Weddings are such joyful events. That’s because they celebrate the joining of two people into a loving bond that lasts a lifetime. Michele and Zach celebrated their own nuptials at their Ballroom at the Ben wedding in early March. It was a classic and gorgeous affair! It’s always lovely to see two people who are deeply in love. Zach and Michele were no exception to this rule! 

The Wedding Venue – The Ballroom at the Ben

The Ballroom at the Ben is a stunning event venue that features chandeliers and soaring ceilings. These and other gorgeous, intricate features give it its sense of ambiance and elegance. It’s located on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. The ballroom can host up to 385 guests, making it the perfect size for most weddings! 

Finley Catering owns the Ballroom at the Ben, as well as providing the catering for events hosted there. Cocktail hour and hors d’oeurves are served on the mezzanine level of the ballroom. Later, guests make their way to the large ballroom for dinner, dancing, and fun! 

Here’s a fun fact about the Ballroom at the Ben: it’s famous for its beauty, but it’s also been featured on the big screen. You can see this enchanting venue in the final scene of the movie Silver Linings Playbook. It’s the scene where Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence’s characters compete in a dance competition – and it was filmed right here in Philly! 

The Ballroom at the Ben Wedding Attire

All of Michele’s accessories were utterly classic – perfect for a wedding at a venue like the Ballroom at the Ben! Her jewelry and hair accessories featured silver, rhinestones, diamonds, and white gold, which created a shimmering and beautiful effect. 

We thought it was adorable that the ring box featured Zach’s last name – the last name that he and Michele share, now that they’re married. 

We love that Michele chose to wear a lovely pair of heels for her wedding. But we love even more that she chose to change into cute bridal sneakers later! It’s a practical choice that we’re sure kept her comfortable all night.

Michele wore an exquisite and detailed wedding dress. A strapless gown with a sheath silhouette, it featured a deep V neckline and tons of lace. The dress’ train also boasted loads of floral lace for a dramatic effect.

However, our favorite detail on the dress was its buttons, which ran from the top of the back of the bodice to its hem. Buttons aren’t just beautiful – they also add visual interest to places that might seem a little plain without them.

We also loved the color of Michele’s bridesmaids’ dresses. That rich cobalt blue is universally flattering, as you can see from how beautiful all her bridesmaids looked.

Zach looked as handsome as Michele looked beautiful! His classic black suit, complete with a black vest and tie, looked striking.

Of course, his beaming smile made him even more handsome, too!

The First Look

Michele and Zach chose to have a first look. This is when the bride and groom see each other in their wedding garb before their ceremony. 

Contrary to popular belief, the tradition isn’t that the groom can’t see the bride before the wedding ceremony. The tradition actually says that the groom can’t see the bride until the wedding day. So, if you want to do a first look, but are hesitant about bad luck, don’t worry!

These windows are absolutely stunning. We loved the way you could see the Philadelphia skyline behind Zach and Michele!

The beaded pearl hangings that dangled from the ceiling added even more elegance to this already classic wedding day! They also gave these photos a magical look, which we’re really loving!

Of course, we had to get a few shots outside Philadelphia’s City Hall! It’s so close to the Ballroom at the Ben, and it’s such a beautiful building, we can’t resist!

Wedding photos outside Philadelphia City Hall are one of those things that make a quintessential Philly wedding day. 

Zach and Michele didn’t just choose to have a first look. They also chose to have a lot of their one-on-one shots taken before their wedding ceremony. This can be a great idea because it allows the couple to see one another before the big event. This can help calm any nerves they might experience before the wedding ceremony. 

Additionally, having the bride and groom’s photos taken before the wedding ceremony means that you’ll have more time to take photos with your wedding party and family members later. Or, you could just hit up your cocktail hour with your guests. It’s up to you!

The Ballroom at the Ben Wedding Ceremony

Michele and Zach had a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony. This type of wedding ceremony involves the groom covering his head with a yarmulke. A yarmulke is a head covering that fulfills the requirement that men’s heads be covered during prayer. 

A Jewish wedding ceremony also often involves a chuppah. The word “chuppah” translates to “canopy” or “covering.” A chuppah is a canopy supported by four poles. It represents the home the couple will build together. We loved the plentiful white and pink flowers at the top of Michele and Zach’s chuppah!

Michele smiled ear to ear as her parents escorted her down the aisle to her handsome groom, Zach. 

Zach smiled softly, misty-eyed, at his beautiful bride, Michele. 

It was Zach’s turn to smile ear to ear as the two said their wedding vows to one another.

As many know, Jewish weddings have a tradition where the groom breaks a glass item under his foot. There are a few reasons why this is done. Some say the breaking of the glass represents the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. Others say it represents the fact that marriage contains sorrow as well as joy. Either way, it seems like a fun and significant thing to do!

After the breaking of the glass, Zach and Michele shared a loving, passionate kiss.

The Ballroom at the Ben Wedding Reception

Zach and Michele offered their guests a signature drink inspired by each of them. Honestly, they both looked delicious! 

The couple also included photos of loved ones who had passed away in their wedding decor. This is a popular and touching way to include those who can’t be with you on your wedding day.

Zach and Michele’s table decor was sumptuous, yet elegant. White and purple flowers and greenery made up the floral centerpiece. Around the flowers, tall glass candle holders held water and floating candles. The effect was calming, but luxurious – like a big, soft feather bed. 

Some of the other centerpieces were made from pink and white flowers. These were in tall glass vases. Tall centerpieces can be a great way to add drama to your tables, while allowing your guests to see each other and talk to one another across the table. However, tall centerpieces can be overwhelming if you use them on every table. So, using them the way Zach and Michele did here can add a perfect amount of drama.

Michele and Zach’s first dance as a married couple was full of soft smiles and loving looks. They’re clearly so in love – and we were so glad to see it! 

After, the bride and groom were lifted in chairs by their wedding guests. This tradition is a dance called the Hora. You’ll notice that Zach and Michele are each holding an end of a small piece of cloth. This represents their union as a married couple.

Michele and her dad’s father-daughter dance looked like fun. They were really moving all over the floor!

Zach made his mom smile brightly as they did their mother-son dance together.

We loved Michele and Zach’s cake topper. It reads, “Dr. and Dr. Snow.” We love that they included their earned titles in their topper. What a power couple! 

Michele and Zach also had little custom figurines made to look like them. They’re even kissing! 

Zach and Michele provided a waffle and ice cream bar for their guests in addition to their wedding cake. Michele’s dad made sure to get a waffle with ice cream!

It looked like the guests were having tons of fun on the dance floor. Almost everyone was out of their seats, having a great time. The band was really rocking, and it showed in the way everyone was dancing!

Congratulations to the Happy Couple, Michele and Zach!

J & J Studios wishes this wonderful couple many happy and love-filled years together. Thank you for choosing J & J Studios to photograph your beautiful Ballroom at the Ben wedding! Congratulations, Zach and Michele!

Contact J & J Studios Today!

If you loved J & J Studios’ photography of this Ballroom at the Ben wedding and would like to hire us, you can contact us using this link. We can capture everything – from weddings, to engagements, to graduations, to maternity and family photography and more. We can’t wait to hear from you and capture your life’s most beautiful and important moments!