A Unique Wedding Reception at Harp & Crown in Philadelphia

Apr 17

Bride and groom walking through Center City Philadelphia streets during their wedding day. Keywords: Philadelphia wedding photographer, Center City wedding portraits, urban wedding photography.

The longer I do weddings the more freedom I see my couples expressing in the choices they make about how they want to celebrate their day. Megan & Kris opted for a two day celebration with a day after part/reception with all their closest friends in Philadelphia at Harp & Crown on Sansom Street—a Michael Schulson restaurant known for its stunning ambiance and killer weekend brunch.

Before making our way to Elbow Lane on the bottom Level of Harp &. Crown from their room at The Kimpton Hotel, an Art Deco-Inspired boutique hotel in Center City Philadelphia, we wandered around the city bit for some couples editorial feeling couples portraits while reminiscing on when they used to call Philly home.

Bride and groom during their summer wedding getting portraits in center city Philadelphia before their reception at Harp & Crown.

bride and groom on church steps in center city Philadelphia

When we made our way back to the venue we were greeted with a room filled with their closest family and friends waiting to celebrate. As the evening unfolded, we shared pizza in the warm, romantic glow of the space, bowled beneath chandeliers, and toasted with cocktails in hand. Megan’s Aunt, the renowned baker of the family, had created the sweetest little corner of sweet treats that disappeared pretty quickly during the evening.

A cocktail glass with custom napkins and matchbooks at a wedding reception at Harp & Crown in Philadelphia

Stylish grandma enjoying some wine during the reception at Elbow Lane in Harp & Crown in Philadelphia..

The venue’s perfect mix of old-world charm and luxe modern details gave us endless photo opportunities—ideal for both moody, ambient moments and bold editorial flash photography. We wrapped up their celebration with some fashion-forward flash portraits, espresso martinis in hand, and a perfect pair of Chanel glasses to end the night.

Fashion Forward bride with Chanel glasses sipping an espresso martini during her wedding reception at Harp & Crown.

One quiet ritual I’ve started before every wedding is to choose a few words to shoot by—something that helps me stay connected to the couple and their story as I photograph. For Megan and Kris, those words were editorial, documentary, fashion-forward, romantic, and vintage. Keeping those themes in mind helped me see their Philadelphia wedding day not just as a celebration, but as a full narrative—one filled with emotion, style, and unforgettable little moments.

Bride posing with champagne and showing off vintage wedding dress and garter at wedding reception at Harp & Crown in Philadelphia.

bride bowling at Elbow Lane in Harp & Crown in Philadelphia for her wedding reception.

I adored capturing the intimate ambiance of the event space at Harp & Crown and preserving it for Megan & Kris for years to come. Having a nontraditional setting for your reception really opens up so much space for guests to mingle with one another, enjoying the surrounding lounge spaces while sharing appetizers and in this case do some bowling.