This couple’s ethereal spring wedding at HollyHedge Estate celebrated the bride’s Chinese heritage with an unforgettable performance.
Antonia and John, styled by Nancy Amoroso.
When Antonia DePace began planning her spring 2023 nuptials to John Pilling, she knew that she wanted to pay tribute to her beloved grandfather during their wedding at historic HollyHedge Estate in New Hope.
Antonia and her bridesmaids
“We had Lion Dancers perform, which was a nod to my Chinese roots,” she says, “The Philadelphia Suns surprised everyone during the cocktail hour, which is the same group that I grew up watching with my grandfather. He was very involved in Philly’s Chinatown community. He passed away before I met Johnny, so it was super special to share that with him on our wedding day. ”
The cake had alternating flavors of vanilla almond and chocolate.
Dancing has been a part of the couple’s love story since the night they met, when John asked Antonia to dance just as she was about to leave a birthday party at Manayunk Brew Pub. On the date of their five-year anniversary, he proposed to her with a brilliant round-cut diamond while on vacation in Puerto Rico.
Mirrored signage designed by the bride and her cousin, Julia McGee
After a year-and-a-half engagement, the bride and groom exchanged handwritten vows in front of 133 guests at a ceremony officiated by Antonia’s family priest, Father Sylvester Peterka, from St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Germantown.
After the reception, the newlyweds hosted a late-night dance party at New Hope live music spot Havana.
The List
Ceremony & Reception HollyHedge Estate, hollyhedge.com
Bride’s Gown Flora Vera, The Sample Rack, thesamplerackpa.com; after-party: Mari Mi Bridal, marimibridal.com
Stylist Nancy Amoroso
Tailor Omid Haidari
Bride’s Shoes Badgley Mischka, Bloomingdales, bloomingdales.com
Bride’s Jewelry Earrings: Olive and Piper, oliveandpiper.com; belt: The Sample Rack, thesamplerackpa.com
Bride’s Purse Custom, Simitri, simitri.com
Bride’s Veil The Sample Rack, thesamplerackpa.com
Bride’s Hair & Makeup Hair: Donna Fitzpatrick, Lotus Hair & Skin Studio, lotushairandskinstudio. com; makeup: Jennifer Kochenour, JKO Beauty, jkobeauty.com
Bride’s Skincare Avery Graham Aesthetics, averygraham.com; Victoria Roggio Beauty, victoriaroggiobeauty.com
Bride’s Tan Baked, bakedtanning.com
Groom’s Tux Ralph Lauren, Macy’s, macys.com
Groom’s Shoes Nordstrom, nordstrom.com Rings Hitched, tryhitched.com
Bridesmaids’ Dresses Bella Bridesmaids, bellabridesmaids.com
Bridesmaids’ Gifts Jane Win Jewelry, janewin.com
Groomsmens’ Tuxes Alfani and Perry Ellis, Macy’s, macys.com
Flower Girl’s Dress MarryShe, marryshe.com
Florals Hannah Spivak, Brkfst in March, brkfstinmarch.com
Lion Dancers Philadelphia Suns, phillysuns.org
Live Illustrator Dallas Shaw, dallasshaw.com
Invitations Truly Engaging, trulyengaging.com
Lighting Signature Event Lighting
Entertainment Ceremony: Petya Ivanova; reception: DJ Bishop, djbishop.com
Lion Dancers performed in a nod to the bride’s Chinese roots
The lemon and cannoli flavored cake by Palermo Custom Cakes.
Photography by: Melissa MacDonald Photo + Film
