After an incredible yacht engagement the day before, the celebrations continued with Meagan’s 40th birthday at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The entire weekend was filled with so many special moments, and her birthday party was the perfect way to continue celebrating with all of their closest friends and family.
The day started at the Riggs Hotel, where Meagan and Rob got ready with their families. After getting ready, everyone headed over to the National Portrait Gallery to start the evening with a more intimate cocktail hour.
Meagan wanted to keep the beginning of the evening intimate, so she invited only her VIPs to cocktail hour. We hosted cocktail hour in the Luce Center of the Smithsonian. We created cozy lounge areas mixed with cocktail tables for guests to gather and catch up.
A trio played throughout cocktail hour while Design Cuisine passed around a variety of hors d’oeuvres and drinks. It was a special way for Meagan to spend time with her closest friends and family before the party began.
After cocktail hour, the VIPs made their way downstairs into the Kogod Courtyard while the rest of the guests arrived.
We wanted the guest arrival to feel like an experience. So, we created a red carpet from the Smithsonian entrance through the Kogod Courtyard.
At the end of the red carpet, we created a Ferrari photo moment to bring Rob’s world into the celebration. Since Rob is an F1 driver, we incorporated their brand while keeping the overall design cohesive.
We also had racing simulators where guests could choose different races and test their driving skills. A merch wall was filled with goodies for everyone to take home, including custom incense, hoodies, hats, and more. One of my favorite details was the mini drivable vintage Ferrari that we had on display. It was such a fun and unexpected addition to the space.
The lighting was one of the biggest features of the night. We wanted the Kogod Courtyard to feel moody and almost like a starry night, which completely transformed the space once the sun went down. At the center of the room, we had a navy velvet bar with a tree placed right at the center of it. The tree tied in so naturally with all of the trees already surrounding the courtyard, making the bar feel like it belonged there. We also had several signature cocktails, including a few different martinis served from the martini bar. It was the perfect setup for everyone to grab a drink and settle in for the night.
Meagan had only one request for her birthday: karaoke. So of course, we had to make it happen!
We created a stage with a DJ, and where guests could get up throughout the night to sing their favorite songs. It ended up being such a huge hit. Everyone was getting involved, and the stage quickly became one of the main places to be.
Halfway through the night, Meagan disappeared for an outfit change. She traded her gorgeous golden floral lace dress for a black ruffled dress paired with chic gloves. When she made her comeback, everyone gathered around to sing Happy Birthday to her as she blew out the candles on her seven-tiered birthday cake. It was epic.
And then, because the night needed one more memorable moment, Rob took over the dance floor. As Meagan sang “No Hands” during karaoke, Rob came out with stacks of $2 bills and started showering Meagan with them. It immediately got everyone onto the dance floor, and the party completely took off from there.
There really couldn’t have been a better way to end the weekend. After celebrating Meagan and Rob’s engagement the day before, we got to celebrate another huge milestone with them surrounded by all of the people they love most. It was one of those nights that was full of so much energy, so many laughs, and so many unforgettable moments — exactly what a 40th birthday should be.
Vendors
Venue: The Luce Center & Kogod Courtyard – Smithsonian American Art Museum
Photographer: Abby Jiu
Planning & Design: Risse & Megan – Vida Events
Florist: Sweet Root Village
Catering: Design Cuisine
Rentals: Something Vintage + DC Rental
Cake: Liberty and Jisoo
HMU: Veux Beauty
Production: Revolution Event Production
Lighting: 4 Wall
Entertainment: Zandi Entertainment
Stationery: Hazelwood Paper Co.
Strings: Summit Events Co.
Perfume: B Parfums
Room Blocks & Getting Ready Space: Riggs Hotel
Race Team: Triple 2 Motosports
