Pennsylvania Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

Gem-Toned Philadelphia Fall Wedding

When photographer Sweetwater Portraits captures a moment like the groom seeing his bride for the first time, you can’t help but get a lump in your throat. This romantic Philadelphia wedding is just the pick me up we needed with every detail carefully thought out with help from La Petite Fleur: Weddings & Events. The gorgeous gem-toned bouquets and seriously stunning cake make this wedding a must-see here.

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Fall Weddings

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Modern

From La Petite Fleur: Weddings & Events… For their fall wedding in downtown Philadelphia, Jessica and Zack sought a juxtaposition of styles—mixing classic elements like calligraphed escort cards with aberrant accents such as varied tablescapes of contemporary floral designs— to create a chic, yet cozy, celebratory retreat.

To set-the-stage for their special day, the couple selected the famed Kimmel Center for its modern architecture, as well as a rich, gem-tone palette (inspired by Pennsylvania’s fall foliage) for its warm, regal character. Both the ceremony and reception took place in the rooftop Hamilton Garden, which sits atop the Perelman Theater and overlooks the entire Kimmel Center complex.

Then, to ensure a happy marriage between their traditional touches and the venue’s modern lines, Jessica and Zack sought the design acumen of La Petite Fleur, weddings & events.

To create a refined, welcoming feel that according to Jessica was “without pretense or stuffiness,” LPF fashioned a layered décor plan. The couple wanted guests to “step-in out of the brisk weather to an elegantly-cozy affair.” With that in mind, LPF incorporated unique blooms with varying textures and hues, vessels of varying materials and shapes, as well as sleek (brushed gold pedestals) and charming accents (birch pole chuppah) to perpetuate the visual interest afforded by juxtaposed perspective.

Jessica carried a garden-style bouquet of warm gem-tone and caramel blooms, including Sahara roses and coral passion calla lilies, astilbe and white Coco Yoko hypericum berries— finished with ivory satin-wrapped stems. Her bridesmaids carried coordinating bouquets of warm gem-tone, textured blooms including coral garden roses, and berries, which radiated against their charcoal dresses.

The contrasting styling approach and rich palette carried through to the ceremony with elaborate aisle décor, as well as to the reception with an unconventional “U-shaped” head table. The progressive floor plan also featured guest tables of varying shapes that boasted three tablescape styles. However, the varied tablescape styles did share specific elements, specifically, gold containers, which infused warmth, as well as garden-style arrangements that all hinted at contemporary construction.

Jessica and Zack even infused their ceremony soundtrack with contrasting characteristics– selecting current songs for a string quartet to perform. Zack processed to Weezer’s “Falling for You;” the bridesmaids, Mumford and Sons’ “I Will Wait;” and Jessica, Ben Folds’ “The Luckiest.”

Then, still with fall in mind, as well as their affinity for ‘Game of Thrones,’ the couple presented guests with mulling cider and hot chocolate favors… for “winter is coming.”

Jessica is a judicial law clerk in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Zack is finishing his MBA at Wharton, after which he plans to return to a career in private equity. The newlyweds currently reside in Philadelphia, PA.

Romantic Pennsylvania Ballroom Wedding

As an inspiring event planner, this beautiful Bride has a vision for her wedding day, and that vision was completely stunning. With the help of an amazing team, her vision of an intimate (even with 514 guests!) and elegant black-tie wedding came to life. And thanks to Joey Kennedy Photography, we can enjoy all the beauty.

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Fall Weddings

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Ballroom Weddings Religious Institution

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From the Bride… Mine and John’s love was magnetic. The second that our eyes met, my soul kicked with such joy that I knew right then that I found my forever. Yes, I was smitten with his Kennedy-esque looks, but his sense of humor and genuine demeanor pulled me in unlike anything I have ever experienced. There was never a question in my heart; I found my soul mate.

A year and a half later, we found ourselves soaking in the golden beauty that is Pennsylvania in the fall. John planned a lovely day for us that started with a tour of Fallingwater and ended with an al fresco picnic at his family’s farm. Since I am normally the planner in our relationship, I sensed that something was up and that same soul-kicking feeling was fluttering inside me all day long. As silly as it sounds, I instantly regretted not wearing my new maxi dress and thanked the heavens that I by chance had my nails done (like it actually matters). While enjoying champagne and our delicious picnic spread, John rose to retrieve what would be the ring and accidentally stepped on his crystal champagne flute, sending shards of crystal all over our picnic. After a laugh-worthy clean up, some crystal foot extractions and a relocation of our picnic, John attempted to grab the ring once more and got on one knee, asking me to be his wife.

After announcing and celebrating our engagement, we set our date for September of 2014, my absolute favorite month of the year! Coming from big Irish and Italian families, we always knew that we were going to have a large Pittsburgh wedding; the wedding party itself consisted of 15 bridesmaids and 13 groomsmen! We decided to have our wedding ceremony at St. Bede Church, a small parish church where John’s family belonged. With a final guest list of 514 invitees, we booked the stunning Omni William Penn Hotel ballroom to host our reception.

My bridal party and I got dolled up for the 3:00 ceremony in a suite at the Omni William Penn Hotel. Music, laughs and lovely sentiments filled the space and, when the time arrived, my girls helped me put on my blush lace Monique Lhuillier gown. I was given the honor of donning John’s mother’s lace cathedral veil for the occasion and I also pinned a piece of my mother’s wedding dress into my dress so that I would have a piece of both of them with me all day long. I also decided to keep a sweet tradition from my collegiate years and wore the Penn State Pi Beta Phi bridal pin on my gown, which has been passed down to bride-to-be’s since 1954.

The one thing I loved about hosting such a large wedding in a smaller church was that every single pew was filled with guests, decked out in their finest black tie garb. There wasn’t an open seat in the house, much like a scene straight out of a movie! The excitement was contagious. This atmosphere was only amplified by John’s older brother, an ordained Catholic priest and the celebrant of our Sacrament of Matrimony. Bringing the crowd to both laughter and tears, Father Chris Donley, and my now brother-in-law, delivered a heartfelt and personal homily which will sit in our hearts forever. Our ceremony was both religious and deeply personal, making it my favorite part of the day. We left for our reception in true vintage style, jumping in John’s dad’s 1930 Rolls Royce.

As an aspiring event planner, I had a pretty detailed vision for our wedding reception from the get-go; a blend of organic elegance with vintage touches, creating a rich, intimate atmosphere. It was important for us to host a formal, black tie event without all of the stuffiness that those can sometimes entail. Guests were welcomed into our cocktail hour with walking hors d’oeuvres and an open bar as well as some fun, personal touches; two giant gold Jenga sets and vintage typewriter guest books set the tone for the lively evening ahead.

Dinner was held in the grand ballroom, featuring kings’ tables, candlelit balconies and candelabras, a live quartet and a personalized round dance floor. Shades of gold and elegant pomegranate centerpieces cast a warm tone throughout the ballroom, creating a charmingly intimate vibe throughout dinner. Personalized menus led guests to their seats where they enjoyed a four course meal and poured wine service.

One of my favorite parts of any reception is when the groom toasts his bride, and John certainly rose to the occasion. Being the stoic Irish man that he is, John is not one to share his feelings with the world, so his toast touched me deeply. The sincere and beautiful words that came from his mouth resonated with the entire room and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house (mostly just the women I should add)!

After toasts and the cutting of our gilded gold cake, we were all led into the dance portion of the evening in the former cocktail hour room, which was now complete with lounge seating, a full 9-piece band, dance floor, slow motion video booth, coffee bars and a crepe station. My Italian family owns a pretty famous pizza shop in the Pittsburgh area, so the crepe station eventually made a late night switch to a pizza bar, which the guests enthusiastically embraced. The remainder of the evening was spent dancing, singing and laughing with our closest family and friends.

If I had to pick one theme for the entire day, it would be joy. It surrounded every detail and every minute of our wedding day; so tangible you could feel it! It truly was a magical day, and the best part is that it is just the beginning for us.

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Glamorous 1920s-Inspired Pennsylvania Wedding

It’s all the little details that make this glamorous wedding such a huge success. From the custom Monique Lhuillier lace gown and mismatched Amsale bridesmaids dresses, to the Ring Bearer’s adorable top hat and the reception’s 1920s speak-easy vibe, this Pittsburgh wedding captured by Clean Plate Pictures really wows. Fall in love with all the pretty here.

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Fall Weddings

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From Clean Plate Pictures… On a perfect September evening, Ashley and Jeffrey Czaplicki began a new journey together with a ceremony on the steps of the Frick Art & Historical Center’s museum patio in Pittsburgh, PA. Soft tulle and crystal beading draped the trees with the aisle railings covered in lush greenery. The bridal party included friends, family and siblings, as well Sammie, the couple’s adored pup, who shared a moment with the groom. As a piano and trumpet played, the bride arrived with her father in a vintage car wearing a custom-made Monique Lhuillier gown with a cathedral veil. Guests cheered as the couple shared their first kiss and the pastor, who married the bride’s parents more than 30 years ago, announced the newlyweds. The couple released a pair of doves to signify that they will forever fly together.

The bride carried a full white and blush bouquet containing, Vitality, Patience and Peach Juliet David Austin roses, ranunculus, cabbage roses, seeded eucalyptus, ivy weaved through and dusty miller at its base. The bridesmaids wore different variations of Amsale gowns and carried David Austin Keira roses, spray roses, cabbage roses, seeded eucalyptus, greens weaved into bouquet and dusty miller at its base and tied with a white satin ribbon.

After the ceremony, guests were invited to the lawn of Henry Frick Mansion which had been transformed into a 1920s inspired speakeasy complete with signature drinks from the era. The ritzy affair featured a biography table detailing the couples’ journey from first date to matrimony, the sounds of smooth jazz from the Boilermaker jazz band and singer and appetizers served by a set of flappers. Textured linens and pearls draped over roses, as well as lots of palms and bartenders outfitted in black bow ties, set the theme.

As night began to set in, guests were invited into the peaked tent on the Great Lawn. A walkway led friends and family into an elegant fabric draped sanctuary complete with luxurious crystal chandeliers and beauty around every corner. The couple shared their first dance to “1000 years” by Christina Perri before inviting everyone to join in on the fun.

Guests danced to a live band on a white dance floor with a custom monogram. Afterwards, the couple cut their six tier wedding cake outfitted with pearls and fresh roses. Guests joined each other at tables covered in gold sequin linens that featured gold candelabras dripping in ivy and adorned with blooms including, David Austin roses and hydrangeas. Each centerpiece was surrounded by candles. The place settings included gold china and flatware and matching gold rimmed glassware.

The bridal party sat in front of a custom built live ivy wall covered in ornate gold mirrors with the newlyweds sitting together in a tufted white leather chair. Custom designed stationary was found throughout the evening. From the ceremony program to the dinner menu, to the amazing 10 foot tall mirrors which served as the place setting assignments to a beautiful handwritten signature drink menu, all were designed and created by the groom’s talented sister.

After dinner, guests enjoyed watching the bride dance with her parents and the groom with his mother. Many guests enjoyed dancing the night away, enjoying a treat from the traditional Pittsburgh cookie table, exploring the beautiful grounds of the venue and socializing in the lounge. Guests also enjoyed a special surprise when the bride revealed her second dress. As her bridesmaids gathered around the bride, the groom sat waiting for the bride to reveal that underneath her tulle skirt was a gorgeous full lace down.

The couple enjoyed a two week honeymoon in St. Thomas and St. John. They are enjoying life as newlyweds and anticipating the arrival of their first child in July 2015.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

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Elegant Summer Wedding at Overbrook Country Club

Can we all agree that we’re obsessed with that Chihuahua with a bow tie? There’s plenty more fun and personal touches to be found in this summer wedding at the Overbrook Golf Club in Villanova, Pennysylvania, including the sweetest butterfly theme in the bouquet and cake! The talented mkPhotography captured all the details, which you can see in the full gallery right here.

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From the beautiful Bride… My husband and I are happy people. We love to laugh, we love to spend time with family and friends, and we live each day with a focus on having fun together. Everything about our wedding day reflected our joyful outlook on life and the joyful love that we share. We met through a family member who knew we would be a perfect match, and she couldn’t have been more right. Our attraction was instant and our love grew quickly and deeply. We dated for four years until he surprised me with a proposal before our annual Christmas party with all of our closest friends. From that moment, the magical ride that started when we met became even more exciting.

We were lucky to have my mom as our unofficial wedding planner. She has a keen artistic eye and she helped us make all the right decisions to ensure a gorgeous wedding day. We chose St. Agnes Church in West Chester, PA for the ceremony, and it was a family affair as my dad was instrumental in planning the music and mass program, and my cousin lent us her beautiful voice to sing the hymns. The church’s soaring Gothic arches and illuminated stained glass struck us with awe as we spoke the traditional and sacred vows, all the while hearing the trumpet and organ triumphantly resound and my cousin’s heavenly voice ring through our ears and touch our hearts.

Our reception was at Overbrook Golf Club in Villanova, PA, which was the perfect venue for our romantic country wedding with a lush and verdant landscape, rolling hills, and brightly colored flowers adorning every corner. The beautiful weather that day was truly a blessing and our guests enjoyed the cocktail hour outside on the terrace under a clear blue sky. The dining room was a reflection of my mom’s artistry featuring a butterfly theme incorporated into the flower arrangements (Tish Long), the wedding cake (Aux Petits Delices), my wedding bouquet, and the place cards, which were sitting atop a bed of real wheatgrass. The fragrance of fresh white roses filled the entire room and late afternoon sunlight streamed through the large picture windows as our guests laughed, dined, and later danced the night away to the music of our fabulous band, CTO’s 5th Avenue.

My Judd Waddell gown from The Wedding Shoppe in Wayne, PA was pure romance. It was a strapless A-line with a sweetheart neckline, pleated bodice, and layers of organza with beautiful French Alencon flower appliques scattered among the layers. My veil had a few appliques delicately placed along with some netting from my mom’s wedding veil. My mom decided to replace the ribbon at the waist with more delicate lace encircling the waist for the perfect finishing touch. My bridesmaids wore navy strapless chiffon dresses from J.Crew with opera length pearls also from J.Crew and satin sandals in champagne. The bridesmaids’ bouquets were comprised of red roses, pink peonies, chartreuse green hydrangeas, and a touch of delphinium blue. These were the perfect pop of color. The groom wore a deeper gray toned suit, which contrasted handsomely with the groomsmen’s oyster colored suits. Navy polka dot ties and paisley pocket squares completed the look. The whole bridal party looked sensational.

Our photographers (MK Photo) and filmmakers (CinemaCake) expertly captured all of these brilliant colors and the results were stunning. We are forever grateful to them for immortalizing every single special moment from our wedding day so that we can treasure them for years to come.

Romantic Winter Wonderland Wedding

Grab your morning cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy this stunning Pennsylvania winter wedding. The soft color palette of blush and whites paired with subtle gold touches oozes romance. Captured by Mike & Jana For MkPhotography and Sarah and Tony for Sarah DiChicco this winter wonderland wedding cannot be missed. From the long candlesticks to a rustic DIY seating arrangement, check out every cozy detail here.

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Winter Weddings

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From The Bride…It was an early Sunday morning in August, waking up next to the wood stove at my best friends house after spending the night. She had asked me to come to church with her and her family, as I have been here before and really enjoyed it. I was really tired and not feeling the greatest that morning, but agreed to go with them.. Little did I know saying yes to her would change my life forever. This is where I would be starting the rest of my life.

My friend asked if I could hold the her baby as she had to use the restroom, so as I stand in the lobby waiting for her in a sea of people, this guy walks over to me and says hi and starts taking with me. I have met him once or twice before but really we were nothing more than social media friends. So we talked for a couple mins or so and then that was it. The thing I didn’t know was that he just drove through the night from Ohio after playing a conference to be back for this Sunday and was in the same boat as me, tired and not feeling well and not really wanting to be there but rather be sleeping. Another thing I had no clue about was he went over to my friend and asked if I was single because he didn’t know my situation really at all.

So my friend then tells me this, of course right before service starts and then all I can think about is some guy asked my friend if I was single, great! I honestly thought that is where it would end, but no he actually did contact me later that day and asked if I would be his date for his best friends wedding. Wow, what a ‘first date’. I was completely caught off guard and wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue this and just be let down after just going to a wedding with him. But after talking with my mom and dad and praying a lot about this, I told him I would go and thought it would be a lot of fun, secretly telling myself that so I didn’t get too excited or expectant of anything.

So obviously a first date to a wedding is a little much and intimidating, so we decided to go on a rear ‘first date’ and have breakfast together and get to know each other. Well don’t you know, we had breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He says he knew then that he was going to marry me. So we went on our second date and talked a lot more and at the end of the date he politely and so sweetly asked if he could kiss me, well that is when I just knew I was going to marry this man.

So we dated and got to know each other for about 2 months, living 2 hours apart was really difficult, so we’d almost always meet in West Chester, the halfway point. We always tried dinner at new places and walked and talked and just had so much fun getting to know each other. After that we almost always went to this little adorable gelato shop on main street with a small intimate court yard on the side. It was a perfect end to the evening always.

So on November 5th, we were meeting at West Chester per usual, and we started walking around town because he kept saying he was hungry yet let’s keep walking… So we get up to the Gelato Shop and there is a beautiful table and chairs with beautiful gold candles and champagne. We stop and look, he says to me I did this for you, because I know you are leaving for Russia this week and wanted to do something special, I was so confused. Then he grabs both my hands and gets down on one knee and goes on to give a wonderful will you marry me speech and how much he loves me.

Being a wedding photographer, I have seen my fair share of weddings and had a pretty good idea of what I wanted our wedding to be like. My vision was to have our friends and family come together and share our best day with us and just celebrate. Coming from an artistic family we were able to do everything we wanted and dreamed of with the help of everyone of our family members. From the designing of my wedding dress down to my mom doing all the flowers and food that we had envisioned. I was going for a timeless/rustic elegant feel.

We wanted our friends and family to leave the wedding with memories of hope, joy, and love.

Some of our favorite moments were planning this massive yet elegant wedding with hundreds of our friends and family in just 3 short months. Designing our own wedding invitations. Designing my own wedding dress exactly how I always pictured it growing up and seeing it finished and absolutely perfect. The first look in the beautiful snow covered terrain. Coming in from a freezing cold snow covered ground to a beautiful, chandelier hanging, candle covered 100′ tables that friends could enjoy family style dinning and community. Having my mom cook one of my favorite homemade meals for 250 people. Dancing the night away with my dad to some of our families most cherished Jewish celebration song. Being surrounded by our most loved people in our lives was one of the best memories that we will never forget.

Rustic Pennsylvania Home Wedding

When a high school romance turns into lifelong love, it’s only fitting that a beautiful, hometown property plays backdrop to the big day. From a rustic yet refined ceremony to the happy tears that followed, every detail is chock-full of personality and love. Ending the evening with Birchtree Catering and sing-a-longs, Julie Cate captured it all here!

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Fall Weddings

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Backyard

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Rustic

From The Bride…Gregg & I have know one another since high school and were married at my family’s home in Chester County, Pennsylvania this October. We wrote our own vows and the heartfelt ceremony left all our guests in tears, but luckily we had collected vintage handkerchiefs for our guests to use during the ceremony! The flow of our reception was different than a typical wedding; during dinner our friends and family gave many toasts and roasts, all done with impeccable wit and unabashed affection! After dinner there were several musical performances by our very talented friends, including a sing-a-long that had everyone up out of their chairs singing and dancing. Since the wedding was held on our property our guests pitched tents in the field and we celebrated into the wee hours of the night!

All our vendors, other than our photographer, were local. For photography we used Julie Cate Photography, Jennie Love of Love n’ Fresh Flowers did the the flowers as well as the reception and ceremony decor, catering was done by Birchtree Catering who used ingredients from surrounding farms, rings by Bario-Neal, and Hair & Make Up by True Beauty Marks. I found my Valentino dress, Marc Jacobs shoes, and vintage jewelry on Ebay.

Whimsical Fall Wedding at Pennsylvania Manor House

These flowers had us doing a double take! La Petite Fleur went above and beyond in this fall wedding filled with the most gorgeous blooms in persimmon, marsala and violet shades. It’s a flower lover’s paradise, complete with a four-tiered mouthwatering masterpiece from Bredenbeck’s Bakery! Stop and smell the roses over in the full gallery shot by Asya Photography right here.

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Fall Weddings

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From La Petite Fleur… The wedding of Jacque and Steve was celebrated this past October at The Manor House at Prophecy Creek Park in Blue Bell, PA. This fall affair had a fiery, garden palette of persimmon, marsala and violet, and a whimsical, eclectic style that featured details designed by the ‘artiste’ Bride herself (table numbers) and La Petite Fleur, weddings & events.

Jacque carried a cascading bouquet of warm hued blooms, including pheasant feathers, Circus Roses, amaranthus, coxcomb, scabiosa pods, burgundy and aubergine stock, bittersweet, ruscus, maidenhair fern and agonis foliage– finished with a piece of her grandmother’s wedding gown and trailing vegetable dyed ribbon (from Silk and Willow).

The bridesmaids carried coordinating bouquets of light amethyst roses, coxcomb, wine colored stock and fire orange hypericum berries– with charcoal gray satin- finished stems.

Upon entering the reception, guests were greeted with an escort card display that boasted a Grecian urn arranged with roses, mums, red amaranthus, stock and curly willow. The cocktail décor featured tables topped with mason jars filled with palette-coordinating mums, seeded eucalyptus and succulents, while the mansion’s bookcases and mantles were aglow with candles.

La Petite Fleur also brought the warm, fall hues into the reception décor– adorning some dining tables with conservatories overflowing with bittersweet, craspedia and kale. Other tables featured mercury footed compotes arranged with dahlias, and other fall blooms. Meanwhile, a third tablescape style featured low, grey washed planters arranged with a ‘hedge’ of blooms, including orange hypericum, ti leaves, craspedia, curly willow, ruscus, agonis, Circus roses, bupleurum and pheasant feathers.

All the tables featured hand-painted (by the Bride) table numbers on pieces of slate tiles that were gathering dust in the couple’s basement. They also made place card holders from cream colored shutters found on Craig’s List.

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Rustic Pennsylvania Horse Farm Wedding

Where do we start? The Bride’s stunning lace Claire Pettibone dress, the gorgeous horse farm setting, all the lovely and deeply personal touches throughout—it’s hard to pick our favorite thing about this rustic and romantic wedding beautifully photographed by Sweetwater Portraits. You won’t want to miss the details of their beautiful story, so make sure to check out the full gallery right here.

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Al Fresco Rustic

From Sweetwater Portraits… Emilee and Jason were married at a dear friend’s horse farm in Chadd’s Ford, Pennsylvania with a perfect mix of romantic and rustic style. From Emilee’s lace Claire Pettibone dress, to the vintage vases and wild summer blooms decorating the tables, every detail fit the beautiful old barn and wide open meadow perfectly.

From the beautiful Bride… Jason and I met on a Saturday morning along the banks of the Anacostia River in Washington, DC. Separately invited by mutual friends to help out with a river cleanup, we arrived unaware that our worlds were about to collide. Two years later, Jason proposed on a beautiful, crisp morning while on vacation in Glacier National Park, MT, and just one year later, we wed on a sunny Saturday on a family friend’s horse farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Our wedding was a true reflection of who we are, with elements of personal and family history woven into our mutual love of nature and all things rustic. Many touches were a reflection of our personal histories, as well as our time as a couple. My childhood riding boots and saddle decorated the cocktail hour in the barn hayloft, while peonies and roses – a hint of England and my father – ornamented the reception tables.

Pictures telling the story of our life sat atop bales of hay, from the wedding photos of our great grandparents to pictures of the proposal. Many of the flower vases on the reception tables were heirlooms, while the little jars-of-honey party favors were the gift of Jason’s uncle, and the bees he raises in New York state. A Quaker wedding certificate, hand made and decorated with woodland themed paper quilling, collected the signatures of each guest to seal the memory and significance of our wedding day.

While these personal touches added to the time commitments of planning our wedding, we were so grateful that our big day was one inspired by who we are as individuals, as a couple and as a joined family. We often remark that we would do it all over again with those same personal elements, and perhaps add even more!

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Nature Inspired Wedding

Picture a fairytale-esque wedding set against a stunning forest setting and you’ll land squarely on this gorgeous day captured beautifully by mkPhotography. I’m talking floral hair crowns, pretty pink hues and rustic chic details that are all kinds of pretty. Add in an adorable bride and groom with a seriously sweet love story and it’s a magical gallery in one, two, three.

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Fall Weddings

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Eatery Outdoor Weddings

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Bohemian Rustic

From mkPhotography… Jeffrey was hanging out with mutual friends across from where Jessie lives when she walked in and he observed for the first time the mysterious girl with the black eye! Jessie, who was studying to be a veterinary nurse at the time, had gotten a black eye from loading a dog into her car and accidentally getting head-butted by the excitable pet. Jeffrey and Jessie would inadvertently meet again a short while later when they actually saved a puppy together! From there, the mutual friends arranged, without telling the other, for the two of them to attend a Flyers hockey game with them and, from there, Jessie and Jeffrey have been nearly inseparable since. They bought a house together almost two years later and on their first night in their new home, heart bursting with love, Jeffrey proposed to Jessie.

The two of them complement one another wonderfully. “My weaknesses are his strengths, ” Jessie told us, “For example, he is patient and I am very, very impatient!”

Initially, Jessie wanted their wedding to be very laid-back and outdoorsy. She envisioned moss, woods, nature, picnic tables and food trucks. Jeffrey, on the other hand, envisioned a slightly more formal affair – a big sit-down dinner with a nice cake, so they decided to compromise.

They took their vows together outdoors in a special, woodsy ceremony at Brandywine Creek State Park framed by a beautiful wooden arbor built by one of Jessie’s best friends, Pat, who, by request, also excitedly got ordained specifically to be able to marry them! Jessie and Jeffrey had a tender unity ceremony which consisted of them planting a tree using soil from the house of each of their parents and soil from their own home. Their enchanting nuptials were sealed in song as the bridal party thumped tambourines, played harmonicas, and sang the popular Lumineers song, “Ho, Hey!”

Their nuptials were celebrated at the rustic chic venue The Gables at Chadds Ford, an artfully restored 1897 bank barn, where the upstairs banquet facility boasts open beams and original wood floors and opens to a small deck with steps down to a newly constructed grassy courtyard area. Guests arrived through the courtyard and were greeted with butler-served hors d’oeuvres and platters of Chadds Ford Apple Wine, heated and served in mason jars with cinnamon sticks. A large wooden board was staged beside the entryway into the great room; on it along with guests’ names and table seating arrangements, were original wedding photographs from each Jeffrey’s and Jessie’s grandparents, parents, siblings’ weddings.

Inside, round tables were lovingly decorated by the bride’s talented mother with handmade table runners, ferns and moss centerpieces, candles, and table numbers carved into small wooden slats by a friend of the couple.

A big hit at the reception, aside from the dance floor which stayed packed all night, was the “Naked Cake”. This was a cake without the typical icing that encases a standard wedding cake, and it was topped with Jeffrey’s grandparents’ wedding topper!

One of the most poignant and memorable moments of the reception happened when Jeffrey danced with his adorable new stepdaughter, two year old Juniper, to the song “Angel” by Jack Johnson. Guests then enjoyed a delicious meal of their choice of French chicken or NY strip steak, followed by dancing, and ending with a crackling marshmallow roast in the courtyard outside complete with snuggly wide flannel scarves that reception attendees could cozy up to ward off the evening’s chill.

Jessie and Jeffrey used bottles of wine for their guest book; on a table they had situated bottles of wine for each major anniversary and quests were invited to sign the labels and write their well wishes for the couple to read as each bottle gets uncorked in the future!

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Rustic Chic Farm Museum Wedding with DIY Touches

If you’re considering a farm wedding for your upcoming nuptials, it’s time to start taking notes! With the help of Proud To Plan and captured by Shaw Photography Co., this DIY wedding mixes family tradition with rustic florals & pale pink touches. The bride wearing Theia from Lovely Bride in Philadelphia and jewelry from Anna Sheffield looked radiant with a simple floral crown and elegant makeup. From a naked cakes to string lights, be sure to check out every detail here!

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Fall Weddings

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Rustic Weddings

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Classic Weddings Rustic

From the beautiful Bride… More than anything, Mike and I wanted a wedding that was true to us — something that best represented our family traditions, our spiritual beliefs, our trust and faith in each other, our skills and passions, and our love of family and friends (and food and drink!).

Mike proposed on October 4, 2013 on our apartment building’s rooftop. That night, I arrived home expecting an empty apartment–and instead found a candlelit message spelled out in Bananagrams tiles, telling me to step out onto the roof. There Mike was waiting with the ring (inside a wooden container he made by hollowing out a tree branch) and a bottle of wine. The ring features a vintage rose cut diamond in a custom rose gold setting by Anna Sheffield.

We live in Brooklyn, NY, and our families are in Allentown, PA, and Wilmington, DE. We wanted an outdoor fall wedding to take advantage of the great autumn colors and the crisp weather — we both run warm! We settled on Lancaster, PA because it is equidistant from both of our families, is on an Amtrak line from New York, and has a great many beautiful farms. We found our ideal ceremony and reception venue there at the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. Landis Valley is a living museum with a quirky history: the original farmstead was run by two eccentric bachelor brothers whose collection of Pennsylvania Dutch folk art and farm implements is the largest in America. Our reception was in the yellow barn they originally built to display a portion of their collection.

Planning the reception was hard work, but we really struggled to write the right ceremony. We wanted it to reflect our own values and beliefs while honoring our family traditions — not always the easiest thing. After many discussions and just a little bit of family drama, we settled on a Quaker-inspired self-uniting marriage that incorporated readings from our friends and elements of Ukrainian and Catholic tradition, like receiving a blessing from a priest before the ceremony and later tying our hands together with a cloth embroidered by Mike’s late grandmother. The readings were composed of lines our guests had written to us on our RSVP cards; we had asked them to offer a few words of wisdom about love when they replied. Our favorite: “Love is giving someone half of your sandwich… and not regretting that you gave away half your sandwich.”

As guests left the school buses they arrived on, they were greeted by a bagpiper — another tradition, this time from our shared past at Carnegie Mellon, where every major event is commemorated with Scottish pipes. As guests made their way to the courtyard behind the barn, we greeted them with snacks and soft drinks. Welcoming our friends and family as they arrived was one of the best decisions we made. It not only made us really feel a part of the day, but also helped dissipate some of our nervous energy. I don’t love standing in front of large groups of people, and this helped me feel more comfortable.

After the ceremony, which was brief, and concluded just as dusk fell, we signed our marriage license and got our first drinks. In addition to beer and wine, we made two special cocktails: a homemade spicy margarita made with jalapeno-infused tequila (for me) and rye whiskey mixed with cask sarsaparilla (for Mike). We also had my sister’s homemade ranch pretzels and a couple of small mountains of cheese and veggies. Later, at dinner, we served buffet-style pit barbecue. The cakes (we had five different small cakes) were made by a family friend who is a baker in Kutztown, PA, and we filled out the dessert tables with cookies made by my family. At the end of the evening we invited guests to fill takeout boxes with leftover desserts.

We took our cue on decorations from the venue itself: rustic but elegant. Mike and I met because we were editors of rival literary journals in college, so escort cards I put together were attached to pencils that we stood up in an old card catalog, and every place setting was identified with a notebook with each guest’s name hand-calligraphed onto a tag. Everything was casual but considered; we didn’t want anything to feel “fancy,” but rather just to feel authentically “us” while also being a little more refined than we usually are. For instance, Mike and my dad spent an afternoon collecting “good-looking” leaves and spray-painting them copper and gold; we made table-number centerpieces out of vintage bottles we had collected, branches from my backyard, and rough-cut wooden rounds chain-sawed by my dad from trees in my parents’ backyard. We used long banquet style tables that we connected with vines.

After cocktails, my dad welcomed everyone to the reception, Mike’s sister introduced the wedding party, and Mike’s grandfather asked a blessing, as he does at all family meals. After everyone had gotten their food (or their first plate of it, anyway) my sisters and Mike’s brother gave toasts. Then we had a surprise speech from Mike’s old boss, which prompted Mike to get up and get a thing or two off his chest. It was beautiful. Then, dancing: In an effort to quell some of the nervousness about being up in front of people, we tried to do our first dance a few songs in and without anyone noticing, but that didn’t work — everyone noticed we were finally dancing, and made room for us to be the only ones on the dance floor. Soon we were hot and sweaty and needed to step outside for some fresh air. There, we had a bonfire along with another dessert, homemade marshmallows for s’mores.

We worried about all kinds of things before the wedding. But on the day itself, everything ran smoothly. It was definitely because of our awesome vendors — we really couldn’t have chosen more creative and professional people. We have to single out Proud to Plan, our day-of coordinators. Mike’s sister-in-law swore by them, and her gift to us was their services. We were skeptical that we’d need any help, but I take it all back! I am certain that the event went more smoothly, and that we enjoyed it so much more, because of their incredible foresight and poise.

Rustic Chic Wedding at The Farm at Eagles Ridge

Despite living more than 7 hours apart during their engagement, this pharmacist pair did their best to plan every detail of their wedding at Farm At Eagles Ridge together. Drawing inspiration from a delicate color palette, their rustic vintage affair was filled with handmade touches. From nailing their touching vows to their patient place cards, Harper Parker Photography captured it here!

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Fall Weddings

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Rustic Weddings

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Rustic Vintage

From Harper Parker Photography… It was on a bench in Cape May, NJ, three and a half years after they first met, that Tyler proposed to Ashley. He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket that had listed every place the couple had lived and visited since they met and his favorite memory from each place. Last on the list was Cape May, NJ… “the place where I asked you to spend the rest of your life with me. ” Ashley was so excited she forgot to say “yes!”.

Tyler and Ashley spent the majority of their engagement apart while she finished pharmacy school. Although the couple was more than 7 hours apart they did their best to plan every detail of the wedding together… aside from the flowers which the groom chose all on his own (and he is color blind!!!!).

Ashley has always loved light neutrals, pinks, peaches and cream colors. These colors became the inspiration point for their rustic/vintage theme. So many wonderfully beautiful and heartwarming details were woven into this couples’ big day from the handmade patch that Ashley created for the back of her father’s tie, to the beautiful handmade wooden box that the couple nailed their vows into. Both the bride and groom are pharmacists so the medicine bottles with guests (“patient”) names that served as place cards were inspired by the couples’ pharmacy background.

While every detail of this wedding was so beautiful to photograph the most beautiful part was the couples’ touching vows to each other. After saying their vows in front of a late afternoon sun-drenched pond, the couple placed their vows in a special wooden box and took turns nailing the lid closed before sealing their marriage with a kiss. It was one of the most beautiful ceremonies we have ever seen.

Rustic Meets Elegant DIY Barn Wedding

I’m an absolute lover of barn weddings. But a barn wedding completely DIYed by the beautiful bride? That’s an entirely new level of obsession. Imagine fresh from the garden-esque florals from Savannah’s Garden, vibrant pink, yellow and aqua hues and a whole lot of barn-inspired pretty. See it all captured by Char Co. in the full gallery and the sweet film from Matthew J. Boyle below.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/98976705 600 338]

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Spring Weddings

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Religious Institution Rustic Weddings

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Casual Rustic

From the Bride… On a campus filled with over 21,000 students I spotted him freshman year, and couldn’t keep my eyes off him. And it might have remained a harmless crush if it weren’t for some courageous friends who were able to approach Dan and arrange a “per chance” meeting between us on the soccer field. A friendship and flame sparked on that field and four and a half years later (two of them long-distance) I accepted a tearful proposal on the very same field.

As I sit here and write this, with my husband asleep on the couch next to me, I truly realize what a journey it has been. We both wanted a relaxed but romantic setting where all of our friends and family would feel welcome and loved. I love rustic elegance, and was craving a barn wedding. We decided on Lancaster after walking into the Yellow Barn at the Landis Valley Museum. They flicked on the twinkling lights and that was it. I was in love. We were in love. It was absolutely enchanting.

We booked the venue for a Memorial Day weekend wedding and dove into planning. I started pinning and dreaming, sketching and stitching. With the exception of the twinkle lights, every decoration was brought in, most of them handmade by myself or my mother. The centerpieces were old books that my grandfather had gotten when he worked at Doubleday, binding books. The slabs of wood on other tables were from a down tree in my parents’ backyard that Dan cut, piece by piece. On top of these books and wood pieces were mason jars from my grandparents’ basement, which we use each year to can our family’s homemade sauce. Along the back of the barn hung twine with pictures of all the married couples in our families, over the word “love” which was made from cardboard letters and silk flowers. I made place cards on craft paper and hung them on old shutters outside the barn. My grandmother, 92 years young, painted a tree for our guests to “leaf” their thumbprint and sign their name, in lieu of a traditional guestbook. My mother baked our “naked” wedding cake, topped with fresh berries. She also made the whoopie pie favors for the guests; a signature dessert in the Lancaster area. My father and I made signs, pointing the guests toward the barn, out of old wooden pallets.

With every old and rustic touch, we matched it with something soft, simple, and elegant. I chose an A-line ivory dress with full skirt and lace details. I truly wanted the soft touch of sleeves or straps, so my mother created straps with alencon lace she bought on fabric row in Philadelphia. I paired this with some simple crocheted TOMS and a hairpin from BHLDN. My something old for the day hung around my neck, and close to my heart. The necklace is a lavalier with one simple diamond at the center. This necklace was made for my grandmother’s wedding day. When she was to be wed, her mother was too ill to attend the wedding, and as a special gift to her daughter had this necklace made with the diamond from her engagement ring. This way a part of her could be there with my grandmother. This necklace has been worn by every woman in my family on her wedding day, and will continue to be passed down through the generations.

Dan wore a fitted gray suit with simple black tie and boutonniere of berries and rosemary. My Bridesmaids wore simple, light dresses of pale blue from Anthropologie, contrasted by peach and coral bouquets. The ladies also wore white and peach floral robes for the morning preparations, which were sewn by my mother.

The day itself was like a dream. The chance of showers never came to be and we enjoyed a sunny 72 degree spring day! We were married in St. Anthony of Padua church, with its Old World feel of vaulted ceilings, fresco paintings, and marble. After an amazing (and tearful) Mass, we shared a short, tear-filled moment in solitude, before exiting the church into a sea of our family and friends and onto the trolley that awaited us.

We spent the rest of the evening eating, drinking, and dancing under the twinkle lights of the barn. The food from Rettew’s was incredible; the pulled pork and mushroom ravioli perfectly matched our “rustic but elegant” theme. The evening was magical, and perfectly captured by the ever-artistic and awe-inspiring Char Newswanger, who photographed our wedding. She joked that she and her team knew it was a good wedding because they both laughed and cried while editing the pictures.

The night was started by a surprise performance from my brother and friends who played and sang a compilation of my favorite songs, followed by a soft, sweet serenade from the groom himself…as if I hadn’t cried enough that day! With that as a start, we didn’t leave the dance floor for the rest of the night, thanks for Soundinmind Productions. The dance floor was packed and the guests spilled out of the barn onto the grass and the cool night air.

The day was truly magical, personal, and memory-filled. From taking pictures in the sheep pen, to crying my way down the aisle, and finally being able to look into the eyes of the one I love and call him husband; it was the most amazing day, and one that I so enjoyed watching come to fruition.

Elegant and Contemporary Summer Farm Wedding

It isn’t too often that we hear sweet sentiments straight from the Groom, but this next wedding includes just that. From their Law school love story to the sweet romance that followed, this darling duo was destined for a lifetime of happiness. Kicking off their beautiful beginning with a chic celebration at The Farm At Eagle’s Ridge, Brooke Courtney Photography has got it all waiting for you in the gallery!

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Summer Weddings

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Outdoor Weddings Rustic Weddings

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Classic Weddings

From the handsome Groom… Lauren and I met our first year of law school. I was sitting in property class (although she swears it was Torts) and saw the most beautiful blonde girl sitting in the front row. Over the course of the next few classes, I realized not only was she the most gorgeous girl I had ever seen, but she was brilliant and very focused on her studies. That gave me the perfect in – I created a study group with a few of my friends and invited her to attend. Although the study group only met once (and one member spent most of the time drawing in the mud with a stick), that was all I needed to get her number. The rest is history.

Lauren spent so much time and effort planning each and every detail to make our wedding reflect us. During the planning stages Lauren poured through the featured weddings, and appreciated Style Me Pretty’s recognition of so many different iterations of the “perfect wedding.” It is the differences in each couple’s version of “perfection” that Lauren truly loves, and to have her own vision featured would mean the world to her.

Having been to quite a few weddings, our goal from the very beginning was to find something different, something us. Lauren immediately started searching for a venue, and pretty quickly targeted her search on a barn that would stand up to the theme of Rustic Elegance. While on our honeymoon, reflecting on the whirlwind that was the wedding weekend, Lauren commented that one of her favorite compliments during the reception was that the wedding “is so you and John.” From the coaster-style save the dates, to the brunch on Sunday morning, Lauren made sure that every aspect of the wedding represented us. A few points deserve highlighting like place card animals, an awesome welcome basket, and of course, incredible food.

Goodstone Inn & Restaurant + A Promotion!

Tucked amongst the gorgeous Virginia countryside with Blue Ridge Mountain views, you’ll find the Goodstone Inn & Restaurant; a beautiful country estate where saying “I do” is beyond amazing. Picture a cozy + intimate setting, 265 acres of natural beauty and top-notch service from a team that knows a thing or two about luxurious weddings. Breathtaking views + Southern hospitality? Yes, please.

Known for their award-winning and locally sourced farm-to-table cuisine, plus their historic guest residences, each and every moment spent at this ivy-covered retreat is simply fairytale-esque. From the amazing pool to the breathtaking views to the intimate, unhurried vibe that will follow you throughout your festivities.

Contact the Goodstone Inn & Restaurant today to start planning your dream day. And bonus! If you book your all-property wedding in July, August or November of 2015, you will receive:

A gift certificate for dinner for two in the Goodstone’s award- winning restaurant.
A $100 gift certificate to the Goodstone Inn & Restaurant spa.
50% off the Bull Barn for your wedding, plus a special Romance Turn-Down Service (Value $1,025.00). In addition to the standard turn-down service, the Romance Turn-Down includes: Chocolate-covered strawberries, a bottle of champagne, an artisanal cheese tray, closed drapes and dimmed lights, soft music and lavender pillow mist.

View full package details here. Happy planning, lovelies! xo

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