This Ritz-Carlton Wedding Legit Looks Like an Enchanted Forest

Photos by Asya Photography

We love to see what Philly couples do to transform our beautiful ballroom spaces into something even more magnificent — and totally unique to them. In the case of this dreamy fall wedding, incandescent lights, candles, and lush, seasonal greenery turned the opulent The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia into a veritable magical forest. See all the romane and magic below in photos by Jen Woodruff for Asya Photography.

In 2014, Jenna Lipson was a med student in D.C., while Jason Kahn was living in New York. But that Thanksgiving, both were back home in Pennsylvania and reuniting with high-school friends at Center City bar Ladder 15. Though their paths had crossed once or twice in college — par for the course when the majority of your social circle winds up at Penn State — something was different that night.
“By the end, Jason was introducing himself as my boyfriend to all of my friends,” Jenna laughs. The pair stayed out dancing until 3 a.m., then fell into an easy pattern of texts, Facetimes, and trips between the two cities as their relationship progressed. [Editor’s note: Jenna’s father, David Lipson, is chairman and CEO of Metrocorp, which publishes this magazine.]

Two and a half years later, the pair was celebrating Jenna’s 27th birthday at Jason’s family’s Shore house. Out on the balcony, Jason first had Jenna unwrap a joke gift — a plastic medallion necklace from Claire’s — then got on one knee to present her with the real one: a diamond ring inspired by her great-grandmother’s.

For their late-October wedding, more than 100 candles adorned the ceremony site, which featured 15-foot acrylic pillars topped with myrtle and smilax. Penncora Events transformed the Ritz ballroom into an “enchanted forest” lush with seasonal greenery. Low arrangements of mood moss and tulips anchored mirrored table toppers selected to reflect the candlelight. Synergetic set a warm, cozy tone in the ballroom by using incandescent lights in place of LEDs. Lush five-foot arrangements of assorted greenery served as the “trees” of the forest design scheme.

Before sitting down to a dinner of beet salad, salmon and steak, 250 guests gathered to watch Jenna and Jason sway to a mash-up of John Legend’s “Stay With You” and “Sweet Lovin’” by Sigala — the latter of which they swear they chose as a first-dance song long before Carson Wentz did. Jenna and her father took a spin on the custom-wrap dance floor created by New Jersey’s Shout! Graphic & Print Solutions, and a 10-by-10-foot arch inset with roses, pampas grass, lisianthus, hydrangea, tulips, king protea and dendrobium orchids was a popular spot for pictures throughout the night.

At the end of the night, guests were treated to coffee, cookies, and bagels and schmear. After all the celebrating, the newlyweds honeymooned in South Africa and currently call Washington Square home; she is an ob/gyn resident, and he works in financial consulting.

The Details

Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, Center City | Photography: Jen Woodruff for Asya Photography | Event Design, Florals & Tabletop Rentals: Penncora Events | Event Coordination: The Styled Bride and Platinum Event Solutions | Lighting: Synergetic | Bride’s Gown: Pronovias | Hair: Koukla Blowdry & Beauty Bar (bride); Anthony Paris of Jason Matthew Salon (groom) | Makeup: Julie Kate & Co. | Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren Purple Label | Catering: The Ritz-Carlton | Videography: CinemaCake | Music: Harris Lane Band of Hank Lane Music & Productions | Paper Goods: Papertree Studio | Late-Night Snacks: Hot Bagels & More; Famous 4th Street Cookies Co.

This story was originally published in the Summer/Fall 2019 issue of Philadelphia Wedding as “Real Weddings: Jenna & Jason.” 

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