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A Spring Wedding at the Maas Building

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February 4, 2025

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Professional storyteller, empath, casual outdoorswoman, amateur whiskey enthusiast, and travel aficionado - here to document your love story in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and beyond.
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an outdoor courtyard ceremony space at the Maas Building, against large teal doors with large windows, with two sets of wooden chairs around a center aisle with an antique style red carpet runner. There are vines and greenery growing all around the walls.

Natalie & Ben’s May eclectic spring wedding day at the Maas Building was one of my all time favorites. Their free flowing timeline and warm spring day in Philadelphia burst 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. Natalie is in the depths of medical school and Ben is a lawyer, both conducting their lives with the singular focus of serving marginalized communities. I was immediately excited 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. You can imagine their celebration was full of just as much intentionality from all of their guests.

The Maas Building is an incredibly interesting structure, featuring a small kitchen space and pizza oven perfectly suited for the style of weddings they host. Natalie & Ben opted to hire Pitrucco Pizza, a food truck that parked right out front to serve pizza for dinner. I’ve worked with them at several venues so far and have always loved my experience!

Getting Ready, First Look, and Portraits at the Maas Building

Though Natalie and Ben did not have a formal wedding party, they still surrounded themselves with friends all morning. Natalie got dressed on site in a small getting ready suite, and Ben met them later on in the afternoon. Their first look, though informal, brought enthusiasm and relief to both of them. We spent some time exploring the space together and chasing all the interesting pockets of light we could find. Eventually, they tucked away once their guests started arriving.

a small centerpiece flower vase holding poppies, peonies, and eucalyptus on a white tablecloth, outdoors against a white wall with lots of midday shadows across it during a spring wedding at the Maas Building
a group of friends sitting on a couch in a cluttered room, filled with bags and boxes, as they prepare for a wedding
black and white image of a two-piece wedding dress and a cape, hanging from a ceiling light fixture in a bedroom with a sink in the background
a woman in a floral dress, standing and having her dress sewn by another woman, seated on a couch, head down) while getting ready for a wedding in a cluttered room
three friends in a cluttered room, one standing and two sitting on a couch, talking and getting ready for a wedding
looking through a doorway, the bride is in her pajamas kneeling on the couch, looking at her phone
the bride, in her pajamas and holding her wedding boots, is looking up the stairs off-camera as she prepares to get dressed
black and white image of a bride getting dressed with the help of her four friends, smiling as they surround her
black and white image of a bride in a two piece wedding dress laughing, while four of her friends help her get into the dress at the Maas Building
black and white image of a bride in a two piece dress with spaghetti straps, looking down at herself while her four friends fuss over the dress
black and white image of a bride being buttoned into her two piece wedding dress by two of her friends
black and white image of a bride getting ready for her wedding day, surrounded by her friends, who are helping her change her undergarments
black and white image of a bride getting ready for her wedding day, surrounded by her friends, who are helping her change her undergarments
bride in a two piece wedding dress, putting on a sheer cape with help from two of her friends
bride wearing a two piece wedding dress and a sheer cape, looking at herself in the mirror with her hands on her hips
black and white image of a bride wearing a two piece wedding gown and a sheer cape, silhouetted looking out a window away from the camera
bride in a two piece wedding gown and a sheer cape with a curly short haircut, laughing toward a window
black and white image of a bride with her hands on her hips, smiling off camera toward her friends
close up image of a bride wearing a two piece cropped spaghetti strap top, a simple skirt, and a sheer cape with one button at her waist, her hand held at her side with lots of rings at the Maas Building
a bride stepping into her wedding boots, holding up her skirt while her friend helps her zip them up
close up image of a bride's hand holding up her skirt, focusing on her salt and pepper diamond engagement ring
bridal bouquet of greenery, poppies, eucalyptus, and other orange flowers, positioned on a bench outdoors against a white wall with dappled shadows during a spring wedding at the Maas Building
bride (brown hair, sheer cape, two piece gown) walking up to her groom (brown hair, green suit) in a lush green cobblestone courtyard
bride (brown hair, sheer cape, two piece gown) walking up to her groom (brown hair, green suit) in a lush green cobblestone courtyard at the Maas Build
bride (brown hair, sheer cape, two piece gown) and groom (brown hair, green suit) in a lush green cobblestone courtyard at the Maas Build, her laughing at him and him smirking at the camera, pointing at her
bride and groom walking through a lush green cobblestone courtyard toward their friends, away from camera
boutonniere on a gray bench in dappled sunlight, with eucalyptus and small red buds
close up of a bride holding her bouquet, looking off to the side
looking down on a bride and groom in an industrial stairwell as they embrace, smiling at each other
bride (short brown curly hair, bangs) holding her bouquet and smiling softly toward the camera in front of a wall full of plants and an industrial staircase at the Maas Building
bride (short brown curly hair, bangs) holding her bouquet and smiling softly down at her flowers in front of a wall full of plants and an industrial staircase
close up image of a bride (white, sheer dress) and groom (linen olive suit) facing each other and holding hands in front of a wall full of plants and an industrial staircase
close up image of a bride (white, sheer dress) and groom (linen olive suit) facing each other, embracing and laughing, in front of a wall full of plants and an industrial staircase
Bride walking away from the camera, holding up her skirt as she climbs an industrial staircase
bridal bouquet of ranunculus, poppies, and greenery on a staircase, on top of a bride's sheer white cape and train
bride and groom standing on an industrial steel staircase in front of a brick wall, smiling at the camera. the bride is holding a bouquet while her train falls down the stairs
Groom (brown hair, glasses, white button down shirt, linen olive suit, and brown dress shoes) in a lush green cobblestone courtyard, smiling softly at the camera with his hand in his pocket
bride and groom embracing and smiling at the camera in a lush green cobblestone courtyard before their spring wedding at the Maas Building
bride (two piece cropped dress with a sheer long sleeve cape, curly short brown hair with bangs) holding her bouquet at her side and holding groom's hand (brown hair, olive linen suit, brown shoes), smiling softly at each other in a lush green cobblestone courtyard at the Maas Building
close up of a groom (white button down shirt, olive green linen suit) wearing a boutonniere with eucalyptus and small red buds
groom (brown hair, olive green linen suit) smiling at the camera with one hand in his pocket, while wearing a boutoniere in front of a lush green wall
bride looking softly down at her bouquet held in front of her in front of a courtyard wall dappled with sunlight
bride holding her skirt as she hugs her mother in law, their ceremony space in the background
bride (wearing white) and five of her friends (in various colorful and eclectic dresses and a blue suit) smiling at each other in a lush green cobblestone courtyard for a spring wedding

Wedding Ceremony

Guests 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 stole a brief quiet moment together before the festivities truly kicked off.

close up of two guests toasting their martini glasses together during a spring wedding at the Maas Building
close up of an eclectic signature drink sign, featuring "marble-rita" and "lemon drop" signature drinks
guest signing a guest book
welcome table with a polaroid guest book, bird-cage card box, and schedule of events
close up of a wooden ceremony chair, with a small bouquet of eucalyptus tied to the side
wide image of three tables set up with wooden chairs, white tablecloths, and a small bouquet of flowers, inside a lush springtime courtyard garden with cobblestone
two guests taking a polaroid selfie by the guest book in a green courtyard
bride and groom entering their ceremony aisle together at the Maas Building, while their guests smile at them
bride and groom entering their ceremony together, through a lush green courtyard
bride walking down the aisle to her spring wedding ceremony at the Maas building, holding her flowers and laughing while her guests smile behind her
bride and groom exchanging vows during their ceremony, in front of large teal doors while their guests watch
bride and groom exchanging vows during their ceremony, in front of large teal doors while their guests watch
bride and groom being married by their friend, in front of large teal doors while their guests watch
guest sipping her lemon martini during the ceremony
bride and groom being married by their friend, in front of large teal doors while their guests watch
bride and groom exchanging their first kiss during their spring wedding ceremony at the Maas Building, in front of large teal doors while their guests watch
bride and groom holding hands as they exit their spring wedding ceremony at the Maas Building, bride smiling down while groom high fives a guest
bride and groom embracing after their wedding ceremony, away from their guests, in a lush green cobblestone courtyard during their spring wedding at the Maas Building
bride and groom smiling at the camera while groom gives a thumbs up after their wedding ceremony
groom kissing bride on the cheek as she cries after their wedding ceremony at the Maas Building
bride and groom embracing after their wedding ceremony, both looking away from camera
bride and groom taking a private moment to talk after their ceremony in the cocktail hour space, within a lush green cobblestone courtyard during their wedding at the Maas Building

Cocktail Hour

After the ceremony, Pitruco Pizza fired 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 together. Eventually there were some informal toasts to pave the way to the reception. This timeline was so fluid and filled with ease, truly operating on how Natalie & Ben were feeling. It was such a joy to be surrounded by vendors who both resonated with that vision and knew how to accomplish it professionally.

wide image of guests mingling in a courtyard cocktail hour during a spring wedding at the Maas Building
bride embracing guests, while her friends kneel behind her to bustle her train
close up image of two lemon drop martinis at the bar
bride smiling as she embraces a guest
a view through trees of a group of friends sitting on benches and talking
black and white, blurry image of a bride twirling her cape
black and white, blurry image of a bride twirling her cape and smiling
close up of bride and groom hugging and smiling
close up of groom's hands as he holds bride behind her back
floral centerpieces in a thin tall vase, on a white tablecloth in a room filled with ivy
floral centerpieces in a thin tall vase, on a white tablecloth in a room filled with ivy
close up of two tall antique champagne flutes with a bronze metal rim, against a wall growing with ivy
mother of the groom sitting on a bench, delivering a toast while guests sit and eat pizza
bride and groom sitting on a bench in front of an ivy wall, holding hands and looking at each other during speeches
a guest smiling from her chair as she videos the speeches on her phone, other guests laughing around her
mother of the groom holding her typed speech and smiling toward bride and groom
black and white image of brother of the groom, seated and delivering his speech to the bride and groom, laughing in the background
guests smiling during speeches
black and white image of bride and groom listening to speeches, while the bride throws a "rock on" symbol with her hands
bride's two friends delivering a speech in front of an ivy wall
black and white image of guests laughing during speeches
groom's friend giving a toast in front of an ivy wall, while bride and groom sit on a bench and watch
mother of the groom raising her martini class to cheers, while bride and groom sit in the background

Cake Cutting and Reception

Finally, the star of the night: a vegan, gluten free carrot cake made with love by Ben’s mom. She 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. Guests dispersed all over the venue, enjoying sweet treats or making their way up to dance.

flash image of a homemade vegan gluten free carrot cake on a table against a wall with greenery
close up of a bride (wearing many rings) and groom's hands, cutting their wedding cake
bride and groom on opposite sides of their wedding cake, admiring it
black and white image of tow cocktail glasses placed next to the fire pit
a table full with cookie platters
close up image of a string of lights at night time, running through leafy tree branches
a close up of a bride and groom's hands as they each take a bit of their wedding cake
close up of a bride (wearing many rings) and groom's hands, cutting their wedding cake
a close up of a naked carrot cake after the bride and groom had taken a slice out of it
black and white image of a couple kissing on the dance floor during the reception
a disco ball in the rafters, reflecting sprays of light
mother of the groom holding her crutch and dancing during the reception
bride twirling the train of her sheer cape over her friend's head on the dance floor
a guest smiling, holding her martini glass, and dancing during the wedding reception
a girl in a green dress being dipped by a man in a blue suit on the dance floor
a guest smiling and dancing during the reception
a couple dancing together during the wedding reception
a couple dancing together during the wedding reception
the groom dancing during the wedding reception
the bride, facing away from the camera, with a two piece wedding gown, surrounded by a shutter drag of lights

Natalie & Ben, thank you so incredibly much for all the trust 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. Your beautiful spring wedding at the Maas Building was truly one for the books! 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

Ready to plan your own intentional and eclectic wedding?

Whether you’re planning at the Maas Building or not, I’m here to help you find peace, intentionality, and personalization in your wedding planning process. Reach out to learn more about my process as your wedding photographer, and why your photographer plays such an enormous part in helping you feel present during your wedding day!

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Looking for more wedding and elopement inspiration? Take a look at this beautiful summer Pennsylvania Farmhouse Elopement in West Chester, PA.

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