Jen & Ben | Married!

A few months ago, I received a call from my dear friend Ben. He shared with me that he and Jen were engaged and getting married. I was elated! But when he continued to explain to me what they wanted to do, I wondered, how on earth do you pull something like this off?!?

They had planned to have a SURPRISE Wedding, and the mischievous side of me absolutely adored this idea! With the help of a wedding planner, some local flavors, their adorable downtown DC home as the setting, and an already planned engagement party, it became a total reality for this fun couple.

Jen and Ben are DC residents and wouldn’t have it any other way. They are proud to call DC their home and couldn’t think of a better place to tie the knot. What better place then at the city’s center to take some amazing pre-wedding shots.

The plans were set for guests to arrive for what they believed was a lovely weekend engagement party. Both family and friends arrived to find a beautifully decorated house, tons of local foods only to be found in DC and back yard patio for guests to enjoy the absolutely perfect June weather. Mid party guests were escorted outside for a special announcement and a fantastic surprise. Jen waited atop the front porch of their home with her “best man” Marvin (the cutest boston terrier), while Ben anxiously rode his bike around the corner with his “best maid” Eleanor (also a boston). The idea behind this was tooo sweet not mention, as they were reenacting how they first met! Guests were aw-struck.

To finish out the evening guests were treated to dinner provided by the Cap Mac food truck, followed by pies from Dangerously Delicious Pies.  It was AMAZINGLY YUMMY!

Family is really important to this couple and one thing that made their nuptials truly special is how they incorporated personal vintage items into their wedding, of those who were not able to be here. Ben wore Jen’s grandfathers suit and a shirt that belonged to his father. Jen wore a stunning vintage green dress with vintage rings and a family brooch.