A Wedding in the Woods: Stacy + Joel

Today’s wedding is so super sweet and I love how Stacy + Joel really incorporated all their friends + family into the day. And the location? Genius. While on the hunt for their ceremony venue, they were having no luck – nothing resonated with them and they were all too expensive! The place that was the most meaningful to them was the woods. :) During a short hike one day in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, they stumbled upon the perfect spot: a natural amphitheater where guests could stand where the bridge that led to the ceremony site had a vaulted underbelly, which reminded them of a cathedral – and was free to use! Thanks to Love Me Do Photography for the lovely photos.

From Stacy + Joel, “The bridesmaids dresses were all from different places, including thrift stores, vintage stores, Etsy, designed with seamstresses, hand-me-down dresses and department stores. We wanted the ladies to wear something that they felt great in, would wear again, and that was within their individual budgets. They did have some guidelines for choosing a dress: tea length, pastel, vintage or vintage inspired. Most of the girls paid $10 to $20 for their dress and no more.”

We really, really love food so it was important that the meal be inventive but simple – something fitting for a Sunday afternoon in spring – and that the meal represent a collective effort. So, we determined to have an organized potluck. This is the only way we could imagine a meal representing “us.” Caterer Allison Person was perfect for the job because she embraced our vision and infused it with the highest of class and character.

We know from our friends how stressful planning a wedding can be, even for the most relaxed-at-heart, so we were determined to keep it as simple, drama-free and fun as possible. We wanted fun and creativity to dominate the entire process of planning and the event itself. Two of the ways we did this by choosing to have a potluck (some friends even grew produce special for the wedding!), and by having the bridesmaids and groomsmen choose their own attire for the day. Our friends are also our family, so we wanted their hands to be part of bringing it together as they, our community, have brought us together and nurtured us as a couple. We wanted the symbolism of the union to be represented in the process as much as in the day. We could not have done anything without the support, wisdom and creativity of our family and friends!

Thanks so much to Stacy + Joel and congrats on your lovely wedding!

Vendors

Photography: Love Me Do Photography // Venue: Ceremony in the woods of Fairmount Park // Wedding Dress: J.Crew // Hairpieces: freshly picked silk blossoms from a dogwood tree near the ceremony site // Groom Suit: slacks & coat from H&M; shirt, belt & tie from J. Crew // Rings: Bario-Neal // Cinematography: Hi-Society Productions // Event Planner: Lindsey Parsons // Floral Design: Our friend Heather Anderson // Invitations/Paper Goods: Our friend and designer Hannah Robinett made our invitations as a wedding present. The main decorative element for the reception space were Mexican wedding banners from Casa Bonampak // Cake: Our friend Marylin Crowley made our cake for us (she'd never made one before!) // Salad greens: Grown by our farmer-friends Matt & Amanda at the Germantown Kitchen Garden // Catering: Allison Person // Music: Our DJ was Holly Sue Allen [email protected]