Whew – this wedding at National Portrait Gallery in DC has us crying all the happy tears just thinking about it! Libby and Peter’s wedding brought out every blood, sweat, and tear imaginable but it was SO worth it. Whoever invented the phrase “labor of love” must have been talking about this wedding in particular. Recently featured in the latest issue of Washingtonian Weddings, we can’t wait to share a little more of Libby & Peter’s wedding story (and many more photos!) on our blog today.

Finding a New Wedding Venue

First, story time! Libby and Peter’s wedding was one of the first weddings we had to kick off our 2022 wedding season, and we were anxious to put the chaos of 2020/2021 reschedules behind us! Little did we know what was in store for us! Just two weeks before Christmas (less than three months before their wedding day!), Libby and Peter’s original venue reached out to let us know they had decided to cancel all 2022 weddings, forcing us to find a brand new DC wedding venue right before the holidays. It was time for us to get to work!

Since we had already contracted a wonderful caterer months prior for their 250+ person wedding, most hotel wedding venues that could accommodate a wedding of their size were automatically ruled out since most will not allow outside caterers. So we had to be creative in our search – and fast! Thankfully, the National Portrait Gallery entered the chat! Before we could sign off on the gorgeous Kogod Courtyard, we had to ensure that we had enough time to complete the setup around the gallery’s operational hours – which was not an easy feat! On top of this, we needed to make sure that we were able to efficiently transition from the wedding ceremony to cocktail hour to their reception smoothly, all during the holidays if you can remember.

A First Look of the Space

In order to make everything possible, the morning-of our team began loading in at 6am before the gallery opened to the general public. From there, the setup team took a break during the gallery’s operational hours and then finished everything up the second the gallery closed again. Libby and Peter took their first look and wedding portraits at some of the most iconic locations in DC during the day and then made their wait to the National Portrait for a quick room reveal of the space before guests began to arrive. After what we had gone through over the past few months, it was EMOTIONAL but in the best way.

Stunning Wedding Ceremony at National Portrait Gallery

We needed a venue space worthy of Libby and Peter’s vision and man, did the National Portrait Gallery deliver. For their wedding ceremony, we had Edge Floral and Design contract a 16 x 16 cream wall that would anchor their ceremony focal point (at the end of a long white aisle runner). It feels like the design was made for this space. Off to the side, stood a 32′ long show stopping bar (all black, and ultra-modern) which served as the center of the wedding’s lively bar scene. It was one of those pieces that felt natural against the ceremony backdrop, and was a central gathering point throughout their joyful wedding reception.

Excuse us while we share every single angle of this wedding ceremony because how could we not?! It was PERFECT.

A Personalized Escort Wall

We have designed some breathtaking escort displays, but this may have been one of the most personal ones we’ve been a part of to date! For each guest (on a list of almost 300!), Libby and Peter wrote their favorite memory of each guest on handwritten vintage DC postcards, showing them to their seat. It was so personal and was one of those design pieces that had guests talking all night. We love when an escort display sets the tone of what’s next to come, and you could feel the love Libby and Peter had for their family and friends from the second you held the handwritten card in your hand.

Creating a Flow Between Cocktail Hour and The Reception

In the Kogod Courtyard, we created boxwood walls to divide the vast open space, and covered the tops in cherry blossoms and orchid blooms. Not only was this aesthetically stunning, but it also allowed us to reserve the reception space until after cocktail hour, where our production team created an entry point for dinner. Then, the constructed walls allowed for a more intimate feel while guests were seated for dinner.

After dinner, the wall was deconstructed seamlessly to allow for guests to move throughout the entire courtyard when the real party began. And boy – did the party ever begin!

A Lively Wedding Reception at National Portrait Gallery

Libby and Peter were a true joy to plan with from beginning to end. Their reception was filled with happy tears and belly laughs, during the dances, speeches, and all of the moments in between. Finishing off the evening during cake cutting, was one final surprise for our groom Peter. He was a huge fan of Pitbull and what better way to celebrate a wedding on 3/05 than with Mr. 305 himself?! We secretly planned with Libby to have cutouts of Pitbull’s face ready for him on the dance floor post-cake cutting. Cue their Jake Sherman DJ blasting “Hotel Room Service”. It was EPIC!

A Welcome Reception at Cuba Libre

As you can tell, Libby and Peter’s wedding day was truly one for the books! Before we let you go, we can’t help but show off a few photos from their welcome reception at Cuba Libre too. These two were so much fun and an absolute joy to plan with. Despite the unexpected challenges, it was SO worth it! If you are looking for a team of DC and NYC wedding planners to help you plan your wedding day weekend, head here to learn more about Simply Breathe Events. Or, contact us here, and let’s get started!

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY WEDDING VENDORS

Wedding Planner: Simply Breathe Events

Photographer: Angelika Johns Photography

Wedding Venue: National Portrait Gallery in DC

Ceremony Musicians: WTA – PopCulture Strings

Florist + Bar Setup Decor: Edge Floral Event Designers

Bridal Attire: Martina Liana gown from Elegance by Roya Alexandria

Tuxedo: The Black Tux

Bridesmaid Dresses: Rene Ruiz

Caterer: Main Event Caters

Baker: Buttercream Bakeshop

DJ: Washington Talent

Wedding Signage: Velvet Fox Designs

Lighting: Digital Lighting

Photo Booth: Booth-O-Rama

Pipe & Drape: Fabrications

Rentals: Select Event Group

Transportation: Limousines Inc

Hair & Makeup: Behind the Veil

Tiffany Rivera is a DC & NYC Wedding Planner & Event Planner. For more of SBE’s latest weddings, check out Katrina and Jason’s winter wedding at Anderson House.