Photo shoots are almost always fun. This particular shoot was extra enjoyable for me because it involved one of my favorite photography duos (Amanda and Carina), and it was at one of my favorite hidden historical gems in Philadelphia.
ALL PHOTOS IN THIS POST WERE TAKEN BY LOVE ME DO PHOTOGRAPHY.

I first discovered Wyck House and Gardens in 2008 when I was doing a research paper for a garden history class. Most everyone else in the class chose some large famous European garden that was easy to Google. I was more curious about what gardens might be significant in my own city. Wyck, while tiny (just 2.5 acres) and completely engulfed by a very urban environment, is full of truly amazing history.

One of the very first glass greenhouses in America still stands and is still used today to start seeds and shelter precious historical plants. The oldest rose garden in America still in its original footprint graces the side of the house, complete with an original grape arbor dating back to the 1800s. Truly original settlers in colonial America, the same Quaker family owned the property from 1690 until it went into a historic trust for preservation in 1973. Today the property is still managed as a working farm that serves as a rare gem for fresh seasonal food in an otherwise urban food desert.

With this inspiring heritage, past and present, Amanda and I planned a photo shoot that embraced the concept of a gentleman farmer marrying the girl he had been sweet on for a long time. A simple intimate ceremony under the grape arbor was followed by a seasonal harvest feast, full of heirloom fruit and vegetables, especially tomatoes. The flowers were all fresh picked, of course. Incorporated into the floral designs were garlic, kale, tomatoes, eggplants, carrots, blackberries and lots of herbs.
It was delightful to have the shoot recently featured on Green Wedding Shoes, one of my favorite wedding blogs.

The awesome vendor team involved in this shoot included:
photography: Love Me Do Photography // venue: Wyck House in Philadelphia, Pa // florals: Love N Fresh Flowers // furniature rentals: Maggpie Vintage//paper goods: Loveleigh Invitations //table styling: Jess Canovas //hair: Jill Kozar of Up Your Do // makeup: Nina of Cheekadee // wardrobe: dress from Free People, Bow tie from Forage // jewelry: Emily Chelsea Jewelry// hairpiece: Lovely Bridal

As an interesting side note, it was that fateful research paper on Wyck that introduced me to Nicole Juday, Wyck’s then-rosarian. She in turn introduced me to the wonderful family that owns the land I farm today. So, in a way, I owe Wyck a huge debt for inspiring just about everything we do at Love ‘n Fresh!