1. Real Weddings

Vanessa & Vinny: An Urban Wedding in Washington, DC

Vanessa and Vinny wanted a wedding that was unconventional and romantic at the same time, and a punchy palette provided the jumping-off point. The res

Vanessa and Vinny wanted a wedding that was unconventional and romantic at the same time, and a punchy palette provided the jumping-off point. The resulting combo of citrus and mango orange, lime green, bright blue, and passion-fruit purple gave their wedding the feel of a tropical paradise. A butterfly motif helped to tie it all together. The Bride Vanessa Adams The Groom Vincent (Vinny) Badolato The Date July 10 It wasn't a good day. Vanessa, 25, had just been 'asked to quit' the worst job imaginable, she says, and headed home feeling blue. She canceled the plans she'd made with her friends for that night, but her boyfriend, Vincent Badolato, 26, still wanted to go out. He took her to dinner, then suggested a walk around the monuments. By the tidal basin at the FDR Memorial, Vinny says he fumbled my way through some sort of proposal, but Vanessa says, It was so cute. We aren't the most traditional people, but he still did the whole getting-down-on-one-knee thing.

The Favors
For the reception, we took all the colors we love and made them work in one room, Vanessa says. They started with linens in bright green with orange floral centerpieces on their immediate family's square tables and the rectangular head table, then mixed in orange linens with blue flowers and blue linens with green flowers on the rest of the tables, which were round.
The Music
The Cake
The Bridal Bouquet
At each place setting, Vanessa and Vinny's guests found a pink beaded napkin ring and takeout boxes in alternating colors of pink, lime and blue, all decorated with butterflies. These served as both favors and place cards.
Since the bride, the groom, and the bride's parents had been unable to agree on the perfect wedding cake, guests enjoyed four! The official wedding cake (Vanessa's favorite) was bright orange banded with hot pink; it featured a lemon-raspberry flavor.
Vanessa wore a white satin empire-waist A-line gown by Wearkstatt that featured pale silver and pearl embellishment at the bust.
The Traditions
The First Dance
The Favors
Vanessa and Vinny's ceremony took place in The Galleria at Lafayette Centre, which the couple chose for their wedding because we saw the space as a blank canvas to make our mark on, Vanessa says. They did indeed, infusing the ceremony with many personal details, from the vows to the flowers.