Philadelphia elopement of Grace & Max

I love photographing elopements, especially Philadelphia elopements! This was like a half wedding day for Grace & Max. Max called me up and booked me about a week prior to their elopement in Philadelphia. Since they live quite far apart, I was unable to meet with both of them or even talk with Grace before their big day. The first time I met Grace, she was getting ready at the Hotel Monaco with her sister and parents. Grace and her family were so much fun. She had beautiful details and even brought her grandmothers vintage sewing kit with her. Grace and her sister rocked matching floral robes before they put their dresses on. Grace embodies the entire reason that I photograph the bride stepping into her dress for the first time. You can see the minute the lace draped over her shoulders that she simply felt beautiful. She had a huge smile and a glow to her face. You can see the emotion of her father seeing her for the first time in her wedding dress. Being a father to a daughter myself, these moments are even more special for me to capture.

Grace and Max did a first look/reveal across from the Hotel Monaco before we were off for a very cold and awesome shoot. They went over to a private room in the courthouse where the judge married them overlooking the Ben Franklin Bridge at night. I had a ridiculous time with this couple and their family. We created a beautiful album for them to tell the story of their special Philadelphia elopement.

The Philadelphia Federal Courthouse sits at the heart of Old City, steps from where the founding fathers shaped a nation. For couples eloping in Philadelphia, this building carries real weight. Judges have been marrying couples here in a private ceremony room overlooking the Ben Franklin Bridge, one of the most dramatic backdrops in the city. The building itself dates to 1941, a federal-era landmark mixing Art Deco solidity with the kind of gravitas that makes vows feel permanent. At night, with the bridge lit across the Delaware River, it is genuinely one of the most striking ceremony settings in all of Philadelphia.

Vendors

Getting ready: Hotel Monaco Philadelphia | Ceremony venue: Philadelphia Federal Courthouse | Photography: Jordan Brian Studios, Philadelphia wedding and elopement photographer

Philadelphia is one of my favorite cities to photograph elopements. If you are planning a Philadelphia wedding or elopement and want to see more of what this city has to offer, check out my guide to the best Philadelphia wedding venues for more inspiration on ceremony and reception spots throughout the city.

Grace and Max portrait outside Philadelphia Federal Courthouse during their winter elopement Grace getting ready at Hotel Monaco Philadelphia with her sister and parents before the elopement Grace stepping into her wedding dress at Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, smiling with pure joy Grace's father seeing her in her wedding dress for the first time at Hotel Monaco Grace and her sister in matching floral robes getting ready at Hotel Monaco Philadelphia Grace showing off the lace detail of her wedding dress at Hotel Monaco Philadelphia Grace's grandmother's vintage sewing kit detail photograph, a treasured family heirloom Grace and Max first look reveal outside Hotel Monaco Philadelphia in winter Max seeing Grace for the first time during their Philadelphia elopement first look Grace and Max embracing during their first look near the Philadelphia Federal Courthouse Grace and Max laughing together during their Philadelphia winter elopement portraits Grace and Max walking hand in hand through Philadelphia during their elopement Elopement ceremony at Philadelphia Federal Courthouse overlooking the Ben Franklin Bridge Grace and Max exchanging vows at Philadelphia Federal Courthouse with judge officiating Grace and Max sharing their first kiss as a married couple at Philadelphia Federal Courthouse Grace and Max celebrating just after their courthouse ceremony in Philadelphia Grace and Max portrait together at Philadelphia Federal Courthouse at night Grace and Max with family at Philadelphia Federal Courthouse after their winter elopement ceremony Grace and Max portraits along Market Street Philadelphia after their courthouse elopement Grace and Max intimate portrait during Philadelphia elopement photography session Grace looking over her shoulder in wedding dress during Philadelphia winter elopement portraits Max and Grace laughing outdoors in Philadelphia after their courthouse elopement Grace and Max close portrait during Philadelphia Federal Courthouse elopement Grace and Max walking through Philadelphia streets on their winter elopement day Grace and Max romantic portrait near the Ben Franklin Bridge, Philadelphia elopement Grace and Max elopement portrait in Old City Philadelphia at dusk Grace and Max smiling together during their Philadelphia winter elopement portrait session Grace bridal portrait in wedding dress at Hotel Monaco Philadelphia before the ceremony Grace and her sister sharing a moment before the Philadelphia elopement ceremony Grace and Max walking through Old City Philadelphia holding hands after their elopement Grace and Max portrait on Philadelphia street, winter elopement photography by Jordan Brian Grace and Max final portrait from their Philadelphia Federal Courthouse elopement Grace and Max with family members celebrating their Philadelphia courthouse elopement
This is how Jordan Brian does presidential portraits…