There is something about a wedding at home that no venue can replicate. The family photos on the walls. The garden where the bride grew up playing. The feeling that every person in the room has a history with this place and with each other. When it is done well, a home wedding is the most personal celebration there is.
Catherine and Forrest did it beautifully.
On May 30, 2026, they celebrated their wedding at the bride’s family home in Potomac, Maryland, a lush, private property that became the backdrop for one of the most intimate and thoughtfully designed weddings we have planned. Catherine came to O’Neil Events because she knew the weeks leading up to her wedding would be full, and she needed someone she could trust completely, who would make sure everything was handled so she could be present for the people she loves without driving her family crazy in the process.
That is exactly what we were there for.
The Bride
Catherine’s gown is worth its own moment. A strapless floral appliqué ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and full cathedral train, it is the kind of dress that photographs as beautifully in black and white as it does in color, and the floral detailing on the bodice and skirt feels completely at home against a garden backdrop. Her hair, styled by Cheryl Christine Hair Design, was pinned into an elegant braided updo, and makeup by Makeup by Kiley Smith kept everything polished and natural. The bridal portrait by Emily Chastain Photography is one of those images you save and come back to.
The bouquet by The Fertile Burb was a garden-gathered arrangement of white anemones, blue delphiniums, ranunculus, and trailing ribbon, soft, romantic, and entirely in keeping with a couple whose overlapping loves include travel, hiking, sustainability, local food, and good books. The florals throughout the day felt like an extension of the property itself, as though they had always been there.
The Venue: A Family Home in Potomac
Potomac, Maryland is one of the most beautiful residential landscapes in the entire DMV. With rolling lots, mature trees, and gardens that take decades to develop into what they become. The bride’s family home had it all. Sweeping green lawn, a magnificent willow tree that anchored the couple portraits with the kind of organic drama no florist could manufacture, and enough space for a fully tented reception that felt like it belonged to the land rather than sitting on top of it.
Tented receptions at private homes require a level of logistical planning that most couples significantly underestimate. Permits, power, restroom facilities, vendor access, load-in timing, weather contingencies- every detail that a traditional venue handles automatically has to be sourced, coordinated, and managed from scratch. This is where having an experienced planner is not just helpful but genuinely essential.
Catherine trusted us to handle it all, and her family got to enjoy the wedding.
Choosing O’Neil Events for our day of coordination was one of the best decisions we made when planning our wedding. We worked with Colleen and her presence and expertise were so valuable to us. From the beginning of the process, she was a fast responder, readily available, and organized all the details with our vendors for us. The weekend of went so incredibly smoothly. She was quick to offer solutions and insured everything was in place without us having to worry or ask. For example, at the end of the night, she had already gathered our card box, signage, and ceremony material and safely placed them in our room so we didn’t have to worry about it and we got to say our goodbyes to our guests. Thank you for your work! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Geraline ArroyoThe Reception: Tented and Full of Joy
The clear-top tent that housed the reception let the late afternoon Maryland light pour in from every angle. By the time the first dance happened, the sun was catching the tent panels and flooding the dance floor in the kind of golden light that photographers spend careers chasing.
The DC Transit Band kept the energy alive from the first song to the last. A live band at a home wedding does something that a DJ simply cannot replicate: it fills the space with warmth and sound that feels genuinely celebratory rather than amplified. For a couple who care deeply about experience, good music, and the kind of atmosphere that makes people want to stay, it was exactly the right choice.
Catering was by Open Fire Catering, whose approach to live-fire cooking brought a genuinely distinctive quality to the food, seasonally minded, local where possible, prepared in a way that felt completely in keeping with a couple who love sustainability and local food culture. Guests noticed. Transportation was handled by Chariots for Hire, keeping arrivals and departures smooth throughout the evening.
Congratulations, Catherine and Forrest. May your marriage be full of great books, long hikes, good food, and Joan. 🐱🤍
The Vendor Team
- Planning: O’Neil Events
- Venue: Private Residence | Potomac, Maryland
- Photography: Emily Chastain Photography
- Florals: The Fertile Burb
- Catering: Open Fire Catering
- Band: The DC Transit Band
- Hair: Cheryl Christine Hair Design
- Makeup: Makeup by Kiley Smith
- Transportation: Chariots for Hire
About O’Neil Events
Your Dream Wedding Starts Here…
Colleen has been planning weddings in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and New York City for 15+ years. A DC native with deep local connections and extensive experience planning tented and private residence events across the DMV, she ensures every detail is handled so you can be fully present for the day you have built.
Need wedding planning help? Contact Colleen.
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