A Family Affair

by Laura Vietmeyer

 

Becca and Patrick’s year-long engagement gave them plenty of time to plan the perfect wedding day steeped in family traditions. The couple’s families played a big part in making the day extra special. “Our parents are saints,” Becca says. “Everyone worked so well together to pull this off.” Three years to the day they first met, the 25-person bridal party and 180 guests gathered together to celebrate the happy couple.

 

Q. How did he propose? 

Patrick proposed at our home in Washington D.C. We were going out to dinner and he asked me to lock up the house, and when I turned around he was on a bended knee. I first thought he fell, but shortly thereafter he proposed.

 
Q. How did you announce your engagement? 

Through a series of phone calls. We wanted our nearest and dearest to hear the news from us directly—it was a whirlwind of a weekend, I even managed to get ahold of one of my best friends in Dubai!

Q. What was the first detail that you knew you absolutely had to have at your wedding? 

For one reason or another, the table setting was always really important to me. I knew I wanted textured linens, silver beaded chargers and silver chiavari chairs. As soon as we picked the venue, the décor elements just fell into place.

Q. What was the most important item for your wedding that you knew you just had to splurge on?

My mom surprised Patrick and I with a Herend china cake topper. Patrick’s mom has been collecting Herend figurines forever, and last Christmas she passed the tradition on to us. We used the two blue lovebirds as our cake topper, and now they’re on display in our kitchen with the other pieces we’ve received.

Q. What was your biggest surprise when planning your wedding?

My best friend and Matron of Honor got married the August before Patrick and me. My parents attended her wedding in Minnesota and surprisingly loved the photo booth. As soon as my mom got home, she booked one for ours and it was as big of a hit as she had hoped, especially with the little ones!

Q. What part of your wedding day was worth every penny?  Is the whole wedding an answer?

It was just the most amazing day! If I had to pick one thing, I’d say upgrading the wine was a must! Fortunately, that was a budget item that was easily agreed upon by my parents, and Bartolotta worked with us to pick some other choices from their area restaurants’ wine lists.

Q. Did you have a “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue?”

I carried my “something old” and “something borrowed” in both of my pockets! To remember loved ones that have passed, I carried a script from my grandfather’s prescription pad, as well as a frog brooch that was passed on to me from Patrick’s grandmother. I also carried a wedding handkerchief with the initials and date of my grandparents’ wedding, which was the same date as our wedding. My mother-in-law also lent me a handkerchief with blue embroidery. My dad would probably tell you that the whole wedding was “something new,” but the most significant were my wedding dress and wedding band. Another “something old” was the center stone of my engagement ring that was Patrick’s grandmother’s, and my “something blue” was a sapphire wedding band.

Q. Tell us about your bridal ensemble.

My dress was Amsale. The best part about it was that it had straps so I wasn’t pulling it up all night, and it had pockets! For jewelry I wore my engagement ring/wedding band, diamond and pearl earrings that matched my floral lace veil, a diamond David Yurman bracelet, and a silver Tiffany T that I received from my husband the morning of our wedding.  

       
Q. What would be one piece of advice that you would offer to future brides?

Your engagement can be such a whirlwind. It is an exciting time that is filled with anticipation, but there is also a lot of coordinating and planning. We did everything in phases, and took breaks so that we could enjoy being engaged while planning our wedding. It’s important to make things fun, and when you do hit bumps along the way remind yourself what’s important.