Stefan and Carly were not planning their “big” wedding in Washington, DC. That celebration will happen in Italy, surrounded by more guests, more layers, more tradition. This December day was something different and intimate; it was last-minute. And it was intentional in a way that only small weddings can be.
They wanted something simple to celebrate their relationship here before the larger gathering overseas, something that felt grounded and meaningful without the weight of a full-scale production. December was not circled on a calendar a year in advance.
A December Ceremony at The Bishop’s Garden
They chose to meet at The Bishop’s Garden without a first look: no staged reveal or dramatic build-up. Just the quiet anticipation of seeing each other for the first time that day in the open air, with winter settling gently around them. The stone arches, the muted sky, the bare trees: everything felt calm and cinematic without trying to be.
With only family present, the ceremony felt deeply personal. There is something about winter that strips away distraction. Stefan and Carly stood together in the cool air, surrounded by the people who matter most, and it felt steady and real in the most beautiful way.
An Intimate Dinner at Minetta Tavern DC
After the ceremony, everyone made their way to Union Market for dinner at Minetta Tavern DC, and the tone of the day shifted naturally from sacred to celebratory. Restaurant weddings have a rhythm that feels entirely different from traditional receptions, because instead of moving through structured segments, you are simply sitting down together and letting the evening unfold course by course.
The early December sunset worked in their favor. By the time dinner began, it was already dark outside, and the interior glowed with candlelight and warm tones. It felt less like a wedding reception and more like the most elegant dinner party you have ever attended, one that just happened to mark the beginning of a marriage. This kind of celebration allows space for real connection. There is no pressure to perform, no grand entrances, no choreographed dances.
A Celebration at Last Call
From Minetta Tavern, the celebration continued at Last Call, where friends joined, and the atmosphere loosened. The structured intimacy of the ceremony and dinner gave way to something louder and freer.
What I love most about Stefan and Carly’s day is that it never tried to replicate a traditional wedding inside unconventional spaces. They did not attempt to turn a bar into a ballroom or a restaurant into a reception hall. They embraced each place for what it already was, and that authenticity carried through every part of the experience.
For couples planning a larger destination celebration later, or for those who simply do not see themselves in a ballroom with a rigid timeline, this kind of December wedding is a reminder that you can create something beautiful without following a traditional script. Winter in DC offers mood, texture, and intimacy, and when the day reflects who you truly are, the photographs feel natural, artistic, and unforgettable in the most meaningful way.
