A classic wedding in Philadelphia is what makes our hearts flutter! Meaghan and Steve show us their take on an elegant wedding at the Ballroom at the Ben. We are loving this bride’s style and we can’t help but notice how her bridesmaids sparkled in their champagne dresses. From the gorgeous arrangements designed by Carl Alan to the Termini Brother’s Bakery cake, this wedding was sweet from beginning to end. It doesn’t get lovelier than this, so immerse yourself in all the details captured by Tricia Notte Images for some serious inspiration!
How They Met:
“Steve and I met at the beginning of our junior year of college at St. Joseph’s University. Steve was having a back to school party at his house and my friends (who already knew him) and I went to the party. Steve was playing beer pong and needed a partner so I volunteered. We absolutely killed it and had so much fun together. We both were dating other people at the time so we knew nothing could really happen and decided to be friends. Towards the end of our senior year, things got a little more serious and we took the plunge and never looked back!“
Best Wedding Memory:
“My best moment was seeing Steve at the end of the aisle. He is just so damn cute and had a big smile on his face…I was crying like a baby. It just made everything very real and I never felt luckier than in that moment.”
The Proposal:
“Steve had this whole thing planned, we spent the day in the city on a Prohibition food and drink tour that we’d been dying to do. We had plans to meet our friends for dinner at Parc, once we were done the tour – our friends were “running late” so we both said let’s walk around Rittenhouse Park and wait for them. I pointed to an open bench and said: “Let’s sit over there, it would be so cute to get engaged over there…” Steve just responds..”No, I think here would be better…” I turned around and he had the ring in his hand and got down on one knee….it was so beautiful!”
Wedding Planning:
“My experience planning the wedding was actually a lot less stressful than I imagined, honestly. Of course, once we were down to the wire it got a little stressful, like creating the hotel bags, getting our bridal party gifts together, final meeting props, etc. The whole thing was really enjoyable because you’re just so happy and so in love, it just felt like everything was happening for us…I know it sounds weird but we didn’t run into any roadblocks or obstacles (thank God) during our planning.”
About the Venue | Ballroom at the Ben:
“We chose the Ballroom at the Ben because it’s absolutely spectacular! More importantly, because it’s Finley Catering. Our coordinator, Emily Hassinger, was top notch – from the moment we met her, we felt like old friends. She went above and beyond for us! Also, we heard so many good things about Ott, the maitre d’ – I cannot speak more highly of Ott and our experience with him. We knew how important good food and drink are to us and our families’ and knew Finely & the Ballroom at the Ben would be the perfect pair! If I could do it all over again I would still pick them!”
Wedding Inspiration:
“My inspiration was classic and elegant. The venue itself is so opulent and grand I wanted it to shine on its own and it did! Of course, we added flowers, but I didn’t want to “fill” the room with flowers. I wanted the flowers to make us feel like the fall…Vito and Carl Alan at Carl Alan Floral Designs really brought my vision to life. The flowers were absolutely GORGEOUS – they were my favorite part of the whole wedding. I just couldn’t stop looking at them, I loved them. I just wanted our guests to feel like they were part of a classic, beautiful wedding.”
Wedding Planning Advice:
“Advice for other couples – get a videographer! I know so many other couples that did not (it can be expensive) and regret not being able to watch their first dance, speeches, or just random candid moments. Also – we booked/planned so many things in advance it made the whole process a lot more seamless. Anything you can do ahead of time DO IT. Don’t forget that you’re marrying the love of your life and that you’re not just preparing for a wedding but for your lifetime together – enjoy every moment of it.”
Wedding Vendors:
“Our vendors were perfect – we had a great experience with all of them. I would recommend them all to anyone planning a wedding/party in the future. Many of them were referred to us by family and friends as well as through Finely Catering.”
Vendors | Photography: Tricia Notte Images (Second Shooter: Emilie Alline) | Venue: Ballroom at the Ben | Hotel: Loews Hotel | Catering: Finley Catering | Cake: Termini Brother’s Bakery | Florist: Carl Alan Floral Designs | Bride’s Gown: The Wedding Pavilion at Van Cleve | Hair: Avante Salon | Make-Up: AMG Beauty Bar | Men’s Wear: Suits Supply | Engagement Rings/Wedding Bands: Paul Morelli | Stationery: Papertree Studio | Music: Sid Miller Band | Videographer: Petit Four Films