Indie rock + snow = magic and warmth at Emma & Bobby’s winter wedding
In early February (and pre-Super Bowl Sunday), we were thrilled to work with Emma and Bobby at their downtown wedding at the Whittemore House in Dupont Circle. Emma and Bobby are a sweet and unassuming couple. But with a very individualistic approach to their wedding music that made them a joy to work with! Crystal Whitaker of Charlottesville-based The Event Company handled the design, with food by Spilled Milk Catering. Photographer Emily Clack captured every moment of their special day beautifully.
Emma simply glowed in her strapless classic ivory wedding dress (a grey faux fur wrap kept the chill at bay) and Bobby looked effortlessly cool in a midnight blue tuxedo. The onsite ceremony took place in the Post Room. Guests took their seats to a prelude comprising selections from the films of Wes Anderson, as interpreted by The Vitamin String Quartet. Emma and Bobby’s parents were seated to the Quartet’s arrangement of Nico’s “These Days,” and the bridal party entered to the Quartet’s take on Sigur Ros’ “Staralfur.”
When the ceremony came to an end, Emma and Bobby chose to walk down the aisle together to M83’s “Midnight City,” an uplifting indie hit turned into a very personal celebration song that also set the tone perfectly for the party to come.
Guests convened upstairs to the Harriman Room for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres, to an indie and downtempo soundtrack that included The XX, Beck, Blur, The Sea and Cake, Quantic, and Super Furry Animals, among others. Clearly literate and well-traveled, Emma and Bobby chose a worldly theme for their celebration. Globes, vintage leather valets, and cameras accompanied miniature paper suitcases containing guests’ seating assignments in the Stevenson Room.
Emma and Bobby chose indie darlings The XX’s “Islands” for their first dance, its lyrical sentiment of “I am yours now/So I don’t ever have to leave” fitting the mood perfectly. Bobby danced with his mom Kathi to The Kooks’ “Love It All,” with Emma and her younger brother Thomas joining them in the second half of the song.
To a diverse dinner soundtrack of Rodrigo y Gabriela, and other latin-tinged jazz tunes from Grant Green and Cal Tjader, everyone enjoyed a wonderful winter menu provided by Spilled Milk Catering. The winter squash and chicken cutlets were particularly memorable.
After charming and heartfelt champagne toasts from the maid of honor Kathleen and the best man Eric, we opened up the dance floor with some new and classic soul from Stevie Wonder, Leona Lewis and Beyoncé, some indie from TV on the Radio and Phoenix, building up energy and tempo to the tune that really got things moving: Madonna’s “Like A Prayer.”
More 80s pop came in the way of Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know?” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” brought the neo-disco vibes, and Calvin Harris’ remix of Florence + the Machine’s “Spectrum (Say My Name)” cranked up the energy.
Not to be outdone by a packed dance floor, Crystal made her way into the falling snow and across Dupont Circle for Krispy Kreme donuts. Touché, Crystal.
We got the couples back on the floor with a return to the classics: The Crystals’ “Then He Kissed Me” and The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” A request for Passion Pit’s “Sleepyhead” brought the indie flavor back and a rousing singalong (around the Elvis mic) to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” was amazing (I only wish Emily was around to photograph it!).
We slowed down briefly for The Lumineers’ “Ho Hey,” but a deft blend into Beyoncé’s “Countdown” set the floor on fire once again. A-ha, Vampire Weekend, Generation X, and The Veronicas got everyone bouncing.
Rihanna’s “We Found Love” was a crowd-pleaser and Bassnectar’s remix of Ellie Goulding’s “Lights” went over so well it required an encore (as per Emma’s request). We closed a night of wonderful and diverse music with “Daisy” by Fang Island and everyone happily set off into the winter night, (hopefully) for restful sleep before Super Bowl Sunday!
