Congratulations Greg & Haiying

What a fun wedding and a fun couple! I was happy the whole time I was working this wedding and my feet didn't turn numb like they always do at the end of the night! Crazy! I know!

Greg & Haiying met at swing dancing. Not only are they good dance partners, but they are great life partners. He is more serious and linear, and Haiying is more free-spirited and creative. The perfect match. Greg handled most of the planning which is quite unusual but a welcomed change for me. He and I are just as detailed oriented so we got along famously! I loved working on this wedding because they were up for doing something different and were a totally low maintenance couple.

Their ceremony was held at the Arlington Arts Center, a local art gallery that I've passed by a million times but never visited. What a cool space and rental rate is so affordable. The guests could visit the other galleries while waiting for the ceremony to start in the Tiffany Gallery (see photo below). It was a little tight for 100 seated guest. There were interesting spots for photos also. The reception was held at the Clarendon Ballroom, where Greg & Haiying have swing danced before. As usual, the food and staff were superb. Will Tynch and Bill Merkel from Orangeline Entertainment provided the sounds for the evening and kept the dance floor busy. Greg & Haiying surprised the guests with a traditional Chinese lion dance performance from the Wong Chinese Boxing Association. A lively and festive beginning to the party and the guests (and all of us working) were completely mesmerized! The lion dance with the drums and cymbals is meant to scare away bad spirits. Greg and Haiying danced a traditional waltz to Come Away with Me by Norah Jones (there are very few pieces of contemporary music in 3/4 time, and this song is perfect). They floated across the dance floor with such grace. Then later on, they surprised their guests one more time with a swing routine to Shake, Rattle & Roll! Jessica Christian, a new photographer to the DC area, was kept busy capturing all the great moments of the day. Here are some preview pictures at Jessica's blog.

Closeup of centerpieces provide by a family friend. Very bright and festive.


The Arlington Arts Center, site of the ceremony. We placed some colorful parasols in the front lawn. Guests had fun posing for pictures with them! :)

The Tiffany Gallery, appropriately named.

The Clarendon Ballroom - bright orange napkins livened up the tables. Some fun dance lighting provided by the DJ in the background.

The lion dance!!

Not into the traditional cake and cake cutting? Go with cupcakes instead and skip the cake cutting altogether. Note the orange tablecloths on the buffet table.

Tired of the traditional guestbook? Try a skateboard. Yes. A skateboard. We had the guests sign their names and leave a short message. Great idea!

The bride & groom in their swing dancing clothes with yours truly!

I just had so much fun with Greg & Haiying and am so honored that they chose me to be their wedding coordinator so that I could be a part of their special day. I hope they have a good time in California.

eaTip: If you are having a smaller number of guests (less than 100), consider having your ceremony at an art gallery, or even the reception, if allowed. The spaces are usually wide open and unobstructed. The gallery allows guests to check out local art while waiting. Do look into the existing lighting as the lights are typically pointed at art work and there might be some dark spots. Also, be sure to check on the sounds quality as the galleries tend to echo. Contact us and we can help you find the perfect venue!