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Offbeat partner: Emily
Offbeat partner: Ron
Date and location of wedding: Chuy's, Rockville, Maryland. October 27, 2019
Our offbeat wedding at a glance: Our wedding was a quirky blend of Tex-Mex, social media coverage, Prince quotes, and Jewish tradition. The social media coverage can be easily found by searching #GuacDowntheAisle on Facebook and Instagram or visiting guacdowntheaisle.com. We set out to focus on three important things as they tied the knot: lots of fun, good music, and tacos.
The wedding celebration took place at Chuy’s, a Tex-Mex fast casual concept originating in Austin, TX. Although the restaurant doesn’t ever host large, private events, the company was willing to bend their rules for us because we are regular customers of the Rockville, MD location.
Tell us about the ceremony:
VOWS
TRK TO EPG:
Emily, I am marrying you because I love you. All of you. Exactly the way you are. The parts you love, the parts you don’t love as much. Every last molecule. Because, to me, it is perfection.
My life has been made richer by your presence in countless ways. I know how deeply you love me, and previously didn’t know that it was possible, except that I know how I feel in loving you. So solidly that it makes me more completely understand the fragility of life and the world. So thoroughly that it actually encompasses all emotions imaginable.
Now, as we express our devotion to one another, I am overcome by the great possibilities that lie before us. But most of all, I am just so excited we’ll do it all together.
I don’t care where we go, I don’t care what we do. Just take me with u.
♥
EPG TO TRK:
TRK, We started this year off in the waiting room of the 5th floor intensive care unit of a hospital in far away Erie, PA. You may not remember, but that day I posted to your Facebook page in the midst of #thecrisis. I wrote “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Why?
Because no matter where we are:
in line at Call Your Mother Deli
on the beach in Cartagena
in the front row at E Street Cinema
…or at the hospital in Erie, PA:
Being with you is being home. And there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
I promise to always let you book our flights for both international and domestic travel; To let you sleep past 10 on (some) weekend mornings; And vow to tell you I love you often, and to stop talking long enough for you to do the same.
I simply cannot wait to continue our lives together. You are my favorite.
Since Chuy’s was the driving factor behind all the wedding decisions, the ceremony location was chosen for its proximity to the restaurant. The Canopy Hotel served as the ceremony spot — as well as the perfect location for out of town guests to stay and for a posed photo session with photographer Tosha Francis. Nothing says “wedded bliss” like a bride and groom posed in front of the Pike and Rose UNIQLO signs.
The setting for our Jewish wedding was a chuppah filled with plants, curated and constructed by Rewild. The ceremony was expertly officiated by Sixth & I Synagogue's Rabbi Shira Stutman. The bride and groom chose to update the traditional Jewish ceremony by creating a 90s style wedding ‘zine to walk guests through what to expect. Rings were made by local DC jewelry designer Mallory Shelter. Mid-ceremony, all guests were asked to fill out an advocacy action provided by Moms Demand Action centering around stricter gun laws. The letters were mailed to corresponding elected officials after the wedding.
The ceremony was bookended by unusual but festive wedding choices — the bride’s nieces walked down the aisle distributing black and white cookies to guests before the ceremony started. The couple got dressed together the morning of the wedding, the bride in a leopard bolero jacket, gold Birkenstock sandals and a Rebecca Schoneveld gown. The two walked (or Guaced) down the aisle — together — to Prince's Take Me With U. Once the glass was smashed, local DC brass band, The Bumper Jacksons, started a second line style parade featuring Hava Negilah and other highly danceable songs.
Tell us about the reception:
We worked with Vela Events to coordinate with Chuy’s and transform this strip mall family favorite into a colorful and festive wedding reception venue. Tables were rented, menus were set, and the Chuy’s team worked through the night (literally) to prepare the venue for 220 guests.
We sipped swirl margaritas, and guests were charmed by the“nacho car” — tortilla chips and nacho toppings served out of the hood of a 50s Cadillac in the lobby. Music was provided by Paul Vivari, a DC-based DJ specializing in spinning motown and soul on vinyl. Borrowing from a Pennsylvania and Ohio tradition, we asked friends to populate an opulent cookie table with their favorite cookies which was a guest favorite and also served as the party favor. The wedding cake was a classic grocery store sheet cake provided by Wegman’s — a nod to the groom’s Western New York roots.
“The staff at Chuy’s worked tirelessly to pull off this reception and we loved collaborating with them,” says Vered Asta of Vela Events, lead coordinator for #guacdowntheaisle.
What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding?
Pick 2 or 3 things that are important, and focus on them. And there is ALWAYS a way to make something fun and unique. We didn't want flower girls, so my nieces handed out black and white cookies. I was tired of plain invites, so we hired PunkPost to make ours out of markers — and each was unique and handmade.
Vendors
- Invites: PunkPost
- Dress: Rebecca Schoneveld
- Venue: Chuy's
- Rings: Mallory Shelter
- Second Line Band
- Event Planner: Vela Events
About the Author: Offbeat Weditors
Working tirelessly to bring you stimulating content day after day, the Offbeat Wed editors will not sleep until you've gotten your offbeat fix.
Wow, I want to be there!
Lovely photoshoot.
Great post! Love the live music. The food looks very yummy as well.