Original Wedding: Ashley and Joe at Belmont Manor

From the moment I met Ashley and Joe I knew that they were a special couple. Their infectious smiles, excited energy and loving gazes at each other are every wedding planners dream! Then, when they told me that they were planning a carnival themed wedding at the beautiful Belmont Manor, I was sold!

Original Wedding: Amanda and John at Swan Harbor Farm

What started as a random night out led to John missing, and having to re-do, his internship.. It was when he was asked to re-do that internship that he met Amanda at his new school. Both teachers, seemingly perfect for each other in more ways than one, Amanda and John were clearly meant to be. Her thoughtfulness mixed with his sense of humor, her perfect organization paired with his go-with-the-flow attitude, everyone can see it.

A perfect orange sunset set the tone for Amanda and John’s wedding this past July. The tent was decorated in beautiful neutrals and lilacs. The excitement in the room was loud and clear, and rightfully so, since “everyone {had} waited four year for this to happen,” as the maid of honor put it. She couldn’t hold back tears as she talked about her happiness for Amanda and John.

Original Wedding: Jen and Kevin at Oregon Ridge

When I think back to Jen and Kevin’s wedding my first thought is about the heat on that scorching June day. But that is not my only thought, nor is it the most important. The important memories I have are how much fun the wedding was, how fabulous the venue and food was and most of all how in love and charming Jen and Kevin were.

Original Wedding: Joyce & Ray at The Liriodendron

Joyce and Ray met through an online dating site and had a quick connection. After a few dates they were inseparable and after traveling all over the world together their love blossomed. A few years later Ray set up the perfect proposal and it was official! It is extremely clear that this couple is perfect for one another! They have a magnetic energy between them and you can’t help but love their love!

Original Wedding: Jacqui and John at the Dulles Hilton

I could tell the very first time I met with Jacqui and John that what they had was special. The fact that Jacqui describes the way they met as her “mildly stalking” John, and the way John treats Jacqui with such tenderness, were dead giveaways.

Original Wedding: Amy & Buzz at the Baltimore Museum of Industry

At Amy and Buzz’s final appointment they were nothing but calm, cool and collected. All of their hard work and attention to detail had paid off and they were free to sit back relax and get married!

Fast forward to their wedding day. Despite the chill in the air and the heavy winds, that sense of calm remained. Buzz and Amy kept it simple with a smaller bridal party and a quick ceremony. They spoke vows from the heart and had gleaming smiles on their faces the entire time.

Original Wedding: Kaori and Jon at Turf Valley's Terrace on the Green

Having made the decision to attend a Marine Corps presentation, solely based on the free pizza, I can’t imagine that Jon ever thought that that one move would lead to the rest of his life. Not only did it decide his career path, it also led him to Kaori.

Kaori and Jon met in Japan, where Jon was stationed shortly after training and Kaori was earning her Master’s Degree and working on base. As Jon describes it, he wandered into her office one day and remembers thinking about how lovely she was, but doing nothing about it. Months later, he asked Kaori out and she said yes. She continued to say yes and when their relationship made it through stressful jobs and deployments, Jon realized he couldn’t leave Japan without her.

Original Wedding: Melissa and Zeb at Corradetti Glassblowing Studio

The first time I spoke with Melissa I was so excited to discover that her and Zeb's wedding would take place at Corradetti Glassblowing Studio in Baltimore. If you've never been there, the space is a beautiful combination of exposed brick and unique works of art, and the perfect setting for an intimate wedding ceremony and reception. From the touches of babies breath on the tables, to the delicious menu, Melissa and Zeb's wedding day was just that-- Perfect!

Happy 1st Anniversary, Josh

Wow. Where has the last year gone?

As some of you may know, yesterday was Josh and I’s first wedding anniversary. I know they say the first year is the hardest, but no one ever told me that it passes in the blink of an eye. It’s extremely hard to believe that at this exact time last year, Josh and I were newlyweds, exploring the aquarium with his family while waiting to head to the airport to fly to the Dominican for our honeymoon.

Wrapping Up 2013

Tomorrow is the first day of 2014. Isn't that crazy?! I know every year seems to fly by but 2013 really felt like a whirlwind. Maybe it's because so much has happened this past year. Planing a wedding, getting married, going on a honeymoon, moving in to a new house and working a part-time job, while owning a small business, can really be a lot for a girl-- In a positive way of course!

Original Wedding: Jovana & Matt at The Top of the Hay

Jovana & Matt's relationship started, as many chick flicks do, in the middle of a restaurant. The royal restaurant to be exact!

Original Wedding: Marissa & Victor at Glen Echo Park

After meeting through Marissa's blog and traveling to multiple countries together, Victor and Marissa were married on May 26th in a beautiful outdoor ceremony.

If you've never heard of Glen Echo Park, you should do yourself a favor and check it out! It's a hidden gem smack dab in the middle of Maryland, Virginia and D.C. What used to be a premier amusement park in the early 1900s is now home to numerous art studios, classes and dance programs. The best part-- The original, now-restored, carousel still remains!

The old bumper car pavilion also remains and served as the wedding venue that Marissa and Victor used for their reception! The entire park still has that old-time charm and it is such a unique venue for any event. With their paper lanterns, kazoo favors and balloon ceremony decorations, it was the perfect setting for Marissa and Victor to tie the knot! Guests had so much fun getting pictures taken at the photo booth and riding the carousel during cocktail hour. Everyone even picked up their kazoos to carry out a family tradition at the end of the night, playing along to songs with the Mother of the Bride and Best Man.

Marissa & Victor-- It was a pleasure to coordinate your wedding day. We wish you both the very best in your new life together!

Venue: Glen Echo Park

Coordinator: NoLo Weddings & Events

Caterer: Main Events

Photo Booth: Onomonomedia

Original Wedding: Stacey & Eric

One thing I absolutely love about weddings is detail. Whether the details be fun, creative, romantic, artsy, it doesn't matter. I love them all. In my opinion it's really the small things that pull together wedding decor and carry through a theme.

Stacey & Eric were one of those couples that did a wonderful job incorporating their theme into both the ceremony and reception. So, needless to say, I was SO excited when their wedding came on May 18th. They are such a fun couple and their "great catch" theme was perfect for them! The ceremony was absolutely stunning and the reception was both elegant and entertaining with a candy bar, dessert buffet, freshly baked cookies and a photo booth. The best part about the reception was that Eric had surprised Stacey with the photo booth and candy bar ice sculpture, when their budget allowed it at the last minute. The look on her face when she found out about the photo booth was priceless!

Stacey & Eric-- Thank you so much for allowing NoLo to be a part of your big day. We wish you nothing but the best in your new lives together!

Venue: Martin's Valley Mansion

Coordinator: NoLo Weddings & Events

Catering: Martin's Valley Mansion

Original Wedding: Erica & Nick

I've known Erica since high school. If I remember correctly, it was the first day of sophomore year that we really became friends, after getting lost together in the confusing science hallway trying to make our way to class. Fast forward a few weeks and we found ourselves as lab partners... lab partners who couldn't even boil water without turning it blue and making a scene. To this day I can STILL picture our teacher sternly telling us to "back away" as he disposed of the water!

Throughout getting to know Erica, I also got to know Nick and their relationship. Erica and I rode the same bus, my high school boyfriend and I went on numerous double dates with the two of them and we would all get together on occasion to go bowling or attend football games. From the first time seeing them together, their chemistry was evident. While most high school relationships were on and off, theirs was consistently strong. Erica & Nick were that couple-- The couple everyone knew would get married one day. So of course when the day came that Nick proposed and Erica asked for some wedding planning help, I was THRILLED for NoLo to be a part of their big day!

April 13th couldn't have been better-- It was a gorgeous, partly sunny, 68 degree day in Gaithersburg, MD and Erica and Nick both looked stunning. The emotions were the same all around, everyone overjoyed to see such an amazing couple tying the knot. From silly pictures at the photo booth and the groomsmen sporting horse-head accessories to a BBQ menu and one of the sweetest first dances I've ever seen (maybe I'm a little biased), everything was perfectly Erica & Nick. It was such a joy to not only see everything come together, but to see the love that the two of them share.

Erica & Nick-- Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for including me in your wedding day. Not only as a friend, but for trusting me as a wedding professional. The two of you are rock stars and I know you'll have one of the happiest marriages that a couple could ask for!

*This imagine provided by Gobrail Photograhy

*This imagine provided by Gobrail Photograhy

*This imagine provided by Gobrail Photograhy

Love the silliness!

*This imagine provided by Gobrail Photograhy

*This imagine provided by Gobrail Photograhy

*This imagine provided by Gobrail Photograhy

Venue & Catering: Smokey Glen

Coordinator: NoLo Weddings & Events

Photographer: Gobrail Photography *

DJ: Mixing Maryland

Photobooth: Prop Stop