A Classic Spring Wedding at Meridian House in Washington, DC

Ariel Herrlich (27 and a research analyst) and Michael Shannon (28 and works in digital marketing) pulled off an elegant spring affair with a palette of rose, white and champagne hues for their wedding at Meridian House in Washington, DC. A traditional Jewish ceremony kicked off the festivities, with Ariel and Michael gathering their guests in the mansion’s quite gardens. Lush greenery and shady trees provided an intimate setting for the affair, while the venue’s limestone facade and stately oak doors lent the event and air of refined sophistication. “We loved the look and feel of the Meridian House. Though it’s in downtown DC, with its high walls it feels very secluded,” Ariel says. “The house itself is stunning, and we loved the way the rooms were set apart from each other, not like a traditional banquet hall.” Playing off the outdoor setting, Ariel and Michael exchanged vows under a birch-wood chuppah adorned with fresh white florals and wispy vines, as a guitar and a flute duo played softly in the background. “We each walked down the aisle with both of our parents. Three-quarters of the way down the aisle, Mike came to me and walked me the rest of the way,” Ariel says. “When I saw him, he said a line that his father had said at his own wedding: ‘Hey hun, new dress?' ’’ 

A cocktail hour followed in the adjacent Linden Grove, where Ariel and Michael served signature cocktails like the Kentucky Royale, a mix of Prosecco, bourbon bitters and cassis—a blend of their go-to drinks. Bite-size eats paid tribute to the couple’s roots: lobster for Ariel’s Boston beginnings and crab for Michael’s Maryland background. Guests then moved inside for the reception, where the Blue Tips Rhythm Revue sent the celebration into high gear with its energy and dance-floor-ready playlist. Ariel and Michael enlivened Merdian House’s elegant interior with vibrant peach-colored linens and bountiful bouquets of peonies, hydrangeas, tulips and stock in bright shades of white and green. A photo board featuring pictures spanning the couple’s relationship brought a touch of playfulness to the decor and provided guests with an intimate peek into Ariel and Michael’s story. In lieu of favors, the pair gave their families and friends poker chips to place in one of three charity jars. “Guests could put their chips in whichever organization appealed to them most, and then we made donations in honor of our guests,” Ariel says. —Libby MacCarthy