Rachel & Patrick’s Modern Philly Estate Wedding
Rachel & Patrick’s September wedding was one I won’t soon forget. There were so many aspects of the couple’s wedding story that made their wedding day unique, but the main take away is that they did it their way through and through. Consistently throughout the process Rachel & Patrick made intentional decisions about their wedding day that simply made sense for them. From getting ready at their home (and friend’s home) in downtown Philly, to keeping things casual and comfortable at the start of their wedding day, and choosing to be fully present at their cocktail hour and reception for the party of a lifetime! Their laidback authenticity made decision-making easy throughout their planning process. So when it came to their wedding day it felt effortless and fun without sacrificing aesthetics and style.
The Venue
The thing that drew Rachel & Patrick to the Knowlton Mansion was it’s location and it’s character. Located just 30 minutes outside the city, Knowltown Mansion is a historic Philadelphia wedding venue with a unique charm. Despite it’s proximity to the city and highways, when you step onto the grounds you’re transported to a different world completely. Their carefully designed landscaping offers total privacy (not to mention a great sound barrier) from the busy streets of the bustling Philly suburb. Their outdoor ceremony space is everything you could want - simple, accessible, and surrounded by gardens. Not to mention, the mansion itself holds so much character and history. Think 19th century country estate meets victorian design, meets modern elegance. There’s something for everyone at this venue!
About The Couple
Rachel & Patrick had been together for about a decade before getting engaged (take a look at their adorable spring engagement session in downtown Bethlehem).Their families are close-knit and their friend groups, even closer. When making decisions about their wedding day, they mentioned to me that they considered an elopement with just the two of them, but couldn’t bare the thought of not having their closest friends and family there with them to celebrate. After trying every which way to narrow down their guest list to something more intimate, they said To hell with it. Let’s throw a rager.
It was important to them that their wedding day felt simple, effortless, and present. With a wedding party and guest list that felt more like family, any inkling of flashy performance was at the bottom of their list of priorities. Their main focus was to party with their people and have some cool photos to remember it all.
The Morning Of
That being said, getting ready photos were not a huge priority for them. So we snapped a few candid moments before moving on to first look and portraits.
The day had just barely begun by the time the first round of jello shots were bottoms up and the dancing had begun!
Couple’s Portraits
After a casual first look, we moved into Rachel & Patrick’s portrait session. I wanted to keep the vibes light and fun for them so they felt relaxed and connected during portraits. As always, it was important to me that these moments felt effortless and authentic for them, while also creating modern images that would stand the test of time. Although we kept it mostly casual and candid, I had to throw in a few editorial poses to give their gallery a sophisticated edge that complimented the couple’s style.
Group Photos
It was important to the couple to have all of their major photo moments done before the ceremony, so that afterwards they could join their friends & family at cocktail hour, and then transition seamlessly to their reception.
Knowltown Mansion’s gorgeous grounds in early fall made for a stunning backdrop for the couple’s wedding party and family photos!
A Moment For The Florals
There’s no way I could possibly talk about this wedding without taking a minute to totally gush over Hyacinth House’s florals. When I ran into Jess the morning of the wedding, arms full of bouquets. I gasped at how beautiful they were! I loved the way she was able to express an autumnal feel through a totally original color palette and choice of blooms.
Jess and I connected instantly! We talked all things floral design & weddings. That’s when she told me that Rachel didn’t really have much of a vision for her florals. She left it up to Jess to create something totally unique. My jaw dropped to the floor! There’s something truly magical that happens when couples trust their vendors to lean into their passions and make creative decisions, and that’s exactly what came through in Jess’s floral designs. I was absolutely stunned.
We ran into Jess again when she was creating the ceremony design. As I lead the girls to the next location for their bridal party photos, we saw Jess hanging fabric over the arbor while her assistant added blooms to the designs below. Every single one of us stopped in our tracks and proceeded to lose our minds. Rachel, having let Jess do what she does best, was seeing the vision for her ceremony florals for the first time and was in complete shock! Jess had truly outdone herself…
The cocktail and reception space did not disappoint! Jess utilized both repurposed designs (from the ceremony site) and original centerpieces to complete the space.
The Ceremony
Knowlton Mansion has a beautiful outdoor ceremony space. I love that it’s surrounded by oversized hydrangeas and tall hedges. It feels so intimate, despite the fact that it can seat about 200 people!
Cocktail Hour
Rachel & Patrick’s biggest priority was being present with their guests during their cocktail hour and reception. So after their “I do’s”, we let them go to enjoy their night with family and friends. In the cocktail space, their guests were greeted by a handmade seating chart, polaroid camera, hors d’oeuvres, and of course - their cat, Leon!
Speeches, Dancing, & other wedding traditions
Rachel & Patrick decided to forgo a “sweetheart table", in favor of a family style head table. Not only was this a great way to spend more time with their loved ones, but it also made for some really sweet photos.
This crowd really knew how to tear up the dance floor! But before the dancing took over the reception space, there was a natural pause as folks finished up dinner and mingled, which my team used as an opportunity to capture extra candids and guest photos.
Luv’d Up DJs killed the dance floor! They are truly my favorite Philadelphia wedding DJ group.
At some point in the night, I realized that I hadn’t seen the couple for awhile, so I wandered out to the patio in hopes that I’d find them there. And let me tell ya, it could not have been more perfect timing! As I walked out the door, Patrick’s uncle stopped me and said “You have to capture this! This is a family tradition.” He then proceeded to attach a plastic ball and chain to Pat’s ankle and sit him down in a chair… Rachel had no idea what was happening, but she played along for an iconic photo that I’m sure will be laughed at by their families for generations.
There was no cake at R&P’s wedding. Truthfully I think they didn’t want any reason to be taken away from their party. Conroy Catering simply set the dessert table & s’mores station and let me know so I could capture it all. After a few quick snaps, I was back to the buzzing excitement of the dance floor!
Sparkler Exit
After they danced their hearts out, the couple and their remaining guests made their way to the front of the mansion for an epic sparkler send off!
Congratulations to the happy couple! It was and absolute pleasure to get to know these two over the past couple years and photograph their wedding story for them. I adore them both and couldn’t be happier for their families. Cheers!
Are you looking for a creative and heartfelt documentary photographer near the Philadelphia or Bucks County area?
If you’re looking for a wedding photography experience that feels effortless and aligned for authentic imagery that tells your story through digital and film captures, then I’m your gal!
Tap here to learn more about wedding photography services.
If you’re ready to connect, I’d love to hear from you! Tap here to schedule a free consult to see if we’re a good fit.