Love, Actually. From The Ampersand Magazine

A New Chapter in Northern Virginia's Wedding and Lifestyle Scene

Photo Credit: So Tender is Humanity

In an industry known for glossy perfection and Pinterest-worthy dreams, The Ampersand Magazine offers something different: heart, honesty and community. Created by cousins Angie and Bettina — a marketer and former wedding planner, respectively — Ampersand is our love note to the bold, the offbeat, the just-figuring-it-out and everyone in between. It’s a response to the pressure to be perfect, to fit into boxes and to make your wedding day look like everyone else’s highlight reel.

The inspiration behind Ampersand came from personal experience and professional frustration. Bettina, who spent years working in the Richmond and Northern Virginia wedding scene, felt creatively boxed in after moving north. “There are these tight-knit cliques in every pocket of the region,” she says. “If you don’t find your group right away, it’s easy to feel like you don’t belong.”

Instead of conforming, Bettina started imagining a space that would unite creatives across specialties and backgrounds — a place where bold ideas and different styles were not just welcomed, but celebrated.

Angie, whose career has blended corporate and small business marketing with years of editorial work in publishing, shared the same vision. Her own experience planning a wedding adds a personal perspective to what she brings to the magazine. “So much of the inspiration out there is unrealistic. It’s all over-the-top luxury, and if you’re a modern bride on a budget, it’s hard to feel seen,” she says.

“We want to bring the luxury and the DIY. The quirky and the traditional. It’s not either/or—it’s Ampersand.”

The pair is especially passionate about breaking the mold of what a wedding should look like. Bettina has planned Dungeons & Dragons-themed weddings and dreams of seeing more creative, bold celebrations. “You don’t see those kinds of weddings in magazines—but why not?” she asks. “There’s a whole world of couples out there who want something fun, nerdy, nontraditional—and they deserve to see themselves reflected.”

More than a wedding magazine, Ampersand is a lifestyle platform designed to support couples, vendors and creatives alike. With bold, attention-grabbing graphics, minimal fluff, and a commitment to honest, modern storytelling, Ampersand approaches the Northern Virginia wedding market with a fresh perspective. Editorial content spans everything from planning tips to vendor spotlights and community resources—creating a hub for inspiration, education and authentic connection.

Its creators see special potential in Northern Virginia—a region brimming with talent but often segmented by style or status. Ampersand hopes to bridge those divides, spotlighting underrepresented vendors, helping emerging creatives gain exposure and offering guidance to couples navigating the often-intimidating world of wedding planning.

What sets Ampersand apart is its deeply personal foundation. Bettina brings insider knowledge from years of working with couples and vendors, while Angie offers a creative eye and editorial expertise honed through years of producing and managing content in the corporate world. Her own wedding planning experience adds a personal lens—she knows firsthand what she wished she had done differently. Together, they understand both the dream and the reality—and they’re determined to make the planning process easier, more inclusive and more fun for others.

Their goal is simple: “We want couples to feel empowered,” the cousins say. “We want vendors to feel seen. And we want our community to know there’s room for every kind of love story—and every kind of creativity.”

We Love You, Actually,

Angie & Bettina