Abby Browne admits that she had heard about Daniel Ensign before even meeting him. A friend of hers thought the two would make a great love connection. Unknowingly, they met at that same mutual friend’s party about a month later, but only said hello and didn’t speak for the rest of the night. 

As fate would have it, the very next day, Abby and Daniel were matched on a dating app. “I took a screenshot of his profile and sent it to my friend to show her that I matched with someone who was at her birthday party. I then learned that this was the boy she had wanted to set me up with!” tells Abby. Though it was a very snowy evening, Abby forced herself to bundle up and meet Daniel for their first date. “Best decision ever!” she smiles. 

Daniel continued their love story years later when he proposed in Washington, DC’s Navy Yard. He had secretly arranged that their respective families from Maryland, Florida, Kentucky, and New York were present, so that he could host them all that afternoon at an engagement brunch. 

With so many loved ones traveling from various parts of the country to the nuptials, it was important to the couple that their wedding venue be convenient for out-of-town guests. The affianced pair selected a luxurious hotel with posh amenities and close proximity to many popular DC sites.

 “In our hospitality bags, we included a welcome letter with a QR code that provided our guests with a custom Google map where we noted our favorite restaurants, museums, activities, coffee shops, and more, all within walking distance,” describes Abby of the clever idea. 

Abby was grateful that her beloved was so helpful during the planning process. “Daniel is such a natural planner for everything, that when it came to planning our wedding, he was always able to think through every detail, figure out logistics, and ask all our vendors the right questions,” shares the bride, who also credits her mother for being a huge support throughout the engagement. 

The bride desired a chic décor scheme that incorporated many unique modern elements; however, during the ceremony, she wanted to focus on highlighting Jewish wedding traditions, including signing the ketubah with close family and friends prior to the vow exchange. “We added a bit of Kentucky tradition as a nod to Daniel’s home state when the whole group did a toast with bourbon,” shares Abby. 

“The whole look was super modern, dramatic, and nontraditional.”

The bride wore a feminine strapless ivory gown featuring pretty floral embellishments as she made her way down the aisle to the song “You Make My Dreams (Come True)” by Hall & Oates. She carried a romantic bouquet of white Japanese sweet peas, while her two bridesmaids – wearing black gowns of their choosing – held nosegays of ranunculuses. The heartfelt service was performed by the groom’s childhood rabbi who flew in from Louisville for the occasion. 

As guests transitioned to the reception, they were seated at one of four styles of tablescapes. “I really wanted our reception to look different from any of the other weddings we had attended,” confesses the bride, who asked her florist at Amaryllis Floral & Event Design to focus on surprising contrasts, including structural and geometric pieces.

 “They truly nailed the concept entirely!” Abby confirms. Each centerpiece showcased a different combination of florals in apple green and white, in addition to varied textured linens, glassware, and seating arrangement styles. “The whole look was super modern, dramatic, and nontraditional,” illustrates the bride. 

The merriment continued on into the late night, in part thanks to the amazing band that the couple hired. “They made the party so much fun!” exclaims Daniel, who encourages other couples to embrace the moment on the big day. “I wish I could have paused the middle of the night to take it all in!” he says. We hope the newlyweds continue to reminisce as they set off to enjoy a spectacular honeymoon in Italy.

This real wedding was originally published in the Winter 2024 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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