A Modern Chateau Wedding at Elkins Estate with Whimsical Pops of Color
Kelly and Paul first met at Independence Beer Garden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was late-2020 and Kelly’s brother-in-law, Will, had been talking about introducing her to Paul, who he’d befriended earlier that year.
“He was sold that we would be a great match,” says Kelly. “My friends were in town, and Paul, along with my brother-in-law and their friends, came to meet us. It was so easy to talk to him and he quickly made me laugh. I was interested right away.”
“I was very intrigued,” Paul adds. “Will was worried I didn’t like her, and I told him I was very interested. She was beautiful and seemed fun to be around.”
A Middle-Distance Romance
The couple shares that “a lot of Dominos” had to fall in order for them to find each other. Over the years, they’ve taken to cataloguing these seemingly random acts of fate, circumstance, and luck. When Kelly moved to NYC, she and Paul spent the next few years traveling back and forth between the two cities—a “middle-distance romance,” as they call it. Eventually, they made Philadelphia their home. Ten days later, they were engaged in the very city that brought them together.
For the proposal, Paul told Kelly they were going to the Art Museum to see an exhibition of her favorite artist, Mary Cassatt.
“We walked along the river trail to a gazebo just outside the Art Museum overlooking the river,” she recalls. “He popped the question there. Then we went to the Rodin Sculpture Garden for a glass of wine before heading to dinner and drinks, where Paul had our families waiting to surprise us. It was the perfect night, truly!”
Modern Chateau-Meets-Gilded Age Grandeur
Kelly and Paul had a vision of what they wanted for their big day, and thoroughly enjoyed working with their team of vendors during the wedding planning process.
“It was so collaborative,” says Kelly, “from the overall look and feel, the approach to the photography and the flowers—so many people helped bring this day to life. We wouldn't have been able to do it without our parents, who were on speed dial as sounding boards and gut checks. It was a fun group project!”
The couple had their hearts set on a modern chateau vibe, allowing the Gilded Age grandeur of their wedding venue, Elkins Estate, shine through. They also incorporated pops of whimsy and color throughout the floral designs and décor details.
“Margaux St. Ledger, our florist, is AN ARTIST,” Kelly emphasizes. “She was fun to work with and brought this crazy vision we had for a huge floral centerpiece/seating chart to life so flawlessly. It was a standout element of the day, waiting for all the guests as they made their way inside the Great Hall. The library was one of our favorite rooms. We were able to decorate the bookshelves with photos of loved ones who had passed, plus some quotes from our favorite music and poems (music was something we bonded over from the very start). In the reception space, we were thrilled to be surrounded by our wedding party at a King's Table—decorated with whimsical, colorful florals, lamps, and candles. It was an absolute dream.”
One of the bride and groom’s favorite moments was their first dance, which started off slow and sped up into a faster song. They laughed the entire time, and the joy continued throughout the evening.
“During dinner, our band was playing ‘Shallow,’ and almost the entire reception started singing along, prompted by the most unexpected groomsmen. It was hilarious and will live rent-free in our memories forever.”
“It's pretty indescribable to look around and see so many people from different parts of your life in one place, celebrating together.”
Although their wedding day passed quickly, the couple tried their best to savor every second.
“We felt so surrounded by love,” they say. “People try to explain it to you, but it's pretty indescribable to look around and see so many people from different parts of your life in one place, celebrating together. It was a room full of love and so much joy. Really, so much joy! We loved our quiet moments too—exchanging private vows on the roof of Elkins Estate, walking down the driveway to catch some sunset photos. We felt lucky and in love. We still do.”
Post-Wedding Adventure and Relaxation
For their honeymoon, the newlyweds balanced adventure and relaxation by starting out in the Azores, followed by a visit to Mallorca.
“The nature and the views in the Azores are second to none,” Kelly describes, “so stunning and still relatively untouched. We got to check out a Gin Library, which was a real treat as we're gin lovers! In Mallorca, we made a serious winding drive to Sa Colobra. Paul now claims he can drive anywhere for getting us there and back unscathed.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location, Catering & Cake: Elkins Estate; Planner: Olive Street Events; Floral Design: Margaux St. Ledger; Cake: Bredenbeck's Bakery; Ceremony Dress: Amsale; Reception Dress: Helsi; Hair: Natalie Bridal & Co.; Makeup: Beke Beau Beauty; Invitations: Engraved Images; Calligraphy: Letter B Calligraphy; Entertainment: BVTLive!; Cinematography: Florecio Films; Photography: Emily Wilkerson Photo