Fate intervenes when it comes to my dealings with Angie and Jim. During their engagement session in Philadelphia we were assaulted/blessed with crazy clouds and a downpour. The day of their wedding roads were closed due to rain so heavy that there was flooding from Philly to Wilmington.
Since their wedding was inside the magnificent Hotel du Pont, Mother Nature really didn’t matter one bit. This hotel is stunning – marble, gold, spiral staircases, intricate carved wood detailing, luxe tapestries, chandeliers…
Angie can be photographed from any direction and look like a goddess. I’m 99% certain she could play soccer for a week straight (I bet she has) and still look like this:
And this is Monk who she has had since childhood. He dressed up for the occasion.
Totally digging her something blue.
Angie and Jim agreed not to give each other gifts. They slightly cheated. She gave him beer and he gave her this sign – bacon is pretty much her favorite thing ever.
The veil belonged to her sister-in-law, Kristen. Angie also wore her mother’s peridot and diamond bracelet.
I’m not going to lie; the tulle-d up flower girls were a main attraction.
The ceremony was held in the spectacular duBarry room.
I must take a moment to note that Angie and Jim asked for something so valuable: that the guests enjoy the ceremony unplugged. This means no cameras or phones. This was wonderful for two reasons: 1) Guests were able to experience the event and be completely present, viewing it with their own eyes rather than through a screen. 2) We photographers were able to photograph the group without interference from guests in the aisles vying for a shot, flashes going off and blowing out one of our pictures, no orange focusing beams, and no sea of lit up screens in the audience. It was magical!
Since we couldn’t go outside, we made use of what we had indoors (shucks!).
Isn’t their lobby incredible?
We found a piano so why not, right?
The ballroom was something else. There was a peacock motif with turquoise and apple green giving accents to the otherwise gilded wedding.
Mere days before the wedding Jim decided he didn’t like his ring. It’s the one item he’ll be wearing every day for the rest of his life so I guess it’s a good thing he figured that out first. He traded it in for a David Yurman.
The lighting in the ballroom was perfection!
This was a wedding party that knew how to make an entrance. There were moves (only created a few minutes prior) that looked like they were made for a YouTube video gone viral. Rockstars.
Though they were all upstaged by Angie and Jim. Jim came in to the Rocky theme, boxing his way to his best man who prepped him for Angie’s arrival.
Then they shared a beautifully choreographed dance to “Crazy Love” by Brian McKnight.
As you can imagine, the night was a blast. The dancing was top notch.
I loved Angie’s request to do a Bridesmaids shot. These gals ooze attitude.
One of the most spectacular components of the wedding was the on-site artist who was there to capture the wedding the long way.
These two are the greatest. They are kind, generous, spirited, beautiful, and all together amazing. I feel so lucky to have been a part of this part of their lives. I wish they didn’t live all the way in Georgia but at least I got this. Congratulations! Hopefully we’ll find ourselves in another deluge together again!
I can hear her heartbeat from a thousand miles
Hear the Heavens open every time she smiles
And when I come to her that’s where I belong
Yet, I’m running to her like a river strong
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
~ Brian McKnight, “Crazy Love”
Wedding Cake: Hotel du Pont
On-site Artist: Daniel Angeli
Ring Shop: Solomon Brothers, Safian & Rudolph
Ring Designer: H. Levi & Co., David Yurman