Rooftop Views of Washington, D.C., Framed These Grooms During Their Family-Only Ceremony

After matching on Tinder in December 2016, Patrick, right, and Joseph, left, set up their first date—but ran into each other a block away from the bar where they planned to meet and hit it off before they even ordered their cocktails. Nearly three years later, on a trip to Lima, Peru, Patrick convinced Joseph to go for a walk through Parque Del Amor, even though they had visited it already. "Given it was close to the hotel, Joseph relented," says the couple, "and then Patrick dropped to one knee and proposed."

The couple planned a wedding for 150 guests, but in early 2020, accepted that they would either need to trim their list or move their ceremony into 2021. "We thought waiting any longer to marry was untenable as we had already had a long engagement," says the couple. "It was for sure a paradigm shift for us, and was especially hard initially for Joseph, who had always dreamed of a big wedding. Once we mentally broke from the spell of our original idea, it truly allowed us to sink our teeth into planning our 'wedding 2.0.'"

This second iteration included just immediate family and a couple of friends, whom the couple hosted for their ceremony and dinner at The Line Hotel in Washington, D.C., on October 31, 2020. "The hardest part was the constantly changing guidelines created by the pandemic and whether they would allow this wedding to still happen," says the couple—but, thanks to their accommodating vendors and help from planner Alison Golt at Cherry Blossom Weddings and Events, the two said their vows and celebrated as planned. As for whether they'll plan another party in the future? "We continue to go back and forth on this," says the couple. "We are totally down for it, however, we are currently repurposing our budgeted money to redo our kitchen!"

Joseph and Patrick met before the ceremony to help each other with their boutonnières and pose for portraits. "Joseph felt like the anticipation was killing him before the wedding, as at baseline he isn't the most patient person," says Patrick. During the photos, the group got a little too adventurous: "At one point the photographer asked us to stand up on a small table, but almost immediately the table broke and we came crashing down," says the couple. "We all looked at each other in silence for a few seconds then burst out laughing. He assured us that his insurance would cover the cost, but definitely a memory."

The other VIP present for their first look? Their beloved pup, of course.

Joseph paired his black shawl collar tuxedo from Bonobos with Salvatore Ferragamo smoking slippers. "I loved my shoes," he says. "I almost spent more money on them than my tux." Patrick chose a tuxedo with a midnight blue jacket and a black shawl collar from The Black Tux, and added pineapple cuff links from Tie Bar.

The outdoor deck at the hotel offered space for the couple's guests to spread out safely—and stunning views of the city skyline. An asymmetrical, broken floral arch from Toulies en Fleur framed the couple as they said their vows. "We stuck with warm and masculine colors of bronze, copper, and green with pops of deeper colors, such a crimson and dark orange," says the couple.

In addition to the arch, potted ferns, pillar candles in brass-rimmed holders, textured throw pillows, and overhead string lights created a warm, intimate ambience and plenty of texture on the deck. "After our families were seated," says the couple, "we walked down the aisle together."

The couple added several personal touches to their ceremony, which included traditional vows: a close friend officiated and Joseph's brother offered a prayer and scripture reading. "During the wedding, I remember feeling like I was in a bubble of bliss, like everyone's joy and happiness was radiating off of me," says Joseph. "I've never quite felt like that before. The morning after the wedding—beyond the slight hangover—I remember feeling so accomplished, like Patrick and I just did something wonderful and sacred."

The Line Hotel's Monumental Suite offered an elegant atmosphere for the newlyweds' cocktail hour (warm bourbon cider, steak sliders, and mini burgers welcomed guests as they entered the space) and family-only dinner. "We wanted the focus to be on comfort and intimate conversation, which we thought worked best through a single table seating," says the couple. As for the décor? The dark wood set off creamy white plates, blue napkins, and sprigs of rosemary that complemented the rich autumn tones of the center floral runner.

Several bar carts and stations were found throughout the suite—one for Champagne, another for sanitizer—including this one wrapped in a greenery garland, which held dessert, a candle, and small arrangement of florals.

A minimalist chocolate cake with white icing and black accents from Buttercream Bakeshop was adorned with an acrylic silhouette topper of Joseph, Patrick, and their dog.

The memorable reception included plenty of "disinhibited dancing" inspired by a record player and a collection of vinyl albums from The Supremes, and "the overall small, intimate nature of the wedding" turned out to be one of the couple's favorite elements of their day. "A smaller wedding is what Patrick originally wanted," says the couple, "so having immediate family and a few friends from town worked out. It was the perfect way to celebrate our nuptials."

Photography, Chris Ferenzi
Venue and Catering, The Line Hotel  
Event Planning, Alison Golt, Cherry Blossom Weddings and Events
Flowers, Toulies en Fleur
Cake, Buttercream Bakeshop
Joseph's Suit, Bonobos
Joseph's Shoes, Salvatore Ferragamo
Patrick's Suit, The Black Tux
Patrick's Cuff Links, Tie Bar
Lighting, Dan Goldman Events