Bride and groom
Jackie Newton, 27, who works for a nonprofit advocacy group and grew up outside of Philadelphia before attending Catholic University in Washington, D.C.; and Jake Easton, 29, originally from Michigan, who moved to the area eight years ago to become an Arlington County firefighter. They live in Arlington’s Woodmont neighborhood.
How they met
On an online dating website in 2007
The wedding
Sept. 21, 2013, in D.C. A ceremony at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church was followed by a reception at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center pavilion.
First date
They met at the Washington Monument, then went to dinner at the Hawk ‘n’ Dove on Capitol Hill. Jake says he was instantly impressed. “The pictures [online] didn’t do her justice,” he says.
The proposal
Jake hired a photographer to capture the moment, as the two were watching the sunset on the beach at Lake Michigan. “I [thought], Why is this man taking photos of us? That is so strange,’ ” Jackie remembers. “It all made sense once he got down on one knee.”
Number of guests
185
Ceremony
The bride and groom did their “first look” in front of the Washington Monument before a traditional Catholic ceremony. “It was the first time our two families were really able to merge together, and it felt really special to have everyone there,” Jackie says. Afterward, guests took trolleys around the National Mall to see the classic D.C. sites before heading to the reception.
Décor
Firefighter-themed elements added whimsy to an elegant tableau of silver and black. Guests could take photos with a life-size cutout of Jake, in uniform, holding Jackie. The top tier of the wedding cake was “on fire” and featured a mini-figurine of the groom climbing a ladder to save the bride. Table settings were representative of different monuments and locations—for example, Jake’s crew members were seated at the “Walter Reed Drive” table, named for the street on which their fire station (Fire Station 9) is located.
Favors
Gift bags were stuffed with chocolate-covered coffee beans—a snack reflecting Jackie’s Colombian roots.
First dance
“Love of a Lifetime” by Firehouse, but with a jazzy twist.
Honeymoon
Rome and Positano, Italy
Near disasters
It poured as Jackie was getting out of the car for the ceremony. Since the church didn’t have a holding area, she was walking down the aisle the moment she went inside. Luckily, chauffeurs held giant umbrellas as she ran in. “It wasn’t ideal, but it ended up being something we all laughed about afterward,” she says.
Gown
A strapless, white La Sposa couture dress with a beaded bodice
Bride’s advice
“Remind yourself that it’s your day and should be representative of your relationship. Don’t be afraid to indulge yourself pre-wedding to whatever makes you feel confident the day of, whether that’s a facial, a massage or even personal training sessions.”
Groom’s advice
Give your input so the wedding reflects both the bride and the groom, and support your fiancée no matter what. “Things will go wrong throughout the planning process, but I always told [Jackie] that in the end, we were going to be married and things will come together…and they did!”
Photographer
Jayrol San Jose of Freed Photography
Flowers
Menswear
Hugo Boss
Hair and makeup
Music
Nocturne band from Sam Hill Entertainment
Cake
Rentals
Men’s Wearhouse