Although Kendall Strang was excited for her wedding celebration to ensue, she was grateful to share some time with her betrothed prior to the ceremony. “It hit me that this was really happening and I was about to marry my best friend, and that’s all that mattered,” confides the bride. “It was so nice to spend a few hours together taking pictures with Keith before the ceremony and spending some time alone before the festivities began in full force.”  

When the festivities did begin, it was in full force indeed, starting with a bagpiper playing outside the ivy-framed doors of the large church where the ceremony took place. “Although we weren’t members of the congregation, we decided to get married there because my parents were [wed] there over 30 years ago,” shares Kendall. The house of worship – beautiful in its own right with magnificent stained-glass windows and a cathedral ceiling – had been transformed into a modern-day fairy tale. Lush flowers and twinkling candlelight were plentiful, and the space exuded a feeling of elegance and romance. The altar was decorated with a beautiful pair of mixed floral arrangements in shades of vanilla, champagne, and touches of blush. 

The long, slate-grey dresses worn by the bridesmaids were complemented by the feminine hues of their mixed bouquets, which included roses, hydrangeas, and mini calla lilies in shades of soft pink and crème brûlée. The bride made her entrance wearing a lace Christos gown and holding a delicate mix of frothy white roses, stephanotis blossoms, and mini calla lilies. It was a moment that the groom admits he will never forget. “I will always remember Kendall walking down the long aisle in the church as I stood at the podium in front of 300 people,” Keith shares. “I was incredibly nervous, but I was also incredibly excited.” Just before the couple said their “I dos,” a family friend performed the song “Marry Me” by Train. “It was so special seeing all of our loved ones there supporting us as we exchanged our vows,” remembers Kendall.  

As guests arrived at the Congressional Country Club for the next phase of the celebration, they were again met with inviting details. A massive tent that overlooked the property’s golf course had been erected for cocktails and dramatically decorated with draped fabric overhead. Groupings of sparkling crystal chandeliers dangled from the tall structure, and collections of hurricane candles were arranged artfully along the custom-made bar. “I think the cocktail hour is one of the best parts of a wedding reception, and it was important to me that we had at least an hour and a half to visit with friends and family,” says Keith. Cuisine ranging from crab meatballs and chicken lollipops to petit lamb chops and Peking-duck served at a carving station were readily available for guests.

The formal ballroom of the club was adorned with intricate arrangements of candles and mounds of beautiful fresh flowers. Kendall had hoped to create a romantic ambiance within the room, and the use of flowers was heavily instrumental in carrying out her vision. Tabletop designs varied between three different styles of décor.

After enjoying a sit-down dinner service and slices of lattice-patterned wedding cake, guests abandoned their seats to dance to an eclectic mix of music played by a live band. In fact, the majority of merrymakers only left the dance floor to shift to the after-party. The tented cocktail space had been flipped into a sophisticated lounge that included seating areas for mingling, a fun checkered dance floor near the DJ’s post, and an assortment of late-night treats.

The groom urges couples to simply have fun on the big day and forget any stress the planning may have caused. “After all, it is a party for you and your new wife, so soak it up, have a great time, and celebrate the best day of your life.”