By the time Erica & Jonathan reached out to us about their Grace Winery wedding, it had been nearly a decade since we’d last had the pleasure of shooting here. The Inn at Grace Winery is a beautiful little farm estate gem, tucked into a hidden corner of Glen Mills. In the past, we’ve had the chance to celebrate weddings, capture supper clubs, and participate in a fashion show/promotional event here. But since the mid-2010s, Grace Winery had fallen off our radar. So it was such a treat to be able to return for this thoughtfully planned micro-wedding.
Erica embraced the autumn season with a beautiful palette of autumnal earth tones throughout her details, from her beautiful forest green infused invitation suite to the rust and burgundy notes throughout the florals. When paired with the cordial, rustic ambience of the inn, we immediately felt a sense of elevated hygge from the moment we walked into the bridal suite. As Erica got ready with the help of her mother, a fire blazed in the dark wood hearth of the room and there were warm fuzzies being felt all around.
It is rare we have the pleasure to photograph in a groom room that is just as beautiful as the space given to our brides, but at the Inn at Grace Winery, every space is so beautiful that Jonathan was enjoying equally appointed accommodations as he and his father helped each other into their suits.
One of our favorite things about a Grace Winery wedding is that the entire property becomes available to the couple. The entire Inn, the barn, and the grounds are all such gorgeous backdrops for a portrait session. Erica & Jonathan started their time together with a first look before they allowed Serena to take them along the grounds for a beautiful session.
One reason why we’re such big fans of late autumn weddings, even though they can be a little bit chilly, is the afternoon sun! As the sun was working its way down to the horizon, it peeked through the trees and all of the autumnal hues of warm brown and earthy oranges were in their full glory as Erica & Jonathan’s couples session came to an end.
The good news on a chilly Grace Winery wedding day is that there is no shortage of gorgeous indoor opportunities for photos. Rather than keep their wedding party outside (or stay outside any longer themselves), Erica & Jonathan opted to do the bulk of their wedding party and immediate family portraits indoors alongside another one of the inn’s beautiful fireplaces.
Although some may say that the era of the micro-wedding has started to come to a close with the WHO declaring the end of the global pandemic, but we say “phooey!” We’ve been photographing micro-weddings since before it was cool (like this Monday evening outdoor garden party wedding we captured for a Broadway performer and her partner).
Erica & Jonathan stressed that with only twenty guests in attendance, everyone truly was a guest of honor. Throughout the wedding ceremony and reception, with such an intimate guest list, Erica & Jon were able to include and share moments with each and every guest. And because of the size of their event, they were also able to use an alternative arrangement for their day, with both the ceremony and reception already being set in the big, renovated barn on the inn’s property.
As the ceremony began, Erica & her father followed the wedding party members in through the impressive red barn doors and a short, personal ceremony began. Afterwards, as Erica & Jon processed back out through the barn doors to give everyone a moment to shift location to the other side of the barn, filled with long community tables adorned with a smattering of wildflowers and candlelight.
Once Erica & Jon returned to the barn, a low-key series of formalities began, with first dance and parent dances taking place in between all of the guests seated at their tables. Although Erica’s father said a few short words in honor of the day and these two cut their cake for all to see, the focus on this entire Grace Winery wedding reception for Erica & Jonathan was on the off-the-cuff honest moments and good times with their closest family members.
