For couples dreaming of a European wedding without the stress of international travel, Pennsylvania offers several unique solutions. Photographer Emily Wilkerson of Fern & Fountain recently captured several wedding editorials in venues around Philadelphia. In her own words, here’s what Emily had to say about each property and the wedding looks her team created to highlight them:

“The Western Philadelphia area has long been known for rustic barn weddings, but there are many chic venues with a strong European influence in this area of the country that have been hidden gems for far too long. The venues were chosen based on their history, the proximity to major cities, and the general aesthetics of the venue. Each venue contributed a primary theme to the overall project.

Conestoga House and Gardens: A Mediterranean Escape

“Conestoga House and Gardens has a strong Mediterranean flavor including authentic marble floors shipped in from Italy, and many paintings purchased in Italy as well. For the couple who seeks an urban element to their day, the venue is also only minutes away from Downtown Lancaster.

Conestoga House has heavy greenery, so we chose a very simple black tie theme with pale blush flowers to ensure the high contrast of the bride and groom popped in every setting of the grounds.

We also wanted to specifically highlight the marble floor in the Orangery, so the white of the bride’s dress and the flowers had to work with the strong white tones of the marble.

To add an urban twist, we sent the couple downtown to a modern cafe to set up an example of getting-ready portraits.

Venues: Conestoga House and Gardens & Passenger Coffee; Planner: Blake Events; Suit: J Hilburn; Bridal Shop: In White; Flowers: Lancaster Flower Co 

Elkins Estate: Grandeur Reminiscent of Parisian Ballrooms

Elkins Estate is a grand venue that can accommodate over 250 guests and was originally designed in the Guild era. It is largely adored for its stunning ballroom and expansive grounds. The ballroom is particularly reminiscent of ancient ballrooms in cathedrals and palaces in Paris, London, and more.

We wanted to offer a playful and flirtatious style of imagery in the Elkins Estate rather than the usual editorial style imagery the venue naturally attracts. We intentionally subverted expectations by crafting photos of joyful expression rather than setting the expected tone of refined elegance.

Venue: Elkins Estate; Dress & Hair Bow: Untamed Petals; Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka; Engagement Ring: Ring Concierge; Suit: Suit Supply; Groom’s Shoes: Alfani; Watches: Hugo Boss & Movado; Jumpsuit: Hutch for Anthropologie; Earrings: J. Crew 

Longwood Gardens: A Botanical Tribute to Italy and France

The architecture of Longwood Gardens was the primary element that set a European tone. Longwood commanded two different looks. The first was a classic and refined couple with suggestive fashion. The groom had bleach blonde hair and golden earrings in order to maintain a sense of trendiness and encourage individual style even in a setting as renowned as Longwood gardens. The bride wore a classic gown but a trendy pearl cape.

Venue: Longwood Gardens; Suit: Banana Republic; Dress: Blush Bridal; Shoes: Jimmy Choo; Flowers: Lancaster Flower Co

The second Longwood Gardens look was of a solo bride. We leaned into the floral element of Longwood gardens and chose a floral gown and a bouquet with a vivid color scheme. We wanted to portray an extravagant getting-ready experience and truly encapsulate the wonder and awe of the moments a bride spends preparing for her wedding.

Venue: Longwood Gardens; Dress: East Coast Styled Shoots; Shoes: Jimmy Choo; Flowers: Landis Farm

Bringing European Essence to Your U.S. Wedding

As a frequent visitor to these venues, and also a person who spent part of my childhood living in London and traveling Europe with my family, I easily picked up on the sense of Europe in these venues. My advice to those who are trying to choose between an actual European wedding and a European-inspired wedding in the USA is to choose a planner and photographer who favors European and European-inspired events, so the experience of the wedding is authentic.”