Natalie & Ben’s May wedding day was one of my all time favorites. Their free flowing timeline and warm spring day in Philadelphia was filled with some of the most authentic joy and celebration I have ever had the honor of witnessing: two people choosing to get married not because they feel any pressure to, but because they are better for knowing the other person. They also happen to be two of the most interesting people I have ever met, with Natalie in the depths of medical school and Ben in his career as a lawyer, both conducting their lives with the singular focus of actively serving marginalized communities. I was immediately filled with excitement for their wedding day after getting to know them during their hiking engagement session and getting just a glimpse of the intentionality and presence at the forefront of their wedding plans. With that in mind, you can imagine that their celebration was simply full of just as much intentionality and presence from all of the folks who love them most.
The Maas Building is an incredibly interesting structure, featuring a small kitchen space and pizza oven that caters perfectly to the style of weddings they host. Natalie & Ben opted to hire Pitrucco Pizza, a food truck that can park right out front and serve pizza for dinner. I’ve had the pleasure of working with them at several venues so far and have always loved my experience!
Natalie and her friends, though not a formal wedding party, got dressed on site in a small getting ready suite, and Ben came to meet them later on in the afternoon. We spent some time exploring the space together and chasing all the interesting pockets of light we could find, until it was time for them to hide away before the ceremony.
As guests started to arrive, they were greeted with cocktails designed after Natalie & Ben’s precious cats, Lemon & Marble, and welcomed into the courtyard area where the ceremony would take place. With their dear friend serving as their officiant, Natalie & Ben entered their ceremony together with lots of laughter and cheers (one of my all time favorite ways to bend and break ceremony traditions). After exchanging beautifully heartfelt vows in front of all their loved ones, they took a brief quiet moment together before all of the festivities truly kicked off.
After the ceremony, Pitruco Pizza was firing on all cylinders to provide plenty of pizza and charcuterie throughout the rest of the evening. Guests mingled to the sweet symphony of Chappell Roan’s Red Wine Supernova, enjoying time by a fire pit and wandering the rest of the lush courtyard. Natalie’s friends bustled her train while she received hugs from other friends and sipped a lemon drop martini, we twirled around in the golden hour light, and eventually there were some informal toasts to pave the way through to the reception. This timeline was so fluid and filled with ease, truly operating based on how Natalie & Ben were feeling. It was such a joy to be surrounded by vendors that not only resonated with that vision, but also knew how to accomplish it professionally.
Finally, the star of the night: a vegan, gluten free carrot cake made with love by Ben’s mom, who injured her foot the day before the wedding and still managed to pull off this delicious feat.
(I did snag a slice before I left, and it was one of the best carrot cakes I’ve ever had.)
After cutting the cake, the DJ opened up the upstairs dance floor and guests dispersed all over the venue, enjoying sweet treats or making their way up to dance.
Natalie & Ben, thank you so incredibly much for all the trust you afforded me on such a beautiful and intentional day. I have adored getting to know you both and it was such an honor to be by your side and experiencing these memories alongside you. Congratulations to you both!
Vendor List
Venue: Maas Building
Catering: Pitruco Pizza Food Truck
Coordinating: Philly DIY Wedding
Photography: Anna Claire Photos, LLC.
Second Photographer: Sky Gold Design
Dress: Kinfolk Bridal, Goli June Bridal, the Law Bridal
