Rachel and Matt’s benevolent wedding day will take you on the ultimate Old City experience! From getting ready at the lavish Hotel Monaco, to an intimate Quaker ceremony at the Arch Street Meeting House, complete with a serene reception at the Power Plant Productions. Not only was this day filled with neighborhood loving, but this Spring wedding incorporated all of the best elements of the season, with a navy and yellow color palette, blooming florals, and BBQ and pie courtesy of Percy Street BBQ! Black, White & Raw Photography beautifully captured every precious moment, and charming details so that this couple could relive the best memories they’ve shared. Congratulations Rachel and Matt were so excited to share such a special day!
How they met:
“Matt and I met at a bar on the Fourth of July. He literally bumped into me in an effort to get my attention and strike up a conversation. We have been talking ever since.”
How he proposed:
“Matt knows I’m not one to enjoy being the center of attention, so he proposed in our kitchen over breakfast. He made the day extra special by planning a full day of activities for me. It started with brunch with all of my girlfriends, followed by ice skating at Penn’s landing with all of our friends, and finished with a romantic dinner out to celebrate.”
Wedding planning:
“I’m a bit of a control freak, so I did most of the planning on my own. This made the entire process fairly time consuming and stressful. But it was worth it in the end. From the Quaker ceremony we wrote ourselves, to the relaxed reception featuring barbecue and pie, we felt like the day reflected our personalities perfectly.”
Favorite memory:
“Our ceremony was my favorite part of the day. It took place in a historic Quaker meeting house in Old City. Because we decided to write a Quaker-style ceremony, we did not have an officiant. Instead, we married ourselves and allowed an opportunity for our friends and family to share words of love and encouragement. It was intimate, warm, and very sentimental. At the end of our ceremony, we asked all of our guests to sign our custom-made marriage certificate as witnesses to our union.”
Wedding planning advice:
“Identify a handful of elements about the day that are important to you and make sure those things happen the way you want them to. Give yourself permission to not care about the rest. There are way too many things on the “to-do” list, and you’ll go crazy if you are particular about every last minute detail.”
From the Photographer: “Rachel and Matt’s perfect Old City wedding in historic Old City Philadelphia was an absolute joy to photograph. Our day started at one of my favorite hotels to shoot bridal prep, The Hotel Monaco. The rooms are large and colorful, with whimsical details that are fun to incorporate with details. We met the guys across the street for photos at Second Bank, another favorite of mine. We were dodging rainstorms all day, so incorporating umbrellas into some of our shots was a fun reminder of what we were actually dealing with. A short walk to Arch Street Meeting House for a lovely Quaker ceremony in a venue filled with rich history. Our couple again indulged us in a beautiful portrait after the ceremony once the guests left, and it’s one of my favorite wedding venue photos so far. Power Plant Productions was a ridiculously cool, industrial style loft space with huge windows and exposed brick. After a delicious dinner served up by Percy Street Barbecue, Rachel and Matt danced all night. Such a perfect day!”
Venues | Photography: Black, White & Raw Photography | Prep: Hotel Monaco | Ceremony Venue: Arch Street Meeting House | Reception Venue: Power Plant Productions | Caterer: Percy Street Barbecue |