How They Met:
“We met while working and living in Southwest Florida. Later, we moved to Pittsburgh and then Philadelphia. After dating for five years, Logan proposed to me at Independence Park with my favorite Franklin Fountain ice cream, while family and friends hid to capture the moment.”
The Proposal:
“I have a slight ice cream obsession and am a huge Franklin Fountain fan! Logan always tries to talk me out of waiting in a 30 minute line for ice cream, but this time, he brought me there on his own, asking me to wait outside. I, of course did not want to wait outside for 30 minutes by myself. I also ALWAYS get Mint Choco Chip with rainbow jimmies; however, this time (for some unknown reason) I really wanted a milkshake! SO, I went in to change my order with Logan. Logan; however, had plans of putting a proposal note in the bottom of my usual cake cone. After trying to talk me out of a milkshake, I settled on ice cream in a cup with hot fudge – not very safe for a proposal note. After all of that, he took me to Independence Park where we sat in the grass, me eating my ice cream and him sitting anxiously passing me napkins for my runny hot fudge. When I was halfway through and ice cream was melting everywhere – it was late August after all – he pulled out a ring with napkins, got on one knee and proposed! Cheers exploded around the park – little did I know my friends and family had been hiding! We then went to get a drink to celebrate and all of our friends and family had made their way over there for a big surprise! It was amazing and incorporated all of the things I loved most! :)”
Wedding Planning Experience:
“Wedding planning was … fun!? I relinquished a lot of the responsibility to my mom who has a reputation for throwing amazing events!”
Wedding Inspiration:
“My big request was to get married outside. I wanted to be married surrounded by flowers and sunshine. La Petite Fleur surely made that happen with gorgeous bouquets, our chuppah and flowers in every room as far as the eye could see!”
Best Memory:
“Having all of our family and friends in one place celebrating with us! We have family and friends across 18 states and it’s not always easy to see everyone.”
Wedding Planning Advice:
“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Everything will be amazing and it’s all about the love anyway!”
Wedding Vendor Experience:
“We lucked out with really great vendors – everyone was very responsive and experienced, they thought of everything! I have to give a shout-out to Megan Freeman at The Philadelphia Cricket Club. She was 8 months pregnant at our wedding but stayed completely focused on us and made sure everything was absolutely perfect!!!”
A breathtaking bride, Rachel carried a romantic bouquet of garden blooms, including garden roses, sweet peas, anemones, ranunculus, peonies, spray roses, jasmine vine, and a touch of curly willow— with ivory satin-wrapped stems. And lovely in dusty lavender, the bridesmaids processed through the Cricket Club’s courtyard with bouquets of peach garden roses, scabiosa pods, café au lait dahlias, mauve astilbe, amnesia roses and mini green hydrangea, which were finished with specialty greens and twine-wrapped stems.
Rachel and Logan exchanged vows beneath a birch chuppah, which LPF draped along the top and front with asymmetrical swags of lace and floral garland, which included coral and blush peonies, peach Alejandra roses, sword fern, spray roses, bush ivy, silver dollar eucalyptus and other variegated greens.
And just as personalized hankies (for tears of joy!) greeted well-wishers at the ceremony, a truly special seating chart display welcomed guests as they entered the reception. A carefully-curated collection of vintage plates presented the seating assignments, which had been hand-lettered by Rachel’s grandmother. The plates were perched upon a moss tablescape— complete with cloches and clusters of blooms.
LPF carried the warm, romantic look of Rachel and Logan’s day through the reception with a décor plan that infused the ballroom with an unexpected majesty (a candle-lined entryway staircase), and hints of whimsy (elevated tablescapes) that were balanced by sophisticated touches (lots of gold accents).
As a focal point for the reception décor was the extra-long head table adorned with a lush garland across the front that included spray roses, seeded eucalyptus, feather willow and Queen Anne’s lace. Flanking the garland on the tabletop, were floating candles amidst a ‘hedge’ of birch bark vessels arranged with specialty greens and blooms, including green hydrangea, seeded eucalyptus, garden roses, ranunculus and spray roses.