Photo by Rebecca Dotson Photography
The happy couple!
It was seven years ago when Michelle Mai, a public health professional living in Alexandria's Cameron Station neighborhood met Aaron, a consultant for a tech start-up who lived in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood in Washington, D.C.
"We connected on Bumble and met for our first date on a chilly January evening in 2018," she said. "The spark was immediate — we both knew right away that we wanted to see more of each other. Over the years, our relationship has grown through shared adventures, exploring new cuisines and a deep appreciation for family and community."
Engagement in Italy
The two were engaged "just shy of two years. We got engaged on October 24, 2023 while vacationing in Sorrento, Italy," Michelle said. Aaron had plans to propose to Michelle during their day trip to Positano but didn't feel that there was an intimate moment for the two of them. Aaron had a reason for wanting to propose on this particular day, since the date blends both of their birthdates: June 10 and June 24. After we got back to Sorrento and enjoyed dinner, Aaron suggested we go for a late night stroll through the gardens of the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria." Surrounded by lemon trees, Aaron proposed to Michelle.
Planning the wedding
In early 2024, the two began outlining what they wanted for their wedding, starting with the location. Michelle grew up in nearby Springfield, with a large extended family in Northern Virginia, while Aaron is from New York’s Finger Lakes region, with friends and family scattered along the East Coast.
"We agreed that hosting the wedding in the DMV would be the easiest for everyone," Michelle said.
While exploring venues in DC and Virginia, Aaron came across Hotel Heron just as it was preparing for its grand opening. "After touring the space, we were immediately drawn to its charm," Michelle said. "Old Town Alexandria, with its historic character, felt like the perfect setting. Michelle’s family could make the quick trip into town for the celebration, and Aaron’s family could stay in town to enjoy the quaint shops and restaurants throughout the wedding weekend - ultimately, most turned it into a short vacation."
Here's an peek at some of the details of the wedding, from the wedding dress to the flowers and more:
- Dress: Michelle decided on an A-line dress by Jenny Yoo and Anthropologie, choosing the Jenny Yoo Brynn dress because she wanted something simple, clean, and timeless.
- Tuxedo: Hugo Boss
- Makeup artist: Michelle chose Jessica Tan of J. Tan Artistry in Alexandria as her makeup artist because she’s familiar with Asian features and her portfolio has neutral, natural aesthetic.
- Jewelry: Market Street Diamonds (D.C.) and Mervis (Tysons) Growing up in the area, Michelle had always heard the Mervis commercials on the radio, while a friend recommended Market Street. "We liked their selection, quality and the helpful guidance they offered in finding pieces that matched our style," she said.
- Flowers: Kas Flowers LLC (Alexandria) "Having seen Kas' floral arrangements, we knew we wanted to work with her for our wedding flowers for her creativity with the flowers and textures. She created the bouquet, bouttonneire, centerpieces and bud vases. They were exactly the look and feel we wanted for our wedding. My wedding bouquet had white roses, white ranunculus, and white campanulas. Aaron’s boutonniere had a white rose and a white ranunculus."
- Music: NightLife Band (Maryland) - We had seen NightLife Band at a friend’s party and loved their energy! We wanted that same vibe at our wedding, and Shelli and the band delivered.
- Venue: Hotel Heron (Alexandria) "Old Town was the perfect setting and we loved Hotel Heron's blend of modern and historic touches. The packages offered had everything we were looking for, while the venue provided both a place to celebrate and a base for our guests to stay and enjoy the area."
- Ceremony: St. Louis Catholic Church (Alexandria) "Although we are not parishioners at St. Louis, the church and its pastor graciously welcomed us to celebrate our wedding there. We were drawn to its spacious interior, with beautiful stained glass and a timber framed ceiling that staged the perfect setting to exchange our vows."
- Cake: Sweet Greene Cupcakery (Alexandria) "The cake vendor was already included as part of our wedding package, which was a wonderful bonus. The cake was delicious with a variety of flavor and frosting combinations to choose from, and beautifully designed to match our wedding aesthetic.Our cake flavors were vanilla, chocolate, and carrot cake."
- Coordination: Ring on the Party (Alexandria) "We are both detail-oriented and wanted support to bring our vision to life. Sandra Johnson helped by creating a detailed day-of timeline, keeping everything running smoothly and on schedule, communicating with vendors, and ensuring that every little request we had was fulfilled."
- Dance Lessons: Dance Factory (Alexandria) "We are not dancers and needed a little help with our first dance. After three lessons with Maria Bliznetsova, we were confident and ready to dance to 'Kiss of Life' by Sade."
- Photographer: Rebecca Dotson Photography. "We absolutely loved Rebecca's photography style from the moment we discovered her portfolio. She made us feel at ease, and captured every moment beautifully. We were grateful for her attention to detail and ability to direct us throughout the day."
- Live Painting: Watch Maggie Paint - "Aaron’s sister surprised us with a live painter for our reception! Everyone loved watching Maggie’s artwork come to life throughout the evening."
- Honeymoon: The couple plans to spend two weeks in Turkey and Vietnam later this fall.
- Catering: Hotel Heron/Kiln (Alexandria) "We went with the venue’s catering because we loved the menu options and knew our guests would enjoy the food."
On the menu
During the cocktail hour, the couple chose a cruditès board and the following passed hors d'oeuvres:
- Lobster rolls
- Fried chicken sliders
- Bacon wrapped maitake mushrooms
- Crab cakes
- Corn jalapeno fritters
For dinner, they served Caesar salad and guests had an option of the following plated meal:
- Roasted Chicken Breast: chicken jus, cauliflower purée, seasonal vegetables
- Braised Short Rib: beef jus, pomme purée, caramelized Cipollini
- Poached Salmon: lemon caper beurre blanc, roasted fingerling potatoes, seasonal vegetables
- Cauliflower Steak: turmeric tahini, fresh herbs, pomegranate
Their advice for couples
- Michelle: "Stay by each other’s side throughout the day! The day is about you as a couple, and sharing the same moments ensures you’ll both have the same memories."
- Aaron: "Talk with your partner ahead of time about your goals for the wedding so that you can get the most out of the day. On the day of, don't worry about the things that are out of your control. You've already put enough effort into planning the event, so it's best to roll with whatever surprises come your way."
