Liz and Gui chose Iron Gate for a reason. No ballroom, no grand entrance, no 200 guests standing between them and the people they love. Just a wisteria-covered courtyard in the middle of DC, a family-style dinner, and the guests who actually mattered on that list.
Getting Ready At The Courtyard By Marriott Hotel
Liz and Gui got ready at the Courtyard By Marriott Hotel, just steps from the venue. It made the morning easy. No long drive across the city between getting dressed and walking into the ceremony, just a short walk from one part of the day into the next.
Liz was nervous that morning, and it showed. So I stayed away. Cameras can feel like one more thing to perform for on a day that already asks a lot of you, and my job isn’t to add to that. I always ask before I get close, and I always respect the answer. Liz and Gui chose to do their first look privately, without me there to witness it. That was the right call for them, and it was an easy one for me to support. My priority on any wedding day is that my clients feel comfortable and happy, not that I catch every single moment on camera.
An Intimate And Bi-Cultural Ceremony
A wedding like this doesn’t need much direction. The space is intimate enough that real moments happen whether you’re watching for them or not. My job that day was mostly to stay out of the way and let it unfold.
The Reception: A Summer DC Wedding
Dinner was served family style, which set the tone for the whole night. Nobody was performing for a room of 200. It was a smaller group, sitting close, passing plates, actually talking to each other.
There was no first dance and nothing traditional in the usual sense, but there were speeches, several of them, from family on both sides. Gui’s family flew in from Mexico for the wedding, and the day carried that bi-cultural weight in the best way. Two families from two countries, brought together in one courtyard, with wisteria overhead and everyone actually present for it.
The Vendor Team
Planning by the wonderful Dapper Retriever. It’s always a good day when the logistics are this smooth, and this one ran without a hitch.
Here’s who made the day happen:
Venue: Iron Gate DC Planner: Dapper Retriever Photographer: Natasha Lamalle Photography DJ: Kelson Higgins Floral Designer: Uncloudy Studio Hair and Makeup: Bridal by Sarah Khan Artistry
Still comparing venues? Iron Gate is one of many spots across the city I’ve photographed and love. If you want the fuller picture, from grand historic ballrooms to waterfront spaces, take a look at The 25+ Best Washington DC Wedding Venues, my complete photographer’s guide to venues across the city. If you are looking for more restaurant options, check my post about Wedding Venues in DC: 15+ Restaurants For Foodies.
