September 2, 2012
THE THEME
Refreshingly unconventional. Other than being married by Hilary’s uncle, who had married Hilary’s parents on the same spot, every tradition was up for reinterpretation. From vows featuring E.E. Cummings and Pooh to Buddhist/Quaker nuptials to their “crazy, local, tuba-toting, klezmer brass band,” this event was pure invention. Kids ran around the Hertzler farm, as Hilary had growing up, during the picnic-style reception.
THE DETAILS
In an immersive experience, guests had returned folded origami cranes with their RSVPs, helped plant 500 trees, launched 1,000 paper cranes and enjoyed baked bagels and muffins the next morning. No wonder they came from as far away as Brazil, Sacramento and Belgium. Glass bottles from the former Hertzler Dairy held bells of Ireland, craspedia, dahlias and freesia on polka-dotted cloths decorated with patterned origami. For a year and a half, Hilary had patiently cut paper trees and the Philly love design.
THE EATS
The cuisine, served family style, was “ethical and sustainable,” with local cheeses, breads and honey; oysters; wild-caught salmon; tempeh kabobs with red curry sauce; and a garlic, orange and oregano-rubbed roasted pig. Pennsylvania Dutch style pies stood in for a cake. Richard’s Brazilian heritage—and his joyful family—brought its own flavors. A watermelon, mint, peach and cardamom seltzer served as the base for a Brazilian cocktail called a batida, with Richard’s uncles supplying the not-so-secret ingredient, cachaca (sugar cane liquor).
THE HITCH
It’s more a story about what almost went wrong…It rained for several days before the wedding, stopped, then started again just as the band’s horns blew their last note. It poured all the next day, so the spring (aka Crane Launching Central) overflowed its banks. The minister forgot a portion of the ceremony, and the rehearsal dinner almost didn’t launch due to a date mix-up. The couple’s attitude? “Every day had to have at least one massive oversight just to keep us on our toes.”
Vendors
THE THREADS
Bride & bridesmaids: J.Crew (jcrew.com); Groom: custom vest by Henry Davidsen, Philadelphia (henrydavidsen.com), Banana Republic (bananarepublic.com)
THE BLING
Ruth Tomlinson, London, England (ruthtomlinson.com)
THE CEREMONY
Donegal Presbyterian Church, Mount Joy (donegalpresbyterianchurch.org)
THE RECEPTION
Hertzler Family Farm, Elizabethtown; Lancaster Rental World, (rentalworldpa.com); A.E. Parkins Tents, Elizabethtown (aeparkinstents.com)
THE EATS
14 Acre Farm, Summit Hill (14acrefarm.com); gluten- and dairy-free desserts, Sweet Freedom Bakery, Philadelphia (sweetfreedombakery.com); Capogiro Gelateria, Philadelphia (capogirogelato.com)
The TUNES
Cellist: Estelle Hartranft (Harrisburg, linkedin.com/pub/estelle-hartranft/2b/4b7/153)
THE BLOOMS
Davis Florist, Harrisburg (davisflorist.com)
THE IMAGES
Alison Conklin Photography, Emmaus (alisonconklin.com)
1 of 7
2 of 7
3 of 7
4 of 7
5 of 7
6 of 7
7 of 7
