Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography

Ellen and Greg’s engagement shoot is insanely charming and spirited, & we’re totally smitten!  These two love-birds have a certain affinity for Valley Green Inn so it’s to no surprise that they chose this locale for their photos.  This couple will steal your heart with their amazing love story, and their dedication to one another is unparalleled.  Justin Heyes Photography captured their love amongst the scenic landscape of the Wissahickon Trail and the natural results are absolutely lovely!

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

How They Met:

Ellen: “Greg and I met while working together at the same startup in New York City. We both had similar interests and so many friends in common (even as far back as high school), it’s amazing we didn’t meet sooner.”

Greg: “It still leaves us both a touch mystified that it took meeting at work for our paths to cross. We share a large, mutual network from our athletic careers and almost everyone connected to us assumes we met through running. I’m incredibly thankful that we met this way (and for my colleagues that chose to hire Ellen!), foregoing the all-too-common context (in our world) of “you’re both runners, now mingle.” This allowed us to bond as two like-minded people, who just also happen to share uniquely similar experiences.”

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Ellen: “I love Greg for reasons I can’t explain without sounding cliche. He’s my home, the person I can be most comfortable around, and he accepts me for who I am.”

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Greg: “To truly and earnestly love someone, you have to love them for everything they are – strengths and quirks alike. How else do you get through all the highs and lows of life together? That said, what I admire most about Ellen is her unrelenting commitment to being the kindest and most accepting soul to everyone and anyone at any cost. She inspires me every day to remain positive, warm and open.”

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Ellen: “Valley Green Inn is where Greg proposed on my 30th birthday. It’s one of my favorite locations in Philadelphia and is one of the big reasons we moved from New York. I adore the park in all seasons. I ran track and cross country in college, and my team would run along the Wissahickon Trail at least once a week, so I got to know the park very well.”

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Greg: “Where better than the place we got engaged to take our photos? For Ellen, the Wissahickon Trail already served as a special, centering location. We had visited the park together long before considering moving to Philadelphia – as soon as we decided to do so, I knew I was going to ask her to marry me at Valley Green Inn. Now it serves as a special place for me, too!”

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Wedding Planning:

Ellen: “I love to plan, so I’ve been enjoying the planning process a lot. Thankfully, my younger sister Colleen got married recently, so she’s been a great resource. She’s also my graphic designer and invitation designer (her company is Stock & Stamp in Malvern), so she keeps me on track with my timeline. Greg is a low-key person, which helps keep me calm if I ever start feeling overwhelmed.”

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Greg: “We know where, when, and what we’re eating, so in my eyes, we’re all set! My only desire is for our wedding to be an enjoyable celebration for our friends and family. I don’t see decisions such as table layout or flower colors as particularly impactful toward making the day memorable. Conversely, Ellen loves planning down to the smallest detail and I’m happy that she does! Other than stepping in to save her from a bit of over-stressing, I’m following her lead (do I already have the husband thing down?)”

Romantic Engagement at Valley Green Inn by Justin Heyes Photography Philly In Love Philadelphia Weddings Venues Vendors

Ellen: “Justin has been fantastic to work with. Right from the start, he was flexible, accommodating, creative, and has made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. We’re so excited to work with him on our wedding day!”

Greg: “There are people that don’t like their picture taken, there are people that hate having their picture taken.. and then there’s me. Quite honestly, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to our engagement photo session. About 30 seconds into it, Justin pulled out his magic (and best dad jokes) to turn the session into a morning I will never forget. Spending about 90 minutes taking in Ellen’s stunning beauty and stealing a few smooches didn’t hurt, either. I can’t wait to see how he captures our wedding.”


Vendors | Photographer: Justin Heyes Photography | Location: Valley Green Inn