Nothing like a warm, misty day in the city to set the scene for a Ballroom at the Ben wedding. Madeline and Tom’s spring celebration in Philadelphia had everything you could ask for: a gorgeous Catholic ceremony at St. John the Evangelist Church, iconic portraits at City Hall on Broad Street, and a reception at the Ballroom at the Ben that went absolutely off. With the help of planner Stacey Lee from Stacey Lee Events, the timeline was dialed in and the whole day ran perfectly.
Getting Ready at the Loews Hotel Philadelphia
If your wedding is in Philly and you want a ton of space with an incredible view, the President’s Suite at the Loews Hotel is the way to go. That room is huge and the view of the Philadelphia skyline is unreal. Madeline had her girls with her, just four bridesmaids and two adorable flower girls, keeping the bridal party small and the energy high. Before the wedding, she mentioned she’d be super nervous on the day. But honestly? One of the most relaxed, fun brides we’ve ever worked with. An absolute blast to be around.
Their morning was full of incredible personal touches. During the gift exchange, Tom read her letter and said he was going to keep it with him all day. He tucked it right over his heart inside his jacket pocket. In addition, she gave him a custom handkerchief, but funny enough, he almost threw it out because he didn’t see it in the box. (They told us about that one during their album review.) Here’s a fun fact: Madeline’s family nickname is Biggie Smalls, because when she was born she was a really big baby with a big head and a little body. As soon as she told us that, we had to put on Notorious B.I.G., so “Juicy” became the official soundtrack to her bridal prep. Everyone was cracking up.
Father-Daughter Reveal and Personal Touches
The father-daughter first look was one of those moments you just can’t recreate. Honestly, Madeline was genuinely surprised that her dad got emotional. But come on, it doesn’t matter who you are. Seeing your daughter for the first time in her wedding dress is going to hit you. He was the sweetest. On top of that, she had the bridesmaids walk into the room backwards with their eyes covered, and when they turned around, the reaction was amazing. Stacey coordinated the whole thing perfectly.
The gifts were another level. For her dad, Madeline had a custom embroidered handkerchief that read “Forever your little girl, Love, Biggie Smalls.” Her mom received this beautiful little purse with a family photo engraved on the inside, showing her, her mom, and her dad together. You could tell her mom was pretty gunned up over it. These are the kinds of details that make a wedding day feel like more than just an event.
Wedding Ceremony at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Philadelphia is one of those churches that just takes your breath away. From the blue vaulted ceiling over the altar to the stained glass and gothic architecture, the whole space is absolutely beautiful. Watching the two flower girls walk down the aisle dropping petals set the perfect tone, and when Tom saw Madeline coming down the aisle with her dad, his face said it all. It was a traditional Catholic ceremony that felt warm, personal, and full of love.
Philadelphia City Hall Wedding Photos
After the ceremony, we headed right over to Philadelphia City Hall for wedding party portraits. Madeline told us later that she was really surprised by how beautiful the City Hall photos turned out. She hadn’t expected it to be that nice. However, once she saw the golden accents lit up behind them inside the main doorways off of Broad Street, it completely changed her mind. Inside City Hall, they also stumbled onto this incredible live video portal connected to Ireland. Tom and Madeline walked up and started waving to people from across the world on their wedding day. The folks on the other end were going absolutely crazy for them. Such a cool moment.
Broad Street Wedding Portraits
We took full advantage of Broad Street for some classic Philadelphia wedding moments. Between City Hall’s grand staircases, the warm evening light hitting the city, and the energy of Philly all around them, every frame just worked. That iconic Broad Street shot with City Hall centered behind them and the city lights coming alive at dusk is one for the books. You can feel the energy of the day in those photos.
Ballroom at the Ben Wedding Reception
The Ballroom at the Ben is one of those reception venues that just feels like a movie. Between the grand arched columns, the mezzanine level, and the chandeliers, the space is already incredible on its own. Madeline and Tom made it their own with gold chiavari chairs, gorgeous white floral arrangements, pillar candles everywhere, and a custom white dance floor with their initials engraved into it. On top of that, their signature cocktails were named after their dogs, Penny Lane and Scarlet Begonias, with a custom gold-framed sign featuring little illustrations of each pup. Details like that just make a wedding.
EBE Dreamtime Band absolutely brought the house down. As expected, they had everyone on the dance floor all night. One detail we love: Madeline is gluten-free, so the team had a beautiful four-tier cake on display but already had a pre-cut slice of gluten-free banana cake ready for the actual cake cutting. Meanwhile, the Maitre D’ at the Ballroom, the same guy who was in Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley Cooper, handled it all perfectly. He’s always on the ball and has been there forever. Simply put, the whole team at the Ben just gets it.
End-of-Night Portraits at the Ballroom at the Ben
We always love to pull the couple away from the reception for just a few minutes to grab some portraits while the party is in full swing. For this one, we brought Madeline and Tom out to the balcony on the other side of the building. There were actually some guests from the hotel hanging out there, and they were incredibly cool about it. They just moved one chair, let us get our shots, and we were in and out. From the mezzanine balcony overlooking the dance floor, we also grabbed a few last shots. One of our favorites from the whole night is Madeline fist-pumping from the balcony while everyone below is cheering. Just a perfect way to end their wedding story.
Why Group Formals Matter
One thing we always stress: get your big group formals done earlier in the evening. Once everyone starts dancing and the drinks are flowing, it’s tough to round people up. Fortunately, we were able to grab these big group shots at the stairwell before the party kicked off. During their album review, Madeline told us that several people in that group photo said to her, “Thank you so much for gathering us all up to take this picture, because this is probably our last wedding with everyone together.” People scatter, they get older, they have kids. That’s exactly why we think formals are so important. That group shot might be the one that matters most years from now.
It was an absolute pleasure capturing Madeline and Tom’s Ballroom at the Ben wedding. From the Biggie Smalls nickname to the Swedish bobsled team brothers to the whole crew jamming out with Dreamtime until the very end, this was one of those days where everyone just had the best time. We’re wishing these two nothing but the best. They’re such a great couple, surrounded by amazing people.
❤
Wedding Vendors:
• Wedding Planner: Stacey Lee Events
• Ceremony Venue: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Philadelphia
• Reception Venue: Ballroom at the Ben, Philadelphia
• Hotel: Loews Philadelphia Hotel
• Florist: NE Flower Boutique
• Band: EBE Dreamtime Band
• Makeup: Alexa, DevEsthetics
• Hair: Sarah Carbone, Natalie Bridal Co
• Wedding Cake: The Master’s Baker
• Bride’s Dress: Kelly Faetanini from Van Cleve Bridal
• Bride’s Shoes: Bella Belle
• Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
• Groomsmen Suits: Jos. A. Bank
• Invitations: Minted
Love these Ballroom at the Ben wedding photos? Check out our full Ballroom at the Ben venue guide for everything you need to know about getting married there. See more Philadelphia weddings, like this Four Seasons Philadelphia wedding or this beautiful Notary Hotel wedding in Philadelphia. Looking for a Philadelphia wedding photographer? We’d love to hear from you! Planning a proposal? Check out our surprise proposal photography.