A Bohemian Chic Wedding at the Hunting Hill Mansion in Media, Pennsylvania
With only two months to go before saying “I do,” an unexpected turn of the tides meant Sarah Hall (29 and a prevention education specialist) and Brendan Prestileo (29 and a stone mason) were back at square one in the wedding planning process. Luckily, with the incredible talent and generosity of their close family members and friends, the pair pulled off an unforgettable early fall affair with a hint of old world glamour. “In a massive labor of love, friends and family rallied around us, helping us construct and craft a personal event in a crunch,” says Sarah. “So many pitched in by helping collect china and glassware from yard sales, spray paint everything gold, and collecting greens from my aunt’s backyard. Very talented loved ones created Gatsby-inspired invitations, name tags and other signage. In the end, items were sourced from every imaginable place and I love that they each lent their own history to our special day.”
The Hunting Hill Mansion at Ridley Creek State Park in Media, Penn. could not have offered a more beautiful backdrop for the event, with its charming old mansion, intimate gardens and stonework that tied in perfectly with Brendan’s stone mason sensibilities. “The two knotted sycamore trees that frame the ceremony site were the final selling point for us,” says Sarah. Acoustic guitar set a warm, inviting tone for the ceremony with touches like rustic wooden signage, woven rugs and gold geode accents amplifying the effect.
After Sarah and Brendan exchanged vows, it was time to get the party started. A jazz trio kept the mood light during cocktail hour with 1920s classics like “Statesboro Blues” and “Ol Man River, and the newlyweds stole away for a few private moments to exchange gifts and take it all in.
The reception took place inside the mansion, the English Tudor architecture and refined finishings tying in perfectly with the overall vintage theme. Gold cutlery, vintage china, colored glass stemware and whimsical hand-calligraphed place cards brought Sarah and Brendan’s vision to life, with wild, romantic arrangements of varying greenery lent the space a boho chic vibe. “Since neither one of us are terribly traditional, we decided to forgo most reception formalities, except for a first dance to ‘Harvest Moon,’ so we could just focus on eating, drinking and dancing,” says Sarah. “Our DJ kept everyone dancing late into the night with Bowie, Springsteen and Michael Jackson, while our officiant and dear friend sent us off by rapping ‘Turn My Swag On’ by Soulja Boy.”