By Mark Kingsdorf
Owner of Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants and a Planaganza GoLocal Philadelphia Local Expert
When planning weddings in Philly we often cross several bridges – literally.
Planning a wedding in Philly especially during the summer often leads many brides to “the shore” or if you’re into Delaware – “the beach.”
While planning down the shore has its plusses, most brides panic over the minuses - like “where do we find a local band, florist, photographer, etc?
You’d be surprised how many Philadelphia area wedding professionals do business across the bridge and many other places around the region.
While shore traffic is always a concern for many beach brides- planning ahead is the key. Many of your guests will make a weekend out of it as it IS a destination wedding. Make sure to set up room blocks and book reservations WELL in advance of the summer season.
Staying close to home- Downtown Philly is a great summer wedding destination. You’re out of town family and friends will LOVE you for the mini vacation in such a historic place.
Some great considerations would be any number of historic reception locations which may offer ceremony spaces on site – many offering rooms as well. Beating the heat by allowing guests to stay in one cool location is the safest way to beat the weather.
Other cool options are fun places like museums. Many of these older buildings offer charm, interesting exhibits and can be very cool (literally- marble and high ceilings help to keep guests comfortable). Many are located close to great hotels, restaurants and clubs for your guests.
Whether planning in the summer or any time of year – treat your guests like… well, like your guests! Gift bags for out of town guests with a welcome note and ideas for some of your favorite restaurants, bars or historic sites is always a nice touch. Many historic sites will gladly offer you brochures for your guests.
When adding treats skip the chocolates for the summer months in favor of things less likely to melt as guests take them on their excursions. Things like bottled water, hard candy, Tasty cakes and salty local snacks work well as do things they might not think they need in Philly – like sun screen.
Philly is loaded with great places for photo ops for you and your bridal party – historic sites, urban backdrops like Rittenhouse Square or head out along Kelly Drive to waterfront spaces. Make sure you keep yourself well-hydrated , wear some sun block and allow yourself some extra time to do photos as you might not be the only one taking advantage of some of the scenic beauty.
Just like planning any time of the year- HAVE A BACK UP PLAN! Weather is one of the few things in weddings we can’t predict or control. If an outdoor, roof top or deck ceremony is the plan, having a backup is a must.
Summer in Philly is a great time for weddings… it’s all in the planning.