A Colorful, Vintage-Inspired Wedding at the John James Audubon Center in Audubon, Pennsylvania

Maria Catalano (33 and account executive at The Knot Philadelphia and Delaware) and Michael McGuinness (33 and a Delaware river pilot) planned a bright, whimsical affair for their September wedding at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Norristown, Pennsylvania. The day kicked off with a ceremony in the Audubon’s apple tree canopies. Maria’s sister Alyssa officiated the ceremony, the couple exchanged their own heartfelt vows, and an a capella group provided an upbeat soundtrack for the event. 

Fresh bunches of colorful blooms in mossy vases lined the aisles leading to a striking birch wedding arch draped in panels of airy fabric and vibrant, textured arrangements of roses, lilies and ferns. The Audubon’s old barn hosted cocktail hour, where guests sipped on signature drinks like the Grapefruit Crush, kicked back in elegant vintage lounges and tried their hand at a number of games dotting the expansive lawn. 

The newlyweds and their guests then moved to the venue’s open-air pavilion for a night of dinner and dancing. Colorful streamers draped across the ceiling and arrangements of full pink, purple and peach blooms brought the rustic space to life. Handcrafted farm tables, warm candlelight and mismatched vintage china brought a healthy dose of laid-back charm to the decor and tied the whole look together. Guests enjoyed a fire pit and an ice cream cart loaded with cool treats toward the end of the night, while White Label Wedding DJs kept the dance floor packed until the wee hours. 

A tip for the taking from Maria and Michael: “Our wedding was romantic, whimsical, lighthearted and fun. We kept our guests in mind every step of way, and we were able to share our love story with our loved ones through the details of our day. Our best advice for couples is to stay true to themselves and really just take in every single moment.” —Libby MacCarthy