This rad pop-up wedding had glitter, sequins, and huge rainbow mural LOVE

Offbeat partner: Jennifer, Special Education Teacher

Offbeat partner: Alex, Management

Date and location of wedding: Blagden Alley, Washington, D.C. — March 17, 2018

Budget: Under $4000

Our offbeat wedding at a glance:

We wanted something small that fit us, but could also include our children and family. We didn't want to just run off to the courthouse. We wanted it to be simple and stress-free. I came across Pop! Wed Co. and knew immediately this was the way to go. They take care of everything (getting the marriage license, ceremony, cake, photographer, etc.). We just had to agree on a location.

We bounced ideas of locations back and forth. Maggie from Pop! Wed Co. suggested the “LOVE” mural at Blagden Alley. We were in DC for New Years so we checked it out and fell in love with it.

We didn't tell our six kids that we were getting married! We told them that we were having family pictures that day.

Tell us about the ceremony:

We had a short ceremony in front of the mural. We exchanged vows. Stephen, the officiant, did a reading. After that we had cake, signed our license, and took pictures with our family. Then our family and children created a tunnel for us to walk through and they threw (not tossed — we have some obvious baseball players in our house) confetti at us.

When our family left with the children, we had pictures with just the two of us.

Tell us about your reception:

Afterward, we met our family at Abi Azteca Grill & Bar in Arlington for lunch. It is a cozy Salvadoran restaurant. It was great and zero stress. We didn't have to worry about hundreds of guests and we got to enjoy who was there and the moment itself.

What was your most important lesson learned?

Both of us have been married before. I had the huge wedding and Alex went to a Justice of the Peace. So we knew what we wanted and also what we did not want. My biggest stress was the weather (but only during the week leading up) and finding parking on the day of.

We did everything the way we wanted it. I made the flowers for the girls, Alex, the boys, and my bouquet. I also made the cake toppers. The week leading up, we went with plan B for the girls' outfits. Sleeveless dresses weren't going to cut it. So we went looking for jackets and changed their shoes to sneakers to match the boys. The jackets completed the outfits. I knew I wanted a rose gold sequined dress that didn't break the bank. I found one on Amazon for around $50 and had a friend alter it to fit me.

Vendors

Photography: Barbara O Photography • Officiant/planning: Pop! Wed Co. • Dress: Amazon • Jackets: H&M • “LOVE” mural artist: Lisa Marie Thalhammer

Gallery

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