The Elkins Estate

"Once upon a time..."

That's how all fairytales like to begin and when I think of the Elkins Estate, I think of a fairytale. I ventured from the depths of the Louisiana swamps to the mild and beautiful Philadelphia, for a wedding editorial shoot at the lovely Elkins Estate. Upon arriving, my assistant and I were dropped off at the wrong mansion- one that looked lovely but abandoned. We wound up walking a stretch to the right estate and were in complete awe of the property. During this time of year- May- we'd be sweating bullets trying to walk just 5 minutes from one place to another, but the North pleasantly surprised me. I actually enjoyed the breezy, light air and could BREATHE. I am so sorry and don't mean to offend anyone, but it is hot in the South. Hot and Humid April through September. (Don't let that deter you though.)

Construction was happening almost everywhere, so we didn't get to use the grand staircase I had my heart set on or the main entrance to the estate; the back entrance was also blocked. Even with such constraints, I managed to create some beautiful photographs and worked with an amazing team of professionals.

Elegant stained glass dome ceiling with hanging vintage lantern in a classical interior.

Vibrant floral arrangement featuring pink, magenta and peach roses with white accents.

Ornate black and white architectural detail of a historic building's ceiling with decorative moldings and arches.

Classical painting depicting a dramatic maritime scene with figures on a boat in turbulent waters.

My small group started with Gia and Max, on the terrace. Gia wore a gorgeous gown by the designer Naeem Khan. Her real life fiancé, Max, wore a suit from Don Morphy. When we were waiting on our Lyft home, I caught one more shot that reminded me of a Pride and Prejudice moment.

Bride and groom share their reception table on the rooftop of the Elkins Estate.

On the Library Terrace, I captured some moments between Skyla and Cole. The beautiful florals were created by Blomst Floral Designs and looked magical. Skyla wore a dress from Samuelle Couture- which looked seriously stunning on her!

Bride and groom hug close on the Library Terrace of the Elkins Estate.

Bride and groom share a private moment inside of an upstairs room, at the Elkins Estate.

The tea room set up was one of my favorite locations. The bright white and the delicate florals gave off a lovely cottagecore aesthetic. Hayley and Zack were phenomenal models for this room! Hayley flawlessly twirled in the Samuelle Couture gown she had on for the day. I allowed myself to be a little more artsy than usual, because I wanted to test myself with different in-camera settings that would streamline my editing process.

We met with our final couple, Shelby and Jake, in the Music Room. Now the dress Shelby wore- a Monique Lhuillier design- was flowy, dreamy, and romantic. My favorite dress from the entire event.