Photographed by Michelle Elyse Photography

Planning by Events by PG with Willard Guru Michael Deltette

Stunning multi-event wedding and pre-wedding experience with a tea ceremony, multiple pre-wedding sessions, and a gilded wedding day that was inspired by royal nuptials of the past. Classic, elegant, and fit for a Prince and Princess. Editorial style wedding photos by Michelle Elyse Photography. Florals by Park Florist.

A few favorites above…now onto the full experience of this incredible couple.

Genevieve and Diego opted for full coverage of their engagement and wedding weekend. It started with a beautiful autumn engagement session in Maryland. Followed about a year later by a lighthearted session in Georgetown to commemorate the pickup of their marriage certificate. Then, kicking off their wedding weekend with a vibrant Vietnamese Tea Ceremony. And finally culminating with their incredible ceremony and reception at The Willard Intercontinental’s Crystal Room in downtown Washington DC. All of which will be shared in detail below. 

A WHIMSICAL ENGAGEMENT SESSION :

About a year before their gorgeous wedding day, we met up for the first time in the rolling hills of rural Maryland. We enjoyed the wildflowers, autumn scenery, and good company. Provided that these two are planning a honeymoon in The Cotswalds, this session felt in line with a whimsical sense of cottagecore. 

A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE SESSION:

Well, originally , this session was planned to take place at the courthouse in downtown Washington DC. But just a few days prior the Government Shutdown began. So we pivoted and rolled with a chic urban couples session wandering the charming streets of Georgetown before grabbing drinks and dessert with Parisian flair at Le Diplomat. For this session, we were opting for something modern, edgy, and maybe even a bit city-gritty. One of my favorite parts was when we popped into a local Bodega. 

A BEAUTIFUL VIETNAMESE CEREMONY THAT HONORED TRADITION:

Kicking off their incredible wedding weekend, Genevieve & Diego’s first event was their Vietnamese Tea Ceremony. Wearing breathtaking custom garments designed and transported from Vietnam, these two looked beautiful. We met up for a quick set of couple’s photos before guests arrived. 

The Tea Ceremony was a thoughtful event that honored family and custom. Loved ones gathered from all over to celebrate these two- including Genevieve’s darling grandmother! The Willard’s Peacock Lounge was decorated in shades of red- a visual symbol of luck, love, and prosperity. 

THE WEDDING DAY :

The next morning, we were ready for this gorgeous wedding day! Genevieve and Diego started out getting ready in seperate suites at The Willard. 

Seeing this photo of Genevieve in front of the window with her veil takes my breath away every time! Her custom Monique Lhullier gown could not have been more beautiful. Taking these photos of her and Diego throughout their wedding day really did feel like I was taking pictures of a Royal couple.

THEIR FIRST LOOK:

Diego joyfully anticipates seeing Genevieve before their ceremony, as she whisks down through the lobby. They soak in these beautiful moments together in the Willard’s Ballroom Staircase. 

The day was planned to allow for some couples photos ahead of the ceremony, so we wandered around the Willard inside and outside before heading to the family photo location. 

These two! I can’t get enough of them.

Time to walk down the aisle!

CONGRATS TO THE NEWLYWEDS!

Genevieve & Diego enjoy a private moment alone as guests enjoy the cocktail hour. A harpist serenades with the most beautiful sounds as people sip their martinis.

THE NEWLYWEDS:

Truly, these guys can’t take a bad photograph. And the Willard delivers from every angle.

THE RECEPTION ROOM AND THEIR FIRST LOOK WITH THE SPACE

The Willard’s Crystal Room is transformed into a space fit for a royal ball. The soft green of the marble, polished silver, and the gilded touches blend beautifully with the soft pastels of the tall centerpeices. After a jaw dropping first look at the space, Genevieve and Diego practice ballroom dancing for their choreographed first dance.  

THE FIRST DANCE

Full of swirls and twirls and lifts, and set to a live Instrumental Quartet, this was an unforgettable memory to witness. And we loved capturing the elegance and motion. 

A STATELY AND OPULANT RECEPTION 

Guests were served a sumptuous multi-course meal as Champagne was poured and heartfelt and hilarious toasts were shared for the couple.  

THINGS GET WILD AFTER DARK 

 An classical string quartet serenaded Genevieve and Diego’s dinner and first dances. However, once it got a little later, Salsa music kicked on and people couldn’t help but move to the music. The newlyweds left the room to get some fresh air and came back to a wild party!

What an incredible experience getting to share in all of these amazing memories with the Newlyweds. After all these sessions and celebrations, I’m really going to miss these regular photo meetups! Genevieve and Diego, you two are so meant for each other and an absolute dream! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to capture this unforgettable time in your lives. 

XO MICHELLE

 

 

 

Genevieve & Diego | An Elegant, Royal-Inspired Wedding at The Willard InterContinental in Washington, DC

There are some wedding weekends that stay with you long after the last champagne glass is cleared, and Genevieve and Diego’s celebration at The Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington DC is one I’ll remember forever. From the quiet, emotional moments of their Vietnamese tea ceremony to the breathtaking elegance of their Crystal Room reception, everything felt intentional, personal, and deeply romantic.

Washington DC has no shortage of beautiful wedding venues, but The Willard has a kind of grandeur you just can’t replicate anywhere else. Photographing a couple here—especially one as warm, stylish, and deeply connected as these two—was truly a dream.

A Weekend Filled With Heart and Heritage

Genevieve and Diego designed their wedding weekend to feel like a story with several chapters, each unique but connected by the same sense of joy and meaning. Working with the incredible team at Events by PG and the incomparable Michael Deltette at The Willard, they created a celebration that felt both luxurious and grounded in who they are as individuals and as a couple.

It wasn’t just a wedding day. It was an entire experience.

The Vietnamese Tea Ceremony

The weekend began with a beautiful Vietnamese tea ceremony surrounded by family. The room was filled with vibrant shades of red—traditional and symbolic, representing luck, love, and protection. The couple wore custom outfits made in Vietnam, and the look on their parents’ and grandmother’s faces said everything about how meaningful this was.

As a photographer, these are the moments I love most—the gestures between generations, the quiet pride, the way families come together. Every frame from this ceremony feels like a gift.

Engagement Session No. 1: Cottagecore Romance in Maryland

About a year before the wedding, we wandered through a rural Maryland park in autumn for their engagement session. It was breezy, golden, soft—everything you dream about when you think of fall. We leaned into something whimsical and cottagecore, so we spent the afternoon exploring fields, tucking into little pockets of sunlight, and letting them simply be themselves.

The photos feel gentle and like a warm hug, like scenes from a storybook.

Engagement Session No. 2: Georgetown + Le Diplomate

Their photography package also included a second pre-wedding session around the time they picked up their marriage license. For this one, the vibe was completely different—edgy, modern, and a little quirky. Georgetown was the perfect backdrop with its mix of charm and moodiness.

After wandering the streets of Georgetown, we ended the evening after dark at Le Diplomate, sharing cocktails and desserts while photographing them like it was a date night in Paris. Honestly, some of my favorite photos of them came from this session. There was such an effortless energy between them, the kind that makes photography feel less like posing and more like observing two people simply enjoying each other.

The Wedding Day at The Willard

By the time the wedding day rolled around, everything felt so aligned. The Willard’s Crystal Room was transformed into a space inspired by the elegance of historic royal weddings—soft neutrals, shimmering details, and a palette that felt classic and sophisticated without ever feeling stuffy.

Genevieve’s custom Monique Lhuillier gown was a show-stopper. There’s no other way to put it. It had this romantic, ethereal movement to it that made every moment cinematic. Diego looked incredibly dapper in his timeless black tux with tails, blending with her look perfectly.

The Willard photographs beautifully even on its quiet days—but on this day, it absolutely glowed.

Throughout the day, I photographed the big moments, of course, but it was the small ones that truly made everything feel alive: the way Diego looked at Genevieve during their first look, the hugs from family members they don’t see often, the laughter during the speeches, the gentle touches, the in-between glances. That’s the heart of documentary wedding photography—and this couple gave me so much to capture.

The Reception in the Crystal Room

When the reception began, the Crystal Room sparkled. The string quartet played through dinner. Candlelight danced through the space, the tables were set with elegant details, and everything had that warm, celebratory glow you only really get at a nighttime wedding.

Their first dance was a showstopper. The speeches were heartfelt. And once the music really started, the dance floor never emptied. It was one of those nights where you could feel the joy buzzing through the room.

Planning a Wedding at The Willard InterContinental?

If you’re dreaming of a celebration filled with elegance, history, and timeless beauty, The Willard is one of the most breathtaking venues in Washington DC. And if you’re looking for a photographer who blends editorial style with natural, documentary storytelling, I’d love to chat with you.

Every couple deserves photos that feel honest, elevated, and beautifully true to who they are.

If you’re planning a wedding in Washington DC—or anywhere in the world—and want images that are modern, artistic, and authentically you, explore my work at michelleelysephotography.com.

Vendors & Venues

Willard Guru: Michael Deltette @michaeldeltette

Planning: Exclusively Events by PG @exclusivelyeventsbypg

Photography: Michelle Elyse Photography @michelleelysephoto

Venue: The Willard Intercontinental Peacock Lounge and Crystal Room @willard_intercontinentaldc

Dress: Monique Lhullier (custom) @moniquelhullierbride

MUAH: Susan Lim Makeup Artist @susanlimmakeupartist

Videographer: Feeling Wedding Films @feelingweddings

Quartet:Kennedy String Quartet

Harpist: Megan Davis Harpist

Florist: Park Florist @park.florist

Officiant: Katie from Ceremony Officiants @ceremonyofficiants