Philadelphia has plenty of historic wedding venues, but Knowlton Mansion still feels like a unique find. Miranda and Andrew’s laidback wedding felt right at home in the beautiful setting. These candid photos highlight the handmade details and beloved traditions that made the day memorable. 

Here’s what you’ll find in this blog post:

• Knowlton Mansion: A Historic Wedding Venue
• A Jewish Wedding Full of Thoughtful Details
• Joyful, Candid Wedding Photos

Knowlton Mansion: A Historic Wedding Venue

Knowlton Mansion is all about nineteenth century charm. It was built in 1881 and beautifully restored in 1999. The building is Tudor-esque with stone and dark green trim. The pergola is a magical spot for a spring ceremony. Year round, though, you’ll find something to love about the garden. The colors are beautiful in the fall.

Luckily, even in the case of rain, you’ll have somewhere beautiful for your ceremony and reception. Miranda and Andrew held their ceremony in the ballroom. It was an immersive experience with stone walls and beautiful wood trim. It’s a big, flexible space, so you can lay it out in whatever way best suits your vision for your wedding day.

One of my favorite things about this venue is the color. You might think a historic mansion is going to be all neutrals and reserved colors. But Knowlton Mansion is full of surprises. Dark red and blue wallpaper line the rooms. Some of the trim above the doors include floral and geometric designs that look handpainted.

Here are some helpful details to know about getting married at Knowlton Mansion.

• Venue type: Indoor/outdoor
• Capacity: 250 guests
• Included in packages:
  • Valet parking
  • DJ and band facilities
  • Access to patios, pergola, and gardens
  • Catering and bar
• Starting cost: $13750 for 100 guests

This venue is located in the Fox Chase neighborhood on the border of North Philly. It’s very close to Pennypack. If you want even more natural portrait locations, you can stop at Pennypack. 

A Jewish Wedding Full of Thoughtful Details

Miranda and Andrew did things a little differently on their wedding day. Like many Jewish couples, they chose to have a ketubah signing with a small group of their closest family and friends before their ceremony. 

Instead of heading directly to the ceremony, though, they held cocktail hour beforehand. Everyone sat down at their reception tables and settled into happy conversations. It was nice to give everyone the chance to connect before having the ceremony. It gave Miranda and Andrew the chance to greet guests and relax before standing up in front of everyone too.

This Knowlton Mansion wedding wasn’t super heavy on the details, but the ones that Miranda and Andrew included really mattered. Andrew’s mom quilted the cover for their chuppah. In some of the photos, you can see the colorful cloth that makes the ceremony space feel so unique. They brought the chuppah to the reception and placed it over their sweetheart table. As someone who loves to sew, I love when people bring handmade elements into their wedding whether it be in clothing or decor.

After the ceremony, Andrew and Miranda’s guests felt so at ease. The speeches flew by in a haze of happy tears. When it was time for the hora, everyone enthusiastically lifted Miranda and Andrew on chairs. The reception hall at Knowlton Mansion looks like it was made for this celebration.

Joyful, Candid Wedding Photos

These wedding photos showcase the kind of photography I’m known for: candid photos of genuine moments. Throughout their wedding day at Knowlton Mansion, I followed Miranda and Andrew through their most meaningful moments. I took my cues from them as to what I should focus on. By staying observant and giving them space to be present in their day, I was able to document their wedding creatively and authentically. 

I love the candid photos of Miranda and Andrew’s community as much as the images of the couple alone. Looking at these photos, you really can feel every belly laugh and excited hug. It’s easy to imagine Miranda and Andrew looking at these photos years from now and being transported right back to their wedding day.

Are you interested in having me photograph your wedding? I’m a Philadelphia wedding photographer specializing in creative candids. Inquire with me!