Leslie and Jay married (part two)

Once again I cannot seem to get away from all of the wonderful details of Leslie and Jay’s wedding!  It was clear throughout their wedding day that Leslie and Jay wanted their guests, who had traveled from all over the country, to see and experience the parts of the city that the two of them loved. As the ceremony ended and guests exited the church, live music filled the air. An accordion player was waiting to escort the guests on their walk from Tenth Presbyterian Church to the nearby Rittenhouse Square for sparkling lemonade. This time was perfectly planned for the guests to enjoy one of the oldest parks in the city while family and bridal party portraits were taken.  Afterward, the guests were again escorted to the nearby Racquet Club of Philadelphia for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.  Inside the RCOP the rooms were elegantly decorated with stunning flowers and magnolia garlands that glowed in the candlelight. Light music filled the background as guests mingled and enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres.

I loved how Leslie and Jay really made a point to serve and care for their guests throughout the day, even thoughtfully planning the time between the service and the reception for them while their own portraits were being taken.  There were so many details and events for the guests that Char, my second shooter, and I had to divide and conquer in order to capture them all!  While Char stayed with the guests, I took the lovely couple, their families and bridal party to some more of Leslie and Jay’s favorite locations for their portraits.  While the weather had held perfectly for the guests to enjoy their lemonade, midway through the portraits the weather quickly turned into a downpour.  The couple and bridal party found cover under an awning and waited out the thunderstorm. Not to worry though, they say it is good luck to have rain on your wedding day!

Thankfully, the clouds moved through quickly and the sun came back out, casting a perfect soft light that glimmered off the buildings and streets. I was so thankful that Leslie and Jay were flexible and didn’t let the weather ruin their day.  We headed back to Delaney Street to finish up their portraits and I was so glad we did.  As always, it was my favorite part of the day spending time capturing of the two of them as husband and wife.

Finally, a quick escort back to RCOP in time for their grand entrance and first dances. Afterward, the guests were seated for dinner and the toasts began in honor of Leslie and Jay. They were thoughtful, genuine, and filled with plenty of laughter.  A delicious dinner was served and then the band kicked off a fun evening of dancing, keeping the dance floor full throughout the night.  At the end of their amazing day, Leslie and Jay said goodbye and slipped out into the night, hand in hand down the street as husband and wife. It seemed to me the perfect way to end their day.

I truly love capturing weddings like Leslie and Jay’s that are personalized and reflective of the couple getting married.  While I know first hand the tremendous amount of work required to plan a wedding, it is those small and unique details that make your own day special and set apart from other weddings, which in turn makes it that much more enjoyable for me to photograph.  I hope that these photographs give you a glimpse into who Leslie and Jay are as a couple and how special their day was.

Leslie and Jay, thank you so much for allowing me to capture your wedding.  It is truly an honor to have been a part of your special day. My heart is full with love and excitement for you two as you begin your new life together in Israel! And again many thanks to Char for second shooting with me! Enjoy!!!

guest enjoying sparkling lemonade…Back in the church for a few portraits.and then the rain came…

Back at The Racquet Club the reception began…LOVE the Land J moss letters!

and then the sun came out just in time for portraits on Delancey Place!LOVE the sweet smiles!Just might be a new favorite!!Leslie you look amazing with Jay!Love this one too, especially with the flag in the back as you two head over seas together!The touch of black in Leslie’s bouquet ties in perfectly with Jay’s bow tie!LOVE LOVE this one!!Leslie created a guest book using pictures from her engagement session!Escort cards hand written calligraphy, again done by my mother.Their friends knew them well and created much laughter in the stories shared with all!

Big Ric kept everyone dancing the night away…

together they headed off into the night as husband and wife!!

and below the last picture of the night…the Father of the Bride!

Venue: Racquet Club of Philadelphia

Ceremony: Tenth Presbyterian Church

Coordinator: Gina Rio of Kaleidoscope Weddings

Flowers: Flowers by Priscilla

Bakery: Bredenbeck’s Bakery

Music: Big Ric Rising

Escort Cards and Menus: Diane Neumann

DIY: box wood wreaths,  moss letters, and ribbon wands