As DC and NYC wedding planners, there are moments in our career where we sit back and think, “oh the stories we could tell”. That was definitely this wedding! There were so many twists and turns, and what started off as a 90 person wedding at Auto Shop DC, ended up turning into an intimate 17 person wedding at the Riggs Hotel. Fortunately though, that was what our sweet couple Aishlin and Rich had wanted from the start! When you start to plan a wedding, it’s easier for things to get “bigger and bigger”, and if that’s what you ultimately want, we will always be your biggest cheerleaders! But if from day one you envision something that is both intimate and elegant, I think you are going to find a lot of inspiration from this wedding at the Riggs Hotel.

Planning their Wedding at the Riggs Hotel

A smaller wedding can be a great way to infuse an abundance of meaningful and personalized details throughout the ceremony and celebration. This isn’t always possible with a larger guest list! Aishlin and Rich were such a delight to plan with, and they really stayed focused on what was most important to them the entire time. For example, Aishlin is originally from South Africa, so it was a real treat to have her family fly in for the joyous occasion. They wanted to celebrate and enjoy their time with family and friends. At the end of the day, here at Simply Breathe Events we want your weddings to be beautiful (and flawlessly executed) but we always want you to enjoy yourselves! What’s the point of pretty if you are not enjoying once-in-a-lifetime bliss?

An Intimate Indoor Ceremony at the Riggs Hotel

After Aishlin and Rich’s first look on the grand staircase, they took the remainder of their wedding portraits around the Rigg’s Hotel. There was no shortage of beautiful spaces! Their ceremony took place in a small, yet stunning, room with a gorgeous marble fireplace as the backdrop. We adorned the mantle with an eight-foot floral garland featuring King Protea, the official flower of South Africa, as a nod to Aishlin’s heritage. Cocktail hour commenced shortly after these two were pronounced husband and wife!

A Charming Indoor Reception

Do you remember how earlier we mentioned about the wedding’s smaller guest list? Well, this gave Aishlin and her family an opportunity to focus more on the small details. There are always those truly remarkable touches that make a memorable event. One example of such great detail was the fact that Aishlin’s mother took on the task of hand-sewing the napkins used for the dinner. This gesture was a personal touch filled with warmth, love, and added such charm. That can’t be found in store-bought or rented napkins!

To create the stunning reception you’ll find below, we also partnered with Something Vintage to curate modern yet moody pieces to enhance the overall atmosphere. Looking back, we are absolutely obsessed with everything about this wedding at the Rigg’s Hotel: from the neutral color palette with pops of wine-colored florals and moodier accents to the gorgeous venue that created the perfect space to welcome and enjoy their families’ company.

It Ended with a Speakeasy

As soon as dinner ended, Aishlin and Rich headed downstairs to sneak into the hotel’s speakeasy Silver Lyon. Here, they found the perfect backdrop for a few fun flash photography photos. Being in high spirits, they continued their lively conversation, full of laughter. When they were ready, they headed back upstairs to the suite, where more friends eagerly waited for them to continue the night’s festivities into the wee hours of the morning. It was perfection!!

If you are looking for wedding planners in NYC, DC, or beyond, we would love to connect. Get in touch with us here, or learn more about our wedding planning packages here. If you are looking for more wedding ideas, head to our blog for weekly wedding features, or come find us on Instagram for almost daily inspiration.

DC WEDDING VENDORS

Wedding Planner: Simply Breathe Events

Photographer: Emily Gude Photography

Wedding Venue: The Riggs Hotel DC

Florist: Rocking Bird Flower Co

Bridal Attire: BHLDN (Jenny Yoo)

Groom’s Attire: The Black Tux

Bridal Hair + Makeup: Make up by Tasia

Decor: Something Vintage

Officiant: With this ring I thee wed

Invitations + Signage: Minted

Tiffany Rivera is a DC & NYC Wedding Planner & Event Planner. For more of SBE’s latest weddings, check out this warm and inviting wedding at the Line Hotel.