Tyler Arboretum is a dream wedding venue for nature lovers in the Philadelphia area. When the pandemic changed their original plans, Nadia and Xavier chose to have a small ceremony on their original date. They followed it with a relaxed and joyful Tyler Arboretum wedding reception the next year. Their sweet celebration featured multicultural elements and a whole lot of color.

A Tyler Arboretum Wedding

Tyler Arboretum is a 650-acre preserve that features all the most beautiful parts of the southeastern Pennsylvania landscape. There are woods, meadows, and wetlands in addition to the beautifully landscaped gardens. Thanks to the amazing variety of flowers, color fills the landscape. Tyler Arboretum wedding portraits are full of bright surprises. During Nadia and Xavier’s wedding reception, we were lucky enough to catch the butterflies enjoying the flowers.

From spring through the fall, there are so many breathtaking locations for Tyler Arboretum wedding ceremonies. You don’t have to stress about rain either. The arboretum has an indoor reception space. The warm wood rafters and stone walls of the barn create a cozy atmosphere for celebrations. The wedding packages at Tyler Arboretum include use of the barn reception room and an adjacent tented terrace. The venue also provides full-service catering. 

The Philadelphia area has a number of similar garden wedding venues, including Bartram’s Garden and Morris Arboretum. Tyler Arboretum is special because the gardens feel a little wild and untamed. Pink, yellow, and white flowers intertwine as they reach for the sky. The butterflies add an extra element of magic in the summer. There are endless locations to take romantic portraits

Tyler Arboretum is located in the Philadelphia suburb of Media on the edge of Ridley Creek State Park. Guests traveling from out of town can choose to stay nearby and enjoy the hiking and swimming available, or they can hop on the Regional Rail to explore what the city has to offer. The train station is conveniently just a 10-minute drive from Tyler Arboretum.

Colorful Multicultural Details

For their Tyler Arboretum wedding reception, Nadia and Xavier very intentionally incorporated elements from both of their cultures. Nadia honored her Indian heritage by wearing a traditional outfit for the first part of the celebration. The patterned fabric shimmered in the sun and moved elegantly while she explored the grounds with Xavier. Some of Nadia family members also opted to wear colorful saris, adding even more vibrance to the reception.

Nadia and Xavier’s florals incorporated some flowers traditional in Indian weddings, including orange marigolds. The golden blooms appeared in Xavier’s boutonniere, Nadia’s bouquet, and the table arrangements. They stood out like a burst of sunshine against Xavier’s deep purple suit. It was so fun to see how these details blended seamlessly with the rest of the wedding decor.

Nadia and Xavier’s Reception

Even when Nadia and Xavier’s Tyler Arboretum wedding reception moved inside for a seated dinner and dancing, saturated colors filled the room. Everywhere you could see reminders of the garden just outside the door. Fluffy arrangements of orange, green, white, and red flowers sat on every surface. The name cards featured botanical details. Green lime slices decorated the pink cocktails. 

During the first dance, Nadia’s sari flared when she turned. Later in the evening, Nadia changed into a different reception dress. It had a modern silhouette with dramatic sleeves. The sequins caught the light on the dance floor. She kept her traditional Indian jewelry on, and again it felt like the traditional and modern elements of this Tyler Arboretum wedding were made to go together.

When you hear that a wedding reception will be at an arboretum, your first thought may not be of a big dance party, but that’s exactly what Nadia, Xavier, and their guests had. I loved seeing their family members as excited to get on the dance floor as their friends were! Beneath the strings of lights, they showed off their best moves. Everyone was so present, and Nadia and Xavier were able to connect with the people around them.

Are you interested in having me photograph your Tyler Arboretum wedding? I would love to capture fun photos that document your incredible day! Reach out to learn more about working with me.