Imagine your wedding day as national headline news, read from DC to Des Moines. You, your groom and your guest list are the subject of Washington’s biggest event of the year, and anyone who’s anyone is going to be there. Marjorie Merriweather Post became accustomed to this tradition, as the bride in four of her own weddings, and the unofficial wedding planner for each of her three daughters. As the daughter of Charles William Postum, the founder of Postum Cereal Company (now Post and General Mills cereal) Mrs. Post was a distinguished socialite, with an eye for putting on spectacular events. A regular host of Washington socialite dinner parties, Mrs. Post had a remarkable list of contacts, including Washington’s elite. Pulling from these contacts, Mrs. Post created the guest lists for each of the weddings she planned. These traditional white weddings stood apart from the rest because both the bride and her guests were all Washington socialites, and the events they attended were guaranteed to be grand. Both as a bride and a planner, Marjorie Post had an extraordinary ability to envision an event from start to finish, scrupulously putting every last detail in place. In her second wedding to E.F. Hutton, Mrs. Post coordinated everything from her dress and flowers down to the color of the icing on the cake. Very interested in fashion, Mrs. Post’s wedding dresses reflected the most prominent styles of the time. The first dress she wore to her 1905 wedding to Edward Close was very traditional, featuring a high collar and more fitted bodice. This changed drastically by her 1935 wedding to Joseph E. Davies, when she wore a dress of true Hollywood glam made of velvet with a seven-foot train. By her fourth wedding in 1958, she chose to embrace the popularity of the shorter gown, despite being nearly 70 years old. Besides having an incredible eye for design, it was the way in which Mrs. Post carried out these events that made them a cut above the rest. By sending out reminders before the event occurred and thank-you notes in appreciation of all those attended, Marjorie Post had perfected the role of a socialite in gaining the respect of all who knew her. Although Mrs. Post’s gatherings had a reputation for extravagance, and her guest list filled with Washington’s most powerful names, many of the traditions were no different than weddings of today. As a bride herself, Marjorie Post certainly had her bridal opinion, picking the color, style, fabric and design of her bridesmaids’ dresses. As the mother of three young brides, Mrs. Post had a strong hand in navigating their weddings as well, using her contacts to secure an amazing event. Just as today, historic Washington socialite weddings were a monumental moment in the bride’s life, the planning as much of an event as the wedding itself. In observing the traditional ways weddings have been done in the past we can all gain a greater appreciation for the traditions we still carry out today. For more information on Marjorie Merriweather Post visit the Hillwood Museum’s upcoming exhibit featuring all four of Mrs. Post’s wedding dresses and many other wedding artifacts. [gallery ids="99594,105020,105009,105016,105013" nav="thumbs"]
Real Weddings - Get inspired with real wedding photos of engaged couples. WeddingWire features Real Weddings from across the country.
The Nature Conservancy teams with the Archdiocese of Washington to curb urban runoff at a 150-year old cemetery.
Colleen Healey Architecture has revamped a home facing Logan Circle, retaining its historic details while updating it for contemporary living.
DC is a dream vacation for history buffs. With so much history housed in the city, supplement your experience by staying at a notable hotel that has history of its own.
The DC area has many historic restaurants that offer a unique dining experience. Learn about the oldest taverns in the capital region (with a map).
Here are five popular restaurants to visit while in Georgetown, DC.This lively, historic neighborhood is full of lots of great eateries.
Ford's Theatre National Historic Site in Washington, DC where I saw my first play, GODSPELL. <3 nana gloria
OTJ Architects completed the design for the National Trust for Historic Preservation offices located in Washington DC. The National Trust for Historic
A working theatre, historical monument, world-class museum, and learning center, Ford's Theatre is the premier destination in Washington, DC, for exploring Abraham Lincoln's legacy and celebrating the American experience. The site of Lincoln's assassination in April 1865, Ford's Theatre offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in America's past while revealing meaningful connections to today.
Daniel Burnham, architect and city planner, said about his master plans for Chicago and also the World's Columbian exhibition: Make no littl...
Happy Monday friends! Today on blog, we are sharing one of two destination engagement sessions from last week. When Ashley asked if DC would be possible for their engagement session we instantly jumped at the opportunity to shoot in a new place. The thought of photographing them under the beautiful architecture and historic buildings had Continue Reading
An al fresco affair at Tudor Place inspired a natural palette and simple design for this DC wedding.
"Remember what you saw."
Original Caption: The National Archives Building at night, Pennsylvania Avenue entrance, 1972. U.S. National Archives’ Local Identifier: 64-NA-5338 Persistent URL: catalog.archives.gov/id/3493290 Repository: Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001. For information about ordering reproductions of photographs held by the Still Picture Unit, visit: www.archives.gov/research/order/still-pictures.html Reproductions may be ordered via an independent vendor. NARA maintains a list of vendors at www.archives.gov/research/order/vendors-photos-maps-dc.html Access Restrictions: Unrestricted Use Restrictions: Unrestricted
A timeless and romantic Meridian House wedding in Washington DC.
The exterior of Union Station in Washington DC.
In the Greater Fourteenth Street Historic District National Register #94000992.
This free, historic museum near Washington, DC's National Mall is where you can see America’s founding documents.
Join me as I become a tourist in my own city, Washington, D.C. Places I visited: • The National Cathedral - American cathedral of the Episcopal Church • Steak 'n Eggs - 24/7 Burgers & Breakfast • 9:30 Club - Nightclub & concert venue • The Velvet Lounge - Bar & small music venue • Howard Theatre - Historic theatre • Chinatown - Historic neighborhood • Union Station - Major train station & Amtrak's headquarters • Capitol Hill - Home to U.S. Government • The Washington Monument - Iconic landmark on the National Mall Enjoy!<3
