Julie and Philip’s wedding day celebrated their love story with an intimate and romantic black-tie affair at the Great Marsh Estate. Their closest family and friends were in attendance, and the talented ladies of Planners on Retainer helped bring their fairytale-inspired wedding to life.
Julie gifted the ladies of her life with beautiful bridal robes to wear, and of course, we had to take a few portraits to remember these lovely moments.
The bridal suite at the Great Marsh was exquisitely adorned and made a stunning backdrop for Julie’s getting ready and bridal portraits. The flower girls were adorable and loved having their moments with the bride.
Julie and Philip’s wedding was a beautiful affair, and they wanted to make sure every moment was memorable. They decided against a traditional first look, but wanted to have a special moment together before the ceremony. That’s when we suggested a “no look/first look.” We arranged for them to meet in a private area of the manor house, away from the hustle and bustle of the wedding preparations.
As the couple approached each other, they both looked excited and nervous. They held hands, and as they did, they both took a deep breath. With their eyes closed, they began reading love notes they had written to each other. As they read, their hands trembled with emotion, they laughed and cried tears of happiness and joy. It was truly a romantic moment that the couple wanted to share, and we were honored to play a part in making it happen.
The couple’s religious beliefs were important to them, and they exchanged their vows in a traditional Catholic ceremony at the beautiful Saint Veronica Catholic Church. The priest’s humorous stories about the couple added a touch of humor to the tender and heartfelt ceremony.
After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed cocktails on the North Lawn and took in the beautiful views of the property.
While cocktail hour was taking place on the back lawn, Julie + Philip, along with their families, honored their Korean heritage with a long-standing traditional tea ceremony. Many of the family elders took part in the celebrations, and these traditions helped ensure a long, joyful, and prosperous marriage. For Julie and Philip, honoring their heritage and including their families in their celebrations was paramount and added a beautiful and sentimental moment to honor their parents and grandparents.
A candid moment of our beautiful couple moments after we wrapped up portraits.
Guests enjoy a stroll to the Manor Barn for the evening reception celebrations. While the guests began to travel from the Manor House to the barn, our couple enjoyed a “first look” of their reception privately before their beloved guests arrival.
For the reception, Julie wanted this space to feel elegant and cozy. Beautiful, lush greenery and floral centerpieces made by Flower N Florist, set the ambiance for the space to feel intimate, and encouraging guests to mingle and converse. Hues of sea glass green and classic ivory, with accents in gold, set the reception to feel romantic, elegant, and light-hearted. The guests were treated to decadent dinner menu by the incredible catering by Serendipity Catering & Design, and Julie’s father gave a tender, teary-eyed speech. To view the beautiful wedding video made by Quiet Tide Videography, click here. Throughout the room, you could feel the love from his fond childhood stories of his daughter. Together, the couple opted for a parent dance, and again, many of the guests looked on with such fondness, and many were crying a happy tear or two.
After the cake-cutting , the dancing began, and the guests were treated to endless music that made everyone, from the oldest to the youngest, dance the night away. Guests were also encouraged to cool off outdoors, and for those who didn’t want to dance, a roaring fire and smores were nestled outdoors and were a guest favorite.
The evening they ended with Julie + Philip sneaking away from entertaining their guests on the dance floor for an intimate sparkler photo.
The Creative Team
Wedding Design & Planner: Planners on Retainer
Venue: The Great Marsh Estate
Ceremony: Saint Veronica Catholic Church
Florist: Flower N Florist
Cake: Signature Sweets by Amanda
Styling: Shine Tina! Photography: Marie Violet Photography
Videography: Quiet Tide
Entertainment: DJ Chizzau
Catering: Serendipity Catering & Design
Wedding Designer: Stella York
Bridal Boutique: The Bridal Room
Ring Designer: A. Jaffe
