It was the perfect last blast of winter for Cortney and Julian’s Rittenhouse Square wedding. With the last snowfall still covering the ground, but just warm enough to enjoy the sun on your skin. Add a classically beautiful bride in a white fur stole and her dashing military groom, for a truly picturesque Philadelphia wedding. Center City’s The Sofitel, is always perfect for bride and groom preparation photos, and Cortney’s are some of my favorites. An elegant ceremony at The Church of the Holy Trinity, a brief stop at Broad Street where our lovely bride braved a very slushy median for some super romantic photos, and a perfect reception at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, complete with cigars and a balcony portrait sneak out. This one was an honor to be a part of in every way. So much love.
When we first met local Philly burlesque babe and artist Nikki Malicious and her fiance Steve, they were making out in a metal washtub in front of a pink trailer, surrounded by lawn flamingos. It was a John Waters inspired photo shoot, and Nikki was such a great model: sultry, dark and edgy with a touch of classic pin up that when embarked on our journey exploring Holi Powder, we called on Nikki once again.
When Nikki and Steve got engaged, I was thrilled. At that point we only had a wedding or two under our belts, and it’s quite possible that I begged her to let us shoot it. They were everything we wanted to shoot when it came to weddings. A beautiful burlesque dancer and her hockey playing, mechanic husband, not afraid to learn some pretty complex choreography for his bride. A talented artist, every detail that went into Nikki’s wedding was made by her, from the bridemaids’ rainbow bouquets to her guest book.
Hunting Hill Mansion (or Ridley Mansion) at Ridley Creek State Park was the perfect venue. A historic English Tudor style mansion built around a stone farmhouse from 1789, it includes a rich, wood ballroom, a grand marble staircase and a bridal suite flooded with natural light. For Nikki’s theme, “Fall with a hint of Flyers”, bridesmaids and groomsmen wore vivid orange. The Goddess Isis broke her wedding officiant cherry at the top of an outdoor stone staircase and Steve’s face when he saw Nikki in her champagne lace dress was just about the best thing ever. A delicious dinner by Diverse Catering accompanied by a seemingly unending supply of PBRs. An array of mouthwatering cupcakes from Philly cupcake stole the show and DJ Nolz made it virtually impossible to get Nikki and Steve off the dance floor.
