Elegant Michener Museum Wedding | Emily Gallagher & Sean McAnany

Emily and Sean’s elegant Michener Museum wedding was super personal and beautifully put together with elements from both their family’s weddings and collections. Their unique style and planning can be seen throughout the day with extravagant details and delicate family heirlooms interweaved throughout the wedding. The museum was the perfect venue emulating all the qualities of this stunning couple for their Jewish wedding ceremony and reception. 

Getting Ready for their elegant Michener Museum wedding

They started off their special day by ready at the Doylestown Inn, a charming little place with tons of beautiful natural light (perfect for those elegant bridal portraits we love!) Emily wore her mother’s wedding dress from the 70’s, even having to sign a wavier that the dress may fall apart from the vigorous cleaning it received. She modified the top to a more modern look for her own style, and changed into an exquisite reception gown. Emily and her bridesmaids wore custom monogramed button-ups to get ready in matching her delightful purple color palette. Emily’s even had her wedding date and “I Do!” embroidered on her sleeves. She opened a few personal gifts including a super cool mug with photographs of her and her future husband all over it, a monogram necklace with her new initials, and some delicates with ‘bride’ written on the back. Her mother helped her into the delicate and polished gown she once wore herself, and helped her put on her jewelry. Her maid of honor helped slip her feet into her something blue, simple royal blue flats, and they headed off for her elegant Michener Museum wedding! Sean was super chill while getting ready, looking spiffy as ever in his purple polka-dotted tie. One of our favorite groom details to capture is the cufflinks, each groom has unique taste and we love seeing all the different individualized ones they pick out. Sean wore a pair of his grandfathers, yet another special detail of family used throughout the day. As a gift to his groomsmen, he gave them each monogrammed cufflinks and tie bar sets AND custom caricatured flasks, how unique! One of his groomsmen even used a pocket knife to cut holes in his shirt so he could wear the cufflinks. 

Floral wedding invitation suite with blue shoes, sunflower, purple florals, and wedding jewelry
Ceremony and reception bridal gowns, vintage lace wedding gown with veil, bride wearing mothers altered wedding gown
Wedding band and engagement rings with purple florals and sunflower bouquet
Bride opening her gifts with coffee mug, monogram necklace, getting her makeup done, and custom embroidered shirt with wedding date and initials of bride
Bridesmaids with matching purple monogram shirts
Bride admiring her gown and mother of the bride helping her into her old wedding gown
Bride putting on her earrings and bracelets with her mother's vintage wedding gown
Mother of the bride attaching veil and admiring daughter in her old altered wedding gown
Bride reading letter from the groom before wedding ceremony at the Michener Museum
Groom wedding details with tie, cufflinks, e=mc2 kippah, and custom groomsmen flasks
Groom putting on cufflinks, tying tie, and putting on vest before wedding
Traditional groom portrait with groom reading his letter from the bride and his father pinning boutonniere on

First Look & Portraits at the Michener Museum

Their first look took place in the front courtyard at the Michener, one of our most favorite first look spots. There are so many different ways to capture this moment, which was perfect for this unique couple. Emily walked through the tunnel and tapped Sean on the shoulder. He smiled a sweet smile and admired his bride. The Michener museum has so many amazing spots for couples’ portraits and we took full advantage with these two. With plenty of time built in our timeline, we explored the multiple gardens and greenspaces, all the extraordinary sculptures, tunnels, and cool reception space glass. Ashley even climbed on a sign to get that perfect portrait angle. 

Groom waiting for bride behind him and tapping him on the shoulder during first look at Michener Museum wedding
Groom turning around to see bride for first time during first look at Michener Museum wedding
Bride and groom embracing through tunnel at the Michener Musuem
Bride and groom portraits through leaves in Michener Museum garden
Bride and groom portraits through unique sculptures at the Michener Museum
Traditional bride and groom portraits with bride hugging and kissing groom
Groom spins and admires bride in her dress outside in gardens at the Michener Museum
Traditional bride and groom portrait in gardens at the Michener Museum
Bride and groom during golden hour touching noses and laughing with each other in gardens at the Michener Museum
Bride and groom portraits in front of brick tunnel at the Michener Museum

Ketubah & Wedding Ceremony at the Michener Museum

The Ketubah signing took place in the Nakashima room, a small and intimate wooden space perfect for this small gathering of close family before the ceremony in the courtyard. They had a traditional Jewish ceremony under a chuppah that was marvelously setup by Garnish Florals. It was lavishly covered in gorgeous greens and sunflowers with a hint of purple to match the bridal party and bouquets. Emily and Sean exchanged vows and rings, and officially became husband and wife. 

Jewish wedding ceremony with Ketubah signing in intimate Michener Museum wooden room
Jewish wedding ceremony at the Michener Museum, groom watching the bride and her parents walking down the aisle
Bride and groom exchange rings and kiss during Jewish wedding ceremony at the Michener Museum

Elegant Michener Museum Wedding Reception

Cocktail hour took place in the beautiful back sculpture garden under a glass tent before the reception room was revealed by the raising of the shades into the all glass space. Emily’s mother’s lace table clothes and table runners from her collection were used on all the tables, including the food station. There was also a heart shaped paper weight on each table as well as the cake from her grandmothers collection. Yet another way Emily and Sean graciously decided to integrate tradition and family into their wedding day.

Michener Museum wedding ceremony and cocktail hour details with lanterns and florals in the aisle, white pumpkin with purple floral card table, and signature drinks with their puppy
Michener Museum wedding reception details with purple and pink decor, custom name pillows, and name cards
Bride and groom holding each other in their reception space before it is revealed at the Michener Museum
Wedding cake with purple florals, dog bone and dog, and bride and groom rubber ducks
Bride and groom table with lace, purple florals, and candelabras at Michener Museum wedding reception

When they made their big entrance as husband and wife, Emily had changed into her elegant and flowy reception gown. Another personal element was their choreographed first dance. Emily and her father danced to “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder and Sean and his mother danced to “Days Like This” by Van Morrison. Fathers of the bride and groom, the best man, and the maid of honor all delivered sweet and special toasts. Emily’s father even took time to talk about the tremendous work with emotionally, physically, and mentally challenged children, saying she’s always has a heart to help those whom society would cast off. They danced the rest of the night away in celebration of this amazing kindhearted couple. The perfect end to this perfect day was the s’mores available for dessert in the outside tent. 

Bride and groom making entrance at Michener Museum wedding reception
Groom dips and spins bride during first dance at Michener Museum wedding reception
Groom shaking hands with best man and bride hugging maid of honor during speeches and toasts at Michener Museum wedding reception
Bride and groom being lifted in chairs on the dance floor for the Hora dance
Father of the bride dances with his daughter during parent dances at Michener Museum wedding
Mother of the groom dances with her son during parent dances at Michener Museum wedding reception
Bride and groom cutting cake and pie and smashing it in each others faces during wedding reception at the Michener Museum
Bride does bouquet toss at Michener Museum wedding reception
Bride and guests having fun, drinking, and dancing on the dance floor during wedding reception at the Michener Museum
Bride and groom kiss on the dance floor of Michener Museum wedding reception
Bride and groom share a donut from donut and s'mores dessert station at their Michener Museum wedding reception
Bride and groom night portraits with colored lights outside tunnel of Michener Museum

We loved every minute of this thoughtful family, love, and tradition filled day with Emily and Sean. Congratulations on your marriage and thank you for letting us capture this super special day! 

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