Together at Last: Holiday Celebrations Bring the JLW Community Together

Joanna Persio

When the Junior League of Washington (JLW) bid farewell to its longstanding Holiday Shops fundraiser in 2019, along with it went the oftanticipated opening night Holiday Party. After COVID-19 dashed hopes of safely gathering League members for an in person celebration in 2020, members were thrilled to reconnect faceto-face this League year to celebrate the 2021 holiday season at JLW Headquarters with a Holiday Cocktail Party.

On the evening of December 4, 2021, the halls of the historic Loughborough House were decked with a celebratory vibe. Upon arrival, approximately 200 partygoers made their way through the first floor and up the back patio steps before entering the party – a change from the typical flow of the Loughborough House that Holiday Celebration Committee Co-Chairs, Mandy Asgeirsson and Julie Crump, specifically chose to add to the atmosphere of the night.

At the top of the stairs, members and their guests re-entered the House through the second-floor patio, which was tented for the occasion. Inside, the Loughborough Room sparkled and shone with se- Co-Chairs Mandy Asgeirsson and Julie Crump with their committee members.

quins, feathers, and holiday colors as members and guests showed up in their best “festive cocktail” attire. Attendees sipped on wine and signature cocktails, an Espresso Martini and a Rosemary Citrus Gin Fizz, as they reconnected with old friends and the League community. Republic Restoratives and Total Wine provided a full bar, and attendees were also treated to heavy hors d’oeuvres by Ridgewells Catering. The mood was further set by the gorgeous wreaths, garland, and red and white floral arrangements that Wild Blooms by JLW member Summer Bravo provided throughout the party space, in addition to a striking flower wall adorning the back patio steps.

After months with limited opportunities for in person connection, the night was a breath of fresh air for attendees and a welcome change to the isolation many experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic set in.

“Champagne never tasted quite so good,” recounted Heidi Reed, echoing the experience of several JLW members. The evening was particularly memorable for Reed as it was her first big night out since welcoming a baby at the beginning of the pandemic.

With hopes of hosting a similar in person holiday party at the Loughborough House last year, this year’s Holiday Cocktail Party was bittersweet for JLW’s 2020-2021 President Jessica Taylor White.

“I loved seeing the committee’s vision come to life after making the difficult decision last year that the League could only safely host a virtual gathering,” said Taylor White. “[It was] really special to celebrate in person and have members reconnecting in a space we haven’t all been able to use for so long – I hope it is the start of a wonderful new tradition for the League.”

Towards the end of the evening, President Amanda Walke, President-Elect Katherine Rodriguez, and others pulled names to select the winners of this year’s holiday raffle, which offered a variety of “Winter in Washington” experiences inspired by the League’s 2021-2022 theme, Centering Our Community. The prizes included an overnight stay with dinner and wine pairing at the iconic Inn at Little Washington, a Washington Nationals prize package, tickets to the Washington National Opera, and a private shopping party at Kendra Scott’s Georgetown shop.

In order to build anticipation for the Holiday Cocktail Party, the Holiday Celebration Committee also organized a series of holiday-themed professional photography opportunities to kick off the season. The first of which was a day of outdoor fall photo sessions held at the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial. Perched on the Mount Vernon Trail and overlooking the Potomac River, the spot selected provided a gorgeous backdrop as members posed for family portraits and even a few pregnancy reveals with the Washington Monument in view. Santa also made a stop at JLW Headquarters for another family photo opportunity, giving lots of little ones the exciting opportunity to meet him in person for the first time! Jessica Taylor White and Heidi Reed pose for a picture the night of the Holiday Cocktail Party.

Emily Almand and her band of merry elves head out to their photo session.

All the photo sessions, including the third event, a day of professional headshots, were open to members of the public as well as League members, and were a huge hit. Holiday Celebration Committee Vice Chair Jessica Mosley was thrilled to hear that Annapolis League members learned of the photo sessions through JLW’s social media promotion, and welcomed inter-league support for the offerings – including Annapolis member Sarah Stuckey, her husband, and the couple’s adorable pair of beagles. JLW member Emily Almand and her family may have stolen the show, however, when they showed up for their first fall photo session decked out as Santa’s helpers, before returning the next day for a more “traditional” session. All photos were returned to participants in time for holiday card printing.

All told, the Holiday Celebration Committee raised more than $60,000 to support the League’s mission through a combination of photo session, raffle ticket, and Holiday Cocktail Party ticket sales.

“[The Committee] aspired to bring a sense of community, joy, and cheer to the League, while providing safe opportunities to participate in activities in person,” expressed Crump regarding this year’s offerings. To all who participated it was clear the Committee succeeded.

“For members to come together for a fun and festive night after being apart for so long, [I hope this is] the start of many Holiday Cocktail Parties at JLW Headquarters,” said Asgeirsson reflecting on her experience in executing the Holiday Cocktail Party.

In their speech at the event, the event’s Co-Chairs noted their thanks for the efforts of their committee vice-chairs and members, and Ways & Means Council, and Board leadership for their guidance in pulling off the successful season. We can’t wait to see what the Holiday Celebration Committee has in store next year! • Summer Bravo, Wild Blooms by Summer, stops for a photo in front of the gorgeous floral wall she created for the party.

President Amanda Walke and President-Elect Katherine Rodriguez enjoying the evening with other JLW members.