In March 2023, we eloped with our immediate family on Catalina Island. But we still wanted to party with our favorite people! So we threw an after party on our D.C. rooftop two months later. We used Greenvelope to send e-vites (White Lotus / California cocktail Pinterest board included), crossed our fingers, and hoped people would travel to our new home in D.C. for our nontraditional celebration. Spoiler alert: They did… and they looked chic doing it. Here’s how we pulled it off.

Set the Vibe

We had a groovy California vibe to our party that matched my personal taste as well as the interior design of our rooftop lounge. At the entrance, guests were encouraged to choose from a pair of retro sunglasses (both these and the tablecloth were purchased on Amazon) to complement their look.

I had a goal to reduce waste, so I tried to order things we’d actually use again. We still have some matchbooks (purchased on Etsy) in our bathroom today! We rented vintage coolers for all the beer, seltzers and non-alcoholic drinks, and the baskets were repurposed from our West Elm wedding registry.

Support Local

Since it was our first year in D.C., we wanted to share some of our favorite local spots with our friends. Grand Cata, a Latin American wine shop around the corner from our place, poured wine throughout the night. Andy’s Pizza kept everyone fed, and Dolci Gelati served gelato for dessert.

Let the Party Happen

Our rooftop had a capacity of 100 people, which helped us keep our guest list intentional while including friends from all phases of life. It ended up raining all night, so we were limited to the inside space for most of the time. We tasked a few friends with taking Polaroid photos throughout the night so we could make a party book. It was a cute way to get people to mix and mingle.

Debut Your Wedding Video

At sunset we fired up the projector and debuted our wedding video, filmed by Quail & the Dove, for the first time. Tears, laughter, and a gorgeous sunset backdrop. It was the highlight of the night.

Close with Toasts

Toasts were important to us, and we knew our friends would deliver the perfect balance of comedic timing with heartfelt words. Ryan’s best friend Alan (who he met at a Radiohead concert) and Carrah’s best friend since middle school Madeline opened the toasts, and they were incredibly original, sweet, and hilarious.

Carrah’s bestie (and Life & the Party podcast co-host) Katie closed out the toasts, and it was a banger. We laughed, we cried, and we laughed so hard that we cried. Toasts were the perfect way to end the night, and if you’re considering skipping the traditional route, do it… and throw a party that feels like you.

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Vendors

• Venue: City Market at O
• Wine: Grand Cata
• Pizza: Andy’s Pizza
• Appetizers & Snacks: Whole Foods
• Gelato: Dolci Gelati
• Cooler & Connect 4 Rentals: Something Vintage
• Photography: Ruth Addisu

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