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Philadelphia Wedding Photographer | Morris House Hotel | Abby + Ryan ⋆ Lindsay Docherty Photography
August 12, 2014

Philadelphia Wedding Photographer | Morris House Hotel | Abby + Ryan

Wedding

Abby and Ryan are self-proclaimed geeks. They bonded over video games and nerding out when they met at Drexel (she challenged him to beer pong at a party). Abby, an English major, along with her mother, conceptualized a wedding that could have come straight from the pages of a book. The sweet pink, green, and ivory sprinkled throughout the day were gorgeous. The setting was the incomparable Morris House Hotel which couldn’t have been more perfect as a setting that makes you feel like you’ve snuck into some beautiful garden Narnia in the middle of Philadelphia.

Abby paid homage to her grandmother with a choker using her cameo and was a gift for her high school graduation. It surprised me that I’ve never seen a family heirloom used that way.

bride wedding jewelry vintage cameo as choker

Abby’s dress was sublime! It was a strapless number with layers upon layers of asymmetrical tulle that was so flattering on her slender frame. It was the second dress she tried on. The pink ribbon around her waist was grosgrain instead of the traditional satin which was far better for making the perfect bow.

layers of asymmetrical tulle wedding dressbride getting ready before Philadelphia wedding ceremony at Morris House Hotel bride getting ready before Philadelphia wedding ceremony at Morris House Hotelpink and grey argyle socks for the groomsmen

The ceremony was so sweet. A beautiful copy of the Velveteen Rabbit was used for a very special reading (the part about being real because of love is a touching passage). They also incorporated a hand-fasting.

pink and green garden Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House HotelPhiladelphia wedding ceremony at Morris House Hotel Philadelphia wedding ceremony at Morris House Hotel hand fastingPhiladelphia wedding ceremony at Morris House Hotel

The couple ended their ceremony with a great dip and recessed down the aisle to a lavender toss before heading out to Washington Square for pictures. The patio smelled delightful for the rest of the evening.

Philadelphia wedding ceremony at Morris House Hotel hand fastingpink and green Philadelphia wedding bride and groom pictures in Washington Square Park pink and green Philadelphia wedding bride and groom pictures in Washington Square Parkpink and green Philadelphia wedding bride and groom pictures in Washington Square Park

As you might guess, bustling such a confection was a bit of an ordeal.

bridesmaids bustling huge tulle dress at Morris House Hotel

The groomsmen were of no help.

groomsmen laughing at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel

The team flipped the space during cocktail hour with tall centerpieces of white and pink larkspur and curly willow. The tables were accented with mossy birds and each assigned a numbered children’s book. Sprigs of rosemary were laid on each place setting with a plantable wildflower thank you.

pink and green garden Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel with books pink and green garden Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel pink and green garden Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel

Escort cards were arranged in a vintage seed box and tied with ribbons.

escort cards in vintage seed packet box

After some raucous introductions…

Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel

The newlyweds shared their first dance to “Still into you” by Spots the Ginga.

first dance at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotelfirst dance at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel first dance at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel

Then there were toasts and a party.

toasts at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel toasts at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotelbride and father dance at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel

bride and groom dancing the robot at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel

Lots of party.

grandmother rocking out at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel bride and groom rocking out at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotelwedding bands and engagement ring on childhood book The Velveteen Rabbit

Abby and Ryan had the Lindsay Docherty Photography Oh, snap! Photo Studio on the scene and a command that, “All guests ARE REQUIRED to have their mug shot taken in the photo studio.” I think it worked.

Lindsay Docherty Photography On Snap Studio photobooth Lindsay Docherty Photography On Snap Studio photobooth Lindsay Docherty Photography On Snap Studio photobooth

The evening ended with Abby and Ryan’s last dance in the front courtyard, surrounded by all family and friends, a whole lot of sparklers, and, of course, a dip!

last dance at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel last dance at Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel

Congratulations, Abby and Ryan, on a wedding day fit for a fairy tale!

Philadelphia wedding reception at Morris House Hotel

“What is REAL?” asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. “Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?”

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
~ Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

Wedding Ceremony: Morris House Hotel, Philadelphia, PA
Wedding Reception: Morris House Hotel, Philadelphia, PA
Engagement Session: Drexel University
Wedding Photographer: Lindsay Docherty Photography
Photobooth: Lindsay Docherty Photography’s Oh, snap! Studio
Officiant: Reverend Philip Sciscione
Florist: Beautiful Blooms
Wedding Dress Designer: Vera Wang
Bride’s Hair Accessory: Whichgoose
Makeup: Cheekadee
Hair: Hair by Meghan
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Jesse Minikes
Reception Music: East Coast Event Group
Wedding Cake: Night Kitchen

Invitations: Paper in the Park

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