These Two Grooms Looked Like Royalty at Their Classic Black & White Wedding
Their venue even looks like a castle.
Photography by Allen House Studios
The Philadelphia metropolitan area is filled with gorgeous historic wedding venues. The Merion Tribute House is one of them. Photographed by Allen House Studios, this Merion Tribute House wedding was classy and classic, featuring a black, white and silver color scheme that included white hydrangeas and roses and plenty of sentimental familial details.
Shawn Gardner and Daniel Lamitie met in the fall of 2013 through a mutual friend and soon after began getting to know each other over the phone. For their first date, Shawn, a transportation director, picked up Daniel, an event planner, and the pair dined in the city, engaging in great conversation.
“The attraction was there,” Daniel remembers. He was charmed by Shawn, who had spent the afternoon cooking dinner with his late grandmother. “I thought it was so thoughtful and sweet.”
Their first date began a long-term relationship that would span five years before Shawn popped the question. The day began for Daniel with a trip to the King of Prussia mall with his best friends, Greg and Derek. After spending a few hours shopping, Greg and Derek suggested they head to the art museum for a walk — not uncommon for the group. “Still tired from the mall, all I did was complain about how much walking we were doing,” Daniel says.
When they reached the top of the art museum stairs, they — like so many Philadelphians do — began taking photos. When it came Daniel’s turn to be the muse, Derek and Greg told him to turn around: “There Shawn was dropping to one knee, proposing,” Daniel says. “It was an emotional moment, but all I went on about was the fact that my friends let me get engaged in a pair of Uggs, track pants and a jean jacket!”
On August 17, 2018, Daniel and Shawn wed at the Merion Tribute House surrounded by 160 of their loved ones. (Their biggest surprise of the wedding, they joke, is that everyone they invited showed up.) Their classic celebration featured a black, white and silver color scheme and wedding favors that included champagne, chocolate and sour patch kids.
The most sentimental moment of the Big Day occurred during the ceremony, when Shawn walked down the aisle with his late grandmother’s photo. The moment brought tears to the eyes of everyone in attendance — especially the newlyweds’ families.
THE DETAILS
Photographer & Videographer: Allen House Studios | Venue: Merion Tribute House | Planning/Design: Sweet & Savvy LLC | Florals: Hermance Bellevue | Catering: Tuxedo Caterers | Bridesmaid’s Attire: Tiffany Designs | Hair: Another Day of Slay | Makeup: @Soshaethemua | Entertainment & Lighting: Eclectic Entertainment | Cake: Sophisticakes | Invitations: Minted | Calligraphy: Calligraphy by Crawford
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