Pennsylvania Weddings

This stunning wedding was at a super unique venue in Lancaster PA. The venue is a one-of-a-kind historic building with multiple levels, each having its own unique look. There are catacombs in the basement, a terrace and garden courtyard draped with string lights, and an awesome “top secret” floor with chippy, peeling paint, raw cement, and red bricks with tons of natural light pouring in! The bridal party was in navy, dusty blue, and mint and the florals were gorgeous! From The Bride:

1. What is your color scheme and why did you pick those colors? Our colors are navy blue, mint green, pewter grey, and gold. I had always dreamed of a navy and mint wedding (and had a pinterest board before John and I were even together titled “my impending navy and mint wedding”… Haha). We loved that combination with the gold and pewter added in because it’s subtle, vintage-inspired, and elegant. It complimented the rustic-vintage theme of Excelsior, and especially the mint green paint around some of the windows and on the walls. The gold sparkle touches were just too much fun to pass up! 2. Why did you choose your wedding venue? We fell in love with Excelsior the moment we walked in. We had visited a few other venues in Hershey (where I grew up) and had driven to Lancaster that day to see another site that ended up not working out, but they recommended that we take a look at Excelsior, which wasn’t yet open. We knocked on the front door and almost walked away, but one of the owners answered (in the midst of sanding and painting in preparation for opening before their first wedding in 3 weeks!!) and showed us around. It had everything we wanted in a wedding venue – beautiful, spacious, and unique, even completely unfinished and covered in dust. We especially loved that the entire venue and all its spaces were ours for the night, so we could use it all however we wanted. Kelly and John, Excelsior’s owners, were so warm and kind. We loved them instantly and their vision for Excelsior was so clear, even still in the works. The decision was easy! 3. What flavor is your cake? Vanilla with buttercream frosting.. John and I are purists when it comes to cake! 4. Description of your gown? Why was this “the one?”

My dress is an ivory lace sweetheart-neck mermaid gown with a mauve-colored ribbon sash around the waist that ties into a bow and falls down the back of the dress. The dress has almost a pink glow in the light! It was the perfect combination of vintage and sparkle, and elegant but fitted all the right places. From the few times I made John watch “Say Yes to the Dress”, I knew that he couldn’t stand shapeless wedding dresses (or “bags” as he called them) so I wanted something that accentuated my body a little! 5. Advice for other brides planning their wedding? Don’t procrastinate – take care of everything you can take care of early in your engagement so that you can have some down-time before all the details kick in during the last few months. There’s no way to avoid some stress near the end, so don’t make it worse than it has to be! ! Also – don’t forget the point of the wedding and why you’re doing it all. In the last few weeks I’ve reminded myself over and over that I have a dress, we have food and alcohol, everyone we love will be there, and at the end of the day I get to marry John, so everything else is really extra. 6. Where are you going on your honeymoon? We’re going on a Mediterranean cruise! Flying to Venice the Saturday after our wedding and stopping in Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia, Olympus and Athens, Greece, and Ravenna, Italy, and spending a few days in Venice after the cruise before we come back to the US. We’re so excited!!!! 7. What are some of the unique items that you will be incorporating in to your wedding? I love chalkboards – you will see calligraphy-d chalkboards all over the place! I had fun learning calligraphy for those! The Ketubah that we’re signing before the ceremony was created for us by a designer that I worked closely with through my job who lives in Chicago. We wrote most of the text ourselves and are so excited for that special moment with our grandparents before the ceremony begins. The glass that we will share wine out of during the ceremony was given to and engraved for John’s great-grandparents for their 25th wedding anniversary, so it’s over 100 years old. A piece of lace from my mom’s wedding dress will be wrapped around the stems of my bouquet. 8. Describe your florals/bouquet

Our flowers are lush and vintage-inspired with lots of green leafing (eucalyptus and olive branch) and cream, ivory, and light pink flowers, with hints of mint green and light blue. The bridesmaids will have long mint green ribbons hanging from their bouquets. My bouquet is relaxed and unstructured, with lots of peonies and roses to offset the dark green leaves beneath them. In addition to the bouquets, you’ll see this style across the top of our chuppah, on our cake, and in a variety of centerpieces during dinner – 8 tables will have high arrangements on a 4-post gold stands, and the other 12 tables will compliment that with lower arrangements to give the room some depth. 9. What part of the wedding are you most looking forward to? Having everyone we love together in one room – and other than that, we’re so excited for the moment we see each other for the first time!

For a good part of my childhood, I grew up right next door to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Since, I’ve visited my sister there on several occasions. What I love most about this locale? It’s historic charm. It truly does boast some of the loveliest restaurants and venues. Case in point? Today’s fete captured by Something Blue by Susan Elizabeth at the Excelsior Lancaster. Layers upon layers of blush and mint coziness. See it all here in the full gallery!

From Something Blue by Susan Elizabeth… This stunning wedding was at a super unique venue in Lancaster PA. The venue is a one-of-a-kind historic building with multiple levels, each having its own unique look. There are catacombs in the basement, a terrace and garden courtyard draped with string lights, and an awesome “top secret” floor with chippy, peeling paint, raw cement, and red bricks with tons of natural light pouring in! The bridal party was in navy, dusty blue, and mint and the florals were gorgeous!

From The Bride… Our colors are navy blue, mint green, pewter grey, and gold. I had always dreamed of a navy and mint wedding (and had a pinterest board before John and I were even together titled “my impending navy and mint wedding”…haha). We loved that combination with the gold and pewter added in because it’s subtle, vintage-inspired, and elegant. It complimented the rustic-vintage theme of Excelsior, and especially the mint green paint around some of the windows and on the walls. The gold sparkle touches were just too much fun to pass up!

We fell in love with Excelsior the moment we walked in. We had visited a few other venues in Hershey (where I grew up) and had driven to Lancaster that day to see another site that ended up not working out, but they recommended that we take a look at Excelsior, which wasn’t yet open. We knocked on the front door and almost walked away, but one of the owners answered (in the midst of sanding and painting in preparation for opening before their first wedding in 3 weeks!!) and showed us around. It had everything we wanted in a wedding venue – beautiful, spacious, and unique, even completely unfinished and covered in dust. We especially loved that the entire venue and all its spaces were ours for the night, so we could use it all however we wanted. Kelly and John, Excelsior’s owners, were so warm and kind. We loved them instantly and their vision for Excelsior was so clear, even still in the works. The decision was easy!

My dress is an ivory lace sweetheart-neck mermaid gown with a mauve-colored ribbon sash around the waist that ties into a bow and falls down the back of the dress. The dress has almost a pink glow in the light! It was the perfect combination of vintage and sparkle, and elegant but fitted all the right places. From the few times I made John watch “Say Yes to the Dress”, I knew that he couldn’t stand shapeless wedding dresses (or “bags” as he called them) so I wanted something that accentuated my body a little!

We’re going on a Mediterranean cruise for our honeymoon! Flying to Venice the Saturday after our wedding and stopping in Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia, Olympus and Athens, Greece, and Ravenna, Italy, and spending a few days in Venice after the cruise before we come back to the US. We’re so excited!!!!

Some of our wedding details… I love chalkboards – you will see calligraphy-d chalkboards all over the place! I had fun learning calligraphy for those! The Ketubah that we’re signing before the ceremony was created for us by a designer that I worked closely with through my job who lives in Chicago. We wrote most of the text ourselves and are so excited for that special moment with our grandparents before the ceremony begins. The glass that we will share wine out of during the ceremony was given to and engraved for John’s great-grandparents for their 25th wedding anniversary, so it’s over 100 years old. Our cake was vanilla with buttercream frosting… John and I are purists when it comes to cake! A piece of lace from my mom’s wedding dress will be wrapped around the stems of my bouquet.

Our flowers are lush and vintage-inspired with lots of green leafing (eucalyptus and olive branch) and cream, ivory, and light pink flowers, with hints of mint green and light blue. The bridesmaids will have long mint green ribbons hanging from their bouquets. My bouquet is relaxed and unstructured, with lots of peonies and roses to offset the dark green leaves beneath them. In addition to the bouquets, you’ll see this style across the top of our chuppah, on our cake, and in a variety of centerpieces during dinner – 8 tables will have high arrangements on a 4-post gold stands, and the other 12 tables will compliment that with lower arrangements to give the room some depth.

Having everyone we love together in one room was amazing – and we loved seeing each other for the first time!

Some advice for other Brides: Don’t procrastinate – take care of everything you can take care of early in your engagement so that you can have some down-time before all the details kick in during the last few months. There’s no way to avoid some stress near the end, so don’t make it worse than it has to be! ! Also – don’t forget the point of the wedding and why you’re doing it all. In the last few weeks I’ve reminded myself over and over that I have a dress, we have food and alcohol, everyone we love will be there, and at the end of the day I get to marry John, so everything else is really extra.

Photography: Susan Elizabeth Photography | Event Planning: Planned Perfection | Floral Design: Petals with Style | Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo | Bakery: Schat's Bakery | Invitations: Little Spark Creations | Reception Venue: Excelsior Lancaster | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Rings: David Yurman | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Jimmy Duffy's | Hair and Makeup: downstreet salon | DJ: Klock Entertainment | Mens Attire: Tommy Hilfiger | Brides Robe: Plum Pretty Sugar | Bridesmaids Robes: Love Meets Craft | Jeweler: Jared | Lighting + Furniture: Shumaker PDT

This couple shares a love of the great outdoors, so when they began planning their Pittsburgh summer wedding, a whimsical day designed with wildflowers and natural greens was an obvious choice. They fully embraced in-season blooms and Mt. Lebanon Floral delivered in every way. Peek at their reception space (and entire day!) photographed by Joey Kennedy and you’ll leave utterly inspired.

From the bride… Cary and I met in college down in South Carolina where we both shared our love for adventure and outdoors. A year or so after graduation, Cary proposed to me when we were at home for Christmas. It was wonderful to have my whole family around to celebrate this exciting event. Shortly after we were engaged we made a big move from South Carolina to Colorado, so we could continue sharing our love of outdoors together.

The wedding was inspired by our love of the outdoors, plants, and the mountains. We had the wedding in Pittsburgh where my immediate and large extended family all reside since we are a close knit group.

We were planning the wedding while living in Colorado, so my mother was a huge help in orchestrating everything. Our vendors were absolutely wonderful, and we thank our florist, Carmel, for her creativity. We told her we wanted a somewhat whimsical and bohemian feel that really showcased the local, in season wildflowers and greenery. She came through and brought us more than we could have imagined. The tent, flowers, lighting, music, and photography all came together wonderfully to create the unique and colorful day we had imagined. It had a beautiful woodland feel with a relaxed atmosphere, just like we wanted.

Photography: Joey Kennedy Photography | Cinematography: Nate Sherer | Floral Design: Mt. Lebanon Floral | Catering: Rania's Catering | Band: Keynote Band | Venue: Frick Art Museum | Tent: Party Savvy

Between its historic, neoclassical Water Works venue and the bridesmaids in light blue attire of different styles (including a jumpsuit!), this Philadelphia wedding inspiration shoot reimagines traditional elements by giving them an unexpected twist. A team of local vendors – including Rachel Pearlman Photography, Trousseau Style, Cottage Flowers, and Laurel and Elm – created this masterpiece, which is one part modern and one part classic. So whether you’re a modern or a traditional bride, visit this stunning gallery for endless inspiration!

When the opportunity presented itself to shoot at Philadelphia’s Water Works, our vision of reimagining traditional elements with a fresh, modern twist using a local team of talented vendors became possible.

The Fairmount Water Works, historically and architecturally speaking, is a classic and unique venue, famed for its neoclassical style and its location with views of the city and the water. Our aim was to create something that was one part classic and one part modern, appealing to both the traditional and modern bride. By changing either the color or the design of an element, we demonstrated multiple ways that brides can easily recreate this look on their own. We also wanted to highlight in the design the blues seen in the skyline and river, and our bridesmaids’ gowns by John Paul Ataker were the perfect way to do this.

Clear details like vellum pieces for the invitation suite and handwritten calligraphy by Lewes Lettering Co. on acrylic slabs brought a freshness to the overall vision. For the jewelry, L. Priori mixed timeless jewels with contemporary pieces. The bride’s classic, six-prong solitaire was made new with a v-shaped wedding band and mixed metals. Her right hand sparkled with estate pearls worn with an edgier pinky ring. The bridesmaids wore a mix of heirloom quality estate pieces and modern jewels – we think that family jewels look coolest when styled with fresh diamonds!

We concentrated on having all of our metallics match perfectly, so the flatware, napkins, and centerpiece vessels were all the exact same shade of gold, as if they were all from someone’s personal collection. As a rule of thumb for real weddings, according to Laurel and Elm, never have the linen color match the bridesmaids’ dresses to allow your special guests to truly stand out when seated for dinner! Since all of the bridesmaids were in different dress styles of the same color, we planned to make blue an accent on the table. The color looks like it belongs there, but it doesn’t overwhelm. Pops of soft blue in the floral design also help to tie in the color of the skyline, the water, and the bridesmaids’ attire.

Incorporating soft and natural elements is something that will always be timeless, and we continue to see these elements in lots of modern designs today. The natural leaf place card and the watercolor plates were a great way to join those two worlds – modern and timeless! The traditional layout of the table and shape of the centerpieces mixed with the faceted vases (a nod to the geometric bridesmaid’s dress), modern flatware, and unique salad plate also worked to balance our theme well while keeping everything looking cohesive.

For ​the florals,​​ Cottage Flowers focused on bright colors and fresh designs that blended traditional elements – think classic gold urns filled with punchy pinks and ​standard whites and ​greens​. ​To go with the acrylic chivari chairs, a sweet collection of cascading greenery (mixed with pinks and blues), tied everything together. To add a modern look to the tabletop, geometric pieces accented with floral elements were used as decor. We complemented the classic jewelry created by L. Priori by adding some gorgeous florals to the gold cuffs, mirroring the bridesmaids’ bouquets!

​Hair and makeup for our bride was classic, but a poppy pink lip elevated the look and blended with our bouquet perfectly. Each bridesmaid showcased a different, yet tailored beauty style – from the bridesmaid wearing the geometric gown to the bridesmaid wearing the pantsuit​​. ​

We hope couples will continue to incorporate a mixture of styles – from classic to modern – to make their day as truly unique as they are!

Photography: Rachel Pearlman Photography | Event Planning: Laurel & Elm | Floral Design: Cottage Flowers | Wedding Dress: Anna Maier | Cake: Queen Bee Pastry | Bride's Shoes: BHLDN | Jewelry: L Priori Jewelry | Hair and Makeup: ONLO | Invitations and Calligraphy: Lewes Lettering Co. | Men's Attire: Commonwealth Proper | Venue: Cescaphe Event Group | Bridal Boutique: The Wedding Pavilion at Van Cleve | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Stylist: Trousseau Style

This endearing couple met when Kristina was doing a silly “cat dance” on the dance floor one girls’ night out. Josh thought it was adorable, one thing lead to another, and the two fell in love. With a love story as fun as theirs, it’s no surprise their Linwood Estate wedding showcased the bride and groom’s joyful personalities through a vibrant color palette and bright florals by Weddings by JDK. See the delightful day captured by Brianna Wilbur Photography right here!

From Weddings by JDK… Kristina and Josh’s love for cats is not just a similar interest they share, it is what brought these two together! It’s true – they met through an endearing story involving a cat dance. Their sunshine and sunflower-filled September wedding celebration at Linwood Estate was the perfect showcase of their bright, fun-loving, and simply jovial personalities. They were surrounded by their nearest and dearest, and it was a day overflowing with pure joy, unconditional love, and, of course, hints of their favorite furry feline friends. Every time we think about these two, we can’t stop smiling from ear to ear!

Photography: Brianna Wilbur Photography | Floral Design: JDK Catering | Cake: Carlisle Bakery | Catering: Weddings by JDK | Hair and Makeup: The Bonafide Ginger | DJ: Mixed Up Productions | Ceremony Music: Cherrywood String Ensembles | Venue: Linwood Estate

When you pair bright spring florals and a romantic illusion neckline gown, you get the makings of a perfect bridal shoot. The kind of shoot where you want to pin Every. Last. Image. No surprise, an entire crew of amazing vendors were behind all this pretty, including captures straight from Danielle Coons’ camera lens. Dive right in and enjoy!

Inspired by the long wait for winters end, this minimalistic bridal shoot was anchored by it’s soft, yet romantic spring florals and beautiful illusion gown. By pairing the nude slip from the gown with a stunning cap veil from Untamed Petals, we captured the feminine and intimate feeling of a bride waiting for her groom. The custom designed ring by Susie Saltzman perfectly complimented the location of the shoot which was chosen for its ornate woodworking details and beautiful natural light.

Photography: Danielle Coons Photography | Floral Design: Florosophy | Wedding Dress: Watters | Shoes: Bella Belle | Ring: Susie Saltzman | Makeup: Kelly Barrett (Hez Studio) | Hair: Kelly Barrett (Hez Studio) | Wedding Venue: Tripp House | Accessories: Untamed Petals | Bridal Shop: The Darling Dress | Film Lab: Goodman Film Lab | Invitation: Kelsey Malie Calligraphy | Jewelry Box : The Mrs Box | Ribbon: Silk and Willow

When it comes to choosing the perfect bridesmaids dresses, keeping your besties happy is priority number one. Which means finding gowns that are chic, show off all of their best features AND bring the bride’s vision to life. That’s where Brideside and their lineup of designer dresses comes in to play. From romantic Jenny Yoo frocks to glam Sorella Vita numbers, they’ve got you sooo covered. Scroll for five trends we’re all about in 2017.

HUES OF BLUES

Remember when mixing and matching bridesmaid gowns meant your bridal party had to wear the exact same dress, but each chose a different neckline? Yep, those days are gone. Now you can mix it up with color to add dimension to your ladies, all while keeping the look completely cohesive. We love playing with the many blue options available from Brideside, from seaglass to sapphire to that gorgeous hue of navy that is everything you’ve ever wanted.

Photo Credit: (Top to Bottom): Joanna August + Wtoo

BOHEMIAN FLAIR

You and your love are definitely more Coachella than ballroom, so your wedding day look should totally reflect that. And that includes your bridal party. With Brideside, you can peruse their lineup of dreamy gowns that are so, so perfect for your one-of-a-kind besties, whether that’s an ulta-boho look with flowy chiffon overlays or an off-the-shoulder number that is the epitome of romance with a dash of bohemian flair.

Photo Credit: Joanna August

FLORAL TAKEOVER

Beautiful blooms aren’t just for those centerpieces and bouquets… they’re also an awesome way to make your besties stand out. Think drop-dead gorgeous floral prints in amazing textures like chiffon and embroidered tulle and you are sooo on the right track. Jump right in and have all of your besties rock stunning floral numbers from Brideside… or mix it up with a few florals and a few solid prints. It’s also a perfect way to have your Maid of Honor stand out. All in all, it’s beautiful, my friends.

Photo Credit: Jenny Yoo

ROSE GOLD ROMANCE

You know we never say “no” to a metallic anything. But rose gold? We love it a little extra special. This beautiful hue is the perfect way to add a little modern romance to your festivities and we’re totally on board with the glitzy and glamorous sequin options available at Brideside. Want to add just a touch of shine, but not go overboard with the bling? Mix and match the sparkle with solid blush hues for a subtler look that is just as special.

Photo Credit: Watters

SLEEK AND SEXY

Your ladies aren’t your average besties, so shouldn’t their dresses match their crazy cool personalities? With Brideside, you can dive head first into looks that are sleek, sexy AND sophisticated… just like your loves. Which means saying “goodbye” to full skirts and “hello” to slim silhouettes and flat-front shapes that are flattering and hip-hugging and so, so easy to re-wear. It’s ultra-modern and completely versatile and, well… we love.

Photo Credit: Watters

Ready to find those gowns of your besties’ dreams? Visit Brideside today and talk to a complimentary style consultant about their amazing designer assortment of gowns, new showrooms opening this spring and their Try at Home program, which makes your life beyond easy. Oh, and if you sign up with Brideside by May 25, 2017, you’ll receive 15% off your entire bridal party. Just another reason to love them, you guys. Happy shopping!

Bridesmaid Gowns: Jenny Yoo | Bridesmaid Gowns: Wtoo | Bridesmaid Gowns: Watters | Bridesmaid Gowns: Joanna August

The sign of a perfect engagement session? Photos that feel totally and completely you, which is what we have here from Jordan Denike. From their favorite bakery to their favorite bar, and all their other favorite Philadelphia neighborhood haunts, this engagement session perfectly captures Jordan and Patrick’s relationship and we’re totally in love.

From the bride… Jordan Denike did an amazing job taking our engagement photos around our neighborhood in Philadelphia! We spent an evening walking by the places we frequent most often, including Metropolitan Bakery, Rittenhouse Square, and even our favorite bar – Black Sheep! We also took photos in the gardens of the Colonial Dames Society, a picture-perfect location tucked away in Center City Philadelphia. We are so excited to work with Jordan Denike again next year for our wedding, and are looking forward to all of the celebrations and planning to come!

Photography: Jordan Denike | Venue: National Society Of The Colonial Dames

Elfreth’s Alley, lovingly referred to as “our nation’s oldest residential street,” is also quite possibly our nation’s cutest. Just look at this darling duo photographed by Elizabeth Nord while walking arm-in-arm down the charming, cobblestone road on their wedding day! We can’t think of a better place to start your marriage than in a location as rich with the history of past loves as it is beautiful. Take a stroll through this Philadelphia wedding, in the Vault.

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From Elizabeth Nord Photography… Leo and Sarah chose to celebrate their beautiful wedding in downtown Philadelphia at the Ballroom at the Ben. They decided on this location so that friends and family from New Jersey, Miami, Brazil, and everywhere in between could join them on their special day. For months they had anticipated snow and cold temperatures, but everyone was surprised with sunshine and 40 degree temps on the wedding day, which was absolutely beautiful! We were like frolicking little kids once we went outside, we were so happy!

I absolutely loved all the special attention that was put into their wedding day details. Their stationery featured a drawing of the Philadelphia skyline, which incorporated the famous Liberty Bell, City Hall, and even the LOVE statue! Sarah gifted a pair of cufflinks to Leo that had the Alabama map on them. Alabama us special to them both since they first met at a wedding in Alabama, and it’s also where Leo proposed to Sarah a few years later. I’m also particularly fond of the florals Sarah chose for the bouquets. Tulips are one of my favorite flowers, and who doesn’t love a classic, white bouquet?

Believe it or not, Sarah is the very first bride I’ve ever had wear a fur wrap on her wedding day, and I hope to see more of them – so pretty and cozy! The bridesmaids wore stunning, navy sequin gowns, and the groomsmen wore the most dapper navy suits. I had so much fun working with this group of friends at the top of the Loews Philadelphia Hotel and also on Elfreth’s Alley! Sarah had two first looks – one with her dad and one with Leo. There’s something so unique about a daddy-daughter first look, and they never cease to give me all the feels!

Leo and Sarah were married at the Saint Augustine Catholic Church and celebrated with a travel themed reception at the stunning Ballroom at the Ben. I totally geeked out when I found out that it’s the same ballroom where they filmed the dance competition scene from “Silver Linings Playbook”! Each table was decorated to feature a different city where they had traveled together, including Seattle, New York, Paris, and Cairo. The place cards were luggage tags with each guest’s name printed inside, and the head table featured a globe with “Leo and Sarah” written on it. It was such a beautiful day, and I loved seeing the love that they share for one another. Nothing makes my heart happier than to photograph such genuine emotion and the kind of love that can move mountains.

Photography: Elizabeth Nord Photography | Floral Design: FabuFloras | Wedding Dress: Kitty Chen Couture | Cake: Termini Bros | Stationery: Minted | Ceremony Venue: St Augustine | Reception Venue: Union Trust | Catering: Union Trust | Makeup: I DO Hair and Makeup | Hair: Happily Ever After Hair | DJ: Silver Sound | Transportation: Philadelphia Trolley Works | Groom's and Groomsmen's Attire: Generation Tux

If you looked up Classic and Crazy Romantic Ballroom in the dictionary, I’m convinced the Hyatt at the Bellevue would pop up. It truly sets the stage for a gorgeous affair and this one draped in white and gold with florals by Russell Anthony is just that. Pore through the beauty of the day captured by mkphoto with even more in the vault.

From the Photographer… We have worked with quite a few of the couples’ close friends over the years and were absolutely thrilled when they contacted us to capture their engagement photos in Philadelphia. We had an incredible time and were event more thrilled when they decided to have us capture their super romantic Hyatt at the Bellevue ballroom wedding. Their vision of traditional tastefully combined with classic white elements resulted in a classy, modern wedding. All the details came together beautifully.

Photography: mkPhotography | Flowers: Russell Anthony Florist | Make Up: Nicck Townsend | Hair: Jason Matthew Salon | Entertainment: Ebe Amsterdam | Venue: Nineteen at the Hyatt at the Bellevue | video: Allure Films

Bucking tradition, this couple decided a rustic farm in Pennsylvania was just the kind of spot they wanted to say “I Do.” And all gussied up with florals by Willow & Thistle and gorgeous photographs by Werth Photography, it’s as pretty as can be and comes complete with a sweet, sweet ending.

When Scott and I started looking at wedding venues we knew we wanted something different than the typical ballroom feel. I did some research and we found Normandy Farm. It was only the 3rd venue we had looked at but knew right away it was perfect for us. We booked it just a few days later. As for my style I didn’t have a clear vision but knew I wanted to keep it true to who Scott and I are: Natural, Clean, a good combination of Rustic & modern, no fuss & simple. We look back at pictures all the time and are just in awe of how everything came together exactly as we had imagined. All parties involved helped make our day spectacular and we always say if we had to do it again, we wouldn’t change a single thing.

Photography: Werth Photography | Florist: Willow & Thistle | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Make Up: Nancy Caroline Bridal Beauty | Wedding Venue: Normandy Farm Hotel & Conference Center | Hair Style & Color: Mallory Manna

From the al fresco portraits to the church ceremony to the tented reception, this city chic wedding is a must see if you’re going for classic elegance. Danielle Coons Photography was there to capture it all (including those super sweet newlywed moments!). Make sure to head to The Vault for the full gallery!

From the Bride… While Patrick and I were planning our wedding we wanted to exude “classic elegance.” While we currently live in Chicago, where Patrick is from, I am from NEPA, so we wanted to combine both a warm and welcoming vibe with some city chic as we molded our backgrounds and our lives together. With this in mind, we fell in love with the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre,PA, a historic brownstone in the city center. Keeping the classic elegance in mind, we chose a neutral palette of ivory and blush with silver accents. We chose to have our wedding under the clubs white tent which allowed us to add in the extra details we so loved such as the crystal chandeliers and allowed our guests to enjoy the warm summer breeze. I wore a Pronovias gown and lace veil with Christian Louboutin shoes. Patrick wore designer Joseph Abboud, while the bridesmaids were dressed in Bill Levkoff.

Photography: Danielle Coons Photography | Floral Design: Evans-King Floral | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Westmoreland Club | Ceremony Venue: Saint Ignatius Church | Reception Venue: Westmoreland Country Club | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Rings: New York Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | DJ: Pete Bayo Production | Groom's Attire: Joseph Abboud | Hair + MUA: Extreme Beauty | Rentals: MCR Productions | Veil: Pronovias

Bright coral peonies are always gorgeous but when set against the rustic backdrop of a glorious old barn, those blooms crafted by Papertini are on a whole new level of pretty. The juxtaposition of bright and rustic planned by Two Little Birds is half the equation and the other half? Super cute couple. See the whole happy celebration captured by Asya Photography with even more in the vault.

From Two Little Birds Planning… Even with impending showers in the forecast, Stephanie and Matt’s warm and fun loving personalities made the rain a distant memory at their May 7, 2016 wedding at Brandywine Manor House in Honey Brook, PA. The color palette of bright spring hues, including hot pink, blush, white, and Kelly green with pops of orange, yellow, and sparkle, were the perfect contrast to the stone and wood of the historic barn and lush greenery of the surrounding grounds.

The day began with the bride and bridesmaids laughing and sipping champagne in the bridal suite while getting their hair and makeup done by Nancy Caroline Bridal Styling. The bride’s natural look was juxtaposed with a smoky eye and bright fuchsia lip. Her hair was pinned back with a sweet halo braid and a few face framing curls.

Stephanie wore a breathtaking strapless Jim Hjelm ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and hand-sewn petal detailing, accented with a beaded crystal sash and Jimmy Choo silver glitter sandals. Her asymmetrical, garden-style bouquet popped with bright peonies, soft David Austen roses, spray roses, colorful ranunculus, sweet peas, and mixed greens. It was hand-tied with intricate lace from her mother’s wedding dress and accented with whimsical velour ribbon streamers. The bridesmaids wore BHLDN’s Coppelia Dress in dusty pink. The groom wore a navy tux and a black bowtie with a hint of shimmer.

Asya Photography was there to capture the beautiful moment of the couple’s intimate first look under the pergola, as well as many other incredible details of the day, including the beautiful gold mirror and frame Etsy signage and personalized wooden ring box. Maggpie Vintage Rentals’ lounge furniture doubled as photo backdrop for the couple and their wedding party before the ceremony.

The gazebo on the patio was beautifully draped with white fabric, and a garland of peonies, roses, ranunculus, tulips, and bright greenery, lending the perfect backdrop for the touching ceremony that was officiated by Rev. Chuck Blair. The aisle was lined with clusters of gold-accented white ceramic passage lanterns that were later used in the centerpieces. Papertini Floral and Event Design are known for organically and perfectly repurposing florals and décor from the ceremony into the reception. In addition to the repurposed lanterns, the bridesmaids’ bouquets were added to centerpieces and the garland was added to the cake table.

Guests were greeted with pre-ceremony beverages of lemonade and water on the patio as they waited for the ceremony to begin. A trio from EBE Rio played “Glasgow Love Theme” for the processional, followed by “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles for the bride’s entrance. After they said “I Do,” Stephanie and Matt recessed to the fun and upbeat “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall & Oates.

Once the ceremony ended, cocktail hour began on the Hearth Patio, which is a beautiful open-air patio under the barn featuring a koi pond and views of the expansive property. Guests relaxed on the gorgeous ivory Charlotte Sofa and Pearson Tuft Chairs from Maggpie Vintage Rentals, and they enjoyed hors d’oeuvres by Sage Catering including bacon-wrapped scallops, wild mushroom tart, petite lamb chop, sugarcane chicken, and lump crab cakes. Since the couple has moved around a lot the last few years for work (Stephanie is a Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Fellow and Matt is a Business Consultant), they used their recent cities of residence as signature cocktail inspiration. The bar featured The Philadelphia (where they met), The Columbus (where they moved next), and The LA (where they live now). Before heading upstairs to the barn for the reception, guests stopped by the escort table to locate their seat and pick up their favor, a handmade mason jar candle and personalized matches.

The reception began with introductions and the couple’s first dance to “Bloom” by Paper Kites. Guests were seated at a mixture of long and round tables with blush linens and gold sequin runners. The tablescapes popped with large white ceramic vases filled with bright pink, orange, white, and yellow florals, white and metal lanterns, bud vases, and mercury votives. Mad Libs, a favorite pastime of the couple, were placed at each guest seat asking silly questions such as circling how many drinks they’ve had and if they traveled via car, plane, or boat.

The first course featured an arugula salad with Parmigiano and sliced granny smith apples tossed in a lemon and white balsamic vinaigrette. Then Stephanie’s two sisters and Matt’s best man gave entertaining and heartfelt speeches about the couple. Guests dined on filet mignon with gratin potatoes and asparagus and Chilean sea bass with Israeli couscous and roasted vegetables. Once dinner concluded, the dance floor opened with parent dances. Stephanie and her father shared a dance to “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel. Then Matt and his mother danced to “Make You Feel My Love” by Garth Brooks. Guests danced the night away under twinkling lights and ivy covered chandeliers to the sounds of EBE Rio. The evening ended with a 4-tier cake by Master’s Baker with alternating layers of lemon raspberry cake with raspberry filling and confetti cake with buttercream icing. The horizontal texture buttercream design was complemented with bright cascading florals and a laser cut “love” cake topper, a perfect and sweet ending to Stephanie and Matt’s romantic barn wedding.

Photography: Asya Photography | Floral Design: Papertini | Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm | Cake: Master's Baker | Stationery: Jonathan Wright And Company | Hair and Makeup: Nancy Caroline Bridal Beauty | Band: EBE Rio | Ceremony and Reception: Brandywine Manor House | Furniture Rental: Maggpie Vintage | Planning: Two Little Birds

Christmastime may have come and gone but we’re still reaping the benefits of it’s magic. Case in point? This cozy fete at Cork Factory Hotel captured by Tina Jay Photography. The kind of ceremony where the Bride and Groom asked their grandparents to be the flower girls and ring bearers—how sweet?! There’s even more charm in The Vault.

From Tina Jay Photography… I just adored Jess + Eric’s winter wedding at the Cork Factory Hotel! They were married on 12/9/16, and included the most delightful Christmas decor. It was so beautifully done, without screaming CHRISTMAS in your face. From Jess’s gorgeous gown that fit her like a glove, to the suspended floral ladder above the ceremony space, every last detail was perfect. They also added little touches that I loved. My favorite? They had their grandmas serve as flower girls, and their grandpas as ring bearers. I love when couples truly make their wedding their own! They also ended their night with a sparkler send-off. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.

Photography: Tina Jay Photography | Floral Design: Petals with Style | Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Reception Venue: Cork Factory Hotel | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Stella Maris | DJ: Klock Entertainment | Hair/Makeup: Plum Spa And Salon

These two approached wedding planning with a goal in mind: prioritize what’s most important and don’t stress the rest. But that doesn’t mean they let the cutie factor fall by the wayside. From cowbells to ring after the “I do’s” to whiskey bars and fruit tarts, this backyard bash was filled with personal touches galore. Lauren Fair captured them all and we’re loving on all day long – more this way!

From the Bride… Anyone who has attempted to plan a wedding knows that it is beyond intimidating and completely overwhelming. In an effort to prioritize, Michael and I sat down together and came up with the most important things that we wanted from our wedding, no matter what. This list saved us when it came to tough decisions that almost always revolved around money. We could look at this list and decide together that no, the more expensive chairs wouldn’t make our ceremony better, or no, the extra flowers weren’t as important as the ridiculously good band. This list helped save our sanity in the overflow of choices that is wedding planning.

Here was our list:
Involve as much family as possible
Make a big wedding feel tiny, personal and special
Have really, really good music
Spend the extra money on a fabulous photographer and videographer
Stick to the budget (we failed)
Spend time on the ceremony, it’s what the entire day is for

Family & Friends: I was given the advice early on that there are only two times in your life when you can have all of your favorite people in the world in the same place: at your wedding, and at your funeral. Since I don’t plan on being around for the latter, we knew that revolving this event around our loved ones, and including them in every way possible, was going to be what made our wedding feel so special.

My cousin played the ceremony music, a different cousin made our tiny sweet wedding cake, our aunts did the flowers, my great Uncle performed the ceremony, a dear family friend catered the event, another close friend drove all the way from NYC with all of the sound equipment, and my Herculean Mother acted as the event planning machine that pulled it all together. We were beyond lucky.

Making the big feel small: I come from a big family, so a tiny wedding was never in our cards. This didn’t change our desire for the day to feel special, and for every guest to feel like they were a crucial part of the celebration, because the truth is we wouldn’t have been there without them.

To pull this off we wanted people to feel comfortable. We made sure that during the outdoor ceremony there was plenty of water available, and handheld fans that people could grab. We over ordered on food and drink because what’s a party without an abundance of both?

We wanted dinner to feel like one giant dinner party, so we placed all of the tables close together, in various angles, and served the food family style. We put out large pitchers of sangria on every table that paired perfectly with our Spanish style meal.

Michael is a huge fan of whiskey, so post dinner we opened the whiskey bar and allowed people to taste some of our favorites that Michael personally selected.

For dessert we had a large table with different types of fruit tarts, and pies that people could grab on their way to the dance floor, or when they needed to take a break. Around 9:30, individual servings of local ice cream were passed around the dance floor as the perfect way to cool down after breaking a sweat.

The music: You can never, ever underestimate the power of good music. Our friends and family are the kind of people who like to dance, and we didn’t want to disappoint. Months later we are still hearing our guests talk about how wild and amazing the band was. You won’t regret the splurge.

Photography & Videography: We knew once the wedding was over, the photos and videos were all that we’d have left to remember the day. For us, paying extra for someone whose style we really, really loved was worth it. We made sure to tell both teams how important it was to capture the guests, not just the two of us, and they exceed every expectation.

Stick to the budget: Everyone’s situation is different, but we wanted to stick as closely to the budget as possible. Things happen, and unexpected expenses occur, but I’m really grateful that we spent what we did because every penny was worth it, and at the same time, that we didn’t spend anymore.

The ceremony: During the planning it was really easy to get sucked into the details of the bridesmaid dresses, or the type of lights to hang in the tent, or what flowers we would have where. We had to constantly remind ourselves that the point of the wedding was to get married, and that if we achieved that, the wedding would be a success.

We had my sister and Michael’s brother read a blessing that was read at my parent’s wedding. We had my Aunt read a poem that was written by my Grandmother. We chose music that meant something to us, and that family performed. We wrote our own vows. We created a list of what we loved most about one another and had our officiant, my great Uncle, read aloud. There were lots of tears, and lots of laughs, and to us it was perfect.

As a closing detail we ordered 50 cowbells that were handed out to guests. Michael and I got engaged on top of a Spanish mountain with the sound of grazing cows wearing cowbells in the distance. We figured there was no better way to start our marriage than to that sound, with the added cheers of our guests.

Photography: Lauren Fair Photography | Cinematography: Visual Rose | Floral Design: Daniel Vaughn Designs (Large Arrangements) | Floral Design: Backyard Bouquets | Cake: Hope Woodhouse | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Lovely Bridal Shop | Makeup: Kelly Clark Makeup Artist | Hair: Viva Bella Salon | Band: The Night Life Band | Wedding Venue: Private Residence | Printed Designs + Paper Goods: Shannon Hovick (Bride) | Rentals: Best Event Rental | Tables + Chairs: Weir Event Rentals

When Andrew and Lina got engaged, there was no question where they’d tie the knot. The Rodale Organic Family Farm, Andrew’s family estate, was the ultimate backdrop for their summer wedding and they knew just how to dress up the details, giving their rustic celebration a modern spin. With incredible vendors like Cobblestone Catering, Jackie Schneider Beauty and Rebecca Yale Photography in the mix, every aspect of their big day was something special. More to see this way!

Andrew and Lina met at an advertising agency in 2011 where they both worked. They both still work in the advertising industry, Andrew on the technology side, and Lina on the planning and buying side.

They were married on Andrew’s family estate, The Rodale Organic Family Farm, a truly picturesque spot that has been the venue for many of Andrew’s family members nuptials. The Rodale family were pioneers in organic farming, and the family farm was the first organic farm in America, which is not far from the Rodale Institute, which continues to be at the forefront of organic farming practices. Guests were welcomed to the farm with gift bags featuring organic snacks and beverages along with copies of Women’s and Men’s Health Magazine, publications produced by the Rodale family. In keeping with the spirit of the farm, guests were each given a succulent to take home as a wedding favor.

Mark Kintzel, whose known the groom since he was a baby, designed the day with bright summer florals to compliment the beautiful farm setting with pops of pink, red, yellow and orange, which also carried through to the bridesmaids’ dresses and the bride’s shoes. Instead of a traditional photo booth, Mark decked out the groom’s great grandfather’s VW convertible with flowers and vintage suitcases, making for a fun and personal backdrop. Guests were given a copy of their photos to keep and another strip to paste in the guestbook. The bride and groom had a custom snapchat geo tag made for their guests to use during the wedding and collected all the snaps as a digital guestbook as well.

The farm is still a working farm, but the greenhouse was decommissioned and the glass removed to prevent snow cave-ins during the winter, which made for the perfect spot for cocktail hour. Cocktail hour took place in both the greenhouse and the sculpture garden next door and guests enjoyed 3 signature cocktails and oysters while Andrew’s uncle played the accordion. Andrew and Lina share a love of travel and food- he proposed on a hilltop in Greece- and come from diverse backgrounds, which they wanted to showcase throughout. The reception took place in a sailcloth tent and the dinner was a blend of cuisines from all of their travels (Italian, Spanish, Greek, Dominican and Lebanese) and was served family style to bring everyone together for the special occasion.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Event Planning : Mark Kintzel Design | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Katherine Sprules Cakes | Invitations: Fourteen-Forty | Bride's Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Rings: Cartier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Cobblestone Catering | Hair + Makeup: JACKIE SCHNEIDER BEAUTY | Groom's Attire: Michael Andrews Bespoke | Groomsmen Suits: Bonobos | Photo Booth: Big Laughs Photo Booth

There is a reason Spring weddings are insanely popular and it has a lot to do with the crazy gorgeous flowers. And if you can land yourself a venue like the Farm at Eagle’s Ridge with flowering trees, well then consider yourself blessed by the wedding gods. These high school sweethearts fall squarely in that category and with the crafting of Oleander Floral & Events, their Spring floral infused barn wedding is one for the books. Sneak a peek at more of the romance through the lens of Lauren Fair Photography.

From the Bride…Jimmy and I are high school sweethearts, so when he proposed almost 9 years after our first date, we couldn’t wait to finally promise our lives to each other. We wanted our wedding to feel like a relaxed, effortless, romantic dinner party where all of our closest friends and family could gather and celebrate the love that we had built over the years.

When we first started looking at wedding venues, my only requirement was that the ceremony be outside. We came across the Farm at Eagle’s Ridge and the grounds blew me away. We knew pretty immediately that we wanted to be married there by the water. From then on, everything else fell into place.

We were intentional about working with inspiring, passionate, and just overall genuinely good people. We put a lot of trust into our vendors, which allowed us to keep the planning and wedding day as laid back as possible. Needless to say, we worked with some seriously incredible people. Lauren and Tim of Lauren Fair Photography captured our day with such ease and beauty. Cynthia at Oleander managed to create the bouquet & floral installation of my dreams, incorporating floral elements that I didn’t even know existed. The staff at Jimmy Duffy’s were incredible and so accommodating. Janelle from Janelle on Location made me feel beautiful, but more importantly, like me. Our amazing vendors allowed us to enjoy every second of our wedding day, and for that, we are forever grateful.

I have a handful of moments from our wedding day that I keep close to my heart, but one of my favorite moments was just after our ceremony ended. We had a minute or two to ourselves after the processional, and we held each other finally as husband and wife. My advice to other brides is to keep it simple and easy. Try not to overcomplicate and overthink. Oh and dance. Always dance under the stars with the one you love.

Photography: Lauren Fair Photography | Coordinator: Fancy Peacock Events | Event Design: Oleander Floral & Events | Floral Design: Oleander Floral & Events | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Cake: Couture Cakery | Reception Venue: The Farm At Eagles Ridge | Hair + Makeup: Janelle on Location | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Hair for Bridesmaids: Janelle on Location | Wedding Dress Boutique: Lovely Bridal Shop

Leave it to Asya Photography to capture a day straight from our winter wedding dreams. Set at Christmastime, with sprinkles of holiday magic, there are so many reasons to visit the full gallery and don’t forget to press play on the clip by Aubert Films below!

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From The Bride… Griffin and I first met at Villanova University in May, 2008. We were introduced by a mutual friend at a local college hangout, the Grog. We hit it off immediately and the rest is history.

The ceremony was held at St. Thomas of Villanova Church. Getting married at Villanova was extremely important to us because it was the place the originally brought us together. There are so many beautiful country clubs around the main line it was so difficult to choose, but after seeing Philadelphia Country Club’s gorgeous ballroom and classic Christmas decor, we were sold. It was a traditional, classic, Christmas wedding and we incorporated a gold pinecones into pretty much everything.

We were nervous that we chose December 5th because of the weather, however, we lucked out and it was a perfect 50-degree day with not a cloud in the sky. It was so nice I was worried my fur stole and the girls’ black watch pashminas wouldn’t be necessary.

Our colors were gold, green, ivory, and navy. We chose colors to compliment Christmas decor. The colors were also incorporated in the navy and green black watch plaid in our wedding party and our niece and Nephew’s attire.

My Mom is an incredible artist so when it came to the fun and creative details, we had a blast. We made gold pinecone Christmas ornaments and attached to the welcome bags, my Mom drew the map of events, decorated flip flops so that everyone could kick off their heels and dance and a close family friend stitched the Mr. & Mrs. stockings for our chairs. The place card table was its own winter wonderland with Christmas tree holders and pinecone accents.

I think it is safe to say the most memorial part for us would be the door opening into the church and seeing one another. A funny moment that we will never forget was my Uncle Pat ripped off his tux jacket and had on a custom shirt with our photo and “Just Married” on the back. Another funny moment was when my MOH tried to fix my veil before we left the church but ripped it out of my hair by accident.

Photography: Asya Photography | Cinematography: Aubert Films | Event Planning: Wendy Donaldson | Floral Design: Polites Florist | Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Johns | Cake: Clay's Creative Corner Bakery | Stationery: Paper Rock Scissors PA | Ceremony Venue: Villanova University | Reception Venue: Philadelphia Country Club | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Here Comes The Bridesmaid | Catering: Philadelphia Country Club | Makeup: Beke Beau | Hair: Amanda Dandrea | Band: All About Me | Bow Ties: Ralph Lauren | Groom's Attire: My Suit | Transportation: Philadelphia Trolley Works | Bridal Boutique: Elizabeth Johns | Bridal Boutique - Bridesmaids' Dresses: Here Comes The Bridesmaid | Faux Fur Stole: Etsy | Getaway Car: First Class Rolls Royce

Let me set the scene – a summertime soiree set at a Pennsylvania cricket club with bridesmaids dressed in dusty lavender and a bride who’s an absolute vision in her Rosa Clara gown. Pair that with the floral design of La Petite Fleur and invitations by Chick Invitations and you’ve got a wedding made for our pages. Head to the gallery for more pretty captured by Unique Concepts Studio.

From La Petite Fleur, Weddings and Events…For their summer wedding at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, Rachel and Logan collaborated with wedding design studio La Petite Fleur (LPF) to create a floral and décor plan that married their chic, garden style with their venue’s regal atmosphere.

The couple thoughtfully considered the emotion and sentiment of each detail as they planned their day— beginning with deciding to blindfold Logan for his ride from the hotel to the Cricket Club, so a true first-look could be captured by the photographer in front of family and friends! Including and honoring their families was so important that they also displayed several generations of family photos throughout the club.

A breathtaking bride, Rachel carried a romantic bouquet of garden blooms, including garden roses, sweet peas, anemones, ranunculus, peonies, spray roses, jasmine vine, and a touch of curly willow— with ivory satin-wrapped stems. And lovely in dusty lavender, the bridesmaids processed through the Cricket Club’s courtyard with bouquets of peach garden roses, scabiosa pods, café au lait dahlias, mauve astilbe, amnesia roses and mini green hydrangea, which were finished with specialty greens and twine-wrapped stems.

Rachel and Logan exchanged vows beneath a birch chuppah, which LPF draped along the top and front with asymmetrical swags of lace and floral garland, which included coral and blush peonies, peach Alejandra roses, sword fern, spray roses, bush ivy, silver dollar eucalyptus and other variegated greens.

And just as personalized hankies (for tears of joy!) greeted well-wishers at the ceremony, a truly special seating chart display welcomed guests as they entered the reception. A carefully-curated collection of vintage plates presented the seating assignments, which had been hand-lettered by Rachel’s grandmother. The plates were perched upon a moss tablescape— complete with cloches and clusters of blooms.

LPF carried the warm, romantic look of Rachel and Logan’s day through the reception with a décor plan that infused the ballroom with an unexpected majesty (a candle-lined entryway staircase), and hints of whimsy (elevated tablescapes) that were balanced by sophisticated touches (lots of gold accents).

As a focal point for the reception décor was the extra-long head table adorned with a lush garland across the front that included spray roses, seeded eucalyptus, feather willow and Queen Anne’s lace. Flanking the garland on the tabletop, were floating candles amidst a ‘hedge’ of birch bark vessels arranged with specialty greens and blooms, including green hydrangea, seeded eucalyptus, garden roses, ranunculus and spray roses.

The look and feel of the reception was significantly impacted by the floor plan, which included a variety of table shapes—dressed in light gold linens— and corresponding, varied tablescape designs. Some long dining tables were designed with elevated floral tablescapes— from which glass orbs filled with tea lights and floating blooms were suspended. Beneath the elevated, lush display was a ‘runner’ of greenery and mercury gold julep cups votives. Other long tables featured a ‘hedge’ of bloom-filled birch bark vessels, brushed gold candle holders, floating candles and mercury votives.

Square tables were also incorporated into the floor plan and were adorned with one of two coordinating tablescape styles. One tablescape featured a gold lantern atop a reclaimed wood pedestal accented with ‘trailing’ blooms, including green hydrangea, roses, spray roses and buplerum. Finishing this presentation was a trio of elements, including a petite gold mercury stand with a coordinating arrangement, and two gold pedestals of varying heights— one topped with a cascading arrangement; the other, a floating candle.

Meanwhile, other squares featured a tall, brushed gold vase with a lush, cascading arrangement of textured blooms including hydrangea, garden roses, ranunculus, spray roses and variegated greenery. A birch bark ‘folder,’ with coordinating foliage, as well as mercury gold julep votives completed the look on the tables.

Photography: Unique Concepts Studio | Floral Design: La Petite Fleur, weddings & events | Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara | Invitations: Chick Invitations | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Rings: Ballerina Jewelers | Bridesmaids Dresses: Donna Morgan | Band: Ebe Amsterdam | Groom's Attire: Calvin Klein | Transportation: Elite Coach | Venue: Philadelphia Cricket Club | Bridesmaids' Dress Store: BHLDN | Hair Accessories: BHLDN | Linen Rentals: Total Table

If we’re going to discuss fabulous fall trends, then we certainly can’t leave out the beauty of a wedding day at the Moonstone Manor captured by Joey Kennedy Photography. It’s enough to make the Gilmore Girls jealous (and rightly so). Complete with richly hued wildflowers by design blooms and better than imagined details, we’ve got every second of this stunner sitting patiently (and prettily) in The Vault

From Joey Kennedy Photography…Erin’s style really impressed me, I love to see classic and elegant with a fun twist. Moonstone manor was also a fabulous location for an outdoor wedding.

From the Bride…We first met at my dad’s farm in Virginia the winter of 2013 and from there we spent all summer hiking, rock climbing, and camping. It was the best way to get to know each other and fall in love. Nick had secretly reserved my favorite hike, Old Rag Mountain, as the site where he proposed summer of 2014.

When it came to picking a wedding venue we figured since we were both from different states one side of the family would have to travel anyways; so we decided to meet in the middle. We found Moonstone Manor and thought it would be the perfect place for a laid back, yet classy manor wedding.

The first look was definitely the highlight for both of us, as well as a surprise performance (more on that later), but the whole weekend was equally incredible. It was really a chance for our family and friends from all over the world, some we hadn’t seen for years, to get together and have a reunion. Saturday we hosted a big brunch and hung out with everyone at the house we were renting on the Susquehanna River. This made the wedding day even more relaxed and fun since most everyone had had a chance to get to know each other. The day before our wedding Nick and I went for a beautiful hike. It was really intimate and reminded us why we were getting married and how blessed we were to have each other and everyone we love around us.

We really wanted our guests to have FUN in our wedding. We love weddings where people can feel free to relax and find different things to do in between the program. We had organized a photo booth, guest book table, lounge area for guests to relax, sparklers for the kids, and lots of entertainment. My sister is a singer so she sang Debussy as I walked down the aisle and her A Capella group surprised us with a set of songs during the reception. Another incredible group of people completely surprised everyone at the wedding — Nick’s huge family from the tiny island of Malta spent months organizing and rehearsing a dance for us that they performed near the end of the night. Their performance was beyond amazing.

Advice: Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for help. They were all so helpful the weekend of our wedding and did so much to make the day beautiful.

Photography: Joey Kennedy Photography | Cinematography: Velos Films | Floral Design: wildflowers by design | Catering: The Uncommon Caterer | Band: 19th Street Band | Venue: Moonstone Manor | Rentals: Hess Tent Rental