Claire and Carter’s budding romance fatefully brought them to the lovely city of Philadelphia. The organic chemistry between this couple comes to play in their very natural garden party wedding that incorporated whimsical DIY elements. The Awbury Arboretum simply emphasizes the rustic elegance theme, with it’s essential nature and beautiful scenery. Alison Leigh Photography photographed every precious moment that this couple shared with their family, and friends, in addition to all of their special wedding day components. This lively day mixes whimsy with intimacy, featuring a soft color palette, lawn games, personal details, and a whole lot of chic loveliness!
How They Met:
“We met about six years ago when we were living in Washington, DC and working as servers at the same restaurant. I was in graduate school and he had recently completed his master’s degree, so we were both waiting tables while we looked for jobs in our fields. We started dating and when my job search took me to Philly, he moved to the city with me. It was such a generous risk for him to take and ultimately we both fell in love with the city.”
The Proposal:
“We went on a backpacking trip to the Catskills Mountains. The idea was that he would propose at a scenic overlook at the peak of fall foliage. However, there was a hurricane hitting the East Coast and it ended up being cold, rainy and foggy. He proposed anyway and that made braving the storm an absolutely perfect adventure! Afterwards we hiked down the mountain, drank champagne that he had secretly packed, and called our families from the warmth of our car.”
Best Wedding Memory:
“Carter’s sister officiated the wedding and she wrote a really personal ceremony. My favorite part was that she had secretly contacted all of the guests and asked for memories and special thoughts about each of us as individuals and as a couple. She read the sentiments out loud during the ceremony. It was so creative and touching!”
Wedding Planning Experience:
“The big decisions- location, guest list, caterer- were pretty stressful, but we had a lot of fun with the details. We built and decorated the lawn games. I planted potted plants for the center pieces. Carter picked out all local craft beers, and even created a wedding themed crossword puzzle for guests to play.”
Wedding Planning Advice:
“Try to stick to the priorities and choices that make the two of you happy. It is so easy to get lost in what you think you are “supposed” to do or what family and friends think you should do. Make compromises when it makes sense, but ultimately have a day that is uniquely yours.”
From the Photographer, Alison Leigh, Alison Leigh Photography: “Claire + Carter are two city slickers who decided to celebrate their love from the urban surroundings of Philly to the serene, open grounds at the Awbury Arboretum. The two planned a perfect garden party themed wedding filled with life size lawn games, refreshing craft beer, and twinkle lights to light up the outside dance floor.
One very special wedding day detail I admired was how Claire + Carter ensured time for themselves throughout the day. I couldn’t help but notice the two sneak off from their reception to embrace the cherished moments as man and wife. It was truly beautiful to watch these two secure time for those intimate and irreplaceable moments spent together on the most memorable day of their life.”
Vendors | Photography: Alison Leigh Photography | Venue: Awbury Arboretum | Catering: Birchtree Catering | DJ: No Macarena | Flowers: DIY |