The minute Rachel and Matt mentioned they’d be having kittens at their wedding, I began counting down the days until I’d get to capture their love and all the kitty cuteness that would accompany it.

Having kittens at cocktail hour proved to be one of the most joyful and playful experiences I’ve witnessed yet.

Together, we explored the Awbury Arboretum, Rachel and Matt’s venue, striving for organic photos in the most natural of Philadelphia settings. The two were definitely more into candid photos versus posed, and as the night ensued, there were certainly plenty of spontaneous and hilarious scenarios to be captured from their beautiful wedding day.

Rachel, Matt and their family and friends all knew how to make for a good (and dance-filled) party, of which included an epic cake smash — by the end of it, Matt had tossed hand-torn slices of the entire cake out to the laughing crowd who were witnessing the tradition. Success.

I’m wishing these two many more shared cake experiences to come and other memorable moments as they begin their life together! Congrats Rachel and Matt!

Vendors

Venue: Awbury Arboretum

Catering: JPM Catering

Ketubah: Tallulah Ketubahs

Dress: Mill Crest Vintage

Makeup: Shimmer and Spice

Hair: Kerri Fawley of Hush Salon

Flowers: Green Meadows Florist

Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar, Brooklyn

Kittens: PAWS, Old City

Musicians: Belleville Quartet

On a beautiful June evening, Margaret and Joby wed in the backyard of their home, a farm that has been in Joby’s family for many, many years.

We enjoyed wandering around its grounds, taking photos in front of the succulent-covered stone wall, in front of their quaint, purple-doored home and out in the fields as the warm golden hour hit. Along the way, we mixed in their friends and family, which includes both an adorable dog and cat.

One of Margaret’s friends gifted a surprise handmade piñata to Margaret, which added to the day’s fun, and kept the kids entertained alongside the scattering of other outdoor games and activities.

It was a lovely day spent outside and has me dreaming of shooting more summer weddings, taking in the sunset from behind my camera.

Wishing these two many more beautiful evenings to come, hanging out and relaxing in the warmth of their own backyard. Congrats Margaret and Joby!

Vendors

Dress: BHLDN

Make-up: Makeup Artistry by Roxy Jackson

Flowers: The Rustic Bunch 

Event Decor and Planning: LEO Design Gallery

Cake: Made by Lino

Band: Jonathan Monument

Catering / Food Truck: Shorty’s Sunflower Cafe and Truck Stop

Janet and John are each two of the sweetest people and together they were just an all around super pleasant couple to capture. 

I met Janet at her parents’ house, where she got ready with some family and friends before riding off in a school bus to meet her husband-to-be. Janet’s preparing for graduate school to become a teacher, so the school bus was a natural fit and a neat touch to the day.

When we arrived to the St. Peter’s Church, John was already waiting, just goofing around with some of his closest friends. I set him up for the first look in a tree-lined pathway behind the church, where Janet would then meet him and they’d each share a moment of pure joy.

Afterward, we wandered around the church grounds and shared some laughs with their bridal party and family before going into the ceremony. The day felt super natural and Janet and John were nothing but smiles when with each other.

Wishing them tons of love as they prepare to fly back to Seattle and begin this next chapter together!

Vendors:

Venue: St. Peter’s in the Great Valley Episcopal Church & The High Point
Catering: John Serock Catering
DJ: Joe Bertolini from Steve & Company
Flowers: DIY
Hair: Headlines Hair Design
Cake: Master’s Bakery

I first met Emily and Peter last winter at their South Philly home. Being practically neighbors, I took a quick bike ride over there and they invited me inside to have our first chat about their wedding. Little did I know that just a few months away, we’d be turning their charming Philly stoop into the spot where we’d do their first look. 

The idea to utilize their house for photos turned out to be so natural and beautiful. After the first look took place, we did some photos on their street, where multiple neighbors popped their heads out to say hello and compliment the couple. 

Then, Emily went inside to get her and Peter’s cat, Charlie, and didn’t hesitate to pick up the big guy in her dress. While this photo didn’t make the blog, one of my favorite captured moments of the day is the aftermath of Emily using a lint roller on her dress.

The experience kicked off the day in high spirits, which were carried over to the American Swedish Historical Museum, the couple’s venue. Here, we did some friend and family photos before heading into a beautiful ceremony and, of course, lots of dancing to follow.

Wishing Emily and Charlie many more happy days to come!

Vendors:

Venue: American Swedish Historical Museum

Caterer: Jeffrey Miller Catering

Florals: Katie Bieniosek Floral and Chicory

Make Up + Hair: Anna Lisa Pedano of Onlo Beauty Contact

Dress: Claire Pettibone; Retailer: Nicole Bridal

​DJ: Katie Rose of Stylus DJ

Lucy and Andrew’s engagement session was on one of those beautiful, warm spring evenings that I’ve been longing for ever since. The sun was golden and we had so much fun playing in it on the many quaint streets that are hidden within Old City.

We started off at the Magnolia Gardens where, while the magnolias were already long gone, the azaleas were just reaching their prime. From there, we followed the sun to some other floral-filled nooks, to walls covered in vines and to random stoops bedecked in color and character. 

We ended at Headhouse Square, a favorite spot of Lucy and Andrew’s (and mine too, when the farmer’s market takes over each Sunday!) before departing ways. 

It was good to explore the area with these two, and I’m looking forward to November when we’ll change neighborhoods and move to South Philly for their wedding at The Bok!

I love spending engagement sessions simply wandering through the city and picking out pretty backdrops with couples like Lauren and Joe. These two suggested doing some photos in Washington Square, a favorite spot of theirs, so from there we built an evening stroll through the surrounding area and up into old city.

Lauren and Joe filled the shoot with love and laughter (I could’ve filled up this whole blog post with adorable photos of them giggling at each other). We were fortunate to catch the last of the cherry blossoms on a hazy spring day in late April amidst Philly’s cobblestone streets and were blessed with a few minutes of sun peaking through before we wrapped up the shoot.

Wandering through Quince Street and over to the Painted Bride, lots of beautiful and silly moments were photographed and I can’t wait to capture more at Lauren and Joe’s wedding this July. Looking forward to seeing them wed at the American Swedish Historical Museum in just a few months!

In honor of the first week of spring (my favorite season!), I’m giving away a free, 90-minute engagement session to one in-love couple!

Engagement sessions are always a ton of fun because they’re super laid-back and often entail little other than wandering around and hanging out with your love in one (or a few) of your favorite spots. Engagement sessions also get you comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day. And you get to hang out with me your personal, creativity-driven photographer for the day…!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Follow @GraceDPhotos on Instagram

2. Repost the giveaway photo (above) or your favorite photo of you and your boo on your Instagram. Comment with #gracedphotosgiveaway, followed by where you’d love to have the shoot!

Bonus entries:

1. Like GraceD Photography on Facebook.

2. Share this link on Facebook.

3. Tag a fellow engaged friend who might also be interested in entering!

I loved Casey and Chris from the day they showed up to their engagement session with two adorable, smiling pooches. The two are super laid-back, animal lovers and winter warriors with capabilities far beyond my own for handling cold weather.

Casey and Chris’s wedding day was a brisk, but sunny, February Saturday that began in Old City and ended at Front and Palmer in Fishtown. 

We captured a tearful first look across the street from Hotel Monaco where the two got ready, resulting in one of my favorite moments from the day. And from there, we ventured off with Casey and Chris’s dearest friends to the Barnes and Rodin museums to capture their love and take advantage of the soft, early winter afternoon light before the sun would quickly begin to fade. 

Casey and Chris handled the cold temps like no other couple I’ve seen before and the entire bridal party acted in equally high spirits. Troopers, for sure, which made for some great captures before heading to the ceremony.

We all warmed up inside over touching handwritten vows and a funny moment where Casey and Chris shared a PB&J mid-ceremony before dinner and dancing commenced.

Wishing these two plenty of more shared PB&Js ahead as they venture into the future!

Jessica and Carmen had the sweetest, intimate dinner wedding at Terrain this past month. 

A unexpected warm day greeted us upon arriving to the venue and an abundance of golden light flowed through into the evening.

Jessica and Carmen met a handful of years back when Carmen first walked into a salon where Jessica was working. Not too long after, Carmen got up the courage to ask her out on a date, and the rest is history.

The two have since kindled a no-frills relationship, full of playful laughter that showed through during every part of their wedding day.

After the ceremony, friends and family gathered around to share a beautiful dinner in Terrain’s greenhouse, alongside celebratory cocktails and music. A cake cutting and doughnut tower added a sweet touch to end the night, as did the outdoor fire pit where Jessica and Carmen shared a brief moment to themselves.

Wishing these two a wonderful future ahead and many more charming, laughter-filled dinners to come!

Venue: Terrain at Styers

Cake: Adelaide’s Bakery in Magnolia, NJ

Florist: Sunrise Florist in Blackwood, NJ

Hair/Makeup: The Manor Salon & Spa in West Deptford, NJ

Dress: Willow by by Watters

[Click photos to enlarge]

Alex and Colin came down from their home in NYC to Philadelphia, where they’ll be celebrating their wedding next year at Front and Palmer.

We wandered to a bunch of different spots for their engagement session, beginning at the Barnes Foundation and ending down by the Schuylkill River behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Together, we had a blast exploring the city and seeking out the beautiful fall foliage that remained on the sunny November day.

Alex and Colin are great at making each other laugh and I can’t wait to experience more of their jokes at their wedding with all of their family and friends in 2017!