bistro lights that reflected on the shine of the pool and enhanced a romantic glow followed by dancing, and late-night disco vibes.
“After the ceremony, we celebrated with a backyard cocktail hour, complete with signature drinks in honor of our German Shepherd, Bonnie, and our cat, Lola, before breaking into a ballroom dance party — endless disco, with late-night hot dogs (a nod to Travis’s Chicago roots) to keep the energy up! Our guests had the time of their lives, especially my mom, who tore up the dance floor. It was all Travis and I wanted.” –Ashley
The personal touches: Ashley and Travis added personal touches to their wedding throughout the day including having friends and family be heavily involved in each aspect (like the ceremony).
The shoes and the fashion: Ashley wore a pair of stunning shoes by Loeffler Randall that she had been saving for her wedding day. They were the perfect finishing touch to her look and their wedding was also featured on their blog!
“I bought my shoes before I even found my dress! I’ve always loved Loeffler Randall’s statement bow detail, and when I googled ‘top wedding shoes for comfort’ and saw the Natalia Platform Heel on the list, I was SOLD.
When I started curating my wedding look, I was drawn to dresses that were unique and romantic, with pretty statement sleeves. I found the perfect silhouette at a boutique in London, designed by Sarah Seven.” –Ashley
A standout: Their dance floor was the liveliest I have ever photographed at a wedding. My favorite moments of the reception had to be how it started with an impromptu conga line from dinner to dancing, a choreographed dance by the bride and groom–in which Ashley appears to be flying as Travis swings her around, and lastly, a surprise game of “spin the bottle,” but instead of a kiss, the chosen person danced in the middle of the circle.
“Travis and I were serious about our first dance — we took lessons in London and it literally felt like ‘Dancing with the Stars’ — and I could twist, spring, and get lifted off the floor in Natalia. I wore them all night long without an issue, and was able to walk up and down the gorgeous Anderson House stairs without thinking I was going to fall. I’d recommend them to anyone!” –Ashley
Ashley and Travis had a beautiful wedding day that they will never forget. It was a day filled with love, laughter, and the best dancing. She says “my #1 tip for couples who’d like to plan their own wedding is to take your time! We gave ourselves two years, and having things booked in advance relieved so much stress as we inched closer to the day.”
