Welcome to our little corner of the wedding planning world! Starting a blog has been on my mind for years. TBH though, I was afraid. Thinking I had nothing to contribute to the blog world. That quickly changed when I realized that I have A LOT to say. I’ve been doing this for a long time (read more about my background here). No longer afraid, we are here to share advice and more wedding planning tips. We want to provide you more inspiration and real weddings.  We want to give more shout outs to our local vendors and venues.  Just a whole lot of more! So in my best Taylor Swift voice, Are You Ready For It?

First, let’s dive a little deeper into our Virginia wedding planning team, starting with myself, Mallory, the owner of All The Dainty Details. 

The thing you should know about me is, organization is my second love. Whether it’s on paper (my preference) or electronically, I love to set my to-do’s for literally everything.  Do you have a friend amongst your group that is super detail oriented and meticulously plans out weekend get togethers or birthday parties? Hi, that’s me! Full planning mode 24/7.  It is one of the many key reasons why I love being a wedding planner,

I promise an enjoyable planning experience for all my couples. When you wake up in the middle of the night wondering if you choose the right napkin color or if the cake is going to be delivered on time, I want you to think “it’s okay, we have Mallory” and then shut your eyes and go back to sleep. The whole point of this is to enjoy the planning process and your wedding day. Your day is our capable hands. Why? Because it’s my job! 

The best part of this adventure though? I’m not alone. When Leigh and I first met at Misha’s for coffee a few years back, I instantly felt a connection with her.  She’s extremely knowledgeable of the event industry and it was just after our first wedding together that I knew I hit gold. A total go-getter!  I found a lot of comfort in her demeanor and how she handled herself on wedding days.  

Hello! My name is Leigh, and I am the Associate Planner for the DC area.  Writing these intros is always so hard because honestly, what on earth am I supposed to write about?!  I’d much rather be meeting you in-person over a good cup of coffee or a cocktail, bonus points if the bartender can make a decent dirty gin martini or manhattan.  Sometimes a lady just needs a classic, you know?  Okay, okay, let’s get down to business…(if you didn’t just finish that with the Mulan song, then we’ll have to find something else to bond over).  

I’m 31 years old, a non-profit executive by day and wedding planner, well, every other time.  My parents say that I’ve been planning events since birth – just give my Mom a glass of wine and she’ll tell you how they had to fly in a special plane to the Air Force base they were stationed at just for little me – and choosing wedding planning as my “passion career” was no surprise to them.  I can’t help myself, I just love LOVE!  Combine that with my type A personality, passion for finding the perfect details and my Midwestern roots and Southern upbringing, and you’ve got yourself one prepackaged, redheaded, ambitious, will-do-anything-to-make-your-big-day-go-right wedding planner.    

One of the reasons I fell in love with wedding planning, if you’ll excuse the pun, are the priceless memories that are created that day, and not always in ways you expect.  Today we are breaking it down to our Top 5 Wedding Day Moments and All those Dainty Details we just cannot get enough of. 

 

Our Top 5 Wedding Day Moments

The BIG Reveal.  We make it a point for our couples to see the reception space before anyone else. After months of planning and discussions, seeing their reactions to the results is priceless. It’s always an amazing feeling for us. Seeing it all come together on their big day is a large part of our planning job. 

Brianna Wilburn Photo at The Elkridge Furnace Inn

Here’s one for all the romantics out there… Nothing beats the reaction of that First Look. Whether this is an actual first look photo op prior to the ceremony or a groom catching a glimpse of his bride for the first time as she walks down the aisle, it is absolutely epic. The emotions are so real. We seriously get teary eyed each time. 

Taylor Rose Photo at River Farm

The couple’s Grand Entrance into the reception. Watching all of their family & friends laughing, smiling, and clapping – there to celebrate their love story – now that’s a happy ending. 

Duhon Photography at The Mayflower Hotel

The Father-Daughter and Mother-Son Dances. Seriously, we can’t think about it without getting the chills.  It’s such a sweet moment to share between parents and their children. Pass the tissues please! 

Love Charm Photo at The River View at Occoquan

The couple’s Final Dance. Have you seen this done before? If you are a vendor, probably so, but if not, chances are you’ve missed it. Basically while we get all guests out of the room, typically while we are getting them set for a send off, the couple stays back and shares one last dance alone. It’s really the cherry on top of the whole day. Just one more moment to dance in their happiness. 

The Kama Photography at The Seclusion

Our Favorite Dainty Details 

Your name in lights. We love a good wedding sign, especially when it’s of the neon variety. Not just that, we love seeing your new name on anything really. 

Samantha Leto Photo at The River View at Occoquan

Shoes! It used to be that bridal shoes were boring – just a pair of pumps that you wore all night.  Nowadays, the world is your oyster! We love seeing what our couples and bridal parties decide to wear for both the formal ceremony and to dance in.  It’s such a fun, easy way to express your personalities within the wedding. 

Emily Hancock Photo

Being playful with the cake topper. A simple and small way to add personalization and make an impact.  Top of your cake with an accent that complements the vibe of your wedding. This one has got to be one our ultimate favorites!

Emily Gude Photo at Early Mountain Vineyard 

Popping the champagne! Want to show off your excitement and grab an amazing photo op? Then start shaking and start spraying! The reactions are priceless. 

Meredith Campbell Photo from The Capitol View at 400

Including your furry baby. Let’s be real, pets are family, too!  Even if they can’t be there in-person, there are so many unique and fun ways to include them throughout the wedding.  Stay tuned for another blog post on this subject later this year! 

Audra Jones Photo from The Barn at Turkey Ridge

While we could probably talk days and days about details we love, we will pause here and save that for another post.  We hope this gives you a little better insight behind the women behind this small business. It was so nice virtually meeting so many of you.  Hopefully, we’ll get the chance to work together to make your big day dreams come true!  

Check out one of our recent favorites at The Seclusion HERE!