Candlelit Wedding at Hotel Monaco DC

On a crisp fall day, Emma and James celebrated their nuptials with a ceremony in historic Alexandria, Virginia followed by an elegant reception at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, DC. Their candlelit wedding was a vision of elegance, with a color palette of black, white, and gold setting the stage for a night to remember. It was a wedding that blended classic and modern sensibilities from beginning to end.

Emma’s bridal bouquet was a breathtaking display of white roses, the most classic of wedding flowers. The design took a modern twist, with fully opened Tibet roses taking a modern, layered design. It was a choice that conveyed both a sense of purity and grace. As she walked down the aisle at St. Mary’s Basilica, a romantic scene of ethereal pomander balls crafted from delicate, massed baby’s breath led the way to happily ever after.

At the reception, guests were greeted by a symphony of candlelight and floral beauty. Modern gold compotes overflowed lush designs of baby’s breath accented with white roses opened to perfection. The design was finished with a trio of glass-enclosed black wax taper candles. The remaining tables boasted a collection of modern Highball bud vases holding white roses and black taper candles for the ultimate modern romantic statement piece.

But it was the head table that truly stole the show, draped in a luxurious black velvet linen and adorned with over 200 taper and votive candles. Nestled among the flickering flames were bud vases brimming with white roses, creating a scene straight out of a fairytale. Minimalism may be seeing a revival in weddings these days, but this look blended minimal with maximal, elegance in simplicity.

As the night unfolded, Emma and James danced under the soft glow of the candlelit wedding, surrounded by the love and warmth of their family and friends. It was a celebration of pure romance, where every detail, from the flowers to the flickering candles, came together to create a magical atmosphere.

Christina Joy Photograpy

Fresh and dried flowers come together in an elegant and modern groom's floral pocket square

Christina Joy Photograpy

Christina Joy Fox Photography

Christina J. Fox 757-560-4674

Candlelit wedding at Hotel Monaco in Washington DC

Christina Joy Photograpy

Venue: Hotel Monaco DC

Photography: Christina Joy Fox Photography

Florist: Petal’s Edge Floral Design

Planner: Simply Bold

Amanda & Jack’s Woodend wedding drew its inspiration from a William Morris print - lush, romantic, and rooted in nature. The florals carried that spirit through every detail: moss runners lined the tables, dotted with petite brown bottles of chamomile, blush spray roses, and wisps of greenery that felt as if they had grown there overnight. Cloche domes held tiny blooms like keepsakes. Brass animals cradled florals as though part of the garden itself, a perfect nod to the nature sanctuary venue. (Which ones can you find?) Even the greenery-lined staircase framing the cake echoed the same story. Every bloom was chosen for texture and movement, bringing that painterly, botanical world to life in three dimensions.

📍 @woodendsanctuary⁣
📷 @amypaperbird⁣
🍽 @purpleonioncatering⁣
💐@petalsedgedc⁣
📋@lotusevent_co

2 0

Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 18088340395847775

Amanda & Jack’s Woodend wedding drew its inspiration from a William Morris print - lush, romantic, and rooted in nature. The florals carried that spirit through every detail: moss runners lined the tables, dotted with petite brown bottles of chamomile, blush spray roses, and wisps of greenery that felt as if they had grown there overnight. Cloche domes held tiny blooms like keepsakes. Brass animals cradled florals as though part of the garden itself, a perfect nod to the nature sanctuary venue. (Which ones can you find?) Even the greenery-lined staircase framing the cake echoed the same story. Every bloom was chosen for texture and movement, bringing that painterly, botanical world to life in three dimensions.

📍 @woodendsanctuary⁣
📷 @amypaperbird⁣
🍽 @purpleonioncatering⁣
💐@petalsedgedc⁣
📋@lotusevent_co

When Mother Nature takes her cues from the tablescape. 😉⁣
⁣
At River Farm, the serpentine table looked as though it had grown right out of the landscape. Florals in plum, blush, taupe, and eggplant wound between wood candle holders and fruit, creating a rhythm that felt perfectly in step with the surrounding gardens. The palette was moody but soft, a study in texture and tone rather than contrast. It is our favorite kind of designs: one that blurs the line between what is arranged and what simply belongs.⁣
⁣
📍 @riverfarm_va⁣
📷 @ashleewilcoxphoto⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🪑 @curatedeventsdmv
📜 @thestationeryarchitect⁣
📋@simplybold_events

29 8

Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 18071126419997470

When Mother Nature takes her cues from the tablescape. 😉⁣
⁣
At River Farm, the serpentine table looked as though it had grown right out of the landscape. Florals in plum, blush, taupe, and eggplant wound between wood candle holders and fruit, creating a rhythm that felt perfectly in step with the surrounding gardens. The palette was moody but soft, a study in texture and tone rather than contrast. It is our favorite kind of designs: one that blurs the line between what is arranged and what simply belongs.⁣
⁣
📍 @riverfarm_va⁣
📷 @ashleewilcoxphoto⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🪑 @curatedeventsdmv
📜 @thestationeryarchitect⁣
📋@simplybold_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

124 15

Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 18294771121257479

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

5 5

Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17909598372097743

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

4 1

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

9 3

Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17858944599510431