Sitting pretti

Lynzi & Ryan

Lynzi and Ryan’s wedding was steeped in history — held in the oldest church in Philadelphia, the city in which they fell in love. The details are all textbook, too. Read on as Lynzi shares the story behind her perfect day, from her heirloom accessories to the platform pleated heels she bought before she’d even gone dress shopping.

Photography by Jess Flynn

"Ryan and I always knew we wanted to get married in Philadelphia. It’s where we met and live, so it holds a lot of sentimental value for us as a couple! We hoped that friends and family from out of town could experience the city and what makes it so special.

"When we visited Gloria Dei Church, it was like love at first sight. It’s the oldest church in Philadelphia (Betsy Ross actually married her third husband there, ha!). It was just so quaint and beautiful with a lot of history and beautiful stained-glass windows. The reception followed at the Maas Building, which is a secret little garden complete with a cute courtyard and ivy walls. It was definitely quirky, but that’s us. It was important that the reception felt intimate— like it was just one large dinner party with loved ones."

"I actually purchased my shoes before the dress! The second I saw them I knew they had to be my wedding shoe. I was instantly drawn to Natalie — the height felt so fun and a bit edgy. The pleats’ glitter detail gave the shoes just the right amount of sparkle (especially since my jewelry was minimal), and the bows added a perfect preppy touch. I felt super confident and bold in them, and that’s what you want on your wedding day!"

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"When it came to my overall wedding day look, I wanted to feel like myself, but elevated. I kept coming back to the word ‘chic,’ so it was almost inevitable that I would go with a Sarah Seven dress! I had been obsessed with their brand long before ever being engaged, so I was most eager to try their gowns on during my shopping process.

"At the Lovely Bride in Philadelphia I was between a few Sarah Sevens, but the puff sleeves and snatched waist really did it for me (hello, ‘Bridgerton!’). My dress felt both modern and timeless. I can imagine it being worn decades prior, but it’ll also be chic and unique for years to come. I added a stunning Sarah Seven veil and the lace gloves my mom wore on her wedding day".

"My florals were from an urban farm in Philadelphia, so they were grown just for us with a color palette in mind. This meant we weren’t really going to know what the flowers or bouquets were going to look like until the day of! I really enjoyed this surprise, and felt it was important that they were sourced locally.

"Something I originally didn’t think too much about but ended up being one of my favorite details from the day was our retro-inspired cake. It was so campy and fun, especially with my parents’ cake topper from their ‘90s wedding day.

"Other details that really stood out were just the sweet touches that felt unique to us as a couple. Our vows were super personal, the seating chart was a nod to Taylor Swift, and our dance floor was under tons of colorful paper lanterns."

"The second I saw them I knew they had to be my wedding shoe."

"I honestly just love planning — really anything! There’s something so rewarding and fun about checking off those to-dos. It’s easy though with a type-A personality to get a bit too in your head and overthink the small details. I think taking a moment to recoup and remember that in the end this day is about you and your partner, everything else will fall into place. I know this might be against a lot of wedding advice, but I actually found that the things I had as non negotiables, ended up being totally negotiables. So the tip here is to have an open mind! Also, when you make a decision, stop scrolling and saving. Choice fatigue is real, and so is the comparison game. It’s best to just let things be and not tempt yourself with second guessing."

"Starting photos off with our dog Archie really was a special way to kick-off the day. When it came time for the ceremony, my two brothers played guitar and sang as I walked down the aisle. Just hearing them rehearse was enough to make me cry, so it was impossible to keep it together for the real thing! It was just so special to involve family into the ceremony that way."

"At our reception to welcome everyone to their seats, my husband Ryan and I sang ‘Thank You for Being a Friend,’ the theme song to the Golden Girls. It’s one of our favorite shows, so it was a silly and cute way to incorporate that part of our relationship into the day.

"My dad was for sure the life of the party that night, from transitioning into ‘Ride Wit’ Me’ by Nelly after our father-daughter dance, to filling in as DJ when ours took a break. Those moments of him will be core memories forever!"