Erika and Jake’s wedding at River’s Edge – the newest offering at the Pen Ryn Estate – was a joyous soiree filled with bright smiles and lots of love as they tied the knot.
Getting Ready at the Hotel Monaco
It was a beautiful October day when we arrived at the Hotel Monaco to begin capturing the day Erika and Jake had long been excited for. Erika was getting ready with the AMG Beauty Salon team and Philly Hair. The gussying up was going swimmingly as we started capturing the delightful details of the day. Erika’s incredible Allure Bridal gown was so light and flowy, the elegant layers falling together to create this beautiful cloud of a skirt. Paired with a beautiful lace bodice, we knew she was going to knock Jake’s socks off.
As hair and makeup wrapped, it was time for her to step into her gorgeous gown and get ready for her first look with Jake.
Speaking of Jake, he was having his own getting ready party at the Hotel Monaco. The guys were lounging, waiting for some pizza to arrive, and having fun together giving Jake a hard time. After scarfing some pizza (which they shared and it was delicious!), it was time to get ready. Jake quickly donned his shirt and tie, and then shared the amazing gift he had gotten for each of his groomsmen. A personalized watch. Oddly enough, the gift that his groomsmen had gotten him was also a watch. That’s how you know you are best of friends.
After that, it was time. We went outside to the Signer’s Garden and set Jake up to wait for his bride.
First Look and Portraits at the Signer’s Garden
Jake patiently/impatiently waited in the garden for Erika to join him. The city was bustling, and when Erika emerged from the hotel lobby, there were many ooh’s and aah’s. As she crossed the street, Jake started smiling. The smile grew as he heard her heels click along the brick pathway. And when her hand touched his shoulder, he grabbed it and turned and was floored. Erika was so stunning and they were both so happy that the day they’d waited for was finally upon them.
Ceremony at River’s Edge at Pen Ryn
Once portraits were wrapped, we made our way over to River’s Edge to get prepped for the ceremony. The sun was beginning to sink low, and the Delaware River was shimmering in the golden light. The temperature was dropping a bit, just enough to make it feel like mid-October, and everyone was ready for the ceremony. The music came up and the ceremony began. Erika’s family pastor gave a stirring marriage message and led them through their vows. Erika’s brother played a special song for them on the piano which was incredibly beautiful. Then it was the big moment. They were pronounced husband and wife and Jake kissed his bride. Officially Mr & Mrs.
Reception at River’s Edge
The new tented reception area on the beautiful Pen Ryn Estate property is right by the water. Designed to be an indoor/outdoor space, the walls open to let the breeze through, while the permanent HVAC system keeps you toasty when the weather is cool. The tent is able to be partitioned as well, separating cocktail hour from the main dining area and dance floor. When everything is set up and the candles are lit, the room looks amazing and feels so open and airy!
Erika and Jake followed their wedding party into the reception to thunderous applause. They went straight into their first dance and spent the whole time tightly entwined in each other’s arms. Once the music faded away, everyone enjoyed their dinner while hearing about some of the antics of Jake from his best man brother, as well as the heartfelt story of how they met from her maid of honor. Between courses, Jake danced with his mother, and Erika and her dad showed everyone that the bar was set high by sharing a fun coordinated dance.
After a silent cake cutting, we snuck outside with the wedding party and newlyweds to capture a sparkler send off. Erika and Jake outdid the sparklers with a fantastic kiss and that was it! The party raged on into the night, and we hope that they relive this day for the rest of their lives.
