I have been so excited to share Jenna and Trevor’s late September wedding at Tyler Arboretum in Media, Pennsylvania. This wedding had everything: incredible light, a rustic fall wedding color palette that was perfectly matched to the season, film coverage, and two people who were just so genuinely happy to be getting married. It was one of those days where I kept thinking, this is why I do this!
| Wedding Day Overview | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | September 26, 2025 |
| Venue | Tyler Arboretum, 515 Painter Rd, Media, PA 19063 |
| Ceremony Space | Magnolia Garden (outdoor) |
| Reception Format | White tent dinner + stone bank barn for dancing |
| Guest Count | Approximately 120 |
| Season | Early fall |
| Coverage | Color film, digital, polaroids |
For a comprehensive Tyler Arboretum wedding guide, including ceremony and reception spaces, guest count, and more venue details, check out this post featuring Kathryn & Kyle’s summer wedding.
What It’s Like to Photograph Tyler Arboretum in Fall
Tyler Arboretum at the start of fall is something else. The property spans over 500 acres of woodlands, gardens, meadows, and streams — and by the end of September, things are just starting to shift. The trees are turning. The light is golden. And when your florals are built around burnt orange, peachy coral, and deep rust, the whole setting just clicks into place around you. I shot this day on color film, digital, and polaroids I genuinely could not have asked for better conditions to work with all three.
If you’ve been looking at Tyler Arboretum as a venue, I want to tell you: the variety of backdrops on this property is unmatched. In one afternoon, I moved from the Magnolia Garden for the ceremony, to the open lawn for golden hour portraits, to the Victorian-style lattice gazebo, to the stone bank barn exterior. All of it is within walking distance. All of it is beautiful in completely different ways.
September Wedding Color Palette: Pink And Brown
Okay, can we talk about these florals for a second?! Rustic Bunch absolutely delivered. Jenna’s bouquet was one of the most textured, layered arrangements I’ve seen — orange zinnias, peachy and coral dahlias, cream lisianthus, white tuberose, trailing rust amaranth — all tied together with delicate lace and satin ribbons.
What I really loved about Jenna and Trevor’s fall color palette is how grounded it felt in the season without feeling overdone. The chocolate brown bridesmaid dresses were a huge part of that — five bridesmaids in floor-length rich brown satin holding those orange and rust bouquets looked like fall itself. It’s such a good September wedding color palette combination: warm florals, deep brown, and all that golden light. I kept thinking this is what a rustic fall wedding color palette is supposed to look like.
Even Jenna’s eye makeup — a soft peachy pink — tied into the floral tones. The whole thing was so cohesive down to every last detail.
If you’re building a rustic fall wedding color palette for 2026 and want something that feels both seasonal and personal, Jenna and Trevor’s day is a really beautiful reference point!
| Rustic Fall Wedding Color Palette | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary floral tones | Burnt orange, peachy coral, rust, deep burgundy |
| Soft palette accents | Cream, blush, white tuberose |
| Textural elements | Amaranth, dried grasses, lisianthus, greenery |
| Bridesmaid color | Rich chocolate brown satin |
| Groomsmen | Black tuxedos |
| Bridal gown | Strapless, structured, ivory — Van Cleve Bridal |
| Invitation palette | Warm taupe, cream, mocha — Minted |
Outdoor Wedding Ceremony in the Magnolia Garden
The ceremony started at 5:00 PM in the Magnolia Garden with the kind of natural framing you just can’t manufacture. I always pay attention to when couples are actually present during their ceremony, and Jenna and Trevor were fully in it. I loved watching them. When the ceremony wrapped, we moved quickly through extended family portraits before cocktail hour, which meant Jenna and Trevor got to walk into the tent and actually be guests at their own party. That’s always the goal and it doesn’t always happen — so when it does, it’s worth noting.
White Tent Wedding Reception Setup
Walking into the reception space before guests get a peek is one of my favorite moments of any wedding day. This one made me catch my breath a little! Greenery chandeliers and string lights hung above farm tables dressed in cream runners. Fall floral centerpieces, gold chiavari chairs, and soft candlelight brought a warm ambiance into the space.
This is the kind of outdoor wedding reception setup that makes a tented dinner feel intentional rather than utilitarian. The outdoor wedding reception decorations Jenna and Trevor chose didn’t compete with the venue — they extended it. The right decor can truly make a white tent wedding reception feel like a magical outdoor escape!
Planning Your Wedding at Tyler Arboretum
When you book through Tyler Arboretum, all wedding coordination and planning runs through JAM Hospitality, the venue’s exclusive event partner across seventeen properties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Their coordinator Melissa Lis had the day running so smoothly — transitions happened without any drama, and at 8:15 PM when guests moved from the tent into the barn for dancing (and Jenna slipped away to change into her second dress), it all just flowed.
| Tented Reception Details | Notes |
|---|---|
| Tent style | Clear-span white tent |
| Lighting | String lights + cascading greenery chandeliers + candlelight |
| Tables | Farm tables with cream linen runners |
| Seating | Gold chiavari chairs |
| Centerpieces | Fall florals by Rustic Bunch — orange, peach, rust, burgundy |
| Catering & coordination | JAM Hospitality |
| Barn transition | 8:15 PM for dancing + Jenna’s dress change |
| Guest favor | Mismatched thrifted colored glasses displayed at barn exit |
The Details I’m Still Thinking About
The guests showed out on this day. There was a moment during cocktail hour where I gathered a group of Jenna’s people and I was floored by what they were wearing — floral prints, rust-toned maxis, rich jewel-toned patterns. It’s actually one of my favorite shots because it captures how perfectly everyone leaned into the rustic fall wedding color palette theme and vibe.
Speaking of vibes, Jenna’s dress had pockets. Just had to throw that out there! A structured strapless gown from Van Cleve Bridal — and it had pockets. She was thrilled about it and honestly, same.
And then there’s the favor, which I’m still not over. Jenna’s dad spent months thrifting mismatched colored glasses. There was vintage glassware in cobalt blues, amber yellows, jewel-toned purples, vintage champagne flutes, and clear crystal. The vintage found items theme coordinated so well with their rustic fall wedding color palette. At the end of the night, a full shelving display outside the barn doors invited every guest to take one home. I love when a favor carries a special meaning for the couple!
Film Coverage at Tyler Arboretum
I shot this wedding on color film, digital, and polaroids — and Tyler Arboretum in late September gave all three mediums exactly what they needed. Color film did what it does in that amber late-afternoon light — made everything feel warm, cinematic, and a little dreamlike. The 6:50 PM sunset was perfect. Jenna’s veil caught the backlight on the open lawn during golden hour portraits and I genuinely could have stayed out there all evening.
If you’re considering film coverage for your own wedding, this post on Kathryn & Kyle’s Tyler Arboretum wedding shows what the combination of film and Super 8 looks like at this venue across a different season. The property is incredibly versatile — and film always finds something to love here.
Tyler Arboretum Wedding Vendors
Venue: Tyler Arboretum | Photography: Samantha Jay Photo | Wedding Coordination: JAM Hospitality / Melissa Lis | Florals: Rustic Bunch | Hair: Taylor Kline / Gem Beauty Co | Makeup: Amber Renee Artistry | Dress Shop: Van Cleve Bridal | Cake: JAM Catering | Band/DJ: EBE Talent | Videography: Sharyn Louise Photography | Invitations: Minted
Samantha Jay Photo captures intentional, organic heirloom-quality images for couples who value tangible memories. Now booking 2027 wedding dates across Philadelphia, the Main Line, Delaware, and beyond — inquire here.
Be the first to comment