Melissa & Rob’s summer Crystal Tea Room Philadelphia wedding was action packed! First off, I only photograph them when it is blazing hot outside. Their GTKY engagement session at Penn’s Landing the summer before was about 95 degrees out and their wedding day had to be quite warm too!
A word on the venue
A quick note on the Crystal Tea Room, since it keeps showing up in summer city weddings for good reason. It sits on the ninth floor of the Wanamaker Building in the heart of Center City, a grand old ballroom with crystal chandeliers and tall arched windows that pull in late summer light. For Melissa and Rob it gave the day a classic Philadelphia feel without leaving downtown. The room handles the logistics most ballroom couples worry about, hotel blocks nearby, climate control for a July wedding, and ready rooms on site, which matters when the city heat can shut down outdoor portrait windows fast.
Bridal Suite at Loews Hotel in Philadelphia
Everyone did their preparations at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia. One of my favorite hotels in the city as the suites are so lovely with stunning views. The guys’ energy was excellent, so I knew it was going to be a fun day. I like that energy level high all the way until the last dance!
The Loews is incredible because there are so many locations there to photograph, especially when the weather is not your friend. To keep everyone fresh for as long as possible, we did a private first look with Melissa and Rob at the Loews on a private floor. The nerves seem just to start to go away after we do the first look then it was off in their trolley to photograph in the city!
Ceremony & Reception: Crystal Tea Room
Florist: Marcus Hook Florist
Hair & Markup: Blush Salon (Brittany Naab)
Band: Milan 77 (EBE Entertainment)
Bride’s Dress: Hayley Paige
Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Groom’s Tux: TheBlackTux.com
Videographer: Stomping Bread Productions
Cake: Termini Brothers
Camera: Contax 645 and Canon Digital
Film: Portra 400 & Acros 100
I don’t want to say what Rob was showing his father but it was priceless!
This was a requested photograph from the groom of his friend’s crazy face. I think he did quite well! haha
Andy, from Stomping Bread productions is the man. Hire him if he is available!!!
Wedding photos at 2nd National Bank in Philadelphia
With their permit on hand, we went over to photograph at the 2nd National Bank and wow the light was incredible! What an amazing bridal party too! The guys were a lot of fun and brought a little Long Island flair. And the girls were fantastic and great to work with. We stopped off quickly at City Hall before entering the Crystal Tea Room.
Crystal Tea Room summer weddings!
The Crystal Tea Room is one of my favorite venues to work at for several reasons. First, it’s a great spot to capture family formals quickly with a fabulous backdrop while the staff sets up for the ceremonies or reception. Second, Miguel the venue manager is the best. He’s sharp, quick, positive and makes everyone happy (guest, family or vendor). All of these factors make for a great environment! Thirdly, the bridal suite is so big and spacious, and the location of it is perfect compared with the cocktail hour, ceremony location and reception areas. Finally, there is plenty of dance space for Milan 77 from EBE to rock the reception!
I had a great time with Melissa and Rob. They bring hot weather whenever I see them! And were great to work with! Best wishes!
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.