Photos by Edward Underwood. See more photos in the gallery below.

Bride and Groom

Lauren Cole is the Senior Media Officer at World Resources Institute, originally from Bethesda and Michael Zelin is a Vice President at Eastdil Secured, originally from Akron, Ohio.

The wedding

Sept. 4, 2011 at the Washington Hebrew Congregation

How they met

Lauren hosted an Inauguration party on January 16, 2009. Michael had just moved to town and was living around the corner, so one of her childhood friends told him about the party. He was the second person to arrive and they hit it off immediately.

First date

The couple had drinks at Marvin and the Gibson where they talked for hours over cocktails in a cozy booth.

The proposal

Michael told Lauren they were going to a cocktail party but instead arrived in a limo to take them to L’Auberge Chez Francais in McLean, Va. Before departing in the limo, Michael got on one knee and proposed. The couple celebrated over dinner then drove around the monuments.

What she loves most about him

“His sense of humor. He is an incredible husband (and now father!) and he always makes me laugh.”

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What he loves most about her

“Her outgoing personality and love of travel. We share these traits and it makes us very compatible.”

Number of people who attended

260

What made the day special

“Being with all of our family and friends to watch us enter into marriage.”

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Favorite moment of the day

The ceremony was the couple’s favorite part. “It was very intimate and spiritual.”

Favorite detail

They had someone create a “Z” logo to represent their last name

Gown

Modern Trousseau

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Cake

Fancy Cakes by Leslie

Photographer

Edward Underwood

The honeymoon

Greece and Turkey

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Flowers

DaVinci Flowers

Makeup

Jeff Enriquez

Catering

Main Event Caterers

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Music

Sound Connection

Videographer

Megan Keefe and Josh Boehr