Vibes Were “Funky + Fun” at This Nostalgic, Maximalist Philly Wedding in a Former School

School’s in session, so take notes ✏️ These Philadelphia “I do’s” had it all, and by all we mean: all the nostalgic joy of a school dance; all the dreamy, maximalist energy of crazy-colorful prom committee decor; all the butterflies of a wedding day more than a decade in the making. 

Brittany + Will’s nuptials are such a perfect example of how an unexpected venue can influence every element of your celebration and make a singularly meaningful experience out of your Big Day.

“At the time of our wedding, we had been together for over twelve years,” the couple says. “We wanted our wedding to reflect the life we have built together. Through our funky and fun style we created a day that was completely us.”

Yes, there were streamers. Yes, there were bold custom suits. Yes there was a reception dress covered in photos. Yes, there were adorable dogs in bowties. 

“Brittany + Will are one of the kindest and coolest couples out there, and they had to have a wedding to match that,” shares photographer Rebecca of Luna & Lark. “They planned a vibrant, maximalist wedding at Bok, a converted school in Philadelphia that now hosts events and artist studios. They call Philadelphia home and knew this space was perfect for the fun vibe they wanted to evoke.”

With the help of Confetti & Company, the couple planned a day that used decor to transport guests to a gleeful, celebratory world of playful pinks, vibrant oranges, lime greens, and periwinkle blues. First stop: a ceremony on the building’s roof (Philly skyline stunning in the background, of course). Then a reception in what was once the school’s gymnasium — basketball hoops, lockers, and all!

And the event design? That was all Fancy Pants Studio – aka Brittany herself!

“Our wedding led me to a career change!” bride Brittany explains. “After our wedding, I started taking on clients and my business, Fancy Pants Studio, has been growing ever since. I create funky event installations (fringes, drapery walls etc) and design stationery and day-of paper/signage.”

You’ll see all this in Rebecca’s photos, but she put it so beautifully: “Every detail tied into who they are and what they love.”

Here we see bride Brittany’s design handiwork brought to life by printers Fireball Printing and Revival Letterpress.

Absolutely enchanted by the rings this bride + groom exchanged from Emily Chelsea Jewelry! Especially that men’s wedding band — men’s rings can have stones, too!

We’ve got a whole shoppable collection of bridal getting ready outfits we love if you’re a bride like Brittany who needs a cute + cozy getting-ready fit to start the day off right.

Shop Bridal Print PJs Like Brittany’s!

Precious pajama sets with playful wedding-themed prints!

Flora Nikrooz Joy Notch Bridal 2-Piece Pajama Set$48SHOP NOW

Tie the Knot Short Sleeve Classic Shorty Stretch Jersey Pj Set$98SHOP NOW

Kate Spade New York Bridal Boxer Pajama Set$78SHOP NOW

The First Look

“I spotted my dress on Instagram and fell in love with it right away,” Brittany says of her twist bodice gown by Dana Harel from Bridal Atelier Montclair. “I had one dress shopping appointment and that was it!”

“We met our freshman year of college in our dorm!” the couple shares.

“Will was doing homework with one of my friends and I was walking to take a shower in a pink fuzzy robe when we said hi to each other for the first time.”

“We included our pups Milo and Lucy in multiple areas (Will’s cufflinks, programs, matchbooks, by our wedding cake).”

“We got the inspiration for Will’s embroidered tux from Matty Matheson’s 2025 Golden Globe outfit. I found the embroiderer who made his outfit, PS Chainstitch, and she embroidered Will’s tuxedo!”

Woodland Floral Design somehow captured what it feels like when Mother Nature throws a party with the beautifully bold blooms in this bridal bouquet.

Check out our feature on the brilliance of embroidered wedding suits to deep dive into a statement-making groom trend we’re loving.

The Ceremony

“Because Bok is a former school, the couple leaned into details that matched that vibe,” photographer Rebeccas says. (OBSESSED with this colorful classroom chair guest seating!!)

“Some of their personal details they incorporated into their day include their chuppah that Will built…”

“…a floral arrangement to honor and remember Brittany’s late grandmother…”

“…and the custom kippahs.”

Our Musical Choices
Processional
Groom + Wedding Party: "Honeybody" by Kishi Bashi || Bride: "Birds of a Feather" (Instrumental) - Vitamin String Quartet
Recessional
"Birds of a Feather" by Billie Eilish
First Dance
"Our House" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

The Reception

“Their reception was in the gymnasium where they installed a black and white checkered dance floor,” Rebecca remembers. “Brittany created the ceiling streamers by herself, and added a big disco ball from Lumos Co. to make it even more fun.”

“With our seating chart we wrote handwritten letters to all of our guests on library book inserts,” say Brittany + Will say.

“It was a fun way to lean into the venue and to give each guest a personal note.”

“The notes were on a chalkboard with drawings that represented our milestones as well!” says the couple of Melanie Hower Art‘s calligraphy + illustration contribution to the design.

Caterer Lilah delighted guests with a reception dinner full of delicious bites.

LOVING this dance-floor-adjacent lime green set up for Luv’d Up DJs!

Need more fabulous streamer/fringe wedding inspo in your life? This 70’s inspired Chicago wedding, this disco dream wedding in Boston, and this colorful DIY Texas wedding are a few of our other faves.

We have Something Vintage Rentals to thank for the super-fun furniture, funky table decor, and stripey linens.

*Ring Ring* : It’s for you! We wrote a whole feature — Audio Guestbooks for Weddings: Why We’re Obsessed + How to Set One Up  — that you need to read if you’re looking for unique guestbook alternatives.

This isn’t the first Bok wedding we’ve fallen in love with: A Fun + Funky Wedding Full of Color in a Restored Historic High School

Behold the magnificence that is this three-tier vintage wedding cake by New June.

Our Favorite Memory
Hard to pick just one! Our private vows, our ceremony, walking into our reception, seeing all of our loved ones in one place- the list goes on and on!

“For my reception dress, I wanted something fun that felt like us,” Brittany says. “I saw a dress online with printed pictures and beaded frames and I fell in love. From there, I decided that I wanted photos from all throughout our relationship printed on my reception dress.”

“One of my bridesmaids and I added the photos and embroidered all the beading onto the dress. It took months to complete but it was so worth it!”

Our Advice
Do whatever feels the most authentically you! So many elements made our wedding unique to us and it was amazing to see everything come together.

Find vendors you trust. It was so fun seeing the team come together after working with everyone individually leading up to it. I feel so lucky to have had the vendors we did!

Congrats, Brittany + Will! Your fun + funky Philly wedding was nostalgic, maximalist perfection! GWS wishes you all the best!