The Merion Wedding Photographer of Leah and Bret
Tradition, intertwined with elegance, beauty, and sophistication all add up to what proved to be a very impressive celebration for the couple Leah and Bret whose wedding event was captured here by award winning photographer, John Ryan of J&J Studios Philadelphia. The exquisite photos that you can view here captures all of the elements of The Merion Wedding Photographer of Leah and Bret series, showing the taste and approach between this loving couple and their photographer John Ryan that provide such a wonderful treasure trove of memories for this couple to love, share, and enjoy for many years to come.
First a mention of the venue the couple chose to host this wonderful event, The Merion https://www.themerion.com/.
For over 55 years, The Merion has been the first name in special event management and catering in southern New Jersey. Perhaps it’s the elaborate interior design with the immense spiral staircase and marble columns that first captured your attention, or the renowned attention to detail and impeccable service that have become synonymous with The Merion name. Whether it’s an intimate anniversary celebration for 50 close friends, a bar mitzvah for 150 classmates, or a wedding gala for 500. Anyone considering this venue can rest assured that the professional and attentive staff at The Merion will see to it that their once-in-a-lifetime event is everything they hoped it would be – and more. Every detail is tastefully considered to make your special occasion memorable, from your first meeting with their event planner until the last dance and final farewell. The Merion takes pride in being a part of lasting memories.
For over 55 years, The Merion has been the first name in special event management and catering in southern New Jersey. Perhaps it’s the elaborate interior design with the immense spiral staircase and marble columns that first captured your attention, or the renowned attention to detail and impeccable service that have become synonymous with The Merion name. Whether it’s an intimate anniversary celebration for 50 of your closest friends, a bar mitzvah for 150 classmates, or a wedding gala for 500.
Located in the heart of Center City Philadelphia in the Avenue of the Arts District, only blocks from City Hall and The Pennsylvania Convention Center. Nearby photo ops include Broad Street, Love Park, Dilworth Park, Washington Square, Rittenhouse Square and more!
As we move forward, we see some inside shots of the Bride and Groom readying themselves for their big day with the help of some family and friends.
After the Bride and Groom ready themselves for the big event, photographer John Ryan captures some more formal poses of the Bride, Groom and their respective Bridesmaids and Groomsmen.
The tradition this couple incorporated was represented by the Ketubah Signing Ceremony.
The ketubah (plural ketubot) is the standard marriage contract that Jewish law requires a groom to provide for his bride on their wedding day. It is intended to protect the woman, primarily by establishing the man’s financial obligations to her in case of divorce or widowhood. In addition to the financial clauses, the text of the ketubah outlines other obligations undertaken by the groom, including traditional conjugal rights such as food, clothing and shelter. The exact date when the ketubah became a central part of the Jewish marriage ceremony remains unknown. It is a rabbinic institution, not a biblical one, and goes back to Talmudic times (70-500 C.E.). It has been in the home of every married couple no matter what their social status and no matter what the geographical location. The rabbinic authorities considered it so basic to Jewish marriage, that a couple was prohibited from living together without one. Traditionally it must be signed by two witnesses and then read out-loud in Aramaic during the marriage ceremony. It is a public document to which the entire community is witness.
Since the ketubah is read during the marriage ceremony, and thus publicly displayed, a tradition of decorating it evolved in many Jewish communities in different parts of the world. Though the text is primarily the same in all Jewish communities, no one style characterizes the art of the ketubah. Different Jewish communities adopted styles and even shapes for their ketubot that were characteristic of their localities and often reflected the artistic traditions of the countries in which they lived.
Ketubah decoration not only adds beauty and meaning to what otherwise would be a rather dry legal document, it has much to teach about the individuals and the communities for whom they were produced. Italian ketubot reflect the openness of Italian Jewry to the rich artistic heritage of its surrounding culture. The illumination of marriage contracts from Muslim lands reflects their cultural and religious norms. No human figures appear in the decorations. Instead the themes are drawn from the plant and animal worlds. This is in keeping with Muslim (and Jewish) sensibilities which frown on the artistic depiction of humans lest it lead to idolatry. The only Jewish communities from which we do not have hand decorated ketubot are those of Eastern and Central Europe. According to the scholars Shalom Sabar and Vivian Mann this is because among Jews in these geographical areas, known as Ashkenaz, ketubot were viewed as rather standard, legal documents, and were all identical.
Rabbinic law does not stipulate a specific language for the ketubah. It was meant to be understood by the parties involved and was written in Aramaic because during the period when the text was standardized, most people understood Aramaic. Today it is still in Aramaic though most Jews no longer speak or understand it. Indeed, many couples today have their ketubah written in Hebrew or a combination of languages. The ketubah displayed here are primarily in Aramaic and Hebrew.
As the day progressed it was time to move forward to the first really key event, the ceremony. This begins the couples journey together and leveraged for The Merion Wedding Photographer of Leah and Bret the ability to capture some beautiful moments on the grounds of the venue.
One more tradition included in the service was the breaking of the glass by the groom.
Stomping on a glass is one of the best-known features of Jewish weddings. Traditionally, the groom did the deed; today the couple often share the honor/pleasure, smashing one or two napkin-wrapped glasses. Few Jewish symbols have a single explanation, and this one is downright kaleidoscopic. The custom dates back to the writing of the :
By the Middle Ages, synagogue facades in Germany were inlaid with a special stone for the express purpose of smashing a glass at the end of weddings. However, its interpretation changed somewhat by the 14th century, when, according to Maurice Lamm’s The Jewish Way in Love and Marriage, it was viewed as a reminder of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Either way, the lesson is that even at the height of personal joy, we recall the pain and losses suffered by the Jewish people and remember a world in need of healing.
The fragility of glass suggests the frailty of human relationships. Since even the strongest love is subject to disintegration, the glass is broken as a kind of incantation: “As this glass shatters, so may our marriage never break.” Loud noises are a time-honored method for frightening and appeasing demons that are attracted to beautiful and fortunate people, such as the happy couple beneath the huppah (also commonly spelled ).
Marriage is a covenant, which in Judaism is made by breaking or cutting something. At Sinai, tablets were broken; at a wedding, broken glass “cuts” the covenant. Breaking the glass also has sexual connotations, as it prefigures the release of sexual union, which is not only permitted to married couples but also required of them. For centuries breaking the glass implicitly symbolized breaking the hymen, which is why it was so important that the groom succeed. The crash of glass ends the hush of mythic time under the huppah, and the world rushes in. Everyone exhales, claps and shouts, “Mazel tov!” The celebration begins.
Of course no wedding is complete without the couple sharing their special event with family and friends at a receptions. And the setting of such a celebration is as important as the marriage itself! The below pictures provide a highlight of the celebration – the setting, the food, the dancing, and the fun this couple enjoyed with all of the invited attendees who were privileged enough to be part of it all! It also continues to exemplifies The Merion Wedding Photographer of Leah and Bret as a very talented individual.
As you can see, The Merion Wedding Photographer of Leah and Bret was a testament not only to the couple whose wedding was so wonderfully captured here, but to the skills of a phenomenal photographer, John Ryan of J&J Studios of Philadelphia.
All of the photographs included in this series display the talents of John Ryan of J&J Studios of Philadelphia. John is a gifted photographer and is well known for his incredible wedding photography not only in the Philadelphia area, but throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and points beyond. And John is not only known for his memorable wedding photos. John also captures special moments tied to Engagements, Birthdays, Anniversaries, LGBTQ+ events, Corporate and Sporting happenings, Christenings, as well as Professional and Family portraits. John has been honored by multiple Diamond Awards for his Engagement Portraits, Awards for his Documentary Wedding Photography, and recognized by the Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalists. Such a list of acknowledgements and accomplishments would lead someone to think that John would limit the many many requests and engagements he receives to just a chosen group or clientele. However, that is not what John is about. He has brought his arsenal of talents to many other individuals and couples who otherwise would not normally be able to utilize a photographer of his caliber to capture their very special moments. John takes the time to get to know his clients so they can work as a team to memorialize the precious event at hand. If you are looking for a gifted photographer for your special event, look no further than John Ryan to provide you with a stunning memorialization to last you for a lifetime.
Some of the impressive vendors that Leah and Bret engaged were:
- Double tree mount laurel @doubletree, Westin Mount Laurel @westinmtlaurel
- @upyourdo
- Melissa-May Tarlton @melissamaydesigns
- Maggie Sottero Designs @MaggieSotteroDesigns Morilee by Madeline Gardner @morileeofficial
- J&b bridals @jbbridals
- The Merion
- Platinum House of Sweets @platinumhousepfsweets2021
- Clarity & Co @clarity.n.co
- Indochino @indochino
- Robyn Frisch
- @helzbergdiamonds @rosnovjewelers12.Band/DJMazz Entertainment @mazzentertainment
