A glorious April day had broken, one of the first true spring-like days of the year, and we were ready to shoot Brianna and Chris’s Ballroom at Ellis Preserve wedding like nobody’s business. After their Blue Cross RiverRink engagement session, we were so excited to see these two again and watch them start their happily ever after.
Getting Ready at the Ballroom at Ellis Preserve
The bridal suite for the Ballroom at Ellis Preserve is absolutely gorgeous. A great space for everyone to gather for hair and makeup, getting ready, and even for some lovely bridal portraits. Brianna’s Pronovias wedding dress was a vision. We wheeled it out front to the faux flower wall (we thought they were real!) in the foyer for some close ups. Her glittering Badgley Mischka’s sat perfectly on the velvet loveseat. And her bouquet! Fabufloras outdid themselves. This lovely white and lavender palette was peppered with gorgeous textures and smells – including lilacs which are a personal favorite!
After we’d finished oohing and aahing over the beauty of Brianna’s wedding day look, it was actually time to let her put all of those beautiful things on and get her to the church!
Brianna stepped towards her dress and came up just a little short. Her mom came over to help and soon she was in. It fit like a glove and as she put her jewelry on, her bridesmaids got quiet. Everyone was awestruck by how radiant she was. After a moment for some window light portraits, we whisked her outside to have a first look with her dad. Her mother covered his eyes and led him to where she was waiting. When he saw her, his eyes welled and Brianna struggled to keep her makeup intact. It was a beautiful family moment. After embracing, we loaded up and went to the church.
Meanwhile, Chris had already gotten ready. His Armen Custom suit was perfect on him. The whole morning had flown by as he and his groomsmen laughed and shot the breeze together. He was relaxed and ready. When the bus arrived, he was off the chapel.
The Ceremony at St. Pius X in Broomall
We love Philadelphia weddings, but sometimes it is nice to be out in the burbs. No parking worries, no weird smells, and a quick commute home in most cases. St Pius church is a beautiful Catholic church in Broomall, just a few minutes from us. We haven’t been there since Melody and Mike got married in 2015!
When Brianna stood in the doorway, we saw Chris’s heart skip. Time froze. They were there, it was happening.
Their ceremony was full of joy. During the exchange of peace, they couldn’t stop smiling and their families were clearly overjoyed by the day. After the vows and rings had been exchanged in token and pledge, they were pronounced husband and wife! It was time for some fun!
Portraits at Ellis Preserve
While some of the area is being developed, there was still plenty of beautiful places for pictures. We found two beautiful cherry blossom trees and took our sweet time there for pictures. Brianna and Chris just had a blast laughing together and spending time with their bridal party. Once we’d captured the love, it was time to let them go enjoy the party while we got set to capture their crazy fun reception.
The Reception at the Ballroom at Ellis Preserve
The ballroom is beautiful. Elegant and refined. We loved the neutral gray on the walls and all the trim. It gave everything an air freshness and allowed the decor to pop. The centerpieces and long tables made it feel homey. It was a big family gathering, and everyone was ready to celebrate the newlyweds.
They were announced in with a flash of sparklers, and opened the dance floor with a sweet first dance. After a welcome and prayer, everyone sat down to devour the delicious salad from Finley Catering. We know it was delicious because they gave some to us with our dinner as well – thank you, Finley!
Guests were the regaled with toasts from all of Brianna’s siblings and the best man. Followed by parent dances. Brianna and her father started with a slow dance that abruptly switched to the Twist. Brianna’s dad’s got game!
After cake cutting, we went back out front for some final night portraits in front of the lovely Corinthian pillars. For a unique spin, we brought the bridal party out as well. Then just Brianna and Chris.
Then it was dancing time. At one point there were three different dance-off’s going down. It was a great party, and a wonderful way to start off the season.
All of the wonderful vendors that made this day possible:
Venue — Ballroom at Ellis Preserve — Planner — Finley Catering — Florist — Fabuloras Design — Cake — Termini Brothers Bakery — Entertainment — Jay Roy Entertainment — Videography — New Pace Wedding Films — Wedding Dress — Pronovias — Bridal Boutique — Van Cleve Bridal — Bride’s Shoes — Badgley Mischka — Wedding Rings — Testa Jewelers — Makeup Artist — Blush Salon — Hair — Ulyana Aster — Bridesmaid Dresses — David’s Bridal — Menswear — Armen Custom Tailor Studio
