A Sophisticated, Local Wedding at the Cork Factory Hotel in Downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Sarah Hess (25 and a project coordinator) and Llew Williams (25 and a manager) met in college, at a frat party. Sarah was a junior, and Llew was a sophomore. They dated for four years before Llew popped the question, under a vine-covered arbor at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. “For us, it was literally love at first sight,” says Sarah. “That is, when we stepped into the Cork Factory Hotel.” Sarah and Llew knew they wanted to get married at the factory-turned-hotel the minute they stepped into its ballroom. They drew inspiration from the hotel’s exposed beams, metal accents and brick walls, so they chose a neutral color palette of black, white and gray to compliment the reception venue. The groom and groomsmen wore charcoal suits while the bridesmaids wore little black dresses with nude pumps. The ceremony took place at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in downtown Lancaster, a gorgeous and historical church with a white marble altar and beautiful stained glass windows. Sarah and Llew's wedding was full of personal touches, from the fun coaster save-the-dates and his-and-hers signature cocktails to the DIY chalkboard signs and the candy bar with local sweets. "At the beginning of the planning process, I truly believed I would DIY the entire wedding, but then I came to my senses," says Sarah. "I found little ways I could incorporate personal touches throughout the day while leaving the big stuff to the professionals. In the end, we had just the right mix of talented vendors doing what they do best and my DIY projects to create a spectacular day."