Who says you have to choose between a traditional church wedding and an outdoor ceremony? Julie and Brian didn’t! They had not one, but two beautiful ceremonies, and I had the privilege of documenting both. Their blue and white Philadelphia Cricket Club wedding came together in mid-September in Chestnut Hill. First, they celebrated a traditional nuptial Mass with close family on September 11 at St. Thomas of Villanova. Then, on September 13, they hosted their wedding day at The Philadelphia Cricket Club with all of their friends and relatives. That also meant Julie had not one, but two wedding dresses. Yay!
Read More:
Philadelphia Cricket Club Wedding Photos From A Colorful September Celebration
Classic Philadelphia Cricket Club Wedding in Chestnut Hill PA | Francesa & Darren
A Detailed Philadelphia Cricket Club Wedding Venue Guide (By a Photographer Who’s Shot It)
Two Wedding Ceremonies: One Indoor, One Outdoor
Julie and Brian got married outdoors on the lawn at PCC. They had a built in backdrop of gorgeous white columns and a grand balcony overlooking the expansive green golf course. It’s one of my favorite ceremony settings at this venue: open light, room to move, and that historic architecture perfectly framing the couple.
Here’s how their blue and white Philadelphia Cricket Club wedding celebration came together:
| Wedding Detail | Julie & Brian |
|---|---|
| Nuptial Mass | September 11, 2025 at St. Thomas of Villanova (close family) |
| Wedding day | September 13, 2025 at The Philadelphia Cricket Club |
| Location | Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA |
| Season | Late summer |
| Ceremony setting | Outdoor, on the lawn beneath PCC’s white columns and balcony |
| Guest count | 170 |
| Color palette | Blue and white |
| Signature details | Blue and white china vases, mixed blue bridesmaid dresses, three-tiered white cake with a gold “H” monogram |
Family Heirlooms And A Legacy To Preserve
One of my favorite thoughtful touches was the chair they reserved for Julie’s late mother, Jeanne, during both ceremonies. During their PCC ceremony, they placed a beautiful blue and white china vase next to her chair and a photo of Julie, her mom, and her sister. Every time a family member walked down the aisle, they placed a pink rose in the vase in Jeanne’s memory.
At the reception, Julie and Brian arranged a shelf holding their parents’ and grandparents’ wedding portraits to commemorate the generations of love stories that led to theirs. All I could think while documenting these frames was that one day their children and grandchildren may place one of their photos in a frame at their own wedding. I can’t think of a better reason for why I continue to do this!
A Blue and White Philadelphia Cricket Club Wedding Color Palette
The whole day was built around a blue and white wedding color palette, and the details carried it through with intention. The blue and white china vases used as reception tables centerpieces matched the one that held Julie’s mom’s roses. Her bridesmaids wore mixed blue dresses in different shades and styles, so the color read as a whole family of blues rather than one matched set. And the three-tiered white cake, finished with a gold “H” monogram, tied the palette together with a warm metallic note.
Thoughtful Bride and Groom Gift Ideas
Brian’s wedding gift to Julie was a mixtape and a collection of small keepsakes he’d saved from moments throughout their relationship — movie tickets, mini golf scoring stubs, and a note that brought her to tears. Julie gave Brian a sleek new watch that paired perfectly with his navy suit and their blue color scheme.
Wedding Photos on 35mm Film and Polaroids
It’s my philosophy that moments as deeply sentimental as these deserve to be captured on film! And that belief is exactly why part of Julie and Brian’s coverage was shot on 35mm film and instant Polaroids. Film carries a grain and a depth of color digital can’t quite imitate — it renders skin softly, holds onto warm light, and gives an image the feel of something you’d find tucked into a family album years from now. On a day built around a blue and white palette, film brought out every shade of it: the hydrangeas on their welcome sign, the blue-walled room where Julie got ready, and the low sun crossing the lawn during their ceremony.
To see more film wedding photography at PCC, check out Jena and James’s September celebration here.
Polaroids are their own kind of keepsake. I love real, physical prints you can hold the moment they develop. For a couple who saved movie tickets and mini golf stubs from years together, there was something right about a handful of tangible frames from the day itself. Film is a deliberate, artful choice for me, and I save it for the memories that most deserve to become heirlooms.
In Julie’s Words
I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am that we were able to use Samantha as our wedding photographer! We have only seen our sneak peek so far, as our wedding was only a few weeks ago, but the photos I have seen have truly been even more beautiful than I could have ever imagined! Samantha was extremely easy to work with, responsive, and helpful throughout the planning process. My husband is not a huge photo guy, but Samantha and her team made the photo process so smooth and easy the day of! We didn’t want our photos to feel too “posed,” and Samantha really delivered, capturing authentic moments throughout our day and making our posed pictures look as natural as possible. We are so happy we went with Samantha and cannot wait to see the rest of the photographs from our wedding day!
Booking Your PCC Wedding Photographer
I’ve photographed this venue more than a few times, from Francesca and Darren’s classic Philadelphia Cricket Club wedding to Jena and James’s Philadelphia Cricket Club wedding photos, and I’ve pulled everything I know about it into a full Philadelphia Cricket Club wedding venue guide. If you’re still building your team, my favorite Philadelphia wedding planners is a good place to start.
Julie and Brian’s blue and white Philadelphia Cricket Club wedding held all the things I love most about this work: two ceremonies that honored both family and faith, a color story carried down to the smallest china vase, and a couple who made room, in the middle of their own celebration, for the people who came before them.
Philadelphia Cricket Club Wedding Vendors
A huge shout out to all the amazing vendors who brought this wedding day together for Julie, Brian, and their families!
Venue + Catering: The Philadelphia Cricket Club
Photography: Samantha Jay Photo
Day-of Coordinator: Bellevate Events
Ceremony: St. Thomas of Villanova
Florals: Keystone Florals
Hair: Taylor Tripler
Makeup: All Dolled Up
Dress Shop: Claire’s Fashions
Dress Designer: Justin Alexander
Cake: Bredenbeck’s Bakery
Band: Modern Luxe
Videography: New Pace
Art isn’t about perfection, it’s about feeling—especially on the most memorable day of your life. Let’s memorialize your most heartfelt moments into a photo time capsule you’ll cherish forever.
Samantha Jay Photo captures intentional, organic, heirloom-quality images for couples who value tangible memories. Check out her Philadelphia & Delaware wedding photography portfolio. Inquire here to reserve your wedding date!
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