Bonnie Sen is a Washington DC wedding photographer who loves to travel and capture the essense of the party

Italian Inspired Washington DC Engagement Shoot

April 17, 2019

This DC engagement shoot is straight out of Italy (scooter and all!). Nicole and Matt won an Instagram portrait session giveaway we did in partnership with a few of our favorite wedding industry friends vendors: makeup artist Makeup by Kevan, wardrobe stylist Naina Singla, florist Sophie Felts and hairstylist Jewel Hair Design.

Washington DC Engagement Shoot Union Station Black and White Photographer © Bonnie Sen Photography

Washington DC Engagement Shoot Sophie Felts Pink and Orange Bouquet © Bonnie Sen Photography

Washington DC Romantic Engagement Shoot Lace Dress Fine Art Photographer © Bonnie Sen Photography

DC Engagement Shoot Vendor Team

Nicole and Matt were recently engaged (you can read their whole engagement story here) and knew they wanted DC engagement photos but were open to styling ideas. A photographer and stylists’ dream! We got to run with our creative juices! The process started with a moodboard I created on Pinterest of the look and feel to set the tone for the shoot.

I knew we wanted to lean into Washington DC and the classical architecture reminiscent of old Europe – enter Union Station in DC. Union Station provided the perfect old world feel and backdrop to allow for other details to pop. When in Europe this past summer I remember images of puffy pink peonies wrapped in brown paper. Sophie Felts created the perfect bright cheery and puffy bouquet all wrapped in kraft paper just like I had seen in Milan.

The shoot glam team came together with a classic, romantic and edgy look for Nicole and Matt’s ensembles. Nicole wore a gorgeous black lace dress selected by Naina and perfectly complimenting Matt’s dapper suit. Kevan and Jewel brought the whole look together with a fashionable ponytail and makeup that enhanced Nicole’s natural beauty. Finally, add in a scooter to the mix and you’re instantly transported to Italy!

Photography: Bonnie Sen Photography Wardrobe Stylist: Naina Singla Florist: Sophie Felts Hairstylist: Jewel Hair Design Makeup Artist: Makeup by Kevan

Color-Filled Florentine Spring Fairmont DC Wedding

March 29, 2019

Where do we even begin to describe this gorgeous Fairmont DC wedding? You may remember Vanessa and Michael’s springtime engagement shoot posted a few weeks ago. Today we are back with their jaw-dropping wedding. If you couldn’t tell from their engagement attire, Vanessa’s style is incomparable! For the wedding day her taste, guts to be a little different and a dream team of vendors led by Laura of Grit & Grace combined to form pure perfection.

Florentine Spring Design

The wedding design was inspired by the Italian paper company Rossi. Rossi makes colorful prints that are classic, elegant and fun. Vanessa and Laura selected one specific print to serve as the inspiration for the rest of the wedding. This pattern featured blue, red, black and gold. The planning duo named the resulting design Florentine Spring. And I can’t think of a better way to describe the wedding day!

Vanessa and Laura carried the Florentine Spring feel throughout the whole wedding. This started with invitations from Haute Papier. The classic and ornate invites featured a Rossi paper, white calligraphy and Oscar de la Renta stamps. The stamps not only a gorgeous detail but also a nod to the bride’s dress. On to the wedding day Grit & Grace and Amaryllis designed an amazing La Dolce Vita escort card display with custom labeled San Pellegrino juice bottles.

There were too many beautiful and thoughtful details on the wedding day to mention but they all revolved around the Rossi paper colors. The soles of Vanessa’s shoes, poppies in her bouquet and glassware on the tables provided the perfect red. The mother of the bride’s dress, a denim linen and navy velvet drape throughout the ballroom pulled the hint of blue. Vanessa selected napkin rings and golden urns for the ceremony for the metallic accent. And finally black played a major role in the day of look from the black Louis chairs, custom black head table all the way to the monogrammed dancefloor.

The celebration wrapped up in the Fairmont DC ballroom with even more Italian details. A limoncello and prosecco specialty cocktail and pasta vegetarian entree. The icing on the cake was the Buttercream Bakeshop 4 tier wedding cake sitting atop a cake stand wrapped in Rossi paper. Truly La Dolce Vita!

Fairmont DC Wedding Vendors:

Springtime Washington DC Engagement Session

March 20, 2019

Vanessa and Michael’s love story is proof that sometimes office romances do work out. And we are so glad it did! This month we are going to take a peek back at both their Washington DC engagement shoot and their Florentine Spring wedding at the Fairmont Washington DC with Grit & Grace.

Back to Vanessa and Michael’s sweet story. Vanessa met Michael when she started at his company shortly before graduating from Georgetown University. The office was fittingly located at the notoriously scandalous Watergate building and they quickly realized there was something more to their relationship than work. So, on one balmy evening in June 2011, they broke the office ‘rules’ and went on a first date. Fast forward almost six years, Michael took Vanessa back to the Watergate rooftop to ask the question she had been waiting to hear.

After that yes, we headed back to the neighborhoods so dear to their hearts for a fun and light filled spring evening Washington DC engagement shoot. We started with a couple cocktails, a stroll down Georgetown’s iconic streets and finished up at the roof of the Kennedy Center (overlooking that fateful Watergate).

Vanessa killed the wardrobe game. The two started in a springy blue dress and blue suit and then changed in to a more evening black and white look. Vanessa’s pop red shoes were a close contender but I have to say both of her statement earring choices were a personal favorite.

Get ready to ogle over these two and check back for their dreamy wedding soon!

Attire:

Blue Lace Dress: Club Monaco Both Earrings: BaubleBar Silver Shoes: Valentino Striped Skirt: TY-LR from Rent the Runway Black Top: Club Monaco Red Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Light and Airy Summer Hay-Adams Wedding

February 6, 2019

It is no secret that I love a Hay-Adams wedding! The venue has so many elements that make this photographer happy: beautiful light, good bones, stunning views and flawless service. Okay, that last one may not be for the photographer in me but it is still an amazing detail.

Katy and Matt’s Hay-Adams wedding was no exception and if anything only fueled my love affair with the space. Katy and Matt worked with A. Dominick Events to plan a light, airy and cheery summer wedding – just like Katy. The day started with getting ready in one the Hay’s gorgeous bridal suites. Katy bridesmaids wore the most adorable pjs before slipping in to their stunning neutral dresses (remember these neutral bridesmaids beauties?). Although Katy’s backless lace gown stole the show!

After the ceremony at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (another gorgeous space) the bridal crew headed back to Lafayette Park for formal portraits. In addition to being across the street from the Hay-Adams, Lafayette Park is such a great option for wedding photos. The park offers a variety of backdrops from DC focused to beautiful and neutral greens. We elected for mostly greens for Katy and Matt. The greenery complimented the overall aesthetic of this wedding including the pop of green in the Cheree Berry Paper invites.

After photos and a cocktail hour in the dark and moody Hay-Adams room the celebration continued in quintessential Hay-Adams wedding space – The Top of the Hay. Decked out with stunning neutral linens and cream chairs the perfectly peach flowers by Sidra Forman popped. Finished off by a super sweet first dance, thoughtful toasts and, of course, a skyline view shot – this wedding was one for the books.

Hay-Adams Wedding Vendor Team:

Church: Holy Rosary Church Reception Venue: Hay Adams Hotel Photography: Bonnie Sen Photography Event Planner: A. Dominick Events Floral Design: Sidra Forman Hair and Makeup: Amie Decker Beauty Paper Materials: Cheree Berry Paper Cake: Buttercream Bake Shop Dancefloor: Fabrications Events

Masculine & Refined Oceanfront Wedding in La Jolla, California

January 8, 2019

Rob and Franco’s oceanfront wedding in La Jolla, California has everything you could possibly want in a destination wedding. Impeccable design, thoughtful details, meaningful cultural traditions, dapper style and two of the nicest grooms in the world. These two met through mutual friends, survived long distance and a cross-country move to be together before heading back to West coast where it all started to tie the knot.

Rob and Franco opted for an oceanfront celebration that reflected their personal styles. They wanted the wedding to feel like a gathering in their home with all their favorite people. They incorporated masculine-yet-refined elements and textures. And showcased the coastal city they hold dear to their hearts.

The modern botanical invitations set the tone for the celebration. Rob and Franco wanted the invites to serve as a nod to the venue’s history and feel like a researcher’s botany book. The letterpressed invitations from Minted are accented with a vellum overlay, green envelopes and vintage stamps from the grooms’ home states.

The countless personal details continued on the wedding day. The two wore lapel pins in place of boutonnieres to represent their sweet pup, Aki. Earlier in the day, Rob and Franco distributed the same pins to 10 of their closest friends to thank them for being a part of their pack. During the ceremony they included a sake ceremony as a nod to Franco’s practice of Nichiren Buddhism. And donned traditional Hawaiian Maile leis to honor Franco’s Polynesian heritage.

I could go on and on about all the perfect detail but you can see more of this gorgeous wedding and all the thoughtful details on Martha Stewart Wedding here. Don’t miss the engagement story, inscription on the saber and story behind Franco’s Polynesian dance.

Oceanfront Wedding Vendor Team: