This Library-Inspired Wedding Is a Bookworm’s Dream

Michelle, a policy analyst for the EPA, and Dan, an engineer for the US Navy, connected on the app Coffee Meets Bagel and first met up for brunch at the Tabard Inn. While he was a little shy, his subtle humor was enough to catch Michelle’s attention; Dan says he was surprised by how many overlapping interests they shared. Six years later, Dan proposed on the Kennedy Center’s rooftop terrace after a National Symphony Orchestra performance.

For their March wedding, the pair exchanged vows at the White-Meyer House and then celebrated with 120 loved ones at the Meridian House, where the library’s soaring built-in bookshelves served as the backdrop.

Instead of traditional favors, the couple gave each guest a choice of five books—a choice they say celebrated their love of reading and was a gift that could keep on giving. The books reflected their different reading preferences with a mix of fiction and nonfiction: Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann; The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles; Underland by Robert Macfarlane; DC Cocktails by Travis Mitchell (because they say they love a good fancy drink); and the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Personal History by former Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham (fun fact: the author spent some of her childhood living in the home in which the ceremony was held). Other book-loving details: personalized bookmarks that doubled as place settings, vintage library cards as seating charts, and books as decor. 

Among the details, Michelle especially loved the “wildness” and meadow-like vibe of the flowers, while Dan says he loved all the color in the design, including the dress code that encouraged guests to dress colorfully as well. The palette included deep shades of purple, teal, green, and fuchsia—and the pair says they took every opportunity to use it. 

For a sweet ending, dessert included a cake with three flavors—chocolate cake with a vanilla Italian buttercream, vanilla cake with a Nutella buttercream, and almond cake with almond buttercream—plus ice cream—including a custom Lemon Ricotta Cookie flavor—from Van Leeuwen, where Michelle’s brother works as a food scientist.

After the celebration, the newlyweds honeymooned in New Zealand.

Wedding Details

Amy Moeller

Fashion & Weddings Editor

Amy leads Washingtonian Weddings and writes Style Setters for Washingtonian. Prior to joining Washingtonian in March 2016, she was the editor of Capitol File magazine in DC and before that, editor of What’s Up? Weddings in Annapolis.