Hundreds of carnations, jewel-toned flowers, and towering glass candleholders filled Philadelphia’s historic Mütter Museum for Hannah and Alex’s winter wedding. With its grand marble staircase, dark wood-paneled ballroom, and unusual history, the museum was a fitting choice for their celebration inspired by old Hollywood glamour and vintage elegance.

But getting married in Philadelphia took some convincing. Hannah, an event manager with a love for history, discovered the venue while searching along the East Coast. Alex, a doctor and devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan, initially refused to consider Philadelphia because of his rivalry with the Eagles. After two months of unsuccessful venue hunting, Hannah showed him the space again. This time, his response was, “Wow! This is perfect.”

What We Love About This Mütter Museum Wedding

• A historic medical museum that brought together Alex’s profession and Hannah’s love of unusual history
• Hundreds of carnations arranged in a five-foot-tall cascading floral installation
• A hand-painted turtle dove welcome sign inspired by the couple’s original Pinterest mood board
• A secret recording of Hannah singing their first dance song
• A Victorian-style confetti cake and a beignet bar instead of traditional desserts

A Historic Philadelphia Venue Worth Breaking a Football Rivalry For

The couple started planning their wedding before they were officially engaged. In January, Alex told Hannah he wanted them to be married by December, giving them less than a year to organize everything. Hannah found their initial design inspiration in a Pinterest image of two turtle doves surrounded by jewel-toned flowers. Deep plums, olive greens, and dusty blues soon became their wedding colors.

Finding the right location proved more difficult. With family members spread across different states, Hannah searched along the East Coast before discovering the museum. Its marble staircase, grand fireplaces, and collection of medical oddities immediately caught her attention. “Alex is a doctor, and Hannah loves history. Getting married in the historic College of Physicians/Mütter Museum of Philadelphia felt like merging ourselves into a building,” the couple shares.

Junebug vendor Chrissy Canitano was just as excited about the location. “The venue was SO unique and regal,” she shares. Having never photographed a wedding there before, she particularly loved its European-inspired architecture and the opportunity to photograph Hannah and Alex throughout its historic interiors.

Because they were organizing the wedding from another state, Hannah and Alex relied heavily on online reviews when choosing their vendors. Their rule was simple: if a vendor had fewer than five stars, they weren’t booking them.

Pearls, Lace, and a Family Heirloom

Their wedding fashion was all about personal style and confidence. Hannah chose a lace A-line gown accessorized with pearls for a look inspired by the 1930s. She also attached an antique cameo locket containing a photograph of her grandfather to her bouquet.

Alex wore Louboutin shoes, an ivory tie, and a matching ivory carnation boutonniere. The bridesmaids dressed in different shades of plum, burgundy, olive, and mauve, while the groomsmen wore classic black suits. 

Old Hollywood Glamour, Jewel Tones, and Hundreds of Carnations

Hannah and Alex envisioned a wedding that was “glamorous without being gaudy; moody and romantic without it feeling like a Christmas wedding.” They introduced the old Hollywood theme at their welcome party at the Four Seasons, where guests gathered beneath a glass rooftop with views of the stars. The dress code encouraged velvet, fur, glitter, feathers, and anything reminiscent of 1920s glamour.

For the wedding, carnations took center stage. Hannah’s favorite flowers appeared in arrangements alongside pomegranates and bunches of grapes. The most elaborate display was a five-foot-tall installation made with hundreds of carnations, arranged to look as though they were growing and cascading from the structure. Positioned near the place card station, it was one of the first floral displays guests encountered.

One of Hannah’s bridesmaids also recreated the turtle dove painting that had inspired the wedding’s original design. She painted the birds in the couple’s chosen colors and added the words “the world was made for two” along the bottom. The finished piece served as their welcome sign and now hangs in their living room.

A Family-Led Ceremony and a 35-Minute Shuttle Delay

The ceremony included several family members in important roles. Alex’s oldest brother, James, officiated, bringing his personal knowledge of the couple into the service. Their nephews served as ring bearers, making their way down the aisle toward their father, who was also the best man. Before the ceremony could begin, however, the couple encountered an unexpected problem. One of their two guest shuttles was delayed by a road accident, leaving nearly an entire hotel block of guests running 35 minutes behind schedule.

Instead of rushing, Hannah and Alex shortened their cocktail hour. They spent the extra time sitting with their families and talking about the evening ahead. “There was no point in panicking, it couldn’t be helped!” they recall.

For their photographer, one of the sweetest moments happened when Hannah reached Alex at the altar. “I loved how he kissed her hand once she got to him during the ceremony,” she recalls. The couple had chosen not to have a first look, so this was also the first time they saw each other that day.

A Candlelit Reception With Victorian Details and a Packed Dance Floor

Food and atmosphere had been the couple’s biggest budget priorities from the beginning. The ballroom glowed with candlelight, with red flowers and towering glass candelabras decorating the tables. “I couldn’t stop photographing them!” Chrissy shares. Her advice for couples drawn to a similar atmosphere? “The candlelight is so worth it. Spend the money on the candles and ambiance over florals any day.”

Hannah and Alex chose a small, elaborately decorated cake just for the two of them. The six-inch ivory cake featured intricate Victorian-style piping and sugared fruit, but inside was a playful surprise: confetti cake. They also skipped a traditional dessert spread in favor of a beignet bar, which proved especially popular with their guests and the children.

A First Dance Surprise That Alex Didn’t See Coming

Hannah had secretly recorded herself singing their first dance song. Alex knew they had choreography to perform, but he had no idea that the voice on the recording would be hers. Before the reception, Hannah began getting nervous about dancing and hearing her own singing in front of 120 guests. Alex, unaware of the second part, took her into a side room to practice.

“It was almost pitch black, but we did our dance together in the dark, with no music,” the couple recalls. “It felt like we sealed our marriage then. Alone, in the dark, dancing and laughing and calming each other down.” When the couple finally performed their choreographed first dance, Alex was concentrating so hard on the steps that he didn’t recognize Hannah’s voice until halfway through the song.

Their One Wedding Regret and Advice for Other Couples

Hannah and Alex say there’s only one thing they would change: hiring a videographer. They hadn’t considered one necessary during planning, but afterward wished they had more footage of the celebration.

Their advice for other couples is to focus on what matters to them and not let other people’s preferences dictate their decisions. “This is your wedding, no one else’s! Don’t feel pressured to do anything you don’t want to, and don’t let someone tell you not to do something just because they wouldn’t. If you’ve told yourself it’s important, then make it happen!”