Atrium Wedding at Ronald Reagan Building DC

Nicole and Cina were married last fall at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, with a ceremony on the plaza and a reception to follow in the Atrium. Though they postponed the event from the prior year, the aesthetic for the big day remained unchanged. The vision for the Atrium wedding at the Reagan Building DC was modern wedding with copper details – clean lined in its choice of containers but also loose, organic and almost rustic when it came to the flowers. With a classic floral palette of whites and greens, we definitely delivered!

This wasn’t our first wedding at the Reagan Building, but it’s been the first in a long while where we’ve had the chance to produce the ceremony for the courtyard. It’s the perfect space to create a beautiful aisle, which we lined with a lush treatment of white rose petals. For the modern wedding with copper details, the end of the aisle featured a copper-painted wood arch with asymmetrically placed flowers in lush whites and greens to provide focus for the couple’s nuptials.

The reception took place in the spacious atrium beneath the barrel vaulted ceiling. Lush, low compote-style centerpieces in copper bowls were designed for the round tables. The head table featured a tablescape of white hydrangea, roses, anemone and more accented with green succulents and three varieties of eucalyptus.

Ronald Reagan Building wedding couple following vows

Carl Elixir Photography

Modern arch for outdoor ceremony at Ronald Reagan Building wedding

Carl Elixir Photography

Couple poses on Wilson Plaza outside Ronald Reagan Building

Carl Elixir Photography

Carl Elixir Photography

Outdoor wedding ceremony on Wilson Plaza at Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC

Carl Elixir Photography

Carl Elixir Photography

Wedding ceremony at Ronald Reagan Building on Wilson Plaza

Carl Elixir Photography

Atrium reception at the Ronald Reagan Building handles an ample guest count as a DC wedding venue

Carl Elixir Photography

Floral table centerpiece in white and green

Carl Elixir Photography

Wedding head table with flowers in copper bowls

Carl Elixir Photography

Wedding reception in Atrium at Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC

Carl Elixir Photography

Wedding couple pose in Wilson Plaza outside Ronald Reagan Building

Carl Elixir Photography

Vendors for Atrium Wedding at Reagan Building DC

Venue: Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center

Photography: Carl Elixir Photography

Florist: Petal’s Edge Floral Design

Wedding Coordinator: Chic Weddings & Events

We call it the creep…

Everyone talks about the rising cost of flowers, but there’s another story behind the numbers: time. Over the years, wedding timelines have stretched. First looks, detail shots, getting-ready portraits, ceremony and reception setups starting hours earlier than before, and more complex with event breakdowns. Florists are often still paid by the piece, not by the hour, yet the hours have multiplied.

What was once a 2 to 4 hour delivery day has quietly turned into a 12 to 16 hour production days with setup, standby, and late-night breakdowns. And flowers are still perishable, so they cannot sit out waiting for the photography timeline to catch up.

When couples ask why flowers cost more now, this is part of the answer. It is not just about stems or supply chains. It is the labor, the logistics, and the reality that perfection takes time, often a lot more than it used to.

Cover @masonphotography

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We call it the creep…

Everyone talks about the rising cost of flowers, but there’s another story behind the numbers: time. Over the years, wedding timelines have stretched. First looks, detail shots, getting-ready portraits, ceremony and reception setups starting hours earlier than before, and more complex with event breakdowns. Florists are often still paid by the piece, not by the hour, yet the hours have multiplied.

What was once a 2 to 4 hour delivery day has quietly turned into a 12 to 16 hour production days with setup, standby, and late-night breakdowns. And flowers are still perishable, so they cannot sit out waiting for the photography timeline to catch up.

When couples ask why flowers cost more now, this is part of the answer. It is not just about stems or supply chains. It is the labor, the logistics, and the reality that perfection takes time, often a lot more than it used to.

Cover @masonphotography

Head tables call for drama.⁣
⁣
At the International Spy Museum, Danielle & Peter’s head table became the focal point of the reception. Suspended florals brought color and scale into a sleek, modern space, while candles and layered textures grounded the design to create intimacy beneath. The effect was both dramatic and inviting, a statement that marked the couple’s place in the room. For us, flowers aren’t just about filling space, they’re about shaping it: directing attention, softening architecture, and transforming even the most contemporary venue into something romantic and unforgettable.⁣
⁣
📍 @spymuseumprivateevents⁣
🍽 @occasionscaterers⁣
📷 @photomat22
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🪑 @perfectsettingsllc⁣
📋 @bellanottedc

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Head tables call for drama.⁣
⁣
At the International Spy Museum, Danielle & Peter’s head table became the focal point of the reception. Suspended florals brought color and scale into a sleek, modern space, while candles and layered textures grounded the design to create intimacy beneath. The effect was both dramatic and inviting, a statement that marked the couple’s place in the room. For us, flowers aren’t just about filling space, they’re about shaping it: directing attention, softening architecture, and transforming even the most contemporary venue into something romantic and unforgettable.⁣
⁣
📍 @spymuseumprivateevents⁣
🍽 @occasionscaterers⁣
📷 @photomat22
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🪑 @perfectsettingsllc⁣
📋 @bellanottedc

A floral palette of rich jewel tones have a way of redefining a room... For Alex & John`s wedding at the Hotel Monaco, layers of burgundy, eggplant, and textured seasonal blooms brought depth and drama to the ceremony space. The architecture was already striking, but the flowers changed the atmosphere, creating warmth, intimacy, and focus where guests gathered. That’s the impact of investing in floral design: it goes beyond color. Flowers set the mood, shape the experience, and ensure your wedding feels unforgettable from the very first impression.⁣
⁣
📍@monacodc⁣
📷 jencody⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc

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Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17964694433976924

A floral palette of rich jewel tones have a way of redefining a room... For Alex & John's wedding at the Hotel Monaco, layers of burgundy, eggplant, and textured seasonal blooms brought depth and drama to the ceremony space. The architecture was already striking, but the flowers changed the atmosphere, creating warmth, intimacy, and focus where guests gathered. That’s the impact of investing in floral design: it goes beyond color. Flowers set the mood, shape the experience, and ensure your wedding feels unforgettable from the very first impression.⁣
⁣
📍@monacodc⁣
📷 jencody⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc

Did you know that baby’s breath can be a showstopper all on its own? 🌟

At Meaghan & David’s Willard Hotel wedding, we used this delicate bloom to create everything from airy, elevated centerpieces to rings of the tiny flowers to circle candles and lush runners on the head table. The result? A look that’s both ethereal and elegant, proving that baby’s breath can be more than just a filler flower. It’s a versatile, often budget-friendly option that brings a soft, romantic vibe to any wedding. Who’s ready to fall in love with this understated beauty? 😍

📍 @willard_intercontinentaldc
📷 @kellylossphoto
💐 @petalsedgedc

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Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17858944599510431

Did you know that baby’s breath can be a showstopper all on its own? 🌟

At Meaghan & David’s Willard Hotel wedding, we used this delicate bloom to create everything from airy, elevated centerpieces to rings of the tiny flowers to circle candles and lush runners on the head table. The result? A look that’s both ethereal and elegant, proving that baby’s breath can be more than just a filler flower. It’s a versatile, often budget-friendly option that brings a soft, romantic vibe to any wedding. Who’s ready to fall in love with this understated beauty? 😍

📍 @willard_intercontinentaldc
📷 @kellylossphoto
💐 @petalsedgedc

Backyard weddings come with charm built in. Intimacy, laughter, the feeling of home. And flowers should be designed to meet that atmosphere! For Kristel & Jordan`s celebration, we leaned into their pastel floral palette paired with texture, and movement, keeping the palette playful but elevated. The result was a design that felt one-of-a-kind, deeply personal, and still refined. It’s proof that whether it’s a ballroom or a backyard, thoughtful floral design always sets the tone for the experience.⁣
⁣
📷 @apkephotography⁣
🍽 @getplateddc⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🍰 @sweettreatsdmv

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Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17866221273463778

Backyard weddings come with charm built in. Intimacy, laughter, the feeling of home. And flowers should be designed to meet that atmosphere! For Kristel & Jordan's celebration, we leaned into their pastel floral palette paired with texture, and movement, keeping the palette playful but elevated. The result was a design that felt one-of-a-kind, deeply personal, and still refined. It’s proof that whether it’s a ballroom or a backyard, thoughtful floral design always sets the tone for the experience.⁣
⁣
📷 @apkephotography⁣
🍽 @getplateddc⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🍰 @sweettreatsdmv

Candlelight does something flowers can’t do on their own: it shifts the entire atmosphere. At Capitol View at 400, the skyline is already a showstopper, so we kept the florals for Rachael & Andrew`s wedding refined and layered, then added candlelight to transform the tables after dark. The flicker reflects off petals, glassware, and linens, making every detail feel more intentional. Especially in fall, when evenings arrive earlier, candles extend the life of the flowers and create a sense of intimacy that photographs beautifully.⁣
⁣
📍@capitolview400⁣
📷 @darcytroutman_weddings⁣
🍽 @corcorancaterers⁣
💐@petalsedgedc

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