This classic and elegant wedding is full of all the little details that make weddings so special. Keeping it personal, Sara and Thad were married by childhood pastors and honored family members no longer living as part of their ceremony. Later, as guests entered the gorgeous reception, they were greeted by wedding photographs of brides and grooms from previous generations of each family. I absolutely love their unique and personal wedding favor: guests filled a take-home bags with some of Sara and Thad favorite coffee beans. The note on the bag read “Sara and Thad: the Perfect Blend.” So sweet!
Sara + Thad |May 21, 2011 | Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
The ceremony
We really wanted to incorporate our families and friends into the ceremony, which was held at the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge. We each had a pastor from childhood participate in the ceremony. Thad’s pastor performed a prayer and blessing for the couple, and my pastor performed the ceremony vows and exchange of rings. Thad’s aunt sang “How Beautiful” as we shared our first prayer as a married couple, and the mothers of the bride and groom carried long-stem roses that symbolized the grandparents who had passed away.
The reception
We greeted our guests as they entered our cocktail hour at the Kimberton Inn. As guests entered, they passed a table with the wedding pictures of our families members, as far back as my great-grandmother’s wedding picture. At the cocktail hour, we served two specialty drinks: a Moscow Mule (one of our favorite drinks from our dating years) and a Raspberry-Peach Bellini Tea. Each table at the sit down dinner was marked with a picture (rather than a number), which stood for one of our favorite dates together. On the back of the card was a description of that date itself. We enjoyed dancing and dessert and coffee with our guests (the best man’s mom made an amazing lemon raspberry cake with white chocolate buttercream icing). On the way out the door, the guests were treated to a coffee bar as their favor. We selected three roasts from our favorite local coffee roaster and had bags printed up with “Thad and Sara: the Perfect Blend” and the date of our ceremony (we’re caffeine addicts!).
The way Sara felt in her wedding dress
Elegant, beautiful, and relaxed.
Why Sara decided to sell her wedding dress
I think that every bride deserves to have a beautiful, well-made gown on her wedding day. Re-selling dresses allows brides to get a dress they truly deserve at a price point they can afford. Besides, my husband would hate it if I clogged up our closet with my dress!!
