An Elegant Traditional Wedding At The Park Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.

Danai Mattison and Barak Sky met while working as realtors for the same company in the Washington, DC area.

Three years later, during their anniversary week, Barak took her back to Ruth’s Chris for dinner where it all began. He presented her with a photo album he made, filled with pictures and personal hashtags. The last page of the album read: #ourfutureistogether #iloveyou #lookup–and when Danai looked up, Barak was down on one knee proposing. After blurting out “YES,” he led her to the bar area, where she was greeted by their closest family and friends.

Although they noticed each other around the office, their first official encounter didn’t take place until an office happy hour at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, when Barak strategically sat next to her. “I thought he was so handsome,” Danai says. “He has a way about him that makes you feel like you’ve known him forever–instant comfort, and so much personality.” From that night on, the two were inseparable.

Rather than having a specific wedding theme, the couple focused on creating a dreamy, all-night party that was traditional, yet modern. The Park Hyatt Washington was selected as their wedding venue, as it held a great deal of sentimental value for Danai. Her godfather was the Park Hyatt’s first general manager, she spent multiple birthdays there (including her sweet 16), and the venue also hosted her mother’s baby shower.

“If we could describe our wedding day in a few words, they would be: magical, timeless, luxurious and fun,” says the bride. White and gold made up most of the color palette, along with a few black accents. The couple was involved in planning all the details, which included a crystal chuppah that also severed as a gorgeous centerpiece above the dance floor. Their favorite design element, however, was a stunning floral wall that provided the background for the ceremony, and then for the band during the reception.

When walking down to the ballroom, there were three large floral trees spaced down the center of the cocktail foyer. They stood upon dark wooden cubes, which acted as standup cocktail tables, and the branches arched into the ceiling, decorated with white and ivory flowers.

The reception décor featured three different floral centerpieces dripping with ivory blooms, placed atop sequined table linens and mirrored tabletops with gold pedestals. A wedding logo was designed for the couple, which was featured throughout the space–on the customized white dance floor, etched into the backs of the bride and groom’s chairs and even on the cocktail menus. Guests also enjoyed a five-tier wedding cake with layers of vanilla sponge with vanilla cream and fresh strawberries, and blackout cake with mocha mousse.

“Although we wish we could go back to our wedding day and do it all over again, we are so grateful that we have the most stunning photos and video from the wedding so we’re able to relive it all the time,” says the bride. “It was truly a night to remember and a fairytale having only just begun!” For their honeymoon, Danai and Barak traveled to Barcelona, Ibiza and Paris.

WEDDING TALENT