Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Subscribe
Save Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 35 One-Pan Meals Just Right for Dinner Tonight

      35 One-Pan Meals Just Right for Dinner Tonight

      One pan, pot, skillet, or Instant Pot is all you need to for these no-fuss family dinners, including salmon, pasta, pot roast, chili, and so much more. Read More
    • The Best 2021 Bedroom Paint Colors

      The Best 2021 Bedroom Paint Colors

      Explore the best 2021 bedroom paint colors, according to paint experts. Read More
    • The Ultimate Guide to Household Cleaning: What You Should Be Cleaning When

      The Ultimate Guide to Household Cleaning: What You Should Be Cleaning When

      Our printable checklists will tell you what you should be doing every day, week, month, season—or every once in a while—to keep your home in ship-shape year round. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners

    Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners

    When you need a comforting meal but don't have a lot of time, whip up one of these fast pasta recipes. All can be made in 45 minutes or less.
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    Four Simple Tasks to Complete Right Now to Make Your Entire Home a Little Greener

    Four Simple Tasks to Complete Right Now to Make Your Entire Home a Little Greener

    Our experts share the to-dos that will can make your home so much more eco-friendly.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    The Best Front Porch Decorating Ideas for Every Month of the Year

    The Best Front Porch Decorating Ideas for Every Month of the Year

    Get inspired to make your porch your new favorite living space with these ideas designed to add a refined look to any outdoor space.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    How to Disinfect Your Kitchen and Your Food During the Coronavirus Outbreak, According to Experts

    How to Disinfect Your Kitchen and Your Food During the Coronavirus Outbreak, According to Experts

    Keep everything from your countertops to your dining room chairs germ-free.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    How to Plant a Beautiful Perennial Garden

    How to Plant a Beautiful Perennial Garden

    Create a living work of art with a variety of flowers and plants, colors, and textures.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Your Hands Properly, According to a Doctor

    How to Wash Your Hands Properly, According to a Doctor

    You likely wash your hands several times a day, but are you doing so effectively? Learn how to minimize the spread of germs with an extra few seconds of scrubbing.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    How to Plan a Beautiful, Meaningful Micro Wedding So That You Can Celebrate Your Postponed Nuptials Right Now

    How to Plan a Beautiful, Meaningful Micro Wedding So That You Can Celebrate Your Postponed Nuptials Right Now

    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Six Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health While You Work from Home

    Six Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health While You Work from Home

    Start by carving out a designated work area in your space.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE

    How to Start a Virtual Book Club

    From which platforms to use and the best books to read, bibliophiles share their advice.
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Weddings
  3. Real Weddings
  4. Wedding Styles
  5. Seasonal Weddings
  6. Fall Weddings
  7. A Sweet Micro Wedding on the Rooftop of a Washington, D.C., Sushi Restaurant
Martha Stewart Weddings

A Sweet Micro Wedding on the Rooftop of a Washington, D.C., Sushi Restaurant

By Blythe Copeland
March 08, 2021
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
bride and groom holding hands crossing the street
Credit: Astrid Photography

With their original wedding plans postponed until later this year, this couple jumped at the chance to create a chic city celebration.

Start Slideshow

1 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
bride and groom holding hands crossing the street
Credit: Astrid Photography

When college senior Rose caught sight of Dave across a crowded bar at their alma mater, Virginia Tech, he—three years older than she is—had just come from an engineering board meeting. He made a strong first impression. "I was drawn to this well-dressed man as you don't see this every day in a college bar," says Rose. "I simply thought, 'Who in college wears a suit to a bar? need to know him!'" Though they talked for the rest of the evening, they didn't stay in contact—until three months later, when they ran into each other at a different bar. "We exchanged numbers again," says Rose, "just to find out we already had each other's."

Five years later, Dave surprised Rose with a proposal on a weekend trip to Pippin Hill—the venue they later booked for their 150-person wedding on September 6, 2020. "When COVID hit in early 2020, we were hopeful, like many couples, that things would resolve in the next few months and we would be fine by the fall," says Rose. But over the summer, they decided to postpone their larger wedding until September 2021 and exchange vows in front of a smaller group on their original wedding date.

Rose and Dave asked 22 guests to join them for a handfasting ceremony and dinner at one of their favorite restaurants, O-Ku Sushi in Washington, D.C., where a roof deck with city views, an upscale menu, and attentive staff created a chic and memorable event. "We had been there before and it was a special place to us," says Rose. "They have never hosted a wedding before, but they were beyond excited to make it happen for us."

The couple wanted a city celebration that would contrast with the Pippin Hill event they put on hold, and took the opportunity to create a truly personalized ceremony. "We wanted to do some of the things that maybe we couldn't do during our larger wedding: We wanted our parents to give speeches, we wanted to incorporate all of our siblings into the ceremony, we wanted everyone to take fireball shots—Dave's favorite—and we wanted people to have intimate conversations that you don't normally get at a large wedding," says Rose. "We loved the idea of having our immediate family eating family style at a long table, like we would do at home."

1 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tree Dimensional

bride posing in white wedding dress
Credit: Astrid Photography

With her original wedding dress reserved for the future celebration, Rose set out to find an alternative for the couple's micro event. "Let me tell you, picking a second wedding dress is hard," says Rose. "I knew I didn't want a traditional gown—I didn't want anything too formal—but I also wanted it to be fun and go with our D.C.-chic vibes." With most shops closed, she ordered multiple dresses online to evaluate at home—included an ASOS organza wrap dress with a sequined palm tree pattern that she altered to customize the sleeves. "I felt myself in it," she says. "After the sleeves were adjusted to be my own, I felt very special. It wasn't too formal or too informal. It was fun and lightweight, and I felt it would be perfect for the night." She added shoes from BHLDN, the earrings she purchased to go with her original ensemble, and a necklace Dave's parents gave her the night before the wedding.

  • The Right Way to Store Your Wedding Dress Between Your Final Fitting and the Big Day

2 of 14

3 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Coming Up Roses

bride and groom kissing holding floral bouquet
Credit: Astrid Photography

Dave chose an Indochino suit that he wore with a white shirt, a dusty rose tie, and inscribed cuff links Rose gave him for the big day. The rich blue of his suit contrasted with the rest of the neutral-and-blush color palette—brought to life in Rose's classic bouquet from Poppy Flowers, which included several of her favorite blooms: "Ranunculus and dahlias and roses," she says. "Of course, roses for Rose."

3 of 14

Advertisement

4 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Heart to Heart

bride and groom posing by planters
Credit: Astrid Photography

Rose and Dave met on the roof deck for photos before their guests arrived—a moment filled with a variety of emotions. "[We felt] nervous, but so excited and eager to see each other before," says Rose. "Elated during—tears were shed. Looking forward to tying the knot and celebrating after." After the first look, the couple visited the iconic Union Market for more portraits. "[Our photographer] found a painting on the side of Union Market which fit perfectly for the occasion—it was a quote by Yoko Ono. 'Relax, your heart is stronger than you think.' How appropriate for a crazy and unprecedented year. But through it all, love wins, and our hearts are actually stronger than we thought."

  • Is a First Look Right for You? Consider These Pros and Cons

4 of 14

5 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Future View

wedding venue rooftop with string lights
Credit: Astrid Photography

Rose and Dave marked their engagement anniversary on the O-Ku Sushi roof deck in June, before they decided to rework their wedding. "We laughed, reminisced on the magical day a year prior, and talked about what we should do about our upcoming September wedding," says Rose. "While sitting there and taking in the sunset over Union Market, I thought to myself, wow, this would be a cool spot for a mini wedding."

5 of 14

6 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Hand in Hand

Bride and groom exchanging vows
Credit: Astrid Photography

To help differentiate their micro wedding, Rose and Dave tweaked the ceremony: They didn't have an aisle or processional, and instead of incorporating their different religious backgrounds, they planned a traditional handfasting ceremony. "Handfasting is where 'tying the knot' came from, as you are physically tying your hands together with ribbons or ropes as part of the ceremony. The ribbons are wrapped around your conjoined wrists in the form of a figure-eight or infinity symbol," explains Rose. "Upon the completion of the wrapping, we pulled our hands apart and the ribbons formed a knot. Hence, tying the knot!" says Rose.

Rose's cousin Andy officiated the rest of the ceremony; he read a poem the couple wrote and proceeded over the exchange of rings. "The poem was all about, 'These are the hands,'" says Rose. "These are the hands that will hold you when you're old, these are the hands that will raise our children, these are the hands that will high-five you when the Virginia Tech Hokies win. We thought this would go nicely with the handfasting ceremony."

  • How to Choose the Right Cords for Your Irish Handfasting Ceremony—and Where to Get Them

6 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Near and Far

bride and groom celebrate after exchanging vows
Credit: Astrid Photography

Many of the couple's bridal party, best friends, and family watched the ceremony over Zoom. "That was a funny recording to listen back to—no one participated in the wedding, but they did have a great internal chat on Zoom while the wedding was happening," says Rose. With only family present, Rose's sister-in-law, Kelsey, ensured the rest of the couple's close friends made an appearance. "She reached out to the bridal party and asked for a picture, printed out their faces, and put the cutouts on popsicle sticks to surprise us," says Rose. "This way they were there in spirit (and on Zoom) and we could take pictures with them!"

7 of 14

8 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bright Blooms

table setting with floral arrangement
Credit: Astrid Photography

An array of bud vases ran the length of the long table, each with different colors and flowers. "The bud vases included a sweet touch from my florist, Cameron," says Rose. "Cameron found blue flowers on a walk with her husband the night before our wedding and included them in our bud vases to be the 'something blue.'"

  • Trending Now: Cluster Wedding Centerpieces

8 of 14

9 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Black and White

table setting with chopsticks and florals
Credit: Astrid Photography

Minimalist place settings included geometric white plates and linen napkins in the wedding's signature dusty rose color—"handmade and rush ordered from a woman in Greece on Etsy!" says Rose. "She was a lifesaver."

9 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Drink Up

signature cocktails with limes and lemons
Credit: Astrid Photography

Guests toasted the newlyweds with the restaurant's signature ginger and watermelon cocktails, "plus," says Rose, "sake bombs as a whole family and fireball shots for fun."

  • 38 Signature Drinks That'll Personalize Your Cocktail Hour

10 of 14

11 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

A Dream Come True

bride and groom first dance
Credit: Astrid Photography

As their loved ones mingled on the roof deck, the couple's vision for their micro wedding came to life. "We knew as the sun would set, we could have this chic D.C. wedding, surrounded by the people who mean the most to us, and simply enjoy ourselves," says Rose. "No black tie, no walking down the aisle, just simple elegance and finding the good during a very weird and sad year."

11 of 14

12 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

guests toast at long dinning table
Credit: Astrid Photography

Rose worked closely with the chef at O-Ku to design a menu that included the couple's preferred foods, dietary restrictions, and favorite menu items. "There was so much food: Sushi, steaks, noodles, salads, sashimi," says Rose. "Amazing. But at one point everyone was so stuffed, I told O-Ku to stop cooking!" The meal offered the couple time for the intimate conversations they'd hoped to have with a smaller guest list, and provided them with one of their favorite memories of the day: "Laughing and enjoying the night away with the people who we care about the most," says Rose.

12 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

So in Love

bride and groom holding champagne glasses on rooftop
Credit: Astrid Photography

Even with a larger wedding on the horizon, Rose and Dave appreciated each moment of their micro wedding. "Something that my cousin and officiant, Andy, said to us while we were planning this wedding was to try and find the positive," says Rose. "He said, 'Thank you for allowing us to have this small wedding, thank you for pushing us to get together as our closest family to celebrate love. Without COVID, we wouldn't be doing this.'"

13 of 14

14 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Sources

bride and groom kissing in the street
Credit: Astrid Photography

Photography, Astrid Photography
Venue and Catering, O-Ku Sushi
Flowers,
Poppy Flowers
Bride's Gown,
ASOS
Bride's Accessories,
BHLDN shoes; Kate and Mari earrings   
Hair,
Victoria, Matisse Salon and Spa  
Makeup,
JoAnna, Amie Decker Beauty
Groom's Suit,
Indochino
Rings, Pico Jewelry  

14 of 14

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Blythe Copeland

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    `
    Martha Stewart Weddings
    View All
    • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Might Name Their Daughter After Princess Diana
    • This Couple's Intimate Hotel Reception in Washington, D.C., Hinted at Their Future Wedding in Cancun
    • Six Women Explain How They Decided to (or Not to) Change Their Last Names After Marriage
    • "Queer Eye" Star Tan France and His Husband Rob Are Expecting Their First Child!
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 14
    2 of 14 Tree Dimensional
    3 of 14 Coming Up Roses
    4 of 14 Heart to Heart
    5 of 14 Future View
    6 of 14 Hand in Hand
    7 of 14 Near and Far
    8 of 14 Bright Blooms
    9 of 14 Black and White
    10 of 14 Drink Up
    11 of 14 A Dream Come True
    12 of 14 Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
    13 of 14 So in Love
    14 of 14 Sources

    Share options

    Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

    Login

    Shop | Martha Stewart

    • Cookware Sets
    • Living Room Furniture
    • Area Rugs
    • Garden Tools
    • Dinnerware Sets
    • Patio Furniture
    • Window Treatments
    • Duvet Covers
    • Bakeware Sets
    • Craft Kits
    • Shop More

    Martha Stewart may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on this website.

    Martha Stewart

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Sitemap
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • Parents this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    View image

    A Sweet Micro Wedding on the Rooftop of a Washington, D.C., Sushi Restaurant
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.