Mary & Victor’s Wedding Day Highlights

Not only was it a large bridal party that came together to celebrate Mary and Victor – it was also a bridal party that was willing to do anything for this amazing couple to help them make beautiful memories to last beyond the next lifetime!

It’s pretty easy to see why Mary and Victor had to have 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen in their wedding party – their shared excitement for life and ability to entertain everyone in a crowd gives them such a magnetic personality – it’s hard to believe they could ONLY pick 10 for each side! We stressed to Mary the importance of a big bridal party and staying on schedule for the wedding day and she promised me that we’d have no time issues with this group.

So when we arrived on their wedding day to Mary’s parents house to capture images of her details, we were pleasantly surprised to find all the ladies already back from Platinum Hair Salon with their hair and makeup perfectly in place… ahead of schedule. (yep, you read that correctly, three cheers to this!). So we had plenty of time to snap photos of the girls hanging out in their custom robes on the bed with a champagne toast.

Mary’s Martina Liana gown from Van Cleve was a vision of lace and intricate designs on the bodice that lead down to the train which when on for days. It could only be paired with open toe nude Jimmy Choo strappy sandals and her late Grandmother’s wedding and engagement band (her something old!). Veil in place, Mary took a stroll downstairs to do a first look with her Dad before heading to the church to see her husband-to-be!

When Victor opened the door of his Aunt’s house, I was greeted with one of the largest smiles I have ever seen. I would love to take credit to be the cause of this smile, however the real root cause was clearly his wife-to-be, Mary. The entire time Victor was getting ready, the smile never left his face. From the time Victor put on shirt, to the moment he tied his shoes, Victor’s incredibly infectious smile never left his face.

After adjusting his tie on his Varani Formal tuxedo, Victor sat down to read a letter from Mary. As he read the letter, the smile moved from his lips to his eyes. These two have known each other since high school and it is clear they chose each other because they love to adventure through life. As he read the letter his eyes began to glisten and with a slight chuckle (and the quick wipe of a tear), Victor was ready to head to the church to see his fiancée.

We arrived at Westminster Presbyterian Church and the blue sky above the church seemed absolutely out of a movie. They certainly picked the most perfect October day for a wedding! The real business was happening inside the church though – it was time to get these two sweethearts married on this most perfect fall day in front of their 280 guests. You could feel the nervousness in the air as Mary stepped through the doors and started her walk down the aisle. Victor’s heart perhaps flew out of his chest when he saw how beautiful she was on their wedding day.

Their entire day was spent celebrating with the ones they love in the same room, but as Mary made her way down the aisle, it felt like the two of them were the only ones in the world.Mary flashed an excited smile at Victor and it seemed to melt his nervousness away as he took her hand and her heart in the front of their friends and family gathered at the church.

I always wish the ceremony included a story time and a re-telling of the engagement story (who doesn’t love a good love story?!). Victor proposed at Mary’s grandparent’s house in Avalon, New Jersey during the summer of 2015 complete with homemade signs by Victor’s nieces that said “will you marry me?” I can image that these two will have many many more parties with friends and family at this house during their lifetime.

And in true wedding adventure fashion – 22 people in perfect condition boarded the party bus from Mid-Atlantic Limousine and 21 got off the bus in perfect condition at City Hall in Philadelphia… 1 got off the bus with a dislocated shoulder. But since Mary and Victor are some of the friendliest people I know (so that means they know everyone), there was an orthopedic doctor in attendance at the wedding so he quickly popped that groomsmen’s shoulder back into place so he could join the rest of the crew for photos.  (Victor, I bet you didn’t know that you might need some stand-in groomsmen!)

It’s okay, he made the group photo before he left to go get his arm in a sling. What’s a wedding without a little bit of adventure?

And how beautiful are these bridesmaids in these berry gowns from Van Cleve? The orange flowers from Marcus Hook Florist are seriously Pinterest perfect with the dresses!

The best part of their portrait session on their wedding day was watching these two just gaze at each other. They do have an incredible love for one another and it’s clear that their mix of kindness and genuinely positive spirits make a great combination for a newlywed team.

Marriage is hard work and an adventure – but I think you two are up to it!

So are you ready for some fun? How does a thirteen piece band sound for starters? Masquerade rocked the reception. We always ask our clients if they splurged on any part of their day… and they always say the band… and they always say it was worth it! I have to agree! The dance floor was NEVER empty all night!

Oh, I got a little excited writing about the band… I forgot to mention we were right in the heart of Philadelphia at the Crystal Tea Room. This National Historic Landmark building has a Florentine style which pairs perfectly with Finley Catering‘s finesse for delicious indulgent food and service.The ballroom was splashed with blue uplights and gold accent pieces to go with their green and orange floral decor.

The only moment during the day where the dance floor was full (but quiet) was the moment that MPW Media Group showcased their same day video edit. It was amazing to watch all of Mary and Victor’s friends and family crowd around them and share the happiness and celebration with the newlyweds.

There were a handful of traditions mixed in throughout the night. Speeches, parent dances, bouquet, garter, and cake cutting (wow did the Termini Brother’s Bakery cake look delicious). But the best showcase was when the groom and groomsmen surprised the bride with a choreographed dance. It. Was. EPIC.

I think Mary should get to relive this every year on your anniversary, how about it boys?

No matter how much you plan, the day always flies by so very quickly. I’m going to leave this blog off with some dancing highlights because Mary and Victor told us that they were so happy to see the images of their friends and family having a great time at the reception. It was such a fun whirlwind of a dance floor (thanks again Masquerade!).

We are honored to have been there to capture all the great moments from the event that tied the knot between Victor and Mary. #VictorGetsMaryed. May this life be full of the greatest adventure for the two of you!

I do, do you need more wedding in your life? – click here!!!