“HI MICHELLE! THESE ARE INCREDIBLE! WE CAN’T STOP LOOKING AT THEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE.

WE ARE SO GLAD YOU WERE THERE TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS JOURNEY.”

-GENEVIVE, THE BRIDE.

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.

The Willard Wedding Washington DC Wedding Photographer Editorial Documentary Style DMV

dc engagement session maryland cottagecore session x

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

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

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.