A shared love for art, architecture, and design led Lilly and Cody to Meridian House for their special day. The lush gardens and the deep green, library-filled interiors of the French Neoclassical estate instantly became the main character of the wedding. “Our goal was to design an immersive experience for our guests, where our impermanent decor additions will celebrate the original style of the house, while feeling inviting and fresh,” Lilly shares. “I may be biased, but I think we managed to pull it off!” Photographed by Fair Foxes, the day unfolds through refined moments and a lively celebration that feels effortless and lived-in.
Location: Washington DC, USA
Style: Neoclassical, Historic, Intimate
Time of planning: 18 months
Number of guests: 56
Setting: Historic Estate
Season: Spring
Lilly and Cody’s story began eight years ago. They met through work friends on a casual night. There was off-key singing, Rock Band, and, without either of them realizing it at the time, they accidentally unlocked best-friend status on night one.
That sense of ease and mutual understanding carried them through growing up together, building a shared life, and eventually welcoming their dog, Arnold, into the mix. The proposal came on a surprisingly hot September day during a picnic at their favorite park. Cody had packed a picnic and a shiny new ring. After sharing the news with their families and closest friends, they celebrated with a night out on the town.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Lilly’s personal style can be summed up as classic, with a few small modern surprises. As she puts it, “And while we’re on the topic, you should also know that I insist on designing most things myself. Of course, my engagement ring and wedding dress was no exception!”
For her wedding dress, Lilly collaborated with Luna D’Miel Bridal alongside seamstress Agnes over several months, bringing her own sketches to life. The final design was a strapless silk mikado gown with a classic drop waist and a long, elegant train. Her veil extended even further, crafted from fine tulle with a slim pencil-edge finish that echoed the clean lines of the dress. She walked down the aisle in bright diamond-white pumps to complete the look.
The bride worked with Quest Fine Jewelers to create a custom engagement ring featuring a yellow-gold setting with vintage-inspired milgrain detailing, small accent stones set into a thin modern band, and a round lab-grown diamond secured by six clawed prongs. “Sometimes I still catch myself staring at my hand a little too long, especially when I’m also wearing my custom wedding band: a simple gold band with 7 small diamonds embedded into its surface,” Lilly shares.
Other jewelry was kept minimal, with a pair of oversized stud earrings adding a subtle bridal touch. Lilly wore her hair down in soft curls, paired with bright, fresh makeup, both done by Olivia Lo Makeup. Her bouquet featured small calla lilies, a spring-forward choice and a playful nod to her name.
Preparation was treated as a series of intimate moments shared with family and friends. Rachel of Fair Foxes focused on what mattered most: a father’s expression, the closeness of friends gathered around Lilly, the unspoken comfort of being held and supported.
Groom’s Fashion
Cody looked extra handsome on their wedding day in his custom black tuxedo by Enzo Custom, paired with patent leather shoes and a delicate white boutonniere. Personal touches like his custom wedding band and initials embroidered into his jacket and shirt made the entire ensemble feel even more special. According to the couple, they both felt like a million bucks.
First Look
The first look unfolded quietly. Lilly and Cody slipped into the garden and simply sat together, talking and laughing softly. Surrounded by greenery and stone, it felt relaxed and unforced, more like a pause before the celebration.
Ceremony
The ceremony unfolded at Meridian House, tucked quietly into a residential corner of Washington, D.C., and felt intentionally removed from the city around it. Guests entered through oversized oak doors, moving through the house before emerging into the Linden Tree Grove, guided by the soft sound of a bubbling fountain and classical arrangements by Apollo Chamber Music.
In the garden, the setting revealed itself slowly: sixty white chairs arranged along a grassy aisle scattered with petals, while chilled glasses of strawberry lemonade were passed around, setting a calm, unhurried tone before the ceremony even began.
Just before the ceremony, Lilly lingered behind the doors, peeking out toward the aisle with a mix of anticipation and barely contained excitement. She wasn’t hiding nerves so much as holding onto the feeling, knowing that in just a few seconds she would step into the garden and into the moment she had been waiting for.
As Canon in D began, the mood settled naturally. Lilly and Cody met at the end of the grassy aisle, where Cody’s aunt officiated the ceremony, keeping it deeply personal. Handwritten vows were shared in front of their closest people, while shifting clouds and sudden gusts of wind hovered just long enough to add atmosphere without ever turning into rain. “We worried about the weather all afternoon,” Lilly later shared, “but somehow the wind kept us dry, it felt like the moment was protecting itself.”
The ceremony closed to All You Need Is Love, as guests tossed dried jasmine petals into the air, marking the transition from vows to celebration. “Our ceremony was intimate, sweet, and full of love,” Lilly recalls. “It was exactly how we had envisioned it.”
Unable to join us earthside, we honored my sisters’ memory by saving her a seat with a linen sign. Though I couldn’t see my sister’s face, I told myself that the curious bunny investigating our ceremony set up that morning was her. I felt it was only explicable that she was the one who staved off the rain with those big gusts of wind during the ceremony as she couldn’t contain her excitement. Our wedding day wouldn’t have been the same without her special presence.
Moments Together
The moments Lilly and Cody shared throughout the day were captured by Fair Foxes with a clear eye for structure, movement, and space. Rachel’s photography leans heavily on perspective, often framing the couple through open doors, stairwells, and layered architectural elements. It is her a signature approach that gives the images a sense of depth and quiet drama without staging.
Inside the house, checkerboard floors and sweeping staircases became graphic anchor. The red carpet, paired with warm, directional sunlight, added contrast and softness at the same time. The house itself played an active role in these moments, guiding how the couple moved, paused, and connected within its walls.
“Even more than a timeless color palette, the house itself was an architectural and designers’ gem,” Lilly shares. “I ogled at the ornate chandeliers, millwork, tapestries, and garden sculptures carved of stone. I knew I wanted our wedding to feel cohesive and intentional, where even something as small as an escort card would lend itself to the style of the house.”
Cocktail Hour
Following the ceremony, the celebration naturally flowed back into the tree grove, where Well Dunn Catering passed hors d’oeuvres and blackberry mules as the couple’s signature cocktail. Guests lingered under the trees, drinks in hand, letting the moment stretch just a little longer before dinner.
The final minutes of cocktail hour were reserved for something especially meaningful: both fathers offering their toasts. Childhood stories, well wishes, and shared memories unfolded as the late-afternoon sun caught the scene just right, turning a simple pause into one of the most quietly emotional moments of the day.
Decor
The reception unfolded inside the library, and the vibe was instantly set. Deep green walls, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and warm golden light felt quietly dramatic. This was the atmosphere doing the heavy lifting. The palette leaned into moss and deep greens, anchoring the room in a very grounded, almost cinematic way.
The sweetheart table was where the styling really clicked. Its rounded shape broke away from the room’s strong architectural lines, softening the space. Placed intentionally but not isolated, it felt more like part of the room’s rhythm than a spotlight moment. Effortless, unfussy, and perfectly in sync with the library’s old-world energy.
Then came the subtle twists: moody amaranthus woven through the florals by Dear Flower, satin ribbons wrapped around napkins, and dusty-rouge taper candles adding just enough contrast to keep the eye moving. “I envisioned deep shades of moss and olive throughout our invitations, menus, tablescapes, and even our wedding website,” Lilly shares. “So many of the shapes, patterns, and textures I noticed while touring the venue influenced everything, from our invitations to the chairs, linens, signage, and even the card box.”
Reception
Once guests took their seats, the details quietly unfolded. Each place setting held a hand-written letter, instantly shifting the mood from beautiful to personal. Tables were dotted with airy floral arrangements in green, white, and powder blue, keeping things fresh and light.
Instead of a formal first dance, Cody and Lilly took a moment to thank their guests for the love, support, and friendship surrounding them, before finally settling into their sweetheart table, tired in the best way, fully present, and ready to actually enjoy the night they had just pulled off.
Despite the nerves that came and went throughout the day, both agreed that their favorite moment arrived right there. The shot list was done. The aisle had been walked. Vows exchanged. Hugs given, thank-yous said. Sitting together at the sweetheart table, everything finally exhaled. They watched their guests, barely speaking, soaking in the scene they had so carefully built. It was calm, grounding, and quietly emotional, one of those rare pauses where nothing else needs to happen.
After dinner, Lilly slipped into a light, airy chiffon dress by Nana Jacqueline, trading structure for movement and comfort, and setting the tone for what came next. The cake followed soon after, playful and unfussy, cut without ceremony, just another shared moment folded naturally into the evening.
From there, the night loosened up fast. Music took over, the dance floor filled, and at just the right moment, late-night ramen made its appearance. Equal parts unexpected and deeply satisfying, it was the perfect ending, warm and completely unpretentious. The kind of finale that proves the best weddings carry their energy all the way through the night.
Advice from the couple:
• Do what feels right for you and your partner and prioritize each other over all else. A wedding can come with a lot of opinions and stressors. Focusing inwards on the two of you is all that really matters!
• Pro tip: the less you share with your guests, the more you’ll be able to make decisions that reflect your genuine preferences.
PHOTOGRAPHER Fair Foxes | VIDEOGRAPHER Films by Madeleine | EVENT COORDINATOR Erin Cleveland Events | VENUE Meridian House | FLORAL DESIGN Dear Flower | MUAH Olivia Lo Makeup | BRIDAL GOWN Luna D’Miel Bridal | BRIDAL JEWELRY Quest Fine Jewelers | AFTER PARTY DRESS Nana Jacqueline | CATERING Well Dunn Catering | RENTALS DC Rentals | STRING TRIO Apollo Chamber Music | DJ DJ Maskell
