Classic Ballroom at the Ben Wedding | Bridget & John

A bride and groom in wedding attire walk through a city street and pose together in front of a historic building with a clock tower, capturing timeless moments from their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.

Bridget and John’s stunning spring wedding at Ballroom at the Ben in Philadelphia was the epitome of black tie elegance! The whole wedding day from start to finish felt very classic, and was filled with radiating energy that kept everyone, from the couple, the guests, and even the vendors, on their toes!

A bride and groom stand close together on stone steps in front of a large, white building with tall columns, capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.

 

The beautiful spring wedding day started in Old City, with the happy couple getting ready with their wedding party at the luxurious Kimpton Hotel Monaco. Once Bridget was in full glam and dressed in her elegant Jenny Yoo bridal gown, and everyone was dressed and ready to officially kick off the festivities of the day, we headed across the street for Bridget and John’s first look. While we had originally planned for the first look to be conducted at Philadelphia’s iconic Merchant’s Exchange building, it was under construction, so we had to quickly pivot to the historic Second National Bank of the United States for the first look and all pre-ceremony portraits. This change of plans was honestly a blessing in disguise, as the Second National Bank just recently started allowing professional photos to be taken there, meaning Bridget and John’s portraits on the front steps of the building were unique and were considered “new” to the Philadelphia wedding scene! The Second National Bank had beautiful lighting and was just across the street from the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, making it truly the absolute best option for classic Philadelphia romantic wedding day portraits. Once we had captured all of Bridget and John’s beautiful wedding photos, their wedding party joined us at the National Bank so we could capture everyone together, before Bridget and her father hopped into a vintage Rolls-Royce to head over to St. John the Evangelist Church for the Center City Philadelphia wedding ceremony. 

Black and white photo of hotel room 1014, with two women inside, one styling the other's hair while a third woman sits on the bed watching—capturing a quiet moment before a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A group of women in a hotel room prepare for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, some seated getting makeup and hair done, with a wedding dress hanging in the window background.
A woman sits on a chair in a robe while a stylist does her hair; another woman in a dress stands nearby holding hairstyling tools, preparing for the Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A person in a white, sheer, ruffled-sleeve dress sits on a chair; beside them, white high-heeled sandals rest on a dark cushion with a gold pillow—capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A makeup artist applies lipstick to a seated woman in front of a mirror, preparing her for a classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, while another woman stands in the foreground.
A young girl stands smiling in the foreground while several women, all in pajamas, prepare for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, one holding a glass of champagne.
A man in formal attire stands at a bathroom sink, adjusting his hair in front of a mirror with floral wallpaper, preparing for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
Two men in formal suits stand together; one helps the other adjust his jacket in a room with curtains and a sofa. Black and white photo capturing a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A man in a suit pins a boutonniere onto an older man in a tuxedo, both smiling, at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben. They are indoors with green curtains and a round light in the background.
A makeup artist applies lipstick to a seated woman with long hair, dressed in a white top, preparing her for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben in a well-lit indoor setting.
A woman in a white dress gets her makeup done for her Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben; in a second photo, she makes a playful face in a hand-held mirror.
A woman with long, wavy brown hair sits in a chair facing a makeup artist in a well-lit room with green curtains, preparing for her Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A man in a black tuxedo with a white rose boutonniere stands indoors at the Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben; in the second photo, he holds a framed picture of another man and smiles.
An open envelope with a city illustration, pearl earrings, and two rings on marble; beside a hand wearing a bracelet and rings holding white fabric—perfect details for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
Two images: Left—close-up of a bride being buttoned into her dress; Right—her veil adjusted by two women as a child in pajamas watches in a hotel room, capturing quiet moments before a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride in a white gown stands in a room as two women adjust her train and another woman in a navy dress stands nearby, preparing for a classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A group of bridesmaids in black dresses stand in a room at the Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, smiling and reacting with excitement as they look at a bride in a white gown and veil.
A man in a suit reads a booklet titled "My Vows to My Wife" at their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben; beside him, a bride in a white dress and veil smiles at the camera.
Split image: Left side shows a blurred bride walking down a hallway; right side shows the bride in a formal white gown, holding a bouquet in the grand interior of her Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A man in a black tuxedo stands and smiles near tall, white marble columns with bright light illuminating the scene at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride in a white gown and veil stands at the bottom of stone steps, facing her groom in a tuxedo as he walks down toward her—a timeless moment from their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride in a white gown smiles at her groom in a black suit as he walks down stone steps outdoors, with trees and sunlight in the background, capturing a timeless moment from their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride and groom in formal wedding attire stand on marble steps, embracing and looking at each other in front of a building with tall stone columns—capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride and groom kiss outside on their wedding day near stone steps and a large tree, capturing a timeless moment before their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride in a white dress and veil stands next to a groom in a black tuxedo, both smiling in front of stone steps at their classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride and groom walk up wide marble steps outside a building with tall columns and stone walls, capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben. The bride wears a long white gown and veil.
A bride and groom in formal attire stand together, smiling, with marble columns in the background at their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben. The bride holds a bouquet and wears a veil.
A bride in a white dress and veil smiles while embracing a groom in a black suit. They stand close together in front of a light-colored background, capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride in a white gown holds a bouquet and smiles at her groom in a black tuxedo as they hold hands and walk outside after their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride and groom, dressed in formal wedding attire, walk hand in hand outdoors near stone buildings in two black and white photos from a classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben: A wedding party stands on the steps of a neoclassical building with tall columns, with the bride and groom in the center and bridesmaids and groomsmen on either side.
A young boy in a suit and a girl in a white dress hold hands on stone steps, surrounded by adults in black formal attire with white bouquets at this Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride in a white dress walks outdoors with a bridesmaid in a black dress and a man in a tuxedo, each holding white bouquets—capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A wedding party poses on stone steps at the Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben; the bride stands in the center in a white gown, surrounded by bridesmaids in black dresses and groomsmen in black suits.
Split image: Left side shows a blurry bride in a white gown; right side captures her in focus, holding her dress on marble steps against a light stone wall—perfect for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A vintage white car is parked in front of a historic building, setting the scene for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben as a bride and groom stand beside it, with the bride preparing to enter.

 

St. John the Evangelist Church is one of Center City Philadelphia’s most popular wedding ceremony venues. Known for its immense beauty, it creates the perfect space for a private, romantic, and spiritual ceremony. Following the beautiful wedding ceremony, Bridget and John made their grand exit down the church steps, leading them back to the stylish Rolls-Royce car, in which they got to utilize as the space for their first private moment as newlyweds. 

Stone church with gothic arches and ornate facade; in the foreground, a historical marker sign highlights the building’s legacy—an ideal setting reminiscent of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A man in a suit waves and smiles next to a woman in a floral dress outside a stone building, with other guests in formalwear nearby—capturing the joyful spirit of a classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A young girl in a white dress presses her nose and lips against a window, looking outside with a playful expression during a classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A group of people in formal attire stand and walk on a staircase inside an ornate building with arched doorways and decorative stonework, capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
Split image: On the left, a bride in a white gown walks up steps outside a stone church with an older man. On the right, a white ornate church altar decorated with flowers—an elegant moment before their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
Three young children, two girls in white dresses and a boy in a black suit, walk down the aisle of a church, holding hands, during a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride in a white gown walks down the aisle of a grand church, accompanied by an older man, as guests watch from the pews—a scene reminiscent of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride in a white gown walks down the aisle with an older man in a tuxedo, surrounded by guests at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, with the church beautifully decorated for the ceremony.
A bride in a white gown stands with her father, who shakes hands with the groom at the altar, as guests look on—capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A young girl and boy sit in a church pew, with the girl hugging the boy. Another young girl in a white dress sits nearby. Adults, all guests of a classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, are seated in the rows ahead.
A bride and groom stand at the altar in a church during their wedding ceremony, with a priest officiating and guests seated in the pews, capturing the timeless elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride and groom stand facing each other, holding hands, as a priest officiates their classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A man smiles while seated at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben; beside him, a bride and groom stand at the altar with a priest officiating.
A bride and groom kiss at the altar during a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, with bridesmaids and groomsmen standing on either side in a beautifully decorated church.
A bride and groom kiss at the end of the aisle in a church as guests watch and applaud during their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A group of people dressed in formal black attire stand in a line outdoors, some holding white bouquets, with a white trolley bus in the background—capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride and groom celebrate on church steps, surrounded by applauding guests dressed formally; flower bouquets and smiling faces fill the scene in this Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride and groom stand beside a vintage car on a city street; the groom raises a glass in a toast while the bride smiles, capturing the elegance of their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A well-dressed couple stands smiling on church steps, surrounded by guests in formal attire, capturing the elegance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben. The background features stone architecture and statues, with a slightly blurred foreground.

 

When Bridget and John first got in contact with us, they had a lot of portrait locations in mind, and from there, we were able to kind of narrow them in and choose the absolute best of the best. Trying to squeeze in every single location is not going to give newlyweds the perfect day they envision; in fact, it would make it a lot more stressful and rushed. In theory, driving all over the city trying to hit all of the iconic Philadelphia spots may not seem as tumultuous at first, but it’s important to remember what’s really important – spending as much time with one another and your loved ones as possible! We want to focus on what creates the most enjoyable experience for the couple! And don’t worry, we’ll be capturing great moments all day. 

At a certain point, the sightseeing tour in the Rolls-Royce came to a halt due to a city-wide protest at City Hall, so from there we just had a change of plans to walk from City Hall to the reception venue, Ballroom at the Ben. And yet, this abrupt pivot was just another blessing in disguise for this wedding day! We were able to grab some amazing documentary-style candid wedding portraits of the couple as they walked down Broad Street, heading towards the Ballroom at the Ben. Bridget and John handled every twist and turn with absolute ease and were just ecstatic to be celebrating their beautiful spring wedding day in the city! Throughout the day, we just kept reminding them that everything would work out perfectly in the end, and none of these blips would affect the outcome of their dream wedding photos or overall feeling of the day. 

A bride and groom in wedding attire walk through a city street and pose together in front of a historic building with a clock tower, capturing timeless moments from their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride and groom in formal attire stand on a city street, with tall buildings and a historic structure behind them—capturing the romance of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride and groom walk joyfully on a city sidewalk, while two women nearby wave and cheer—capturing the timeless spirit of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben. The scene is beautifully rendered in black and white.
Split image: Left side shows a tall brick hotel under a clear blue sky; right side features a newlywed couple walking on a city sidewalk, hinting at their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, with pedestrians nearby.
A bride and groom in formal attire smile and pose together on a balcony overlooking city buildings during the day, capturing the elegance of their classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.

 

The Ballroom at the Ben was the absolute best reception venue for this elegant and classic Philadelphia wedding day. Everyone was dressed in the respective black tie formal attire, which was a beautiful contrast to the stunning all-white wedding reception decor present throughout the ballroom. The reception was completely full of energy, which definitely resulted in lively dancing from all of Bridget and John’s wedding guests! Bridget’s mom later mentioned that she loved how involved we were with the reception, and that every time she thought “I want to get a photo of that”, we were already there and documenting it! It was the perfect ending to the Center City Philadelphia wedding day and a beautiful celebration of the start to Bridget & John’s life together! 

Elegant ballroom set for a formal event with round tables, gold chairs, tall floral centerpieces, and ornate architecture—perfect for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben with sparkling chandeliers and charming balconies.
Elegant banquet tables set with gold chargers, menus, glassware, and tall floral centerpieces in the grand, well-lit Ballroom at the Ben—perfect for a classic wedding amid stunning arched architecture.
A grand ballroom set for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, featuring round tables adorned with white flowers and a striking black and white checkered dance floor.
A bartender pours a drink at a bar as guests socialize on a balcony in the grand, ornate Ballroom at the Ben during a classic wedding.
Two black-and-white photos capture men in suits and bow ties at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, holding drinks and engaged in conversation.
Two black-and-white photos from a classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben: on the left, three people converse in formal attire; on the right, two seated men enjoy drinks and check their phones.
Four women gather around a small table in a dimly lit room at the Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben; one woman is seated, smiling and holding a drink while others stand or sit nearby in lively conversation.
A bride and groom stand on a black and white checkered dance floor at their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, raising their arms as guests applaud and a band performs in the background.
A newlywed couple dances in the center of a large, elegant ballroom with checkered floor during their classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, surrounded by guests seated at decorated tables and a live band performing.
A bride and groom share a first dance at their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, celebrating in a formal indoor venue surrounded by seated guests.
A bride and groom dance together at their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, holding hands and smiling, with guests seated in the background.
A large group of people in formal attire gathered for a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, surrounded by decorated tables, chandeliers, and the sounds of a live band performing.
Two women in formal dresses embrace in the center of a dance floor during a classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, surrounded by well-dressed guests clapping and smiling at this elegant indoor event.
A group of people dressed formally are dancing and smiling at a lively Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, with two women posing happily in the center.
An older couple dances on a black and white checkered floor while a live band performs at the elegant Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
Two photos: Left, a woman in formal attire holds a drink among guests. Right, a wide view of a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, showcasing an ornate, high-ceilinged hall with round tables and elegant dining.
A group of people dressed formally sit around a decorated table at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, with one man in a tuxedo laughing animatedly.
A bride and groom sit at a decorated table during a formal Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben while an older man in a tuxedo gives a speech to seated guests.
Two images: Left, guests seated at a round table converse during a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben. Right, a young man in a tuxedo stands among other guests, looking forward.
A couple dances in the center of a black-and-white checkered floor during a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, surrounded by seated guests and elegant floral decorations.
A bride in a white gown dances with an older man in a tuxedo during a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, while guests seated at elegant tables look on.
A man sings into a microphone while a woman and other musicians perform on a brightly lit stage at the Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, with instruments in the background.
A Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben featuring round tables with floral centerpieces, elegant guests, and an ornate ceiling adorned with chandeliers and decorative gold accents.
A group of women in formal attire smile and pose for a photo at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, holding drinks and phones, with other guests visible in the background.
Two photos: On the left, a woman in a black dress raises her arm with a drink at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben; on the right, guests fill the dance floor, socializing and dancing in elegant surroundings.
Two men in formal attire stand with arms around each other, smiling and talking at a lively Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, surrounded by guests and ornate architecture in the background.
A trombone player performs for a group of people dancing and enjoying themselves at a classic wedding in the grand Ballroom at the Ben.
A bride in a white dress dances with guests on a black-and-white checkered floor during a classic wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, creating an elegant scene at this formal indoor reception.
People in formal attire dance energetically on a black and white checkered floor at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, surrounded by ornate architecture and elegant balconies.
A bride in a white dress poses with an older man in a tuxedo on a black-and-white dance floor, surrounded by well-dressed guests at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.
A group of people dance energetically at a Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben, some waving light sticks. One man holds a beer bottle. The lively scene unfolds in an ornate and crowded ballroom.
A bride and groom are lifted on chairs by guests in a crowded, ornate Ballroom at the Ben, celebrating their classic wedding with big smiles and waving cloth napkins.
A couple shares a dip kiss on the dance floor, surrounded by guests at their Classic Wedding at Ballroom at the Ben.

 

Ballroom at the Ben Wedding Vendors 

Hotel – Kimpton Hotel Monaco | Venue – Ballroom at the Ben | Church – St. John the Evangelist | Caterer – Finley | Coordinator – Evviva Studio | Florist – NE Floral Boutique | Cake – Masters Baker | Band – Jellyroll | MUA – Dev Esthetics | Dress – Jenny Yoo | Seating Chart – At Home with Elm | Photo & Video – Two17 Photo & Cinema

To see some of our recent weddings, take a look at this Elegant Cairnwood Estate Wedding, this Elegant Philadelphia Wedding at Tendenza, this Beautiful Lochwood Manor Wedding, and this Elegant Super-8 wedding video. 

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