Femina Photo + Design has a cultivated eye for capturing beloved moments, like Anastasia and Jon’s wedding! This beautiful day was gorgeously exhibited at the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral , and The Union Trust, which are absolutely captivating venues. This day was perfectly planned by the bride, with the help of some very talented Philadelphia wedding vendors, we think this wedding was certainly an ethereal dream come true. Add in a couple madly in love, and their adoring family + friends, and we can’t imagine a scene more romantic!
From the Bride: “When I first started looking for wedding inspiration, my eyes went to all things ethereal, soft and romantic. I knew that I wanted our special day to be filled with romantic touches while still being classic and sophisticated. Eventually, a key piece of my attire tied everything together: my custom-made Juliet cap veil. I worked very closely with the designer to create the pattern of the gold beading, Swarovski crystals,cathedral length, and the delicate ivory tulle. The final piece was truly the epitome of classic romance and was the perfect accessory for my ivory antique lace Watters gown. My look was complete when my husband-to-be gifted me triple pearl drop Tiffany earrings – my favorite precious stone.”
“I continued weaving the gold and ivory color scheme, with hints of sparkle, throughout the rest of the décor. All of my stationary items were custom designed and created by hand, including an elaborate pocket-fold invitation that was delivered in a shimmery ivory box wrapped in gold. The designer also used touches of gold pebble paper to add some texture to the invitations, escort cards and menus. Our programs were wrapped in gold ribbon and my flowers were filled with succulents and neutral-toned garden roses. All of these details were noticed by my guests and set the tone for the day!”
“Our ceremony was held at a 200-year old Greek Orthodox Cathedral in the oldest part of Philadelphia. The Greek Orthodox ceremony dates back to the 9th century and is rich in symbolism and tradition, so this was the perfect location. The traditional items used in the ceremony – the Stefanas, decorated candles, wine glass, and bombonieres (wedding favors) – were all hand-made and blessed by Greek nuns. The nuns were gracious enough to follow my color scheme – everything was decorated with touches of gold tulle, crystals and pearls!”
“My husband’s attire fit in perfectly with the décor. He purchased a Hugo Boss black tuxedo, paired with black Prada shoes, a tailored white shirt, and a silk charcoal gray tie. My wedding gift to him was a pair of David Donahue cufflinks made of black onyx and mother of pearl. He was as sophisticated and classic as it gets.”
“While our guests were transported to our reception venue in an old-fashioned style trolley, my husband and I took photos all over the city if Philadelphia. Our favorite spots were in front of City Hall and walking up the iconic Philadelphia Art Museum steps. We felt like the King and Queen of Philadelphia, in that moment!”
“Finally, we arrived at our very favorite location of the day: The Union Trust where our reception was being held! The building once served as The Union Trust Company Bank, built in 1888. We and our guests enjoyed an elaborate cocktail hour including lobster, a raw bar and a several stations; an elaborate entrée offering of filet mignon and Chilean sea bass; and a Viennese dessert hour, while dancing under the sixty-five foot illuminated engraved ceilings.”
“Our favorite part of the day was also the most important. When the priest announced us as husband and wife, the first words my husband said to me were “I love you.” In that moment, we felt so blessed to be together and be married. Beyond all of the wedding excitement and special details, the sacrament of marriage is the true reason we were there and the moment could not have been more perfect.”
“Since I have a background in special event planning, I planned and managed every detail of our wedding myself. I even did my own makeup! The thing that kept me organized and on track was my wedding binder. Even if you hire a professional wedding planner, I still think every bride should create or purchase a wedding binder. I DIY’d my binder by printing out a huge timeline I found online and creating dividers and labels. Not only did I go through my timeline and checklist on a daily basis, I also added copies of all of my contracts, receipts, invoices and swatches. My wedding binder was the key to staying organized, and it is something I can happily look through for years to come to remember the joy of planning my wedding!”
Vendors | Photography: Femina Photo + Design | Ceremony Venue: St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral | Reception Venue: The Union Trust | Florist: Michael Anthony’s Floral Design | Caterer: Finley Catering | DJ: Center Stage |