Philadelphia Style Magazine
  • People
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Real Estate
  • Style & Beauty
  • Video
  • Weddings
  • Digital Edition
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Info
  • Sign Up Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube
Newsletter

Search Our Site

Explore These Three Posh Philly Weddings

By Alana Tosti By Alana Tosti | July 22, 2022 | Wedding Features Weddings Rotator

These three lavish celebrations embraced the season with elegant and personal details—in glam city venues from The Racquet Club of Philadelphia to the brand-new W Philadelphia.
Alexandra and Shadi pose on the courts at The Racquet Club of Philadelphia
Alexandra and Shadi pose on the courts at The Racquet Club of Philadelphia

1. ALEXANDRA MORRIS & SHADI SALEH

September 4, 2021
Ceremony & Reception: The Racquet Club of Philadelphia
Photographed by Kseniya Berson

The stars were aligned for Alexandra Morris and Shadi Saleh in 2013—when Alexandra was trying to politely end a conversation she was having at The Plough & the Stars (Old City). “I decided to go for the oldest trick in the book and say I already had a boyfriend,” she remembers. “I grabbed Shadi by his hand and said that he was in fact the boyfriend. Shadi played into the joke and the rest is history.” In September 2021, the pair made it official with a timelessly chic and romantic celebration. “To invoke a sentimental feeling, statement-making florals, a travel-inspired color palette and clever details came together in a classically modern fashion,” says Alexandra. The duo added personal touches such as Alexandra’s grandmother’s silver serving platters, sewing a blue heart from her late father’s shirt into her wedding dress and a specially curated menu inspired by the couple’s trips abroad (and their Italian and Arabic roots). And not to be forgotten was the couple’s beloved sheepadoodle, Rosy, who made an appearance in as many design elements as possible—even as fondant peeking out of the bottom of the cake.

THE LIST

Wedding Planner Jenna Tracy, Jenna Tracy Events, jennatracyevents.com

Bride’s Gown Elizabeth Lee Bridal, Laura & Leigh Bridal, laurandleighbridal.com

Bride’s Shoes Manolo Blahnik, manoloblahnik.com

Bride’s Veil Bel Aire Bridal, Laura & Leigh Bridal, laurandleighbridal.com

Bride’s Hair & Makeup Hair: Kaitlin Newman, American Mortals, americanmortals.com; Makeup: Emily Dimant, Makeup by Emily Dimant, makeupbyemilydimant.com

Groom’s Tux & Shoes SuitSupply, suitsupply.com

Rings David Yurman, davidyurman.com

Bridesmaids’ Dresses Watters, Laura & Leigh Bridal, laurandleighbridal.com

Groomsmen’s Tuxes Indochino, indochino.com

Florals Bryce Donnon, Robertson’s Flowers & Events, robertsonsflowers.com

Catering & Cake Jeffrey A. Miller Catering, jamcater.com

Invitations Shine Wedding Invitations, shineweddinginvitations.com

Calligraphy Sunshine Letter Co., sunshineletterco.com

Rentals White Glove Rentals, whiteglove-rentals.com

Linens Jeffrey A. Miller Catering, jamcater.com

Entertainment EBE Talent, ebetalent.com

Videographer Tweed Productions, tweedvideo.com

Favors Casa Papel, casapapel.com

Varying-height glass cylinders and stemmed candle cups accented the tables
Varying-height glass cylinders and stemmed candle cups accented the tables

2. DANI GERSHKOW & BRIAN COHN

November 13,2021
Ceremony & Reception: W Philadelphia
Photographed by Ralph Deal

Dani in an Adam Zohar gown and Brian in a custom tux from Thailand
Dani in an Adam Zohar gown and Brian in a custom tux from Thailand

It was a “shore” thing for Dani Gershkow and Brian Cohn when they met in Margate, N.J., in the summer of 2016 where their families were staying in neighboring condos. Five years later, the Philadelphia couple was one of the very first to say “I do” at the new W Philadelphia. “This unique, modern venue gave us the exact wedding vision we imagined,” says Dani, who especially loved the large windows overlooking the city. Following a traditional Jewish ceremony, the couple danced to Bruce Springsteen tunes and even crowd-surfed among their 186 guests before sampling their custom menu created by chef Terry White. “We are lucky to have worked with this incredible chef who has done weddings for celebrity clients,” says the bride. An afterparty concluded the night—complete with the groom taking his turn as DJ—before the duo jetted off to a honeymoon in the Maldives.

THE LIST

Bride’s Gown Adam Zohar, The Wedding Shoppe, wedding-shoppe.com; Afterparty dress: Superdown, Revolve, revolve.com

Bride’s Dresser Patti Johnson Bride’s Shoes Sarah Jessica Parker, SJP, sjpbysarahjessicaparker.com; Afterparty: Stuart Weitzman, Bloomingdale’s, bloomingdales.com

Bride’s Veil The Wedding Shoppe, wedding-shoppe.com

Bride’s Hair & Makeup Hair: Gia Lancieri, Amanda D’Andrea, amandadandrea.com; Makeup: Isabella Lucia Dulac, Sola Salons, isabellaluciastudio.com

Groom’s Tux Custom from Thailand Groom’s Shoes Florsheim, Nordstrom, nordstrom.com

Groom’s Watch Baume & Mercier, Tourneau, tourneau.com

Bridesmaids’ Dresses Dessy, Bella Bridesmaids, bellabridesmaids.com

Florals Alicia Martino, Beautiful Blooms, beautifulblooms.com; Flower wall: Hollywood Moments, hollywoodmomentsphotobooth.com

Catering Chef Terry White, The W Hotel, marriott.com

Cake Bredenbeck’s Bakery, bredenbecks.com

Invitations Melissa Berk, By Invitation Only, byinvitationonly.us

Calligraphy Karol Cohen Entertainment Dreamtime, EBE Talent, ebetalent.com

Videographer NewPace Videography, newpaceweddings.com

Favors The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company, famouscookies.com

The four-tiered red velvet cake with strawberry mousse filling and sweet buttercream icing
The four-tiered red velvet cake with strawberry mousse filling and sweet buttercream icing

3. JENNA MARIA SILVESTRINI & IAN AHERNE STEWART

October 16,2021
Ceremony: St . John the Evangelist
Reception: The Union League of Philadelphia
Photographed by Philip Gabriel Photography

Jenna in Mira Zwillinger with her new groom, Ian
Jenna in Mira Zwillinger with her new groom, Ian

When Jenna Silvestrini and Ian Stewart graduated from St. Joseph’s University in 2012, they were only acquaintances. While Jenna was living in NYC two years later, Ian reached out when in town for his brother’s wedding. The two never looked back and got engaged in Central Park in 2019, with spring nuptials planned for 2021 (postponed to the fall due to COVID-19). “I always wanted a fall wedding, so in the end, I am thrilled we waited,” says Jenna of their 220-guest affair. A bike trip the couple took in France (lush greenery and flowers) inspired a whimsical, romantic vibe throughout their reception—and even Jenna’s Mira Zwillinger gown. “My dress featured gorgeous handsewn flowers with a light-pink belt—it just screamed romance!” says the bride. Guests sipped on “Jenna-tinis” to honor the bride’s love of espresso martinis before slicing into red velvet cake with strawberry mousse filling. In lieu of favors, the couple made a donation to the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation, a cause close to the bride’s heart.

THE LIST

Wedding Planner Darby Norris, Seeds of Celebration, seedsofcelebration.com

Bride’s Gown Mira Zwillinger, A Little Something White, alittlesomethingwhite.com

Bride’s Shoes Manolo Blahnik, Savannahs, savannahs.com; Golden Goose, Nordstrom, nordstrom.com

Bride’s Veil Toni Federici, A Little Something White, alittlesomethingwhite.com

Bride’s Hair & Makeup Hair: Robyn Motyl; Makeup: Tess Raines; Both: Cheers 2 U Events

Groom’s Tux and Shoes Suitsupply, suitsupply.com

Rings Boccardo Jewelers, boccardojewelers.com

Bridesmaids’ Dresses Amsale, A Little Something White, alittlesomethingwhite.com

Groomsmen’s Tuxes The Black Tux, theblacktux.com

Florals Kelsey Johnson, Beautiful Blooms, beautifulblooms.com

Catering & Cake The Union League of Philadelphia, unionleague.org

Invitations & Calligraphy Martha Wasser, Amour & Ink, amourinkpaperco.com

Lighting Shipley Enterprises, shipleyenterprises.net

Entertainment 45 Riots.45riots.com

Videographer Tim Sudall, Allure Films, allurefilms.com

Transportation Cescaphe Trolley, cescaphetrolley.com; Philadelphia Trolley Works, phillytour.com



Tags: philadelphia weddings wedding ideas wedding season

Photography by: Courtesy