written by Dolly Marshall
When uber football fans Brooke and Scott met at a Texas Eagle’s watch party (yes such a thing exists) it was love at first sight. Read on to see how a little Southern hospitality and a lot of Philadelphia city elegance blended for a timeless wedding!
From the photographer, John Ryan: “Brooke and Scott’s sparkle themed wedding at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia, PA was one of the most emotional, fun-filled weddings of this season. Everything about the wedding had a traditional, classic romantic feel to it and all the details of the day were perfectly executed.”
How they met
“We met at a restaurant that was showing the Philadelphia Eagles game in Austin, Texas (I know it’s hard to imagine that one even exists). At the time, there were only about twenty people who came to cheer on the Eagles, but Scott and I have taken that small group and turned it into the Austin’s Eagles Nest where over 150 people come to watch the game each week.”
The Proposal
“The proposal was epic! We had a fabulous room at the Cliff House in Maine overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It was New Year’s Eve and we had the TV turned to Rockin’ New Year’s Eve and a fire going in the fireplace. After the clock stuck midnight, the resort shot off fireworks over the ocean. As I was watching the fireworks, Scott handed me a champagne glass and on the glass was etched “Will you marry me?”It was absolutely perfect!”
Wedding Planning
“I loved it! I am very detail-oriented and I loved creating spreadsheets with checklists and using wedding apps to keep everything organized. I had a vision in my head, and with the success of awesome vendors, we were able to have it all come together beautifully.”
The Rittenhouse Hotel
“Our venue was The Rittenhouse Hotel. We wanted to get married in Philadelphia because Philadelphia brought us together. My family is from Haddonfield, NJ and Scott’s family is from Orange, CT. The location seemed perfect to have both families attend and our out-of-town friends enjoy an awesome vacation in Philly. We toured many hotels in the city, but when we arrived at The Rittenhouse Hotel, we were swept away. I had always envisioned a ballroom wedding and the massive, luxurious chandeliers in the grand ballroom were just beyond compare. The venue in a sense picked us because it was an instant yes-the search was over!”
Wedding Inspiration
“Scott and I love to be grand and do things over the top so of course our wedding had to be nothing but the best! Scott and I both love to eat and the food had to be delicious and there absolutely needed to be plenty of it! I chose a color scheme of black, white and elegant sparkle and I think it came together even better than I had imagined. The pop of color with our lighting design as well as the bridesmaid’s bouquets gave the wow that pulled the whole idea together.”
Best Moment
“My favorite memory was during the wedding ceremony. Due to a recent and unexpected medical diagnosis, my parents were unable to attend. But with it being 2019 and everyone has the ability to be connected all the time, my dad gave me away via face time. I also loved having a first look with Scott in the Library Bar at The Rittenhouse Hotel. It was an intimate and sweet moment that I will never forget.”
Wedding Planning Advice
“Just have fun! Whatever you like, your friends and family will like too! Remember a wedding is just the start of a lifelong party so make your wedding the kick-off party to an amazing future!”
Wedding Vendors
“Fantastic! We did our due diligence and researched vendors and scowled many reviews, but in the end, I truly believe we picked the best! All of our vendors were very professional and kept us constantly in the loop. On the day of the wedding, I felt like I had nothing to worry about and from what I’ve heard, that’s an amazing feeling. I can’t thank our vendors enough for making our day perfect!”
Vendors | Venue: The Rittenhouse Hotel | Dress: Jenny Yoo | Florals/Decor: Carl Alan | Invitations/Stationery: Minted.com | Photography: J&J Studios | Catering: Lacroix at The Rittenhouse | Wedding Planner: Marian Braccia, Owner Porch & Pearls | Hair & Makeup: Alex Quici | DJ/Band: Jon Mulhern at EBE Talent