An Elegant and Timeless Wedding at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC
Danielle and Brendan Cafferky first met during their freshman year at Virginia Tech. They were informally introduced through mutual friends and over the years, became closer by running in the same friend circles and sharing finance classes.
By the end of Junior year, the two had become incredibly close; but after an initial first date at Cabo Fish Taco in their college town of Blacksburg, Virginia, Danielle decided she was not ready for “the one.” Brendan was very persistent, though. Finally, months after their first date, they both realized how special their connection was, and officially became an item.
“We felt so blessed and honored to share such a beautiful wedding with so many people that we cared about.”
Building a Life Together
In the years since then, Brendan and Danielle have made so many memories together: walking at graduation with one another, starting careers, forming new friendships in their new hometown of Arlington, going on numerous vacations and weekend trips, and then in 2021, moving in together and creating their first home together.
After a year of living together and five years of dating, Brendan got down on one knee and proposed to Danielle one Monday night in January, in the living room of the house they made their home. There was something incredibly special about spending that evening together without any distractions. They later celebrated with family and friends in Arlington in February.
An Elegant and Timeless Wedding at DAR Constitution Hall
Danielle and Brendan envisioned an elegant and timeless wedding with a sophisticated color palette of creme and neutral tones, accented by sage green and gold. The couple fell in love with DAR as the site for their big day as soon as they saw the distinctively stunning O’Byrne Gallery, DAR’s long ornate dining room with a beautifully decorated barreled ceiling, original sconces and fireplace, a herringbone-patterned wood floor, and gorgeous arched glass doors that open up to the domed portico balcony. The room was classic, unique, and completely in-line with the couple’s vision. As DC-area natives, Danielle and Brendan were also very excited to find a venue that meant so much to them in their hometown. Additionally, Brendan and the bride's sister both had their high school graduations at DAR, so the venue already had some meaningful connections with their families.
Impeccably designed and coordinated by Kolena Thomas and Nikki Zelenika of Blue Sapphire Events, the wedding décor and signature details were very thoughtfully chosen. Many items had great personal significance to the couple and their loved ones, from the hand painted watercolor “Save the Date” stationery designed by the couple’s friend, Amy Natsios, to the adorable cat cake topper, also designed by Danielle’s colleague and friend, Cintia Samaha, to look just like their beloved pet (Angelo), to the petite heirloom ring that the bride wore to pay homage to her late grandmother, Mary “Nana” Scopino.
The bride and groom chose to have their private first look in a gorgeous chandelier-lined hallway in the historic Mayflower Hotel, where they each got ready that morning. This was an emotional, heartfelt moment they will never forget, as it helped to ease their nerves for the rest of the day.
Their unplugged ceremony and outdoor cocktail hour were decorated with beautiful floral arrangements on DAR’s portico balcony, overlooking the iconic Washington Monument obelisk. This was the perfect backdrop to their classic DC wedding. One of the most memorable moments of the night happened during the reception when guests that attended the couple’s alma mater (Virginia Tech) cheered to the university’s anthem, Enter Sandman, on the stunning DAR Portico to ignite the dance floor. Go Hokies!
For their honeymoon, the newlyweds ventured off to the tropical paradise of Hawaii where they enjoyed the island’s laid-back and luxurious atmosphere with its soft golden sand, breathtaking sunsets, romantic dining options, and aquatic adventures. They spent a week in Waikiki, followed by a week in Wailea.
WEDDING TALENT
Location: DAR Constitution Hall; Planning: Blue Sapphire Events; Floral Design: Karin’s Florist; Catering: Spilled Milk; Wedding Dress: Caroline Castigliano; Bridal Salon: Elegance by Roya; Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Ana B; DJ: Black Tie Entertainment; Mirrors & Signage: Eriell Creations; Paper: Designs by Allison Rene; Photography: Anna Schmidt Photography