An Ethereal Elopement at Anderson House in Washington, D.C., Followed by Dinner at Home

Anderson House is a Beaux-Arts architectural gem nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., and it served as the picturesque backdrop for Erinn and Jon's pandemic elopement. However, before the couple exchanged vows at Anderson House they got ready together and had a dance party to Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off" before driving over to the venue with a 'Just Married' sign on their car. "The inspiration behind our elopement was hope," explains Erinn. "Having postponed our original wedding on the West Coast, we decided that come what may, we were going to be married. It was a bit poetic that we were married four blocks from our first date. The theme was intimate, romantic and hopeful." 

Not only did Erinn and Jon focus on hope with their elopement, but they also chose to celebrate joy and flexibility amid the difficulties of the ongoing pandemic. "We had only a few flowers, but wow, did they say a lot," recalls Erinn. "We were trying to have some beauty and joy in what had been a difficult moment in the world. All we told the florist was that we want to feel romantic and soft. We knew there were shortages of flowers so we were flexible with the specific types. I think it was the bouquet that made me feel like a bride for the first time." 

Although the elopement was Erinn and Jon's plan B, they still found ways to ensure the day felt special and celebratory. "I wore my grandmother’s wedding ring (as my something old) on my right hand and carried a special necklace from our local grandmother as my something borrowed," recalls Erinn. "As for the dress, the original wedding one was somewhere between Europe and the West Coast. I bought a backup dress from the only place that I could find that was still open and shipping—Australia. I emailed them on a whim and they had one dress in stock in my size and it was absolutely beautiful. You would have never known it was not the original dress. I decided to get something that was completely different from the original dress. It’s a bit modern, a bit glam, and I think perfect for a city elopement." 

To celebrate following the intimate elopement, the couple went back home and connected with loved ones over Zoom. "Our favourite part of the elopement was the virtual toast with family and friends, and seeing how much joy that brought to our loved ones who, for health reasons, could not be with us," says Erinn. "So many people said our day was a moment of joy and hope in an uncertain time." They then capped off the evening with a "candlelit dinner on our balcony with items from around the house and a few special acquisitions—like a champagne bucket and pink coupe glasses!

Reflecting back on their intimate wedding day Erinn and Jon recall how "the whole day was special—it was the first time we had seen our two best friends in months, which felt like forever after lockdown. Hugs brought everyone to tears. It was a surreal moment. However, the most special moment was the vows. The vows were the most romantic thing we’ve ever done. Reflecting back, the vows underscored why we were taking this next step during this uncertain time." They go on to encourage current to-be-weds to remember that sometimes "life is strange. You have to roll with the ups and downs. If you are doing it for the right reasons it will be beautiful and special no matter what. Also, trust the professionals and don’t sweat the small things. We were so blessed to have some amazing vendors and a photographer that could make anything look beautiful. While we can’t wait to celebrate with loved ones this summer on the West Coast, our elopement will go down as the most romantic day of our lives."