Willard Intercontinental Wedding with Chinoiserie

This past summer, one of Washington, DC’s most historic hotels played host to one of the most simple, stunning weddings we have had the pleasure of producing. This Willard Hotel wedding with chinoiserie featured an abundance of hydrangea and took place on one of the most perfect late summer days of August. The result was a gorgeous mix of east meets west, tradition meets classic! Wendy and Erik’s vision of soft pastels complemented by blue and white chinoiserie vases came to life beautifully. The expression on their faces as they entered the ballroom says it all!

Wendy carried a lush and beautiful bouquet of pale pink and white garden roses accented with white lisianthus. For her bridesmaids, only the softest pink Sweet Eskimo roses would do, offset perfectly by their pale blue bridesmaids’ gowns. And inside the Willard Hotel’s Crystal Room, the tables were set with a similar floral palette designed using hydrangea, roses, and touches of stock and lisianthus. The soft, muted colors made quite a statement within the ornate ballroom.

The couple tied the knot in the Crystal Room. Flanking them were two classic designs in whites and pinks atop glass pilsner vases. The centerpieces for this Willard Hotel wedding were simple and understated. Mounds of white and light pink hydrangea filled blue-white chinoiserie bowls. The true show stopper, however, was the sweetheart table. An eclectic mix of chinoiserie containers each held a bouquet of blooms. Glass-enclosed taper candles and pillar candles were interspersed amongst the vases, both on the tabletop and skirting the front, for a truly romantic and dramatic focal point to the room.

Personal touches really make a difference in a wedding, and this one was filled with them. While we loved the chinoiserie vases at each table, the whimsical bamboo steamer favor boxes really carried the design to the next level. The beautiful elements made Wendy and Erik’s wedding the personal event that they so deserved.

Willard Intercontinental Hotel Wedding with chinoiserie

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Bridesmaid bouquets of sweet escimo roses

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Bridesmaids carry bouquets of sweet escimo roses

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Willard Intercontinental wedding ceremony

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Willard Hotel wedding venue in the Crystal Ballroom Intercontinental wedding reception

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Willard Intercontinental wedding elevated centerpiece

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Willard Intercontinental wedding reception

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Chinoiserie vases for Willard intercontinental sweetheart table with sweet escimo roses

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Willard Intercontinental wedding sweetheart table with sweet escimo roses

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Venue: Willard Hotel

Photography: Emily Blumberg Photography

Florist: Petal’s Edge

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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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

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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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