A Glamorous, Classic Wedding at the DAR Headquarters in Washington, DC

Monica Kohli (33 and a strategy consultant) and Joshua (Josh) Riley (35 and a lawyer) celebrated with a black-tie soiree decked in lavender, berry, fuchsia and gold with traditional twists to honor their families.

“We loved that the location was totally DC,” Monica says of their venue, which is located in the heart of the Capitol. “We wanted it to reflect our cultural upbringings, but also that we are both urban, young and stylish.” During the ceremony, Josh greeted guests in Spanish (Monica’s late mother’s native language) and Punjabi (her father’s native language) to make all feel welcome.

“We wanted to bring some of the organic, outdoor look inside, which would help our formal venue from looking too stuffy,” Monica says. “The design was effortlessly chic.”
The couple added as many personal touches to the day as they could. In lieu of traditional escort cards, they penned each guest a handwritten note that included a favorite memory of that person. Then, as a nod to the bride’s Ecuadorean and Indian heritages, the array of hors d’oeuvres included cheese empanadas, her family’s ceviche recipe, veggie pakoras and lamb bites with garam masala.

Monica’s eight bridesmaids chose their own berry-hued gowns.

A cheeky quote reading “trust me you can dance” served as the backdrop for the couple’s cocktail station, where guests were served hot apple cider from the groom’s hometown, along with old-fashioneds and beers from India and upstate New York. Then the DJ-led dance party commenced.

The bride carried a bouquet of vibrant blooms inspired by the colors of both Ecuadorean and Indian weddings.