Wedding Day

Washington National Cathedral

Ceremony

The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection

Reception

Our Wedding

CEREMONY

5:30 pm Cathedral doors open 5:45 pm Prelude and Guest Seating 6:00 pm Prompt Start Time- Procession Begins  Please remember, our ceremony will be unplugged. While we love that you want to capture our special moment, we ask that you put your phones away and be present with us. Our photographers got the ceremony footage on lock, and there will be plenty of opportunities to take photos during the reception. Thank you so much for your support with this.

COCKTAIL HR. & RECEPTION

7:30-8:30 pm Cocktail Hour | Mayflower Chinese Room8:30 pm Reception Begins | Mayflower Grand Ballroom

Transportation

Transportation will be provided to and from the Mayflower and the Cathedral. 4:45 pm Shuttle 1 Pick up at the Mayflower4:55 pm Shuttle 2 Pick up at the Mayflower 5:20 pm Shuttle #1 Arrival at the Cathedral5:30 pm Shuttle #2 Arrival at the Cathedral 7:10 pm Shuttle #1 Pick up at the Cathedral7:30 pm Shuttle #2 Pick up at the Cathedral 7:30 pm Shuttle #1 Arrival at the Mayflower7:50 pm Shuttle #2 Arrival at the Mayflower

Day of Details

It all started in 2017 with mutual friends posting pictures of a night out with Nikki on their snapchat. Chris responded to one of their posts of Nikki happy dancing with the fridge with, "Who is that? Put me on." To which the twins replied, "put yourself on". LOL

Our Story

After careful consultation, they gave Chris Nikki's number, and he called. Yes, not a text, straight up called. A few weeks in, Chris asked Nikki out on a first date. With him living in DC and Atlanta, and Nikki living in Chicago, this meant someone would need to travel. Chris flew in to Chicago for one night to take Nikki to a Bruno Mars concert! (Best 1st date ever!)

He Called

... 4 years later

Fast Forward to 2020. Mid pandemic. The text conversations picked up, the friendship grew, and Nikki planned a trip to D.C. for the 2020 March on Washington. (protest against racial injustice) Nikki was certain her and Chris were just friends, until she hugged him in the airport pick up lane and smelled his cologne. At that moment, she decided he was going to be her boyfriend. (He may not have known it yet). Chris finally got his 2nd date.

2020 | The Rekindle

After a year of long distance and month long covid visits, Nikki decided to leave the best city in the whole wide world and start a life with Chris and their fur babies, G&amp;Q in D.C.

2021 | The Move

Nikki officially became a cat mom when G &amp; Q welcomed her into her new home. Their hearts broke when they gained an angel and said goodbye to Q in 2023. Then in 2024, G got a new baby brother. Wedding day will be Wrigley's 2nd birthday!

Our Little Family

Chris and Toni, Nikkis sister, planned a mother daughter photo shoot in Chicagos Museum Campus, Nikkis favorite place in the city. It was there, on the lake with the skyline in the background, where Chris bent the knee and asked Nikki to marry him.

2024 | The Proposal

She said Yes!

Us over the years

To all the weddings that we attended before our own, thank you for the inspiration.

Photos

Toni Diaz

Kameron Florence

Celina Roberson

Brian Fagin

Courtnay Vieira

Lester Spellman

Skylar Bailey

Sage Fagin

Winter Florence

Leilana Spellman

Michael Charles Vieira

Grayson Bailey

Wedding Party

FAQs

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please use the link below to ensure that you have access to the group rate.In addition to the web address, there is an option of phone reservations. Please use the following dedicated Group Reservations phone numbers in order to make sure you are able to access special block rates.Reservations Toll Free: 877-212-5752

DCA (Reagan) is the nearest airport and the one we recommend. (7 miles from Mayflower) BWI: 36 milesIAD (Dulles): 28 miles

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Travel

Sightseeing & Activities

The National Mall: 🏛️ close to Dupont Circle, the National Mall is where the city's most famous monuments and memorials are, including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, and Nikki's favorite view, especially at night, The Capitol. The Mall is our favorite place to ride scooters! Smithsonian Museums: Most Smithsonian museums offer free admission &amp; are a great option for families, including the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Zoo. National Museum of African American History and Culture: This is our favorite Smithsonian! It beautifully celebrates African American History and Culture. Note: Free timed-entry passes are often required and can be reserved online in advance. You will want to have TIME here. (on the National Mall) International Spy Museum: ticketed museum that offers an interactive experience for both kids and adults. Embassy Row: Take a stroll down Massachusetts Avenue to see the many historic embassies and mansions. (Dupont Circle) Malcom X Park: technical term is Meridian Hill. On Sundays theres usually a drum circle. The Wharf &amp; Navy Yard are great sight seeing places too! Details in "Other Neighborhoods".

Nikki's Food Recs

Ben's Chili Bowl: especially Sunday or Monday- after the wedding fits, LOL. Get a half smoke with chili cheese fries, and an oreo shake. (Legendary D.C. restaurant and a civil rights landmark. U Street) DC has hella Salvadorans so there are pupusas and empanadas everywhere. Definitely recommend trying pupusas while you’re here. (I like El Tamarindo for pupusas and Julia’s empanadas in Adams Morgan) Lots of Ethiopians too so Ethiopian food everywhere. Our favorite is Heat Da Spot. Mexican food out here is not Nikki's favorite. 😬 Unless you get the breakfast tacos at Le Tejana in Mt Pleasant, those are 🔥! Definitely try WINGS &amp; MUMBO SAUCE from any Chinese carry out. Compare the mumbo sauce to Chicago's mild sauce and let us know what you think! lol

More Food, Drinks, & Entertainment

Busboys &amp; Poets: Well-known D.C. combo of a restaurant, bookstore, and event space. Great for a casual meal, a coffee, or to catch a poetry reading or live music. (14th Street) Bravo Bravo: A popular salsa nightclub known for late-night music, drinks, and dancing. (Dupont) Decades DC: A multi-floor, retro-themed nightclub (Dupont) Saint Yves: A luxurious hip-hop, R&amp;B, and Top 40 hits nightclub and lounge. (Dupont) Sports Bars Nearby: The Sign of the Whale and Across the Pond. Public Bar is a bar and lounge with multiple floors, including a rooftop bar. (Dupont) The Dupont Circle Farmers Market: This is a popular Sunday morning spot to find fresh, local produce and artisanal goods. Breweries: ChurchKey, a famous craft beer bar with a huge selection, is nearby. For a true brewery experience, Right Proper Brewing Company and Other Half Brewing are a short Uber or metro ride away. Late Bites The Admiral: A casual bar and restaurant located directly on Dupont Circle, it's a good place for drinks with friends. Kramerbooks &amp; Afterwords: An independent bookstore with an on-site cafe that is open late. It's a great spot to browse books and have a meal or a coffee. Shake Shack, &amp; Pizza, Duccini's Pizza (Jumbo Slice). Unique Attraction The Mansion on O Street: A museum, hotel, and private club with over 100 rooms and 80 secret doors to discover. You can explore at their own pace, and every item in the mansion is for sale. (Dupont)

Other Neighborhoods

The Wharf: waterfront neighborhood with food &amp; entertainment right on the Potomac River. (Think Navy Pier-ish) There's wide variety of restaurants, from fine dining to casual seafood shacks. We love Hanks! It also has a decent nightlife scene, we suggest Karaoke at Live-K or drinks at 12 Stories rooftop bar. Adams Morgan: Diverse food &amp; nightlife including live blues &amp; Madam's Organ and intimate, social club vibes at Shanklin Hall. Georgetown: Charming streets, upscale boutiques, &amp; a wide variety of shops and restaurants, cute waterfront too NoMa: Lots of Entertainment activities, including Beat the Bomb, Kick Axe (axe throwing), and F1 racecar arcade. La Cosecha is a good food court there too. Navy Yard: home of Nationals Park! ⚾️ Tom's watchbar is a popular sports bar. If the bullpen is open, its a cool outdoor space with food and drink vendors. Mt. Pleasant: so much culture &amp; history here, small farmers market, and where you can get La Tejana's breakfast tacos 🤤

Shopping

Connecticut Avenue: A street in Dupont Circle that has a mix of retailers, including local boutiques &amp; large brands. Sephora: across the street from the Mayflower, book those make up appointments! lol Men's Wearhouse: also across the street from the Mayflower Georgetown &amp; Dupont: retail shopping

Things to Do

Trying to decide what to wear?

Black Tie Wedding Guest Attire

masculine: Tuxedo with a black bow tie, preferably, or a black tie. A black vest or cummerbund is acceptable. feminine: Formal floor-length gown or suit– any color EXCEPT white, cream or champagne.

Christopher and Nicole

Christopher and Nicole

Photos

Us over the years

To all the weddings that we attended before our own, thank you for the inspiration.