Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

The Winery at Bull Run

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

It all started with a swipe. While it’s not clear who actually caught whose eye first, Shane is adamant he made the first move. Near the beginning of October 2019, after several days of trading messages on the dating app Hinge, he suggested meeting up at a local coffee shop, noting her professed love for (or, he would argue, obsession with) coffee. They met up on a cool fall afternoon, took a walk through Capitol Hill, and exchanged numbers with the promise to meet up for a second date. He thought she was cute and confident; she thought he was kind and liked his smile. The first few months went by quickly. They learned they both loved the outdoors, shared an interest in baking and cooking, and were ambitious with their careers. Shane works for Congress; Stephanie is an attorney. Despite their many similar interests, they were also able to teach each other new things. Stephanie taught Shane, a notoriously picky eater, a love of Brussels sprouts and pesto. He taught her how to parallel park.

Then everything changed in March 2020 when D.C. issued its stay at home order because of COVID-19. Despite toilet paper and hand sanitizer shortages, a crazy roommate of Stephanie’s, and the pandemonium of the first wave, they made it work. They assembled puzzles together (though Stephanie says she mostly just watched Shane before coming in strong at the end), they made it through most of The Great British Baking Show and perfected their bakes, and they opted outside as much as possible. A Memorial Day trip to visit each other’s parents capped this new phase of their relationship and convinced them that they each might have just found “the one.”

By the beginning of fall, Shane began gaming out how to propose and scoping out places around D.C. that would be just right. He settled on the U.S. National Arboretum, a botanical collection in the northeast part of the city, and recruited a friend of his and Stephanie’s to take pictures. He successfully floated the idea of visiting to Stephanie, and the chosen day was to be bright and sunny. And then the rain came; 2020 was throwing yet another wrench into plans. The plan was called off the morning of due to the deluge, and they opted to watch Hamilton inside. Right before meeting up, the rain suddenly began to clear and, in a matter of minutes, the plan was back on and everyone in place with Stephanie none the wiser. Before heading to the Asian Valley section of the arboretum, the designated spot, Shane took Stephanie through other collections and locales, hoping to throw off any suspicions by relying on Stephanie’s aversion to cold weather and the low temperatures that day. Too focused on quickly getting through the collections, Stephanie’s mind was focused on anything but the imminent proposal. At last, they arrived in the Asian Valley and took a stroll through its tree-covered paths. When they arrived at its pagoda, Shane took Stephanie on a quick detour down a nearby steppingstone path through a small rock garden. With the pagoda in the background and the landscape glistening with rainwater, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. (She said yes, obviously.)

We are beyond excited to invite you to join us this September as we celebrate at one of Virginia's most picturesque wineries. We look forward to connecting with each of you on a very special day and thank you for choosing to celebrate with us.

Our Story

Airports

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

<a href="https://www.flyreagan.com/dca/reagan-national-airport" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website</a>

Dulles International Airport (IAD)

<a href="https://www.flydulles.com/iad/dulles-international-airport" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website</a>

Hotels

Courtyard by Marriott Arlington Crystal City / Reagan National Airport

2899 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202(703) 549-3434<a href="https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasct-courtyard-arlington-crystal-city-reagan-national-airport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hotel Website</a> The hotel is located close to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, one of two airports servicing the D.C. - Northern Virginia area. It is also located close to D.C. for those interested in any sightseeing before or after the wedding and festivities. The hotel maintains a shuttle service to and from the airport. To secure the discounted rate for the room block, guests should use the following <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1605994923389&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">link</a> or contact Marriott Reservations at 1 (800) 321-2211 or (703) 549-3434 on or before August 20, 2021 to make reservations. If calling, guests should identify themselves as part of the Hand/Trader Wedding Room Block.

Hyatt Place Chantilly | Dulles Airport South

4994 Westone Plaza,&nbsp;Chantilly, Virginia, United States, 20151(703) 961-8160<a href="https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/virginia/hyatt-place-chantilly-dulles-airport-south/iadzs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hotel Website</a> The hotel is located close to Dulles International Airport, the other major airport servicing the D.C. - Northern Virginia area. It is the closest hotel to the Winery at Bull Run. The hotel maintains a shuttle service to and from the airport. To secure the discounted rate for the room block, guests should book online or contact&nbsp;the Reservations Center at 1-888-591-1234 and use the group code G-TRHA.

DC Metro

For those looking to sightsee, the DC Metro offers a convenient way to get around town without the hassle of a car and finding parking. Or, skip the Metro and use Lyft or Uber! <a href="https://www.wmata.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DC Metro Website</a>

Travel

Helpful Tip!

Washington, D.C. is built on a quadrant system with every address ending in NE, SE, SW, or NW. That means there may be as many as four locations that have the same address with only the quadrant designation differing! For example, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW is the White House; 1600 Pennsylvania Ave SE is an apartment complex. Before going anywhere or entering an address in a ride-sharing app, double check the quadrant of your destination or you might just end up on the wrong side of town!

Nearly two miles long, the National Mall stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol. Bordered by many of the Smithsonian museums, the National Mall also offers convenient access to a number of the capital's memorials and monuments, including the Vietnam War Memorial, WWII Memorial, and the Washington Monument.

National Mall

Comprised of 19 museums and a zoo, the Smithsonian Institution has a little for everyone. Most museums are located along the National Mall or in close proximity. Some may be requiring timed entry passes due to social distancing. Stephanie's and Shane's favorites include the National Portrait Gallery, the National Art Gallery, and the National Air and Space Museum. Did we mention they're free?

The Smithsonian Museums and Zoo

First built in 1800, the U.S. Capitol has evolved and grown in size along with the nation. A visit to the Capitol will take you behind the scenes into the Rotunda, Old Supreme Court Chamber, and the previous chambers occupied by the Senate and House of Representatives. Depending on the day, you might even be able to observe House and Senate proceedings from the chamber galleries.Depending on reopening timelines, tickets may be secured directly from the Capitol Visitor Center or through the offices of your senators or representative, which may offer a smaller, more intimate tour than the Capitol Visitor Center.

United States Capitol

The White House is located just off the National Mall. Tickets for a tour of the ground floor may be secured by contacting your senators or representative and are dependent upon the White House's decision whether to reopen this summer and fall. It's recommended you apply at least 12 weeks in advance as tickets go quickly.

The White House

Located just south of the National Mall, the Tidal Basin offers visitors a shaded walk under hundreds of cherry trees and access to the Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, and MLK Memorial. Visitors also have the option of renting a paddle boat.

Tidal Basin

Do you have what it takes to go undercover? Find out at the International Spy Museum, which boasts the largest collection of espionage artifacts. During your visit, you'll uncover the history of espionage, test your mettle as a spy, and learn about the spies who shaped history.Due to social distancing measures, tickets may be limited, and visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Stephanie & Shane

Stephanie & Shane

Wedding Party

Bridesmaids

Groomsmen

Ringbearer