There is a pair of hidden wedding venue gems in the heart of historic downtown Philadelphia.  Powel House and Hill-Physick House are sister colonial homes with walled gardens just a block apart that are the perfect setting for intimate weddings.  We were so delighted with how Giuliana and Ned chose to use both Powel House and Hill-Physick House for their decadent and detailed wedding celebration!

Giuliana + Ned

Powel House and Hill-Physick House Wedding

On the morning of their beautiful late September wedding at Powel House and Hill-Physick House, we delivered the bridal party flowers to the hip boutique hotel, Lokal, in Old City where Guiliana and Ned were getting ready.  Guiliana had requested that the ceremony flowers and her lush bridal bouquet be designed in a palette the echoed the morning dawn’s colors.  We brought this vision to life with large ruffled dahlias in hues of blush, soft golden yellow, and peach along with romantic faded purple lisianthus, glowing soft green eucalpytus and the textural fireworks for fennel seed heads.

Ned’s boutonniere was a sweet echo of the bridal bouquet, featuring petite lisianthus blooms, soft bunny tail grass, and fragrant lavender foliage.

Giuliana and Ned live and work in NYC but chose to get married in Philadelphia because of it’s historic charm.  They took full advantage of the small streets and interesting facades around Old City Philadelphia during their pre-wedding portraits before heading to Powel House and Hill-Physick House for their wedding.

The Ceremony at Hill-Physick House

Giuliana and Ned decided to use the garden oasis at the Hill-Physick House for their intimate ceremony, inviting guests to relax in the shaded space with a pre-ceremony drink.  Giuliana entered from the street and walked up the aisle to meet Ned at the rattan canopy we decorated with lush gatherings of seasonal florals that matched the bridal bouquet.  The ceremony (and decor) were sweet and simple, the perfect reflection of this couple.  The rattan canopy is a rental available through Maggpie Rentals, one of our favorite vendor friends.

The Cocktail Hour at Hill-Physick House

After the ceremony was over, guests spread out across the walled garden, enjoying some thoughtfully placed lounges, while the couple mingled and greeted their guests and everyone got into a jubilant celebratory mood.  The afternoon sun was lowering and the garden was full of laughter.  As cocktail hour wrapped up, guests began to take the pleasant stroll through the quiet streets to nearby Powel House for dinner and dancing.  I love this idea of guests getting to move between spaces with a refreshing walk.

The Reception at Powel House

The vision for the space at Powel House was anchored on the idea of evoking an autumn sunset.  Rich, deep, moody hues of garnet, burnt amber, black currant, and slate blue amped up the drama.  Birchtree Catering set out a seasonally-inspired feast on long communal tables.  We decorated these tables with abundant florals, including overflowing hammered brass bowls and smaller footed marble compotes, all featuring seasonal flowers grown on our farm.  The dahlias demanded every guest’s attention!

Black taper candles in our collection of antique gold and brass candleholders were all a-glow.  Between candles and floral centerpieces were a parade of mismatched votive candles and gatherings wild grapes, just-plucked persimmons, and beheaded dahlias, all from our farm.

The tables were draped in a rich, woven Irish linen in the dreamest shade of blue.  The tables were also set with black flatware to add to the drama.  And each guest’s plate received a fresh sprig of fragrant rosemary from our farm.

Dancing at Powel House

Giuliana and Ned wanted a statement floral piece for their reception — something to “wow” their guests and make for a stunning backdrop for photos.  We dreamed up the idea of lush florals growing up the massive oak tree in the garden.  Dahlias upon dahlias were piled into this piece.  And, boy, did it deliver on the drama!!  More than a few pedestrians on the sidewalk passing by stopped to snap photos.  And it was the sweetest backdrop for Giuliana and Ned’s first dance.

More lounge furniture from Maggpie Rentals was grouped at the back of the garden, providing a quieter space for guests to relax between dancing and dining.  We loved how the rich blue velvet and leather upholstery and the woven vintage rug played with the tones of our florals!

Doesn’t this seem like the best party?  I know guests will be talking about it for weeks and years to come.  So much thought and heart was put into all the details of this day.  We are so grateful Giuliana and Ned asked us to be a big part of it!

All photos in this post (save for the one in front of Lokal hotel) were graciously provided by the wildly talented folks at Chellise Michael Photography. 

More photos of our autumn weddings, be sure to check out this previous post and this previous post.