Portico Wedding Philadelphia
Wedding Venue: Portico at Awbury Arboretum
Wedding Vibe: whimsical, secret garden-esque, romantic
Color Palette: pastels: peach, pink, and white with accents of blue and purple
Philadelphia Arboretum Wedding
Portico is one of my favorite wedding venues in Philadelphia. This couple shares how they chose this sweet spot.
“We selected Portico because it checked all the boxes in our venue search, as well as being the
first and only one we toured. We knew we wanted an outdoor wedding ceremony surrounded
by lush greenery and flowers. The arboretum, especially in the Spring, is a peak time for this
venue as the flowers and vegetation would be in full bloom. We found it enchanting,
whimsical, and decided our search was over right after we finished our tour.”
Sometimes it really is love at first sight!
Bridal Suite at Portico
I absolutely love the new reimagined bridal suite at this Philadelphia arboretum wedding. It offers a beautiful space for getting ready right on sight. The natural light from the big windows lends itself to romantic portraits without going outside. This comes in handy, especially on days when the weather doesn’t cooperate. The bride’s wedding dress was from DayDream Bridal Shop in Ardmore PA and she found the perfect one!
How They Met
Here is a bit about the bride and groom’s love story:
“We matched on Hinge during the heat of COVID in March of 2020. After finding out that we
had some mutual friends and inquiring about each other, we kept our line of
communication going for the next 2 months while COVID had the world under siege. Finally, in
May of 2020, state parks were the first public establishments to open back up and we decided
to meet in person for the first time at Ridley Creek Park. After having our first date laid out on a patch of grass,
talking for about 4 hours, we knew we had something special.”
How He Proposed
I love a good proposal story:
“Fast forward to February 25th , 2021, Peter called up Katie to go for a random walk at Black
Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville, PA (a park we both frequented) in the middle of the day.
Katie’s “spidey-senses” were tingling at this point because it was totally out of the blue and
Peter had also recommended we reschedule going to Katie’s parent’s house for the following
day. Peter shows up at Katie’s apartment, dressed in a nice sweater (that she got him that
Christmas), slacks, and nice shoes. Very odd hiking attire. Another red flag was we didn’t bring
Emmett along (which we always do).
We get to the park and in Katie’s words, Peter was acting “weird and quiet” the whole walk
until we reached the “Watershed lookout” of BlackRock Sanctuary. Peter gave his little
mini-speech, which was something to the effect of “I’d toss a billion dollars right
back in that river if it meant being with you for the rest of my life”
…thinking on his feet…not his strong suit.
Peter then got down on one knee, in the snow, wet knees and all, and proposed to Katie!”
**And Peter only had the ring in his possession for about 2 hours before proposing.
Rainy Day Couples Photos on Portico Porch
This wedding day was full of love and a little rain! Even with the drizzle, there are many pretty places for photos at Awbury a favorite being the big wrap-around porch. And we were still able to capture the lush greens and the clouds offered beautiful diffused light.
Dog-friendly Philadelphia Wedding Venue
This couple was excited to include their dogs on their big day. Portico is a dog-friendly venue that allows you to have them pop in for a few photos so that you can get pictures with your furry friend. Even the dogs have smiles on their faces!
Wedding Tip: Ask a trusted friend or hire a professional to care for your pets on the day. This helps create a worry-free way to include them in your special day.
Tented Reception at Awbury Arboretum Philadelphia
This Philadelphia arboretum wedding had a tented reception which offers a whimsical retreat to celebrate the newly married couple. The outdoor area at Awbury provides ample space for dining, cake cutting, and the first dance. Cottage Flower Designs of Malvern PA did an amazing job with the blooms and tablescapes. The long farmhouse tables were decorated with a delightful mix of pastel flowers, and candles setting the tone for a lovely evening of dining and dancing.
Dancing the Night Away!
Now it’s time for the bride and groom to dance the night away! The dance floor was packed all night and the bride and groom had a blast. The fun reception lighting added to the festive mood and celebration. These lighting touches can really elevate any space. And this bride and groom had some great dance moves to show off!
Cake Cutting
Time to cut the cake! This couple included the bride’s parents’ knife that they used on their wedding day. Including generational keepsakes can be a sweet way to honor family and loved ones. The cake was from The Night Kitchen Bakery just up the street in Chestnut Hill and they happen to make some of my favorite sweets! What a great way to end this Portico wedding in Philadelphia.
Wedding Vendors
Wedding Venue: Portico (Awbury Arboretum)
Caterer: Peachtree Catering
Wedding Planner: Olive Street Events
Wedding Dress: Daydream Bridal
Make-up: Carly Giangiulio
Hair: Marissa Grace Artistry
Rings: G: Holden B: Melanie Casey
Flowers: Cottage Flowers: Heather Porter
DJ: Silver Sound Entertainment – DJ Joel Kupis
Videography: Luke Bernardi
Wedding Officiant: Debora Ann Zambito
Wedding Cake: Night Kitchen Bakery & Cafe
Groom’s attire: Sagets Formal Wear
Invitations: minted.com
Transportation: King Limousine
Want to See more Weddings at Portico?
check out these links below for more inspiration:
Portico Awbury Arboretum Wedding Philadelphia Pa
Awbury Arboretum Summer Wedding Philadelphia
8 Tips For Your Awbury Arboretum Wedding
Couple’s Review
“Heidi Roland Photography provided flawless, first-class wedding photography service! She created a calming and personable experience for my wife and I and we couldn’t be more thankful. Our wedding photos at Portico (Awbury Arboretum) are spectacular! She comes HIGHLY recommended. We’ll be cherishing these photos forever. Thank you, Heidi!”
Inquire about photography for your wedding day
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