A Philadelphia Wedding at the Logan Hotel & Cescaphe Ballroom

Every wedding has a story. But every now and then, we get to photograph a wedding where the story is everywhere, in the location, in the details, in the moments that unfold without any planning at all. Rachel and Jarrett’s Philadelphia wedding day was that kind of wedding, from start to finish, and we are so thrilled to finally share it.

The day began at the Logan Hotel in Center City Philadelphia. Rachel and her girls filled the morning with the kind of energy that sets the tone for everything that follows — joyful, present, electric. The Logan is a stunning getting-ready backdrop: polished, grand, and full of character. Then came the first look.

Rachel & Jarrett shared their first look in the hotel courtyard that doubles as a perfectly manicured garden. From there, we made our way to Logan Circle, and here is where the story gets good. For months leading up to the wedding, the fountain area at Logan Circle had been closed for construction.

Rachel and Jarrett had dreamed about doing their portraits there, surrounded by those gardens and that iconic fountain, but as the weeks went on and the construction timeline extended past their wedding date, they made peace with the fact that it simply was not going to happen. They pivoted. They planned around it. They let it go.

The day before the wedding, they pulled up to the Logan Hotel and looked across the street. The equipment was gone. The barriers were down. The fountain was open. We could not have scripted it better if we tried! The cherry blossoms were in full, glorious bloom. The gardens were lush and perfectly tended. The light was soft and golden and absolutely dreamy. Rachel and Jarrett stood in the middle of all of it, and we just let it happen.

After portraits, we made our way to Cescaphe Ballroom, where the ceremony and reception would take place. If you are not familiar with Cescaphe as a Philadelphia wedding venue, it is simply one of the best. It’s a classic, beautifully appointed space that has hosted some of the most stunning celebrations this city has ever seen.

But for Rachel and Jarrett, it meant something more than that. Their first date was at the bar across the street. So before they went inside, we took them back. Martinis in hand (their drink, their order, their tradition), they posed outside the bar where it all started, and we made portraits that were less about the wedding day and more about the whole love story!

Inside Cescaphe Ballroom, we discovered the piano area, which is dark, moody, and absolutely stunning. It was the perfect counterpoint to the bright, airy cherry blossom portraits from earlier in the day. Dramatic light, gorgeous details, two people completely in their element. We stayed there longer than we planned, and we are so glad we did.

The ceremony was beautiful, the reception was a party from start to finish. The dance floor was absolutely electric. The kind of energy that fills a room and makes everyone forget what time it is. Rachel and Jarrett’s people came ready to celebrate, and celebrate they did.

Scroll below to see all of our favorites from Rachel and Jarrett’s Philadelphia wedding day!

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Vendors

Location: Cescaphe Ballroom
Florist: Beautiful Blooms
Wedding Dress: Free Love Bridal
Hair: Amanda D’Andra Hair
Makeup: Make Me Up Eva
Invitations: The Papery of Philadelphia

Cescaphe Ballroom, Philadelphia Wedding Photographer