Philadelphia Wedding Photographer | Atrium at the Curtis Center | Jennifer + Mark

I think Jennifer and I exchanged close to 150 emails in the year + leading up to her wedding. I imagine that’s pretty much the way things have to be when you’re planning a wedding from a different continent. I loved our weekly/daily exchanges and the end result was absolutely worth all of the planning. I saw her only a few times before the wedding, once for Jennifer and Mark’s engagement session at Longwood Gardens (I’m still itching for a pair of those back-seam stockings myself!).

The wedding was a smash success! The day was sunny and perfect.

The wedding party got ready at the super fashionable Hotel Monaco right at Independence Hall.

Jennifer wore her mother’s necklace and bracelet on her wedding day. The earrings were her something blue. She had been looking for a pair exactly like these for ages.

Jennifer looked in.cred.i.ble! Her eyes were bright, her skin was flawless, and her laugh was everywhere. She glowed.

Let us not forget about the other half of this equation: Mark. He and his guys were decked out in tails and bowties, looking pretty freaking dapper themselves.

The two shared a first look before the ceremony at the Omni and planned for us to have plenty of time for pictures of the two of them around Independence Hall without any stress (photographer happy dance!).

I was not the only one working a lens that day.

We got ourselves ready for the ceremony at the stunning Cescaphe Atrium at the Curtis Center. The group took a few minutes to relax/flex before things got real.

I love shooting at the Atrium at the Curtis Center. The place is such a spectacle with its gloriously high glass ceiling, marble floor, and romantic white draping everywhere.

Mom sneaking a peek as the guests were arriving.

The short ceremony (Jennifer and Mark wanted it to be about 10 minutes max) ended perfectly with a high five and tons of applause.

The sun set during cocktail hour and the Atrium was converted to a lovely raspberry-hued space in preparation for the huge party that followed.

Jennifer and Mark entered and shared their first dance to the beautiful “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Iz Kamakawiwo’ole.

The rest of the night passed by in a blur of great speeches (all followed Jennifer’s demands of being super short except for Mark’s brother’s), signature drinks (Old Fashioned & Dandelion), food (sooo much freaking food!), and a dancefloor so international it looked like a Benetton commercial.

The Oh, snap! Studio proved to be a massive draw!

Jennifer and Mark couldn’t have asked for a better day and I feel so fortunate that I got to be a part of it! (Come back to the States again so we can talk Italy, wine, and have a dance party!)

Oh somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true
~ Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”