I had the chance to get to know Meghan & Jake a little better throughout the process than many of our couples. After their engagement photos, we stopped off for a cocktail and reviewed all the wedding planning details. I also had the chance to be a part of their rehearsal dinner celebration, hearing fun stories about the two of them and getting a bit of insight into their families and friends. So by the time their Rittenhouse Hotel wedding day rolled around, not only did I have a good idea of how these two “fit” together, but I was familiar with most of the key players of the day and knew what the vibe was going to be. And when I say they had planned a truly impeccable Rittenhouse Hotel wedding, I am not exaggerating. We’ve enjoyed several truly gorgeous Rittenhouse Hotel weddings through the years, (seriously, I’m never disappointed here), but this day might take the proverbial wedding cake!
Even better than the story that I’m about to share with you, we had our amazing video crew along to capture all the moments of the day, too. So I will leave it to them to tell the whole story!
(But if you’re not in a place to watch a movie, the story I wrote is pretty good, too. And the pictures from this day are pretty d*mn amazing!)
Meghan Getting Ready at the Rittenhouse Hotel
As soon as I arrived with Meghan in the morning, I knew we were going to have an awesome day. Beyond the absolutely classic invitation and personal details that I was handed (by a very organized wedding party), the girls were full of energy and joy.
There were flower girls dancing around the room. Hair & Makeup was wrapping up just down the hall at the Rittenhouse Spa & Club. And Meghan was just the right amount of nerves for her wedding day. Once we started to get her into her dress, she transformed into the most polished of brides! With the draping bow finally attached to the back of her gown, it was time for some family moments. Not only did Meghan get to have a first look with her father, but she also wanted her grandparents to get a chance to see her before she walked down the aisle.
Jake Getting Ready in the Boathouse room at the Rittenhouse Hotel
Just down the hall from the grand ballroom, Jake was getting ready in the plush Boathouse room. One of the things we’ve loved through the years about getting ready for a Rittenhouse Hotel wedding is the beautiful space they give to their grooms! Jake was all smiles as he pulled together his own timeless attire, complete with personalized silver cufflinks and all white boutonnieres for the guys. After they were pulled together, Jake & his crew set out on foot through Philadelphia for St Patrick’s, right around the corner from the square.
The Wedding Mass at St Patrick’s
We’ve had the pleasure of working at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church a number of times in the past, even on this other Rittenhouse Wedding Day! One of the things that never gets old in this church is the amazing tile work through out the sanctuary! It’s such a lovely spot for a wedding ceremony.
But our all time favorite thing about St Patrick’s – it’s just one block off from Rittenhouse Square, so Meghan & Jake were able to wander right over to their portrait session without needing trolleys or limos!
Philadelphia is a very hot place to get married in the middle of July and this Saturday was no exception! But Meghan & Jake worked with us to efficiently capture their wedding party of 28 so that we could maximize our portrait time before the sweat monsters overtook us! And that portrait session was just awesome! The square is at its most beautiful this time of year with overflowing lush greenery and beautiful sunlight streaming down between the buildings of Philadelphia!
An Elegant Rittenhouse Hotel Wedding Reception
If you’ve made it through this far, it’s probably because you’re dying to see how glamorous their Rittenhouse Hotel wedding reception was and I promise that you won’t be disappointed! With towering floral design and vibrant uplighting, the grand ballroom was absolutely showstopping!
From the moment when Jake literally swept Meghan off her feet at the end of their first dance to the final song, this party was non-stop. We had such an amazing time celebrating with you, Meghan & Jake, and wish you a lifetime of joy & happiness!
