S. Kuzma Photography captured the most precious tear-jerking moments from Kristyn and Joel’s charming wedding! The National Constitution Center was the consequential backdrop to their lovely wedding reception, that was brimming with beautiful decor, and historic elements. These college sweethearts certainly had the time of their lives, from popping bubbly on Broad Street, to party portraits at their Alma Mater (Drexel University). This couple loves to have fun, so it only makes sense that their wedding day was filled with liveliness, and vibrancy all around!
How They Met:
“We met our senior year in college at Drexel University through mutual friends.”
The Proposal:
“Joel proposed at Diner en Blanc 2015. We were among the 4,500 people who embraced the rain to go to the “secret location” at Philadelphia Navy Yard for a picnic under the stars. We attended the event with my sister, cousin and friends. My husband asked Hugh Dillon, a well known Philly magazine photographer to ask us for a group picture, and then asked our friends to step out of the picture. To my surprise he got down on one knee! Being foodies who love to participate in unique events, it was the prefect setting for our engagement.”
Wedding Planning Experience:
“It was a bit overwhelming. It was a relief to do the planning together. There are so many small items that you don’t think of and so many things that depend on those tasks so it really requires some in-depth planning. My husband created an excel spreadsheet with multiple tabs to track all our tasks and keep us on schedule.”
Wedding Inspiration:
“We’re a fun loving couple who likes to try new things. We looked for venues that were not typical ballrooms, so that narrowed our search significantly. Then, because we were married in August, we wanted an outdoor space. That led us to The National Constitution Center which impressed us with their modern venue which is full of history.”
Best Memory:
“When I was on the terrace of the venue, I looked around, and everything had come together perfectly. Our closest family and friends were enjoying themselves to celebrate our marriage.”
Wedding Planning Advice:
“It’s never too early to begin planning, have a backup plan, something will inevitably go wrong. Just take a breath and handle it, you most likely will notice it more than any of your guests.”
Wedding Vendor Experience:
“My husband and I both have experience working with vendors from our careers so it wasn’t much of a challenge. To folks that aren’t familiar with this, remember that these people do this for a living so don’t be shy about stating your budget or asking vendors to compete for best pricing/options.”
From the Photographer: “Kristyn and Joel’s wedding day could not have been more perfect for them. Their day started off by getting ready at Le Meridien hotel in Philadelphia, before they headed off to St. John the Evangelist Church to get married. All of the bridesmaids and groomsmen were absolutely thrilled to be in their wedding, and it made their time getting ready with their friends that much more special!
After the church we went around Philadelphia to pop a bottle of champagne on Broad Street and then we went to Kristyn and Joel’s Alma Mater, Drexel University, for some more pictures around campus. Their reception was at the National Constitution Center, and they had one of the most memorable receptions I had the chance to photograph. The speeches were tear-filled and amazing, their band was outstanding, and their guests were all truly present to celebrate their love for each other.”
Vendors | Photography: S. Kuzma Photography | Getting Ready Venue: Le Meriden Hotel, Philadelphia, PA | Ceremony Venue: St. John the Evangelist | Reception: The National Constitution Center | Florist: Pennypack Flowers | Cake: Termini Brothers | Hair/Makeup: Daneene Jensen & Associates | Band: EBE Entertainment – Amsterdam | Lighting: Advanced Staging |