Caviar Bumps and Dazzling Gold Details Set the Tone at This New Year's Eve Wedding at Union Station in Washington, DC
Couples who get married on NYE must love the iconic December holiday, right? Quite the contrary for this duo. Brittany and Ben both hated New Year’s Eve, so they wanted to plan their wedding on this date so they would have something to celebrate in years to come. This also tied into Brittany’s request for a winter wedding since the weather in Washington, DC, could be so unpredictable in other seasons. For the couple, this wedding day was a long time coming, with both finding ways back to each other throughout the years. The two initially met in high school, fittingly in chemistry class. They officially began dating after a trip to Cabo in 2021. A year later, Ben proposed at that same resort, where they celebrated with “many tequila shots and a private dinner on the beach,” Brittany says.
“I think both of us knew a long time ago that we were going to spend forever together - even before the proposal,” The bride adds. “So, in a way, the day itself has been so highly anticipated for us (and anyone [who] had been a part of our journey).” The DC natives knew they wanted a guest-centered wedding that remained true to who they were and what they loved. That meant a mix of boldness and glamour in an approachable way, which fit perfectly with the New Year’s Eve date. The dress code was “glamorous black tie” with a slight Met Gala slant at the iconic Union Station, a venue that needed little by way of decor to elevate the luxury vibes.
While planning their luxury wedding weekend, Ben and Brittany wanted custom looks, which they found throughout New York. The second dress that Brittany tried on was “the one,” a tulle gown with a custom corset that she felt encapsulated who she was while being one-of-a-kind. She also opted for a mini, crystal-embellished reception dress from One/Of and bedazzled Air Force Ones that were easier to dance the night away as the clock neared midnight. For Ben’s wedding day look, he also chose something custom—a black and white bespoke tuxedo from Brian Alexander, embroidered with his last name and their wedding date, complete with velvet loafers.
With the illustrious Union Station as their venue, the couple wanted to elevate this backdrop without detracting from its grandeur. That meant keeping the color palette black and white to fit the New Year’s Eve theme while adding color through mixed metals, lighting the ceremony space with candles and decorating with accents of white florals. Though initially, the florals were more of a mystery while planning, Brittany knew she wanted all of the white arrangements to be unique in their own way, including the bouquets for herself and her bridesmaids.
“Our aisles were lined with these beautiful white floral arrangements to further create a ‘wow’ runway. The ceremony altar area itself was lined with an 8-foot backdrop of white florals. It went about 4 feet high and created a statement, but most importantly, didn't detract from the beautiful room,” Brittany says, with the aisle flowers eventually being repurposed for the reception space.
One of their favorite parts of the day was their personalized vows during the ceremony, which Brittany included with their history first as friends throughout the years, saying all roads led her to her home—Ben. This long-awaited union meant the day had a sense of calm for the newlyweds, especially as they enjoyed the few quiet moments they had together, like their first look and their champagne tower moment, during the long night.
After a cocktail hour filled with an espresso martini tower, a dumpling bar and even a cart full of caviar, they enjoyed passed appetizers in another grand space inside the venue. They also offered signature drinks in honor of their alma maters, which they recall as a menu highlight. The seating chart utilized the clock striking midnight, with each table having its own clock that displayed guests’ names and their seats. As a Swiftie, the stationery vendor found a way to incorporate another meaningful Easter egg for the bride: “And then to take it a step further…my stationery vendor said, ‘How about the phrase 'meet me at midnight'" to tie [the seating chart] together?’ I gasped and knew it would be perfect.”
The couple even customized their favors, dance floor and bar with a “B & B” logo for Brittany and Ben. The reception space was decorated in the same gold, black and white theming, including tall centerpieces of metallic trees that Brittany says were the “star of the show.” She adds, “Every table had a New Year's Eve element to it—glittered tablecloths, art deco chairs and more. The decor was maximalist and glamorous, just like the rest of the wedding.” And in an effort to keep dinner lively, the couple had martini carts come by to create custom drinks for guests.
The countdown until midnight at this glam wedding was an event in and of itself, with a live band, a photo booth complete with props, a lounge area and late-night desserts. The station itself was fully operational during the event, with Brittany saying, “You could still feel the hustle and bustle of the station (which I loved) while still somehow feeling like you were in a completely different world.”
Ben and Brittany led the midnight countdown onstage with their band, with confetti blasting as the clock struck 12:00, marking a new year with their loved ones. Brittany described this moment, as Mr. Brightside played, as “magical, slightly chaotic, but…perfect for us.”
The two newlyweds highly recommend finding the right team of vendors for anyone else wedding planning, as this can ease the stress of the big day while letting them handle the unexpected struggles of a wedding. This is one thing they attribute to causing such an argument-free process, along with focusing on the ways the wedding could be tailored to their style. “Ben and I both just reminded ourselves that this event (as much as we wanted it to be guest-focused) was for us. Our opinions mattered the most. Every decision we made came back to "Is this what WE want?" If something looked cool but didn't feel like us, it was out of the question,” the bride says. At the end of the day, she notes that it’s all about finally marrying your person, so try not to sweat the small stuff and just enjoy the ride.