Julie & Bryan’s Chinese Philadelphia wedding was not our average wedding. Typically, our weddings range from 8-10 hours, but this was just a four-hour event during early Spring. I do accept smaller weddings and elopements. I love to capture unique weddings, which are interesting too, for wondrous couples. Just like Julie and Bryan ;)
We started their day off with a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony at the Hotel Palomar in Philadelphia. These ceremonies are beautiful and elegant. The fabulous Chinese robes are stunning and only got a little bit of time to photograph with them before she changed into her traditional American wedding gown.
Just like Julie, her bridesmaids were fun, laid back and hilarious for her Chinese Philadelphia wedding. I love seeing a bride’s face light up, and that level of excitement increases the minute her dress starts to embrace her arms and shoulders. Julie was enthusiastic, and her bridesmaids were too!
I am so ecstatic that Julie & Bryan chose me to capture their Philadelphia wedding. They are fun, free-spirited and amazing. Thank you for the experience… Best wishes to them and their future together!
Hotel: Hotel Palomar Philadelphia
Camera: Contax 645 + Canon Digital
Film: Portra 400
A word on the venues
A quick note on where Julie and Bryan celebrated. They built the day around two Philadelphia spots, the Hotel Palomar in Center City for getting ready and the Trinity Center for Urban Life for the celebration. A Chinese wedding carries more moving parts than a standard reception, the tea ceremony, the family roles, the outfit changes, and the timeline runs tighter because of it. Splitting the day across a hotel and a dedicated event space gave them room for all of it without rushing. For a city wedding with this many traditions to honor, that breathing room is not a small thing.
Chinese Philadelphia wedding portraits
They did not have a traditional bridal party for their wedding, but we had tons of time to create together. We started off at the Hotel Palomar library then went to the mecca of Philadelphia, City Hall. It was quite chilly on this March day, so we tried to keep Julie bundled until I was ready to click that shutter button. Dancing inside City Hall with her dress did warm her up…
Trinity Center for Urban Life in Philadelphia Wedding Ceremony
One of Julie’s bridesmaids played the piano during the processional. This church had something that I love for weddings, a balcony. I can have my second professional photographer on the balcony to capture different perspectives that enhance the story of the ceremony. We did some group formals and a large group photograph before parting ways when they all went out to dinner.
Planning a Philadelphia or Jersey Shore wedding?
If you are starting to look at venues, I keep a working list of the best Philadelphia wedding venues and the best Jersey Shore wedding venues. Real venues, real notes. Get in touch if you want to talk through your day. I cap at fifteen weddings a year so the calendar fills early, and most weddings run with a second photographer.