One Couple’s Elegant, Greek-Infused Wedding With Blue and Fuchsia Details at the Larz Anderson House in DC
Drawing inspiration from a faraway destination can infuse any event with an adventurous motif. With their nuptials on the horizon, Abbey and Alexi looked across the Atlantic Ocean to Alexi’s country of heritage, Greece, for wedding inspiration. Instead of bringing their nearest and dearest to the country, the bride and groom elected to bring the Greek Isles to Washington, DC. “The event design had to embody the elements of Greece as an homage to Alexi’s Greek background,” explains Abbey. “For the color palette, we incorporated a variety of blue undertones, paired with a pop of magenta to replicate the natural color of the Bougainvillea florals that organically grow in Greece.”
Delicate bougainvillea designs graced the wedding invitations, requesting that friends and family assemble at the Larz Anderson House on a lovely September evening to celebrate Abbey and Alexi. Before the event, the bride gathered her bridesmaids, and the ladies readied themselves between sips of Champagne. For the wedding-day looks, “Alexi and I wanted to emulate a romantic, relaxed style with a few modern touches,” Abbey notes. “I wore a romantic, off-the-shoulder, floral-adorned Suzanne Neville wedding dress from Lovely Bride DC. I also chose blue Sarah Flint shoes to wear—I loved the designer’s “walk like a woman” message.”
The groom donned a striking Mediterranean-blue Neiman Marcus suit with a fuchsia tie and cufflinks to match the event’s blooms. Prior to the ceremony, the almost-Mr.-and-Mrs. had a first look with a unique twist. “We were very excited about our private vows. It gave us a beautiful moment to be alone and to celebrate and cherish getting married. It was a special and lovely moment. We were so over the moon after our private vows, we could not stop beaming during the ceremony!” the couple shares.
At promptly six o’clock, attendees watched as the groom, groomsmen in blue suits and olive-stemmed boutonnieres and bridesmaids in chic sage gowns filtered down the aisle to the altar: a platform featuring fuchsia-and-blue floral arrangements in brass vases on pillars of varying heights. “For the ceremony, we wanted to get married on a “Piece of Greece,” so during a trip to Greece, we purchased a stunning blue rug that we insisted on using at the altar,” the bride mentions. “To keep the rug’s integrity, we constructed a white acrylic platform to sit underneath it so that it wouldn’t touch the ground.”
The bride carried a lush bouquet of pink-hued blossoms. “The oversized bridal bouquet filled with bougainvillea was a major component of what I had envisioned for my wedding day,” says Abbey. Following the recessional, guests followed the wedding party to the poolside reception area. A display made up to look like one of the famous white-stone Grecian building walls, complete with nooks and adorned with bougainvillea and busts, held small bottles of olive oil that acted as escort cards. “The venue itself lends so many natural and beautiful elements. One of our favorite details was the reflecting pool: we incorporated oversized Greek busts at both ends. We elevated the design by adding fresh garden roses and bougainvillea to the busts,” Abbey tells.
Both round and long tables sported the trademark flowers, along with candles of different heights, greenery and ornate charger plates with painted details. “Our favorite tablescape design was the low compote arrangement styled with fresh figs and olives as a representation of family and fellowship, which is important in Greek culture,” the bride says. “Our amazing stationery designer created acrylic bougainvillea menu cards and table numbers that resembled Greek vessels that displayed the names of various cities in Greece.”
“Don’t be afraid to step outside what is considered traditional,” Abbey advises. “Incorporate elements that are special and sentimental to you both. And trust your wedding planner! Ours made everything easy and functional for us throughout the planning process.”