A Unique Washington DC Wedding at Crystal Gateway Marriott

They say, “Love makes us happy. Love makes us a better person. Love liberates us.”

Glorifying happiness and optimism, capturing the very essence of love, weddings are truly one of the happiest celebrations in the world. Rife with fun and excitement, wedding ceremonies are truly filled with heartfelt moments, ranging from the loved ones raising toasts to the new union, to the first dance of the couple as they twirl across the dance floor and dance like nobody's watching. Along with the tender moments evoking all the deep and sincere feelings, wedding celebrations are filled with precious emotions from beginning to end. 

Every time we see a bride getting dressed up for her biggest day in a crisp white dress and a long sweeping veil, with an elegant bridal bouquet, and her sweetheart accompanying her in a crisp outfit, our heartstrings are tugged with the warm glow of affection and appreciation. Every time we see a couple exchanging their wedding vows and promising a lifetime together, our hearts leap with joy and the unfiltered emotions pierce through glass ceiling rooftops. 

Some of the best wedding portraits of the swoon-worthy and tear-inducing moments are filled with an intensity that comes along with a blooming love breaking stones and asphalt. From the smiles of a newlywed couple right after the wedding ceremony that speaks louder than any words to the proud look of a bride's father when he sees his daughter dressed up in white, everything about wedding celebrations rustles our untamed feelings like pieces of silk rubbed together.

In the summer of 2019, we got the chance to capture the coveted moments of an amazing DC couple as they decided to start their day one of a brand new life. Unraveling the true meaning of joy and happiness, the wedding day of this newly engaged couple was filled with timeless beauty and intimate moments, and everything in between. From a candid burst of laughter at the altar to the magical moment when they tied the knot to begin their forever new. We adored and captured every bit of their sweet embrace as they basked in a sheer blissful just married glow in a perfect storytelling photography style. 

Giving us 'couple goals' right there, Pooja decided to get married in DC as she got ready to mark the beginning of their happily ever after. Getting married in Washington DC is a very popular choice among newly engaged couples because of the rich cultural and historical magnificence that the photo opportunities the city has in store for wedding photography sessions. Starting from the rich historical backdrop of Smithsonian Museums to the National Gallery of Art, to the range of brilliant architectural backdrops of the Capitol Hill and The White House, everything about Washington DC is worth capturing, as they blur in the background.

Our wedding photographers in Washington DC love to capture love-struck couples against the sheer brilliance of the magnificent architectural backdrops of this city. Ranging from the marble terrace of The Capitol façade to the rotunda under the great cast-iron dome with a ceiling painting by Constantino Brumidi and huge paintings of scenes from American history on the walls, to the frescoes and paintings that are resplendent of the bright history of US, everything comes together to make amazing backdrops for a professional photography session in Washington DC. The popular tourist spot, the historic Lincoln Memorial is another brilliant photo backdrop where a 19-foot marble statue of President Abraham Lincoln, seated in a pensive style is surrounded by 36 columns. 

Another amazing icon of the National Mall, the Washington Monument is an iconic photo backdrop for Washington DC professional photography especially when the massive statue reflects off like a dream in the long Reflecting Pool at its foot. The spacious and sprawling grounds of the National Mall and Veterans Memorial are punctuated by sparkling lawns and pools that can bring a wide range of photo opportunities for Washington DC wedding photography sessions. If you always fancied visiting quirky and unique spaces, you can visit the vibrant location of the National Museum of American History that is filled with traces of the political, cultural, scientific, and technological history of the U.S. since the revolution. Ranging from Thomas Edison's light bulbs to the original flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words for the Star-Spangled Banner, you will find unique and vibrant backdrops for your wedding photography session in Washington DC.

One of the most coveted engagement spots in Washington DC, that is cherished by our engagement photographers is the ethereal Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin. From the Roman Pantheon, the iconic low dome supported by 54 Ionic columns reflecting off in a dramatic silhouette at the far end of the Tidal Pool, to the lines of cherry trees that were a gift from Japan, come together to look straight out of a Japanese postcard during the cherry blossom season. The classic and romantic atmosphere of this Washington DC engagement spot can bring a striking range of photo opportunities surrounded by a basin with a cloud of pink flowers for your engagement photography session. Another scenic and tranquil spot for spending some time with your love, is the Arlington National Cemetery, overlooking the entire city from across the Potomac River. 

We could easily see why Alastair and Pooja chose to host their wedding at the historic District of Columbia, on the Potomac River tucked between Maryland and Virginia. Filled with world-class museums and important historical monuments, the city offers glorious backdrops for the professional wedding photography sessions in Washington DC to create a wedding album of your dreams. From the heartfelt moments when a groom is trying to find words to express his love to the love-filled emotions that are timeless, Washington DC can truly be the destination to celebrate new beginnings with the most beautiful photography backdrops.

Our amazing and stupendous newly engaged couple chose the amazing wedding venue to host their wedding reception- the stellar Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia in Washington DC. Boasting absolute magnificence, this Washington DC wedding venue located in the historic District of Columbia is nestled at a very accessible distance from popular landmarks like the Pentagon, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the National Mall, and the pristine waterfront settings of the Potomac River. What a great choice for commemorating a beautiful wedding day! 

Considered to be one of the most popular wedding venues in Washington DC, the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel is a perfect location for hosting weddings and all the related activities. Situated at the heart of Crystal City, this wedding venue provides easy access to the beautiful backdrop of scenic Northern Virginia and easy transportation options for shopping and dining in the nearby Pentagon City. With the maximum capacity of hosting up to 2000 guests, and sprawling in 4,000 square feet of wedding event services, this classic wedding venue in Washington DC is a great choice for hosting both intimate and grand weddings. 

The myriad of wedding photo opportunities at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington is truly stylish and sophisticated. The historic ballroom of this traditional wedding venue in DC has unique elements that weave an atmosphere of sophistication and elegance for your wedding photography session in DC. The Arlington Ballroom, the largest wedding reception event space spanning 12,000 square feet features state-of-the-art lighting, premium sound system, luxury carpeting, and modern and stylish decor. The sophisticated Skyview Terrace is another magnificent wedding ceremony and reception space that is ideal for intimate celebrations. The modern backdrops for your special day of the Arlington Foyer and the Sky View are loved by professional photographers in DC, especially for clicking candid portraits during cocktail parties and receptions. Featuring over 31 diverse and flexible event spaces that can be fully customized to fit all the wedding celebrations leading up to your reception and after-party, this premiere wedding venue in DC was truly an amazing choice of our stellar couple to host their wedding day.

The sun was shining brighter than usual on the wedding day of our superb DC couple at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Washington DC. There was something so magical about the entire atmosphere and our talented team of wedding photographers did a fabulous job of capturing all the intricate details of this beautiful wedding day. Let us take a peek into the breathtakingly beautiful wedding day of Pooja and Alastair as they started their new journey amidst confetti showers and euphoric expressions.

Infectious positive energy engulfed our Washington DC wedding photographers when they captured the gorgeous bride in magnificent bridal portraits as she got ready for her wedding day. The bridal portraits and the getting-ready photos were truly artistic, as Pooja slipped into her amazing silver and white bridal lehenga and posed in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped in satin drapes overlooking the cityscape of the Crystal City. The sun-kissed face of our elegant bride beamed with a bright vibrance as the sun rays pierced through the sparkling glass walls. 

The beautiful Indian bride decided to slip into her creamy white bridal lehenga with silver embellishment and zari work. The modest A-line lehenga gave away an ethnic and glamorous look, and the blouse was detailed with rich silver-colored embellishment and had a plain round neck that dropped down the brim of the skirt in the shape of an inverted V. The intricate embroidery work of the bridal lehenga quickly created an oomph factor to her entire couture and personality. She decided to keep her neckline bare and wore a simple pair of dangling diamond earrings, teamed with white and silver bridal Chura, keeping in mind the color scheme of the bridal outfit. The side-parted hair was left open, with curls adorning her face and the makeup was kept very light and minimalistic. The beautiful bridal portraits with a little girl who wore a similar silver gown and her best friend as she readied the bride, were a very lovely addition to the wedding album.

Our striking groom Alastair, looked dashing in his jet black suede tuxedo with shiny satin shawl collars and a black bow. He teamed the entire groom look with a crisp white shirt and dapper black monk shoes. The classic couple decided to take this brilliant opportunity to indulge in the couple photography session, by visiting the famous landmarks of DC before their reception.

They started their professional couple photography session in DC by visiting the nearby areas of Crystal Gateway Marriott in North Virginia. The classic couple portraits captured by our DC professional photographers in a storytelling form ranged from capturing the duo in front of wide red exposed brick walls with arched hallways to the scintillating waterfront destinations by the Potomac River. The elegant couple pirouetted around the vibrant backgrounds of the East Potomac Park that overlooks the magnificent waterfront of Potomac River. The couple portraits that were clicked here ranged from the love-struck souls embracing each other in Pinterest-inspired poses to the candid portraits clicked under dreamy lines of cherry blossom trees. Our DC engagement photographers did the fantabulous job of capturing Pooja and Alastair as they posed in the long boardwalk against a crystal white yacht and took a lazy stroll amidst rustic architectures, creating magnificent couple portraits. 

Before the wedding reception started at the premium Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel wedding venue, our professional photographers captured the detailed wedding decorations that were intricately placed all over the reception event space. Ranging from the thoughtful welcoming sign that read “Pooja and Alastair's guestbook, please help us build our bucket list”, and went on to request the wedding guests to pick a postcard and suggest an adventure for them to undertake in the upcoming new future that they have in store to the cocktail menu that highlighted their signature cocktail which went by the name 'the frequent flyer'.

Everything about this wedding reception was elegant and filled with sophisticated details, ranging from the crystal glassware shining against the breathtaking lighting to the crisp white three-tiered square-shaped wedding cake adorned with the most famous monuments from around the world in black fondant icing. From their elegant and splendid ‘first dance’ to the emotional ‘father-daughter dance’, the wedding portraits were filled with intricate and heartfelt moments. From capturing amazing family portraits as the kin regrouped against brightly-lit wedding reception space to the fantastic bridesmaids and groomsmen group photography session, every wedding photo clicked turned out to be an amazing accessory for creating an unforgettable wedding photo book. 

The glow of the shimmering wedding reception of Pooja and Alastair remained with us for a long time as the unique chemistry sparked a different experience for us. The sweet and tender moments reverberated with the sense of sophistication and style that showed us that it couldn’t get any better than this.