We kept the ceremony small and intimate, to make it more meaningful.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
John – I’m a computer nerd. I write code for work, and I write code for fun. I also play a lot of video games and spend most of my time on the computer. I like math and logic, and tinkering with things. Finding someone who shared a lot of these interests, but who had a vastly different personality and upbringing than me, was a truly amazing gift.
Christina – I’m often referred to as an old soul. I love old movies, vinyl records, Jane Austin, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. With that said, I grew up absolutely loving modern art and video games. I’ve always had an appreciation for vintage but genuinely enjoyed the rapid evolution of tech. Thankfully I’ve had the amazing opportunity to make a living combining my love for storytelling, art, and technology all in one.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
John – We met online. As we are both into videogames and the internet world, we met on Twitch. Our first bits of communication were just playful banter towards each other in a mutual friend’s stream. It’s not easy finding someone whose humor matches mine, so it was fun and intriguing. We were both living our lives as friends for a few years, and we were both in relationships, so we thought nothing more of it until a few years later, after covid started, when we hung out together and were both single. My first impressions of Christina were not only that she was funny and intelligent, but also a confident and powerful woman.
Christina – We have the modern tech equivalent of “We saw each other across the bar” – but our version is “We saw each other in a chat room”. I love a good banter, but it’s very rare to find someone that can keep up with me, and on top of that, make me laugh. He not only made me LOL (laugh out loud) in real life (that entire line is cringy but true) but also impressed me with his way of thinking.
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
John – I proposed in Rio, a park we’re both familiar with. Surprised Christina with flowers and a proposal as we were having a picnic in the trees. It was slightly rainy out, so not many people were out and about, which was perfect! It was nice and quiet, secluded, and I had a photographer waiting to capture the moment!
Christina – I honestly had no idea he was going to propose. Mostly because we were planning to have a picnic for weeks and I didn’t think twice about it. I should have been clued-in when he kept glancing at his phone and when we were still proceeding with the picnic despite the bad weather.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…
John – Christina and I both separately never envisioned getting married; it wasn’t something either of us ever really wanted. But together, it felt right, and we wanted to express that to our closest friends and family. We purposely kept the wedding very small, limited to immediate family and a few friends each, to keep it very intimate and meaningful. Margaret’s photography and aesthetic style, one that captures more than just posed pictures, but also really captures all of the “extra” moments was also a goal. We wanted those pictures that capture moments nobody usually sees. I had my best friend officiate the wedding, and I invited one of my closest friends from online, who I had never met prior to the wedding (in 12+ years of knowing her), to give an idea of how intimate we really wanted the event to be.
Christina – I fell out of love with love (and marriage) when I was a young adult…I also worked in the wedding industry for a short time. So I experienced enough Bridezillas and seen the price tags of weddings enough to scare me off of ever having my own. It all changed after meeting John, I wanted to have this experience with him, and him only. Thankfully we both loved the idea of a small and intimate ceremony. Something that was simple, yet memorable.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
John – We surprised Christina by bringing her father, who had just had a stroke earlier this year, to the wedding. She was not expecting it, and when she turned the corner during the procession, she and her father started crying as they shared an emotional moment. We both think it’s wholesome but funny as the pictures capture what she would call an “ugly cry”.
Christina – Ugh. My brother was walking me down the aisle because I was told that my father couldn’t make it out of the hospital in time for the wedding. I turn the corner, I see him sitting in a wheelchair waiting for me, I start bawling. Like shooting snot out of your nose, eyes turning into a firehose, falling to your knees kind of crying. And boy, was it an ugly cry. Now it’s captured in full color and black and white for everyone to see.
GETTING READY LOCATION Dupont Circle Hotel, @dupontcirclehotel / CEREMONY LOCATION Tudor Place, @tudor_place / RECEPTION LOCATION Nobu, @noburestaurants / PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHER Jenna Bell, @jennameibell / WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER Margaret Wroblewski, @margaretwroblewski / HARPIST Monkia Vasey, @peaharp / CUPCAKES Georgetown Cupcakes, @georgetowncupcake / WEDDING DRESS For Love and Lemons, @forloveandlemons / SUIT Calvin Klein, @calvinklein / BRIDE’S RING Brilliant Earth, @brilliantearth / GROOM’S RING Cartier, @cartier / BRIDE’S SHOES Sam Edelman, @sam_edelman / GROOM’S SHOES Florsheim, @florsheimshoes / FLORA Darling & Daughters, @darlinganddaughters
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