J&J Studios had the opportunity to photograph another lovely Crystal Tea Room wedding. This time it was for Sarah and James, a beautiful couple who we enjoyed spending our day with. The celebration turned out amazing, and our team of photographers were very impressed with the photos that we captured. We cannot wait to share them with you below as well as tell you about the couple, their big day, and the Crystal Tea Room venue choice. 

How The Day Began

The day began bright and early at 8:30 am at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. The ladies began getting dressed and having their hair and makeup done, while the boys had a pool party and relaxed. The Loews Hotel is a 4-star hotel located in the middle of the city at 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107. It is the perfect place to start your wedding off and get ready for the special day. This wedding party certainly enjoyed it! While the bride and bridesmaids were taking selfies in their new robes, the fellas had some drinks and cigars. After everyone was ready, it was time for the first looks.

First Looks

Some weddings include first looks, and some do not. However, our crew believes that they do make excellent photos because we are able to capture your authentic reaction to seeing each other for the first time. Sarah wanted to include a first look between she and her father as well as she and her groom. It was important for her to have their reaction to seeing her for the first time in her bridal gown for the rest of her life. Both, her father and James had a wonderful, sentimental reaction which made it all worth it to Sarah. These moments are unique for every bride and groom, and they can become very valuable in the years to come, which is why we recommend trying a first look at your wedding.

Meet The Newly Married Couple: Sarah and James Heiser

Sarah and James have been together for quite some time and could not wait to make it official. They were legally married during the pandemic in January 2021. These two had a small wedding ceremony. Therefore, they decided this summer that they would celebrate and have a huge wedding ceremony for all their loved ones to attend. Sarah and James went all out for their wedding celebration and made sure it was one to remember. Our team had a blast with this couple and will never forget shooting their wedding! Congratulations you two; your wedding ceremony was beautiful and well worth the wait. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for you guys!

Time for the Photographers to Work Their Magic

J&J Studios had so much fun following this couple around the city to capture their photos of their big day. We went to several locations, such as Waterworks, the Smith Memorial Arch, the Please Touch Museum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Some of our favorite photos from this wedding day shoot were taken at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which you can see above. It made beautiful backdrops for the couple and their wedding party. The architecture dating back to the early 1900’s is incredible, and everyone enjoyed running up the Rocky steps. If you would like to see this location for yourself, go to 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130.

Now, We Head to the Gorgeous Crystal Tea Room

The Crystal Tea Room is a fantastic wedding venue choice! James and Sarah chose it with no hesitation, and we could tell by the happiness on their faces that they were pleased with the outcome. This venue gives a fancy and elegant ballroom feel. All 185 guests agreed that it was nothing short of amazing, and a good time was had by everyone. If you would like to tour this historic ballroom wedding venue, visit 100 East Penn Square The Wannamaker Building 9th Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107. Our team guarantees that it will not disappoint!

Bride and Groom Share a Special Glass of Whiskey Together

The bride and groom set aside a little time for them to sit and share a special glass of whiskey. They wanted to talk about their wedding vows and memories together while toasting to the future. This whiskey will become a very monumental part of the bride and groom’s life, as it was purchased by Sarah for them both to drink when celebrating large life events. Therefore, this wedding celebration was the first time it had been opened. It was a beautiful moment between the happy couple, and we are so glad that they chose to have a few minutes of alone time together. 

Details and Vendors at the Crystal Tea Room Wedding

The details and decorations of this wedding were simply terrific! James and Sarah put their own twist on everything that was a part of their day, and it was a lot of fun to walk around and look at every little detail. It is important to include personal details at your wedding to make everything your own. The objective is to wow your guests and watch their faces light up when they notice things about your wedding that fit you and your spouse’s personalities. The decorations and details are also the main items that people remember after leaving the wedding. In years from now, your guests will most likely be able to still tell people what type of food was served, what the color scheme was, and what unique aspects they remember from the special day.

If you are thinking about whether you should include decorations and details, the answer is YES! Take a little extra time to think of neat things that will show the people attending that they are at a celebration for your love. Don’t use cookie-cutter stuff; make everything tie into your energy as a couple together. Here is a wedding decoration checklist because we understand that planning a wedding can get hectic, which means it is easy to forget important things.

Sarah and James are very grateful for every vendor that worked with them during these unprecedented times, which is why they wanted to give each a quick shoutout. If you see anything that you like in the photos, I will be listing the companies below for you to contact.

For your convenience, the following are the exceptional vendors that helped make this happily married couple’s day possible:

• Venue Coordinator: Michelle Finley with Finley Catering at Crystal Tea Room
• Photography / Videography By: J&J Studios, LLC @jjstudiosphiladelphia
• Florist: Wild Flowers Florist @thewildflowernj@gmail.com
• Bride’s Ring: DeSimone Jewelers
• Groom’s Ring: DeSimone Jewelers
• Wedding Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal
• Groom’s Tuxedo: Men’s Wearhouse
• Cake Made By: Master’s Baker
• Make Up Artist: MJ Bridal Artistry
• Hair Stylist: MJ Bridal Artistry
• Wedding Hashtag: #HappilyEverHeiser

Let’s Celebrate

If our photographers had to use one word to describe this wedding it would be epic! This was one of the most epic weddings that J&J Studios has had the privilege of documenting. The food, drinks, people, music, entertainment, and desserts were all wonderful! Everyone watched in awe at the bride and groom having their first dance together. Then, the father and bride danced together. Everyone joined in and danced the night away.

We went around the room asking what everybody thought about the day, and several people mentioned that they were having a blast and so happy for Sarah and James. These two are the perfect match, and we know that that they will do great things together. Each person welcomed our crew with open arms and made us feel like we were part of the wedding party. We could not have asked for a better family to spend the day with. It is an honor to celebrate and capture this couple’s lifetime commitment to each other.

Book J&J Studios Today for Your Crystal Tea Room Wedding!

If you are engaged and planning a wedding, J&J Studios is happy to photograph this big day for you! Whether you are planning to marry at the Crystal Tea Room or another location in the tri-state area, we can travel to you. Our company specializes in wedding photography in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and other surrounding areas. You dream it, and we bring it to life! Whatever you visualize for your special day, we can make it happen. Our goal is to make sure you have all the memories that you want from your wedding day. Please get in touch with our lead photographer, John Ryan, by filling out our contact form. After doing so, we will get back to you as soon as possible. Our team cannot wait to meet you and help make all your wedding plans a reality!

In the meantime, check out J&J Studios’ top wedding and engagement photos and videos to help you decide if we are the best photographers to document your day. You can do so by clicking here, which will redirect you to our online wedding and engagement portfolio. Thank you for your deep consideration!