Philadelphia Wedding Photography: Marissa & Jeremy's Main Line Wedding

* Posted by Matt *

Marissa and Jeremy tied the knot last June on a gorgeous, sunny day that was perfect for their wedding at Pomme!

The girls, clad in matching embroidered blue robes, began their day with hair and makeup at the Philadelphia Marriott West, while the guys were getting ready in the same hotel, but in a separate room. It took a little maneuvering but the two groups were careful to avoid each other as they prepared to head over to Pomme, where Marissa got dressed with the help of her bridesmaids.

Her strapless wedding dress was breathtaking, and was accented at the waist with a beaded sash. Marissa wore bright fuchsia pumps to match her fuchsia bouquet and the fuchsia bridesmaid dresses that her girls wore. The bridesmaids all wore knee-length dresses, with the exception of the maid of honor, who wore a full length mermaid style dress!

Marissa and Jeremy had their first look at Pomme, outside on the bridge near the entrance. Jeremy was blown away by his bride-to-be, and the two were so ecstatic to start their big day together!

Marissa and Jeremy are both Jewish, (Jeremy is a Rabbi himself!) and had a mostly traditional Jewish ceremony. The men gathered for the Tish, and both Jeremy and Marissa's mothers came into the room at the end for the ceremonial plate breaking. Jeremy then met up with his bride during the Bedeken, where she was waiting for him to put her veil on.

After the Bedeken, the two signed the Ketubah, which Jeremy wrote himself, and began to make their way upstairs for the ceremony. Marissa made the beautiful Chuppah herself!

The reception, in true Jewish fashion, was lively, exciting and full of fun, complete with lots of spinning and the bride and groom being hoisted in the air sitting on chairs!

To top off the whole night, the newlyweds had two awesome cakes: a beautiful cupcake tower cake, and a Superman groom's cake for Jeremy!

Needless to say, it was a wedding to remember!

fuchsia bouquet

Philadelphia Wedding Photography | Tina & Garrett's Tendenza Wedding

*Posted by Matt*

Garrett and Tina's fall wedding at Tendenza in Northern Liberties was great. The day began with them both getting ready at the Omni Hotel at 4th and Chestnut Streets. Then, we headed across the street for a First Look in Old City, at the Second Bank of the US. The weather was a bit chilly, but the sun was out in full force so the lighting was perfect. After bridal party portraits in Olde City, we headed to Tendenza for the festivities.

We had been to Tendenza before, but this was our first time participating in a partially Jewish ceremony at Tendenza. Garrett and Tina opted to basically create their own ceremony. They kept the ketubah signing as well as a unity candle and they even had the Seven Blessings. They had a priest and a rabbi co-preside over the ceremony, and Garrett even stomped on the glass at the end of the ceremony.

Receptions at Tendenza are always amazing because the place just looks so beautiful. Garrett and Tina's was no exception. They were able to tie in their purple wedding color to make the whole room look amazing. Their portraits in the Piazza at Schmidt's were an added bonus.

Garrett and Tina, your sense of humor was so refreshing. It was really a lot of fun being a part of your wedding!

(If they look familiar, you may remember them from their engagement photos at the Horticultural Center.)

Philadelphia Wedding Photography | Ari & Val's Traditional Jewish Wedding at Crane Arts Center

• Written by Natalie • 

Ari & Valerie seamlessly blended tradition with innovation during their late fall wedding at Crane Arts in the Olde Kensington neighborhood of North Philadelphia. They were able to incorporate a large number of Jewish wedding customs that we had never witnessed before, while still infusing the whole day with their own fresh style. The whole day was jam-packed with awesome, and it was the perfect way for us to wrap up another amazing year.

I met up with Valerie, her mother, sister and friend Beth at Salon Blush in Fishtown.  This salon also houses a photography studio upstairs, so we have a perfect ready-made backdrop for getting ready photos and portraits without even needing to leave the building!

Val's wedding dress was a simple ivory vintage gown with cap sleeves. She paired it perfectly with a bouquet of tied lavender stems and a floor-length antique veil, and all these simple pieces added up to a simply dazzling bride.  There was no bridal party for this wedding, which actually added a special sort of intimacy to the getting ready process.  The love radiating between her mother, sister and friend was so wonderful, and truly a microcosm for general atmosphere for the day.

We met up Ari & Matt at Race Street Pier for their First Look.  I love the long shadows and intense sun in early afternoon during the fall. They added an extra layer of magic to this special part of the day when the bride and groom get to see each other for the first time.

We also made a stop at a graffiti wall in North Philly for a couple more portraits before heading to Crane Arts for the festivities. Crane Arts is a refurbished warehouse and manufacturing building just north of Girard Ave, which now functions as a venue for art installations and events.  Val and Ari held their reception in the Ice Box room, a huge open space they filled with elegant long tables with white linens, a burlap runner and highlighted with with white orchids and tea light candles.

Before the actual wedding ceremony, Val and Ari included many traditional jewish rituals, which invited their to become active participants, and after the ceremony all the guests signed the Ketubah, a wedding contract, as witnesses to the day.  Then the reception started with a lively Hora, which is always one of my favorite parts of a jewish wedding.  There is so much joy and energy, and of course plenty of excitement when the newly married couple is lifted into the air on chairs!  They wrapped up the festivities with one more unique idea—instead of cutting a wedding cake, they smashed a cake-shaped pinata!

Ari & Val,  We're so glad you found us!  Your wedding day was truly an event to remember and a wonderful note for us to end the year on.

In addition to making a simply lovely bouquet, Valerie pointed out that the lavender is also very calming, which is always an added benefit for any bride!

Ari & Val had a marathon list of family portraits, but everyone was so cooperative and helpful that we were able to fly through them.  A special thank you to all our wranglers!

The pre-wedding rituals started with the Tish, where the bride and groom attempt to deliver a lesson from the Torah while friends and family interrupt, heckle and break into song.

Then the mothers of the bride and groom break a plate as a symbol of the permanence of the marriage.

Next, during the Bedeken, in the Gray Space of Crane Arts, the groom lowers the bride's veil and the bride helps the groom into a traditional linen robe. Then they each receive a blessing from their parents.

Finally, the marriage contract, called a Ketubah, is signed by the bride, groom and witnesses.  Then it was time for the actual marriage ceremony!

The bride and groom entered the ceremony space together and processed to the chuppah with their parents.