Imagine a classically gorgeous soiree in the heart of Philly, and mk Photography better come to mind. The memories their camera’s have witnessed are some of the most chic in the City of Brotherly Love, and after this particular Gatsby-esque affair, they can add a few more extra special moments. There is so much glamour in this wedding – but this is just the beginning. The gallery holds even more stunning shots!
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Matt and I met in law school and became a part of the same study group. We never really socialized out of school, except for the occasional end of exam celebration. In February of 2009, during our second year of law school, I was walking through a bar with some girlfriends when Matt suddenly appeared. He saw me across the bar and wanted to introduce me to some friends from college, with whom he was watching the Flyers game. A few weeks later, we ran into each other at an outdoor St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Philadelphia. That was it – I just knew we would start dating. A few flirty emails later, we were having drinks together for the first time alone.
After graduation, Matt moved into Philadelphia and I moved into my parent’s house in New Jersey, as it was closer to my job. I drove down to the apartment on his birthday in April, where he proposed. Wedding planning was placed on hold initially while I sought employment, which would relocate me to Philadelphia permanently. We were engaged for a year before we started even thinking about tying the knot.
One Spring afternoon we were strolling around Philadelphia and passed this garden courtyard. I previously heard that the courtyard garden was attached to a fine dining restaurant, the M Restaurant, and boutique hotel, the Morris House Hotel. It was perfect! We immediately had visions of a lush, intimate tented affair, something straight out of The Great Gatsby. We rented all fifteen rooms of the hotel for our friends and family, which made our wedding not just an event, but a weekend.
With the help of a wonderful team of professionals – Mark Kingsdorf of Queen of Hearts Wedding Planning, Sara Fernandez of Beautiful Blooms, Carolyn Brandhorst of The Papery, Mike and Jana of mk Photography, Mack Stylist, and Matt Osteroff of EBE – we were able to put together our dream wedding in six short months! The ceremony was officiated by the Honorable Amanda Cooperman, with whom Matt and I have a personal relationship. A memorable moment from the ceremony was when Judge Cooperman wiped the lipstick my mom left on my cheek after my parents gave me away – there wasn’t a dry eye under the tent!
The tent was draped with soft white fabric and lighted with chandeliers, so it felt like you were in an elegant ballroom but with a summer breeze. Beautiful Blooms took all of my requests and transformed the tent into a lush garden, with white hydrangeas and ivory garden roses spilling off the arbor and topping tall mercury glass centerpieces. Sara even took the long white planters my father made when we couldn’t find the perfect ones to compliment the arbor and filled them with bunches of white hydrangeas! As Matt and I sat down to a delicious four-course meal in a gorgeous tent surrounded by family and close friends, we literally couldn’t believe a wedding so gorgeous was ours!
My “something new” were my two wedding dresses. My ceremony gown was everything I always dreamed of – romantic, glamorous, and made entirely of lace. Once I put on my cathedral length veil, I instantly felt like the happiest bride in the world! Halfway through the reception, I changed into a short, full-skirted lace dress, which made me feel like a vintage socialite. I loved both dresses, and I couldn’t have picked either of them without the help and support of my mom and sister. My “something old” was my grandmother’s handkerchief to dry my eyes when Matt read his personal vows to me. My “something borrowed” was the diamond and pearl earrings that my sister loaned me from her wedding day two years prior. My “something blue” – and something fun – were the “I Do” blue stone stickers my bridesmaid put on the bottom of my shoes while we were getting ready that morning.
After a delicious brunch surrounded by friends and family the next morning, Matt and I flew off for a two-week honeymoon in Florence and Paris to begin our new life as husband and wife.
Photographer: mk Photography / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely / Planner: The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants / Reception Venue: Morris House Hotel / Caterer: Morris House Hotel / Cake: Night Kitchen Bakery / Video: Tangerine Media Group / Flowers: Beautiful Blooms / Music: EBE Entertainment