Melissa and Keith dated for 7 years before they got engaged on a beautiful day in Venice, Italy. The two were wandering around Venice when they suddenly found themselves on a secluded bridge. From Melissa, “The next thing I knew, Keith was down on one knee asking me to spend the rest of our lives together. It felt like a fairy tale. Afterward, we went on a romantic gondola ride and celebrated with lots of wine, pizza and pasta.”
The week of their wedding, however, was filled with tears, anxiety, and uncertainty. The COVID outbreak was escalating, the NBA canceled their season, celebrities were testing positive for the virus, and schools were talking about shutting down. Then, just days before their wedding, the world officially declared a pandemic.
Melissa recalls: “Our guest list started changing daily, and I had multiple meltdowns and thought we wouldn’t be able to get married. It was stressful to think that the governor could ban all gatherings at any moment.
With the guest count changing so often, it was affecting our seating charts, table numbers, and layout of the venue. Luckily, the Event Manager at the Horticulture Center and our Wedding Planner helped us every step of the way. We are so thankful for all of our wedding vendors who were super supportive and were one thing we definitely did not need to worry about.
Even with these unusual circumstances, our wedding was everything we could’ve hoped for. This experience taught us to not sweat the small stuff and reminded us just how blessed we are to have such amazing people in our lives.
One of the most memorable moments of our wedding day was at the end of our ceremony, when we turned towards the crowd and watched the people, we loved the most cheer and celebrate our love. It was truly one of the most beautiful moments we’ve ever witnessed. Knowing the efforts that many had come to join us on our day was humbling, and we both felt extremely lucky.
It feels as though our wedding day was really the last day that life felt somewhat normal. And we are so fortunate we were able to spend the last “normal” day with our favorite people.”
Their lively wedding with friends and family at the Fairmount Horticulture Center in Philadelphia was the perfect location to celebrate. Overflowing greenery, dainty fairy lights and lush foliage created a lush backdrop for their nuptials. Check out all the loveliness, as photographed by Magdalena Studios below!
They chose a neutral color palette… a perfect mix of terracotta, peach, caramel & dusty pink. While planning, Melissa gravitated towards the earthy, bohemian style, but also wanted to incorporate a touch of romantic elegance. The colors were the perfect fit for the Horticultural Center, elegant and chic, yet found easily in nature!
BeLovely Floral Co. created the dreamiest floral arch filled with pampas grass, dried flowers & soft roses. Her idea to add hints of yellow florals to the arch enhanced the soft, muted color palette.
Idea to steal! The names and table numbers were meticulously written on an assortment of terracotta, white, and caramel clay vases. Love!
We think the hanging disco ball vases are pretty genius too!
Melissa’s advice for future brides:
“It can be so easy to get caught up in the wedding planning process, in thinking about the details, what might go wrong and what people expect of you that you can sometimes forget what matters most. It’s important to remember there aren’t many moments in your life where all of your favorite people come together to celebrate a union of love. The day honestly goes by so fast, so be fully present, don’t sweat the small stuff, and cherish this monumental moment in your life.”
Congrats you two!
Photography: Magdalena Studios | Dress Designer: Liz Martinez | Dress Store: Spina Bride | Veil: Daphne Newman | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Engagement Ring: Roberts Fine Jewelers | Hair Crown: BHLDN | Earrings: BHLDN | Groom Suit: Enzo Custom | Rings: Roberts Fine Jewelers & Helzberg Diamonds | Bridesmaid’s Attire: BHLDN, Show Me Your Mumu, Jenny Yoo, Reformation | Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse| Videographer: Haley Bateman | Wedding Planner/Stylist: Shannon Wellington | Rentals: Maggpie Rentals | Venue: Fairmount Horticulture Center | Catering: Constellation | Flowers: BeLovely Floral Co. | Cake: Frosted Fox Cake Shop | Invitations: Just Be Studio | Transportation: Ace Limousine | Calligrapher: Katy of Lewes Lettering Co | Photo Booth: Philly Snap Booth | Hair & Makeup: Marissa Grace Artistry | Dj: Sam Catrambone: Center Stage Entertainment | Officiant: Journeys of the Heart Diane Weltman
