Portico Wedding at Awbury Arboretum | Hajer + Matthew
Romantic April Portico wedding in Philadelphia with floral details and golden hour portraits
Portico wedding
The first thing we remember is Hajer’s dress and how we immediately fell in love with those sheer bow straps. They floated in the breeze, caught the light just right, and were paired with the prettiest floral texture across the rest of the gown. Hajer and Matthew saw each other for the first time that day out on the front lawn of Portico, and it was just the sweetest. Portico is tucked into this quiet corner of Awbury Arboretum in Philly, surrounded by wild trees and garden paths. It feels like a secret, and their April wedding fit right in.
After the first look, we wandered around the grounds with them, taking portraits and enjoying the fact that everything was blooming and alive. At one point, they found a little bird’s nest on the ground with three perfect blue robin’s eggs and gently relocated it to a safer spot, which honestly tells you everything you need to know about them. Hajer laughed and said, oh perfect, I’d forgotten the “something blue!” The ceremony happened outside in front of a green wall of trees and vines, and then it was time for cocktails, lawn games, live violin, and kids running barefoot through the grass.
The woodsy setting was a fitting choice for Hajer and Matthew’s Portico wedding. They love nature, they’re very carefree and relaxed. In fact, the first time I met them they had ridden their bikes to their winter engagement session with me without a care in the world about wind-blown hair or pink cheeks (as had I, so we got along swimmingly). Two elements of their wedding were an especially beautiful homage to the arboretum setting. Their “guestbook” was a gorgeous illustration of twin trees where guests signed each limb, a lovely keepsake. And their escort cards were miniature seed packets of wild flowers clipped to twine strung under a wooden arch that said “Please Be Seeded.” It was whimsical, colorful, cheeky and fit right into the garden setting.
The “ring warming” ceremony was a really sweet touch in which upon each guest’s arrival at the ceremony, they could rub the wedding rings and silently send blessings and good wishes to the couple. The rings were made by a talented family member in the jewelry industry, Marcel Maldonado of Precious Knots, so this action really brought everything full circle.
We snuck out for golden hour portraits just before the reception kicked into full party mode. For some of the photos, Hajer added these fantastic “shoulders” to her dress, which were custom-made to match her gown as a nod to her culture and where she grew up.
Truly one of our favorite weddings. Kindness, intention, and natural beauty infused every part of Hajer & Matthew’s day. And the best part? We got to hang out with Matthew’s cousins, whom we know because we’ve photographed (or are about to photograph) so many of their weddings already. We love this crew.
Portico wedding
Portico wedding at Awbury Arboretum
Venue: Portico at Awbury Arboretum
Caterer: Peach Tree Catering
Florist: Torresdale Flower Shop
Band: Philly Music Lab
Videographer: Simoun Q
Makeup + Hair: Something You Beauty
Cake: Brendenbeck’s Bakery
Inviations: Minted
Gown: Anthropologie
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