Eugene and Lisa connected in high school but took a break during college when Gene was in California for his PHD. When he came home to visit, they got together and decided that long distance was worth a shot, and the rest is history. We were thrilled to capture their Cescaphe Tendenza 2021 wedding, which was a perfect combination of fall crisp and amazing colors.
Getting Ready for the Cescaphe Tendenza Wedding
Eugene and Lisa spent the morning separately, with Eugene getting ready at his family home, and Lisa spending time with her bridesmaids at the Philadelphia Downtown Renaissance Hotel.
When we arrived at Lisa’s suite, she and her bridesmaids were finished with hair and makeup and were relaxing in their matching PJs. We’ve seen many pairs of PJs in our line of work, but none like the “Eugene faces” PJs that Lisa was sporting that morning! It was such a fun way to include “Eugene” in the festivities, ha!
We began gathering Lisa’s stunning pearl details, her personalized ring holder, sparkling shoes, and her beautiful veil. Lisa’s magnificent dress hung in the tallest window of the suite, with the Philadelphia skyline as the perfect backdrop.
Meanwhile, Eugene and his groomsmen were getting put together across town. Lisa told us that she was excited to see Eugene in his stunning suit after spending the morning apart but was most excited to see his reaction when they saw each other for the first time at their first look.
First Look & Portraits in Old City
As Lisa walked up to Eugene, who was standing on the steps of the first bank, we all stared in awe at how stunning she looked. As Eugene turned around, it was evident he was overjoyed, and more than ready to marry this wonderful woman after their many months apart.
After the first look, we spent time with the couple at the first bank, eventually joined by their joyous bridal party. We walked deeper into the historic district of Philadelphia, capturing beautiful images in front of the famous and elegant buildings. Before we knew it, it was time to get on the trolly and head to Cescaphe Tendenza.
Ceremony & Reception at Cescaphe Tendenza
As we arrived at Tendenza, the families joy was palpable. The beautiful glass chandeliers hanging throughout the ceremony space were the perfect backdrop for the couple to say their “I do’s”, where they were led by a friend through the giving and receiving of their rings.
Cocktail hour started off with a bang, and the seafood tower, ice sculpture and personalized cake topper to resemble their own fur baby were amazing personal touches. During the cocktail hour, the Tendenza staff transformed the ballroom into an amazing site to behold. The beautiful ballroom was perfectly set for Eugene and Lisa to spend the night with their closest friends and family.
As Eugene and Lisa danced and spun into their reception, the crowd went wild, and the fireworks erupted alongside them as they went straight into their first dance as husband and wife.
Once everyone had found their seats to begin dinner, Lisa’s Maid of Honor, Eugene’s Best Man, and Eugene’s Father, took to the stage to share stories and words of wisdom for the newlyweds. Their speeches were sweet, sentimental, and each provided a small piece of advice for the couple as they embark on their new journey.
Once dinner had ended, Lisa opened up the dance floor by sharing a special dance with her Father, while Eugene shared a beautiful dance with his sister, right before friends and family swarmed the dancefloor to really get the party started!
The rest of the evening the dance floor was packed, Lisa and Eugene were dancing with friends, sitting with people at their tables, and visiting and celebrating with anyone and everyone they could. It was nothing short of a wonderful evening!
