Let the games begin! If ever you’ve wondered if you can infuse your personality into your wedding day, you’ll love Zainep and Shawn’s Schuyler DC wedding. Featured in the NY times, their wedding featured several game-inspired details and showcased Zainep and Shawn’s playful natures every step of the way. While I always love designing unique and memorable details, this wedding was so much fun! As soon as guests received their Mission Impossible inspired wedding invitations, they knew that this night would be one to remember. And it was! I can’t wait to share all the gamified wedding decor with you today.
Since first looks became popular, it’s not uncommon for couples to get all of their wedding photos out of the way before the ceremony. Together with their wedding parties, Zainep and Shawn both looked incredible! After they were done getting ready, Zainep and Shawn had their first look on a rooftop overlooking DC. We are always thrilled to be working with vendors who we consider to be the best of the best, but we have to give a special shout out to Terri Baskin for capturing their reactions perfectly.
When guests arrived, they were greeted with a Scrabble-inspired wedding sign (featuring Zainep and Shawn’s engagement photos – scroll to more of those at the end). Although we chose a muted color palette for the wedding ceremony decor, it still felt very glam. We chose tall statuesque aisle markers with gorgeous floral displays and gold chairs for every guest. Zainep and Shawn exchanged vows in front of a wall of candles and florals and the ambiance was set with a violinist as she walked down the aisle. All of these details made their wedding ceremony feel intimate, despite the large guest list in the room.
For Zainep and Shawn’s Schuyler DC wedding reception, we were able to really have fun with the theme. We created an elaborate escort card display for guests to “find out which table they have been dealt”. Each escort card looked as though it had been plucked from a deck of cards. It was a HIT.
Zainep and Shawn’s wedding reception decor came together flawlessly, with monochromatic orange hues and casino-sprinkled accents at every corner. We carried the “table you’ve been dealt” them into card-inspired table numbers and 3 signature cocktails resembling different Poker plays. Their mouthwatering menu was also printed on card-inspired stationery. Despite taking the playful theme and running with it, the neutral wedding color palette made the evening feel very glam. The 5 tier ombre orange wedding cake was a showstopper. Their monogram was displayed proudly on the dance floor but was included in several other more subtle places as well (like the stir sticks for the cocktails).
If you are looking for a wedding planner who cares about all of the minutiae of your wedding day, you’ve found us. We care immensely and won’t overlook one single detail that appears on your wedding day. To connect with us and discuss your wedding day vision, head here.
As you have likely gathered while scrolling through their wedding photos, Zainep and Shawn were such a joy to work with, and their lively wedding reception was the perfect way to end the evening. The dance floor was packed all night, and everyone was smiling from ear to ear all night long. As a wedding planner, there is no greater satisfaction than when a wedding is not only beautiful but also a great time. We took care of absolutely everything behind the scenes so that Zainep and Shawn could remain present and just enjoy everything they created.
Before you scroll to the end to check out the incredible vendors who made this day possible, here are just a few of Zainep and Shawn’s engagement photos. Philadelphia was an integral location in the early days of Shawn and Zainep’s love story and there was no better way to capture that other than doing their engagement session in the city that started it all! A little tip when you start planning your engagement photos? Make sure your photographer captures the architecture and the surroundings as well.
We knew we would be using some of Zainep and Shawn’s engagement photos in their wedding signage and stationery so we ended up creating a full location inspiration and style guide for their engagement shoot. We offer this service for every couple that hires us for full planning and design, because we want to make sure their photos will be cohesive with their overall event design. That’s the beauty of hiring a planner and thinking ahead! We hope you loved this playful Schuyler DC wedding as much as we did!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Curious about what the tag “SYQTB” means? Find out what it means on our Instagram!
DC Wedding Planner: Jayne Heir Weddings and Events
Photography: Terri Baskin
Videography: Vona B Productions
Catering: Get Plated DC
Venue: The Schuyler DC (we love how versatile The Schuyler DC weddings can be! Check out this winter wonderland wedding or this Mardi gras wedding to see more!)
Cake: Buttercream Bakeshop
Florals & Custom Build: Edge Floral Event Designers
Rentals: Select Event Group
Stationery: Sugar Taylor Co
Lighting, Draping, Production: The Lightsource Company
Bridal Gown: The Bridal Room VA
Tuxedo: Brian Alexander Bespoke
Makeup: Taylor Simpson Artistry
Violinist: Jeremy Green