A Fall Wedding with Rooftop Views in Washington, D.C.

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wedding couple in front of emerald doors — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Tyler Ford, left, couldn't have chosen a more picturesque setting to propose to Nick Lawson, right—he did so in Monte Carlo on a side street overlooking the Mediterranean. "My original plan was to propose in front of the Grimaldi Palace, but the plaza was crowded, so I suggested that we explore some of the side streets, and maybe find a glass of wine," shares Tyler. When he found a quiet moment, he pulled Nick aside and proposed.

From there, the two walked to the Casino Monte Carlo, and split a bottle of Champagne as they called their families. Nick, who didn't know about the proposal in advance, had separately made a dinner reservation at Restaurant Joël Robuchon Monte-Carlo in the Hotel Metropole. "We had some time before dinner, which we spent playing cards in the hotel's bar, using a deck of cards the hotel sent someone out to get special for us," says Nick. "The image on the face of the cards is actually the same spot where we got engaged."

When brainstorming their future wedding's vibe, the pair knew they wanted the event to feel like a warm family gathering—one that was dressed up and sophisticated, but without being overly formal or fussy. And since they both love living in Washington, D.C., Tyler and Nick needed a venue that showed it off. Enter THE LINE DC. "The roof of the hotel, where we had our ceremony, is really what sold the space. The hotel is positioned on high ground, and from the roof you can see the entire downtown below you. The monuments are still there, but you get more of a sense of them as part of living city, rather than dominating the conversation," says the duo.

In the end, the event was exactly what they envisioned—a love letter to their city and each other. "We're not terribly formal people, and we wanted our wedding to mirror what we love about our life: being crowded by family and friends," says Tyler.

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A Dose of Color

close-up of diamond-shaped invite — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Emerald invitations were letterpressed in gold and gave guests the first glimpse of what would be a handsome affair. "Bold hues were introduced in the suite and carried throughout the day-of design elements, including patterned website cards and table numbers," says event planner Emily Butler of Karson Butler Events.

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Exquisite Accessories

grooms' shoes and ties — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Designer shoes and ties put the finishing touches on Tyler and Nick's custom tuxes by Trunk Club.

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A Moment Together

grooms chatting while getting ready — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Tyler and Nick chatted lovingly while getting ready for the wedding together, along with their families.

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Up on the Roof

wedding couple sharing a drink alone on the rooftop — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Ahead of the ceremony, the couple enjoyed the views from the LINE DC's rooftop, where the service was scheduled to take place.

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Reservations Required

wedding ceremony guest chairs with name tags — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Ebony tags, tied with emerald ribbon, reserved ceremony seats for a few select VIPs. While some of the duo's guests sat for the service, others stood, circling them with love.

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Here Come the Grooms

couple during outdoor rooftop wedding processional — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Tyler and Nick walked down the aisle together, to the sounds of the Sage String Quartet playing a commissioned arrangement of "Being Alive" by Steven Sondheim, from the film Company.

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A Sweet Ceremony

wedding couple holding hands during ceremony — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

"Using the intimate space on the side rooftop, we created a beautiful space for Tyler and Nick to exchange vows," says Emily. Their officiant—a close friend—based the ceremony on letters Tyler and Nick had written to each other.

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Light and Laughter

wedding couple seated on rooftop surrounded by guests — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

After the joyful service—which was full of laughter—the couple walked back up the aisle to Leonard Bernstein's "Make Our Garden Grow" from Candide.

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A "Smashing" Success

wooden outdoor wedding bar with framed signage — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Guests were invited to grab the newlyweds' signature cocktail, a whiskey smash, from the striking wooden bar, which served as the cocktail hour's focal point.

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Tasty Blooms

close-up of stacked cocktail glasses with floral accents — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Edible flowers brightened up etched cocktail glasses.

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Fruitful

decorative fruit bowl with stand holding pears — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Fresh fruit was arranged in brass bowls to complement the floral arrangements on the bar.

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Tons of Texture

wedding lounge with assorted seating and string lights — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

A canopy strung with lights and greenery chandeliers defined an area off the main rooftop for post-ceremony lounging; plush, textural rental furniture created a nuanced nook.

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Clever Escort Display

close-up angle of escort cards — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Guests found their table assignments from a board lined with personalized playing cards that mirrored the deck the grooms played with the night they became engaged.

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A Colorful Reception

behind the curtain look at reception tables — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Emerald draping set off the entrance to the reception space, where bare farm tables alternated with those swathed in blue, goldenrod, and green linens.

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Neutral Tablescapes

close-up shot from head of reception table green and gold dishes — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

A myriad of table looks defined the reception space. For the first, the couple skipped linens (they let the herringbone pattern, which referenced the wooden floors in the venue's lobby, take center stage) and adorned stations with ebony chargers, goldenrod napkins, and amber glassware that played beautifully off small fall-hued flower arrangements.

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An Emerald Statement

close-up of green place setting white and yellow floral centerpiece — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

Other tables were covered with tablecloths and set with emerald chargers and glassware alongside lush florals accented with apples.

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On the Floor

wedding couple kissing on dance floor — Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

The team at Karson Butler Events used green draping to section of a dancing space, where the duo and their guests spent the majority of the evening. The DJ booth was inspired by the gold radiator ceiling tiles of venue's main ballroom.

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