Engagement picture sessions are so important to book, not only because you can get some professional pictures of you and your soon to be without all the wedding garb on but also to get to know your photographer and to get used to the being photographed feeling so you’re comfortable on the day of the wedding. 

We always recommend it to our couples, you want to feel totally comfortable with your photographers because after all you’ll practically spend more of your day with the two of them than anyone else. 

Now, Dan and I already had an engagement session when we got engaged but I also wanted to do some more casual shots. 

I also had a secret up my sleeve. 

 We remind our brides that it’s always nice to find little ways that you can include your husband-to-be in the wedding planning with things that he’ll enjoy to do.  That may be bringing him to the tasting, picking out the cake or picking out the song list with the DJ or the band. 

 I chose to surprise Dan and treat him with a surprise engagement session in the Eagles Stadium. 

I set the whole thing up with my photographers Laura and Paul and picked him up after work and started driving to the stadium.  He thought we were going to Old City but little did he know that I had our jersey’s stashed in the back to do a fun session in the Linc. 

Here are some of the shots, we also went to Laura’s studio in Old City and took some pictures in the neighborhood. 

Thanks to Laura Eaton Photography for the images, I LOVE them!

We went to Laura’s studio in Old city to change and found this cupcake truck outside, so naturally I had to get one…

We went to Laura’s studio in Old city to change and found this cupcake truck outside, so naturally I had to get one…

And Naturally I had to try to smash it in Dan’s face!

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AMAZING chocolates from local Philadelphia chocolatier John and Kira’s – when we introduced them to the chocolates they fell in love with them….

{they actually did a beautiful black box with a white ribbon and Ellen and Kris’s custom monogram for us}

I first met owner John Doyle at a Bridal Event almost a decade ago when we were both first starting out…. they had such a beautiful, rich, local product and a really interesting story -

I’ve become addicted….I brought home a sample box when I picked up the favors and couldn’t stop……they’re creamy fillings with such a POP of flavor - mint grown by a local elementary school, lemongrass and ginger are among my favorites….

Not only are these chocolates AMAZING, the company local and supporting local farmers, the owners and staff friendly, helpful and really nice…..

BUT, their weddings favors are competitively priced with the big national companies who mass produce the chocolates…..they offer a wide selection of boxes, ribbons wax seals and labels.

In addition to their chocolate squares they offer toffee (almond, pistachio and hazelnut), chocolate cherries (dried, dark-red, tart cherries and dark chocolate), fruit squares, chocolate figs (with whiskey ganache) and…….

 The cutest  bumble bees (caramel chocolate) and lady bugs (mint, raspberry and honey lavender) …. perfect to accent a spring or summer wedding theme

YUMMMMMMMMMMMM!

John and Kira’s and The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants are both proud members of the Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network…

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 by Rebecca Druckenmiller

I was so excited for Rachel and Josh’s wedding on May 30 at the Hilton Hotel on City Line Avenue. 

As you’ll see in the photos, the hotel has gorgeous ballrooms (yes, there are multiple ballrooms making it the perfect place to host ceremony and easily move guests from space to space.)  

 I also loved the religious traditions incorporated throughout the day including the ketubah signing, horah, and crowning.  Rachel was also very thoughtful and found ways to incorporate her mothers gown into the wedding, she used parts of it around her bouquet and also in the canopy of the chuppah. 

She also used her parent’s cake topper for her delicious cake. 

 Gabe from Philip Gabriel Photography  was there to capture all the great details and amazing moments as was Christina and her team from Claire Pruett Videography.  Don Calhoun Draping and Lighting and Carmen Bolin Floristry really set the scene with incredible décor full of reds, purples, pinks and ivories that really popped under the pin-spotting.

I really can’t say enough about the band though, the Starlight Orchestra had kept everyone on their feet all night. What was really cool though was that they would transition from song to song much like a dj would making the sound really smooth. 

I could go on about how much fun this night was but I think the pictures speak for themselves…

Thanks for the images Gabe!

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Check out what Rebecca’s recent couple Rachel and Josh had to say:

Rebecca and her team hit the ground running as soon we hired them-covering every angle from vendor emails to general wedding etiquette, and design questions.  In the weeks leading up to the wedding, she was always there with guidance and assurance.

On the day itself, she kept my mother and me calm, taking care of extraneous details,while we spent the day getting ready and enjoying ourselves. Hiring QOH was one of the single best decisions I made in my entire wedding process.

During the actual event, they made sure our timelime was executed to the minute, and handled the whole experience with grace and professionalism. So much feedback from our wedding has been from friends saying how ’smooth and seamless’ the night was, That was because of Rebecca and her team! 

Thanks again Rebecca!

Nice job Rebecca! You’ll have to share more about their wedding with us…….

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Generally, July and August are a little slower for our weddings as the weather tends to be a little hot and humid here in the Greater Philadelphia area….it’s catch up time from May and June and get ready time for fall weddings….

July and August here have been INSANE!

We’ve had more weddings than in the past and all totally different – ranging from a fun stylish, military wedding, a rustic outdoor wedding with a ceremony in an apple orchard and a beautiful tented Main Line wedding with amazing personal touches….

Both Rebecca and Kristin had their own engagement shoots….

Christina has been busy with beautiful invitations, menu cards, escort cards and other printed materials for fall weddings….

We’ve all done some continuing education, and even snuck in a little time away

We’re really excited about the new weddings for next year…. clients booking us from all over the globe, vegetarian weddings, and all in all great couples with beautiful design requests…. 2011 will be an AMAZING year…

As we recieve images from our summer weddings we’ll be catching up on some blogging and sharing these beautiful images with you, as well as some great design ideas and more of our famous weding planning tips…

Hope you’ve had a great summer! I know we have…..

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