Bridal Bliss: Virdina and Kevin

1 of 32 Tom Van Veen, Documentary Associates

Washington D.C. couple Virdina and Kevin Gibbs said “I Do” in a gorgeous spring wedding at the Decatur House on April 22, 2010. Share their love.

2 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Carola Myers enhanced Virdina’s natural beauty on her wedding day.

3 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Virdina chose a sophisticated updo for her big day. Her hairstylist Giselle Chreky pinned it all together with a studded pin that tied in the wedding colors with fuschia stones.

4 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Virdina found her Priscilla of Boston dress long before she knew she’d won a wedding contest, but left it in the bridal salon because she thought she had time to look. Once her wedding date was moved up, she headed back to get the dress she knew was hers.

5 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Kevin calls Virdina a “Nordstrom” girl because of her taste in fashion. Her fuschia Manolo Blanik heels make her outfit pop! Looks like she’s a Saks Fifth Avenue girl, Kevin.

6 of 32 Tom Van Veen, Documentary Associates

Katie Martin at Elegance and Simplicity planned Virdina and Kevin’s bright and earth-friendly wedding and even provided the flowers for the big day.

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“I was too calm on my wedding day,” Kevin says.

8 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

“Putting on my dress on my wedding day, I don’t know if I felt anything overwhelming,” Virdina says. “I just thought, ‘Woohoo!’”

9 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

“She’s a kinder, gentler me,” Kevin says of his new wife. “She has a hard exterior, but she’s soft on the inside.”

10 of 32 Tom Van Veen, Documentary Associates

“I realized that he was a very kind and honest person,” Virdana says of why she fell for Kevin. “He wasn’t into playing games either.”

11 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Virdina jokes that she didn’t want to follow her pattern of being late on her wedding day. “I was determined not to be late on the one day that it would actually be acceptable.”

12 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

The ring bearer is all smiles as he struts down the aisle.

13 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Flower girls wore color coordinated dresses and matching converse down the aisle.

14 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

“One of my favorite memories is when I got my wedding dress and I tried it on for my parents,” Virdina remembers. “My dad said you look so beautiful. Him walking me down the aisle was just so special.”

15 of 32 Tom Van Veen, Documentary Associates

Before the two can be wed, Kevin’s mother shares words of wisdom with the newlyweds.

16 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

“When she got there, I was so happy. It was great,” Kevin remembers of Virdina meeting him at the altar.

17 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Virdina slides the wedding band onto Kevin’s finger. She is his and he is hers.

18 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Virdina and Kevin hold each other tight and kiss to commemorate their commitment to each other.

19 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Kevin and Virdina promise to never let their fire between them burn out by lighting a unity candle.

20 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Kevin stares at his new wife as they walk down the aisle arm-in-arm.

21 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Kevin and Virdina’s mothers share their joy in their kids’ union.

22 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

After their wedding ceremony, the happy newlyweds smooched all over the capital city.

23 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

“Married life is the same,” Virdina says. “We had a great system in place before we got married. That’s the goal — to have a good thing already going.”

24 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

For the couples’ reception, the Decatur House was lit up in pink to celebrate their love.

25 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

The newlyweds’ cocktail hour featured sweet treats, catered by occasions, like these lollpop tarts.

26 of 32 Tom Van Veen, Documentary Associates

Friends and family welcome the happy newly-married couple.

27 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Virdina and Kevin swayed and smiled to Sade’s “By Your Side” for their first dance.

28 of 32 Tom Van Veen, Documentary Associates

“It’s really nice to now that my father really likes Kevin and is supportive of our union,” Virdina says.

29 of 32 Tom Van Veen, Documentary Associates

“His relationship with his family made me love him even more,” Virdina says of her new husband.

30 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

Virdina and Kevin’s three-tiered cake, made by Cakes by Design, incorporates the fuschia color theme with a flower on top of the dessert and adds a pop of black with outlines of flowers around the cake.

31 of 32 Tom Van Veen, Documentary Associates

Virdina and Kevin’s three-tiered cake, made by Cakes by Design, incorporates the fuschia color theme with a flower on top of the dessert and adds a pop of black with outlines of flowers around the cake.

32 of 32 Andrea Jacobson, The Observatory

“I’m looking forward to seeing how we handle the challenges that are going to come our way,” Virdina says. “I think it will be really exciting and I think we’ll have fun doing it.”
All photos provided by:
Andrea Jacobson, The Ovservatory
Tom Van Veen, Documentary Associates